Inspiration of the Week: cottagecore at the fore in an old Lincolnshire shop

If you’re here, reading the Almanac, chances are you’ve likely harboured a dream – however fleeting – of cosy evenings in comfortable rooms, book-lined nooks and cheerfully maximalist interiors. Well, now that this house on Winterton’s King Street has come on the market, that dream can become a reality.

The two-bedroom home, forming part of a ragstone terrace in the delightful North Lincolnshire town, was once a shop – hinted at by the glossy front door set within the original storefront.

Inside, a series of spaces unfolds, each as quaint as the last. Step into the kitchen, for instance, and you could almost be in a countryside cottage. Looking around, we love the jolly checked curtains, running as a theme throughout the room, while we’re always in favour of a bit of antique stripped pine. Here, the farmhouse table, mounted cabinetry and large Welsh dresser make the case not only for the wood’s enduring and unfussy style, but its longevity too. In fact, while pine was historically seen as more cost-effective than other timbers, its durability proves it to be a super sustainable option when buying second-hand.

And, speaking of that dresser, note how it’s been decorated with a jumble of old plates, pewter and woven baskets, which together make an elegant argument for the beauty of bric-à-brac. Feeling inspired? Find your local junk shop and get rummaging!

Elsewhere, pieces from the past lend patina and poise – the smart-looking portrait, lit with a proper picture light, above the sitting room’s varnished desk, for example. But texture – and antiques – don’t have to cost the earth; just look at the old tomes crammed into the library. We can’t think of a nicer place to curl up on a cold winter’s eve.

Upstairs, meanwhile, the relaxed and welcoming air continues in bright and simply decorated bedrooms. We particularly like the handsome brass beds. We’d wager that if you weren’t dreaming already, you will be now…