Former fashion designer Linda Cobbett transformed an old Victorian flour and textile mill and stables into a family home. For it she was awarded Best Period Renovation 2010 by Period Living Magazine. The home has now become a comfortable cottage vacation rental, a uniquely charming and unusual place to stay in a small quiet village nine miles from the west coast of Cardigan, Wales. The spacious home features a careful selection of antique furniture, architectural salvage, contemporary pieces, and vintage finds.

Hen Ystablau (meaning ‘the old stables’ or ‘mews’ in Welsh) was converted between 2002 and 2009 from a disused mill into what it is now a beautiful holiday house with lots of character. Linda was determined to renovate while still trying to preserve the original structure by employing traditional methods and utilizing natural products. For instance, the large main drive shaft once used for the looms in the Victorian mill remains in situ along the length of the building, while one drive wheel is ever present in the dining room. Other restored details include large metal windows, leaving some beams exposed, stripped wooden floorboards, and rough stonework.

“It was really important to me that I create a home with an authentically Welsh character,” she adds. She gave the stonework an authentic whitewash with lime and introduced soft greens, blues and rusty reds on the woodwork. Her soft furnishings are rich and comforting as well, while still expressing elegance: thick embroidered curtains, colorful quilts and soft blankets all help keep the house cozy throughout the year. Via

Vacation rental information for this beautiful cottage can be found here.