Late at night travelling down a farm track in the pitch black, squelching through mud to open the gate before crossing a bridge over a stream and fumbling with a key box in the driving rain...we wondered whether a week in Northumberland in November was really the best idea.
As soon as we stepped inside the beautiful Northumberland cottage our fears melted away. Small but perfectly formed, I could have stayed a lot longer, but we had a wonderful week. The entryway introduced the aesthetic of the house, a practical space with natural materials and waxed concrete floors, thoughtfully put together with underfloor heating, simple wooden hooks, and traditional paned windows.
The warm concrete united the ground floor which had a kitchen diner and living room linked by a doorway made by a generous storage cupboard and drying room. The days were wet and blustery and in the evenings we hunkered down by the vintage stove, watched movies and played games.
Off of the entryway the bathroom was a wet room with dark thick walls, a small window, and a spacious shower. Upstairs the two small bedrooms were simply decorated, but they were all that we needed, and the built-in storage was useful.
The earthy palette and lack of clutter was wonderful, and the way John (the owner) had celebrated the history of the building and decorated for purpose and beauty reminded us of why we started Candlemakers House.
If you think this beautiful 2 bed holiday let might be great for your holiday, you can find them on Air B'n'B if you search for the ecologically restored Northumbrian stone cottage in Wark. The owner John is a fantastic host.