The cottage nestles below a mountain. Honeysuckle climbs the front wall and the name of the cottage mirrors the flower. Upon opening the door, you discover a stripped pine floor leading to a Lakeland flagged floor to the rear. There is a window seat with a cosy cushion and just enough room for two to snuggle. Your eyes are drawn to the log burning stove which is roaring hot and the rag rug in front aids the ambience.
Is it
a romantic scene? A cosy scene? A
picturesque scene?
It is none of the above. It describes the cottage I lived in for 14 years in Windermere. Appearances, as they say, can be deceptive. The reality is stone cottages are cold, damp, dark and cramped. They can harbour insects of many kinds and small livestock such as mice and rats.
Log
burning stoves are hard work to manage with the ordering, storing and
replenishing of wood a constant necessity. Also, they are proving to be
unhelpful for the environment.
So,
cottages are cool? Not really. My preferred style of house would be Victorian
or Edwardian, with red brick, high ceilings, period features and a light and
airy feel.
Blackpool
has an abundance of such property at very reasonable prices. Cottages? Having
experienced one, I prefer Art Nouveau style and space. What about you?
Thanks
for reading
David
Wilkinson
2 comments:
Bad cottages eh? This made me chuckle David. Of course, yours is an authoritative voice (given you spent so many years in one) and the points you make about infestations and the damage that wood-burning stoves do are well taken.
I shouldn't say too much as (spoiler alert) I have a cottage blog under construction for later in the week.
Light and airy for me too.
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