The Cornwall Retreat: Tactile Coastal House for Surf-Led Family Life
The Cornwall Retreat sits above Porthcothan Bay, a clifftop house by De Rosee Sa in London, United Kingdom, shaped around a young family of surfers. Within its modest pitched form, the project unfolds as a layered coastal interior, where timber, stone and soft textiles translate the surrounding landscape into daily life. Interiors stay calm and grounded, but every room keeps a quiet dialogue with the sea beyond.
Salt air rolls up from Porthcothan Bay and catches on the timber cladding. Inside, sea light pulls the eye straight through the hallway to a single framed horizon. That first glimpse fixes the whole house in relation to the water, even as the rooms settle into the hillside above.
The Cornwall Retreat is a clifftop house for a young surfing family, conceived as an understated home rather than a showy coastal escape. Set above the bay in London, United Kingdom, the project by De Rosee Sa leans on natural finishes and durable fittings to handle sand, salt and daily use. Interior character grows from timber, clay, stone and fabric, all tuned to echo Cornwall’s rugged shoreline.
Simple pitched volumes define the exterior and keep the house aligned with neighbouring gabled cottages. Behind the modest street frontage, the entrance hall acts almost like a pause, cutting noise and framing that first controlled view of the sea. From there, movement flows into the main living area, where the architecture relaxes and the interior palette begins to unfold. Volumes stay straightforward so material and light can carry the drama.
Timber Rooms With Light
Timber-lined ceilings run throughout, replacing plaster with warm grain and a subtle sense of enclosure. In the kitchen, a vaulted timber ceiling with rooflights draws daylight deep into the plan and sets a generous vertical rhythm. Wide oak boards tie rooms together underfoot, their length reinforcing long sightlines between cooking, dining and sitting areas. Clay and lime paints on the walls bring a soft, matte surface that handles shifting light without glare.
Coastal Palette Inside
The color story lifts straight from the coastline: soft greys, sandy neutrals and the weathered tones of driftwood and stone. In the main living room, a sculptural limestone fireplace becomes the visual anchor, balancing heft with finely worked edges and quiet texture. Linen upholstery and sheer curtains temper the solid stone and timber, casting filtered light and creating a relaxed place to gather. Oak shelving and a bespoke open-shelving partition keep storage legible while maintaining openness between kitchen and living areas.
Surf Life Utility
Daily routines revolve around the sea, so the plan builds in robust, almost backstage rooms for gear and transition. A dedicated surf room uses built-in cubbies to store wetsuits and boards, keeping equipment ordered and ready at hand. Terrazzo flooring and wall finishes take on wet feet, sand and salt without complaint, turning hard use into part of the brief rather than a problem. Just outside, an outdoor shower with wide coastal views supports that rhythm of moving between water, garden and house.
Rooms For Rest
Upstairs, the master suite sits within the roof volume so the building never reads as a full third storey from outside. Inside, the same quiet materials wrap around the room, with timber, clay paints and soft textiles keeping the atmosphere calm for rest. A cocoon-like snug gathers the family in tighter quarters, built around a bespoke sofa and flexible seating that can handle reading, games or an evening film. Nearby, the bunk room lines its walls with painted timber boards, turning sleeping into a kind of cabin experience for children and guests.
Stone, Terrazzo And Tile
Bathrooms continue the coastal material story with stone slabs, terrazzo floors and handmade zellige tiles that catch light on their gently irregular surfaces. Hardwearing finishes meet the practical needs of a surf-driven household, while variation in tone and texture keeps rooms from feeling clinical. Discreet lighting threads through the house, tuned for warmth and clarity rather than spectacle. Outside, subtle fittings wash paths, terraces and entrances so the architecture can sit quietly against the night sky.
Durability and sustainability sit close to the surface in every room. Breathable clay paints help regulate humidity, stone and terrazzo handle heavy use, and oak brings both warmth and longevity to joinery and floors. Orientation and passive solar gain reduce the need for artificial systems, letting the house rely on sun, breeze and careful shading for much of its comfort. By dusk, with the cliffs cooling and the sea just audible, the interiors feel grounded to their setting yet ready for another day of sand and salt.
Photography by Peter Molloy
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