ON THE COVER HAPPY HOLIDAYS A cosy cottage in the

n a chilly December day in North Wales, Ty Coch is a beacon of Christmas cheer, its windows aglow with candlelight and a curl of smoke rising from the chimney and lacing the cold winter air. The farm cottage is located along a remote track, and beyond, the rugged mountains of Snowdonia seem to stretch almost to the sea. ‘It was this dramatic landscape that really sold it to us,’ says Julie Falkingham, who bought the smallholding with her husband Miles 15 years ago. ‘It’s a wilderness teeming with wildlife and looks beautiful even in the depths of midwinter.’

Christmas is always a special time for the Falkinghams as they put aside their busy city lives in Liverpool and head to their Welsh retreat. Traditionally, there’s a short stop-off at Fron Goch Garden Centre in Caernarfon for trees – one for the cottage and another for their holiday guests in the converted outbuildings. Once they reach Ty Coch, they will stand the trees in the stream to keep them fresh overnight. Then, before the light fades, they’ll walk along the shore with their Bedlington/whippet cross, McGregor, collecting foliage they’ll use to decorate the house the following day.

Later that evening, Julie’s children Louis and Lily will arrive and the family will gather around the fire bowl outside, warming themselves with hot toddies before retreating to another roaring fire inside. ‘The cottage really comes into its own at this time of the year,’ says Julie. ‘Most of the walls are dark, which gives it an intimate, cosy feel. A fire is lit every evening and candles are always set on the deep windowsills. Together, they create a lovely warm glow.’

Before buying the house in 2007, the Falkinghams had been living on a smallholding in Cheshire, with a flock of Soay sheep and a dozen rare-breed hens. They’d been looking for a property to renovate, to use as a family bolthole and holiday let. Julie is an

SITTING ROOM

The sea urchin wallpaper, designed by Miles, adds drama to the room Above right A box of mini baubles from Paperchase is displayed on a vintage metal platter with spruce sprigs and clementines interiors stylist and ceramicist and Miles is an architect and design consultant. Neither had intended to take on such a large project. ‘There was a daunting amount of work to be done but we both loved it so much, we bought it anyway!’ explains Julie.

Ty Coch had originally been a campsite. Passers-by still regale Julie and Miles with stories of camping here as children, with their families or the Scouts. ‘It also has a strong connection to the old pilgrim routes along the coast,’ adds Julie. ‘That made us feel even more compelled to create a place for travellers to stay, carrying on the legacy.’

The property – a typical Welsh rubble-stone cottage on a smallholding – had previously been a holiday home owned by a local couple. When Julie and Miles bought it, it needed a lot of restoration and the outbuildings were almost derelict. ‘Our first job was to sort out the water system,’ says Miles. Drinking water came from a well in the garden, which could be unreliable, especially in summer. ‘We consulted a specialist who told us that the mains water comes straight from Snowdonia, and we couldn’t get any better. So we switched straightaway and had a new hot water and heating system installed, which is zero carbon with a ground-source heat pump.’

A biodiversity specialist advised the couple on rewilding the 10 acres of grazed land. ‘We’ve counted up to 80 species of native wildflowers this year, planted more than 1,000 trees and created three wildlife ponds,’ says Julie. ‘The wildlife is returning gradually year by year – an otter has even been spotted here recently.’

Once planning permission finally came through for the cottage (Ty Coch is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), Julie and Miles made some significant changes. One of the three bedrooms was turned into a family bathroom and the tiny kitchen was enlarged. All the uPVC windows were replaced with timber and metal frames, with the glazing kept as large as possible throughout to make the most of the views.

When it came to decor, the couple were keen to stay true to the original character of the cottage. ‘It’s naturally quite a dark space, so we embraced that and went for darker colours, adding built-in seating

D R E A M I N G O F A B R I G H T C H R I S T M A S

Add a contemporar y note to your celebrations with Habitat’s range of play f ul prints and colourf ul accessories

oyful interiors that are

Jfilled with character and colour have been a standout trend in 2022 as we look to stamp our personalities on our decor. And this festive season, that theme is set to continue – with baubles on.

For hosts who want to sprinkle a little extra magic across their homes this winter, the new Festive Folk collection at Habitat is packed with cheerful motifs and patterns inspired by traditional Nordic folk design. You’ll find soft furnishings, chic tableware and statement bedding – all in a vibrant colour palette.

Here’s how to create living spaces guaranteed to make your guests smile this Christmas.

COLOUR THERAPY

Indulge your inner child with generous serving plates and bowls featuring fun, hand-drawn prints and graphic typography in bold reds, blues, greens and pinks. Style with the range of cosy textiles and charming accessories, including gilded miniature trees and twinkling woodland scenes. A highlight of the collection is the scented hand-blown confetti glass candle, designed to emit a flickering dappled light on cold winter nights.

NATURE AS NURTURE

If you’re welcoming family and friends over the festive period and want to make some affordable upgrades to your entertaining ambiance, add Nordic-inspired natural finishes. Light oak dining chairs with rattan detail and colourful cushions create relaxed seating, while touches of greenery, festive table linen and twinkling lights help to soften this pared-back look and create a warm, inviting space.