Explore the Preserve Cottage on the outskirts of Cardiff
This stunning cottage is a beautiful, tranquil spot located in Cefn Mably.
As a village on the outskirts of Cardiff, it was the former Gameskeeper Cottage on the Ruperra Castle Estate.
It’s absolutely stunning inside and out, and has recently been renovated by Kate Fryer, luxury interior designer at Khaya Studio.
The owners of Preserve Cottage, Laura and Joel, both economists who work in London, wanted someone to help guide them through the interior process.
Essentially to help hold their hand and help them to make thoughtful, confident decisions while staying true to the character and history of the cottage.
It was important to them that any updates or extensions felt cohesive with the original building and respected its heritage.
Extending Preserve Cottage
A substantial extension was added to create a beautifully considered kitchen, dining area, and snug.
These are spaces ideal for gathering, unwinding and celebrating the rhythms of daily live.
Every effort was made to ensure this new addition sat nicely with the new house.
Bespoke wall panelling was commissioned to flow seamlessly from the existing hallway into the extension, offering a graceful connection between old and new.
We had a chat with to Kate to find out more about the cottage and the work that was done.
A characterful cottage
Kate explains: “The primary inspiration of the renovations was the cottage itself.
“It’s a beautiful, characterful home nestled in the grounds of the Ruperra Castle Estate.
“The property was the former Gameskeeper Cottage with 16th century origins.
“The challenge was to ensure the new extension felt like a natural continuation of the original property, as though it had always existed there.
“We drew upon traditional materials, reclaimed pieces and a gentle, layered aesthetic to bridge the old with the new seamlessly.”
Special moments
“There are a few special moments within this project, but one of my favourites is the pair of antique doors we sourced to open out into the new extension.
“They add so much soul to the space and look as though they’ve always belonged there.
“I also love the little library nook we were able to create towards the end of the project.
“Originally, the clients had a desire for large bookshelves in the extension.
“However, when that didn’t quite work, we realised that an underused sitting room would be the perfect spot.
“As a result, we were able to transform a redundant space into something wonderfully inviting and personal.
“Laura and Joel already had a formal living room and we were in the process of creating a new snug as part of the extension.
“It really is the perfect place for contemplation and relaxation, away from the hustle and bustle of the new extension where the family would be spending most of their time.
“We decided to drench the shelves and walls in a rich green, further making it feel like a cosy cocoon.”
Bumps in the road
“As with any renovation project, there were a few bumps along the way.
“The client experienced some difficulties with their original builder and ended up appointing a new team partway through.
“While this isn’t unusual in projects of this nature, it did mean we had to spend time carefully bringing the new tradespeople up to speed on the brief and the design vision to ensure consistency in the final result.”
Natural light
“Natural light was hugely important for this project.
“From the outset, one of the key priorities was to bring as much natural light into the extension as possible, alongside maximising the beautiful views of the garden.
“The garden is really special as it gently rolls out into meadows and ancient woodland.
“The cottage’s setting is truly magical, and we wanted to create a living space that connected the interior to the landscape beyond.
“So, making the most of its natural beauty throughout the seasons.”
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