Ives Cottage, St Ives

Cornwall. Sleeps up to 6

The picturesque town of St Ives is a dazzling jewel in Cornwall’s Crown. Famed for its pretty fishing harbour, warren of cobbled streets, charming fisherman’s cottages and its stunning Porthmeor Beach, the town attracts many visitors. The gorgeous Ives Cottage is situated in the very heart of it, within walking distance of all of its delights.

Though smart and tidy in brilliant white and grey, the frontage of this unassuming terraced house does not immediately let on to the magical interior design within. This is a fabulous holiday home of exceptional quality and flair. You will be truly wowed by the interior of this Cornish gem! Think period charm meets contemporary transformation. Think vintage furniture up-cycled at its very best. Think cool, calm colour schemes with eye-catching colour pops. Think accentuated floating elegance. It is simply beautiful with bespoke touches at every turn.

With three beautifully decorated bedrooms, this stunning house sleeps 6 guests. The bedrooms are on the ground and second floors with the open plan living space on the first floor where it enjoys far-reaching views over the town to the harbour and St Ives Bay. On the ground floor you will find a charming, seaside themed twin bedroom and a lovely double with a ‘chirpy’ wallpapered feature wall. Both are absolutely delightful. They share a modern shower room with gorgeous floor tiles and trendy metro tiles on the walls.

Upstairs in the living area, you will be drawn to the traditional sash windows and the wonderful views across St Ives. A deep squishy corner sofa sits on the gorgeous wooden floor promising comfort and cosy nights beneath the drama of the striking wall hangings and designer touches. There is a large television with a Sky package as well as an iPad for your entertainment. The kitchen is stunning with bespoke units, a steam oven and quartz worktops. The chef will enjoy cooking up a storm here. From the kitchen doors, a trendy staircase takes you to a raised outdoor terrace, promising more views, a happy spot for alfresco dining or a place to relax and watch the sun go down.

The high-impact, lavish master bedroom is swanky, stunning and definitely scores top marks for the designer. All in white splendour, including the wooden floor boards, it allows your eye to be drawn to the chic furnishings and designer touches. The spectacular sleigh bed dominates together with the brilliant turquoise up-cycled dresser. A huge antique mirror, imposing armoire and stylish rug complete the picture together with turquoise colour pops. The Juliet balcony adds a final flourish with its spectacular view. The dazzling ensuite bathroom with bath and drench shower finishes off the master suite perfectly. Don’t all rush up those stairs!

St Ives most definitely has something for everyone. If you like to browse galleries and shops, if you like hiking and enjoying stunning landscapes and seascapes, if you love watersports and want to surf, if you love boat trips, if you like cycling or if history is your thing and you love historic houses, museums and World Heritage Sites, St Ives is definitely going to tick your boxes.

A sizeable section of Cornwall’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty runs from St Ives right round to Mousehole. It includes dramatic coastline, the high upland moors and charming, picturesque villages including Sennen, Zennor, Porthcurno and St Just. Within this glorious landscape you will find evidence of iron age cliff castles, antiquities, quoits, carns, stone circles including a high concentration of iron age archaeological remains. The coastal path passes the sweeping Whitesand Bay on the way to Land’s End, past the famous Minack Theatre, Treen, the Logan Rock, Penberth and the smuggling cove of Lamorna. You will find carpets of wild flowers and thick wooded forests. The St Michael’s Way is a 12 mile pilgrimage route between St Ives and St Michael’s Mount, crossing the narrowest neck of Cornwall and offering stunning panoramic views.

St Ives is a haven for artists. You will delight in the galleries and can enjoy frequent displays of pottery in the making. The Penwith Gallery in St Ives is the home of the Penwith Society of Arts Cornwall. Located in a former pilchard packing factory, it is a remarkable complex of buildings and includes a sculpture area. Its ‘Magic Stone’, a beautiful white marble piece is featured in the main gallery. The Penwith Society plays a central role in the thriving and vibrant St Ives art community. You will also find Jo Downs Handmade Glass gallery. She is one of the world’s most prominent fused glass artists, with her handcrafted work being inspired by the beautiful Cornish coast. In the gallery you can admire beautiful glassware including jewellery, coasters, bowls, hangings and inspirational gifts as well as her much sought-after statement interior pieces. Not to be missed of course is Tate St Ives. Inspiring art and breathtaking scenery meet where the iconic gallery overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. Tate St Ives showcases some of the best-loved British artworks of the twentieth century alongside ever-changing exhibitions. You can discover how this small fishing town became an art capital of the world. You will encounter iconic art works by Barbara Hepworth, Peter Lanyon, Sandra Blow and Patrick Heron as well as work from the Tate Collection by Henri Matisse, Mark Rothko, Pablo Picasso, Bridget Riley and more. You can buy a joint ticket so that you can also visit St Ives’ Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden.

If you want to explore the best of Cornwall, you could take a train trip from St Ives to the Tamar Valley line. It is an incredibly scenic railway line. St Ives Boats offer daily boat trips from the harbour to enjoy the seals at Seal Island or across the bay at the famous Godrevy lighthouse. You might also see dolphins, sharks and whales.