Duke Street, Padstow, Cornwall

This light-filled gallery with a residence at the rear unfolds over 2,500 sq ft and is on the picturesque Duke Street in central Padstow, Cornwall. Across the bottom two floors are the bright gallery, with the artist's studio on the second. Arranged at th back is the rest of the house, where an elegant timber-framed glazed extension, crafted by Carpenter Oak, has views over the Camel Estuary and houses an open-plan kitchen, dining and living space, and a large study. Outside, a stepped garden has access to a lane leading to the cliff path, making exceptional coastal walks accessible straight from the house.

Setting the Scene

The current owner has slowly and carefully restored and extended the house during her ownership. The south-facing gallery has a lovely shop window and has become an established showcase in which to promote her own work and that of other contemporary artists. A second exhibition space sits above, with original - now white-painted - floorboards. Her painting studio currently occupies the top floor, with a characterful paint-spattered floor and high ceilings where she has added a mezzanine to store her canvases. From here are pretty views over the rooftops of Padstow's Old Town.

Throughout the house are some brilliant reclaimed features, such as the various Gothic and Georgian doors, elegant pendant lights fashioned from ship foghorns and antique door furniture. Delabole slate has been used throughout the house, found on a windowsill in the bathroom, lining the shower room and used for the lobby's floor.

The Grand Tour

Entry from Duke Street leads straight into the gallery space, within the oldest part of the building. A generous, sold oak window sill is the perfect place for displaying wares, while white-painted walls provide a pared-back backdrop for hanging paintings. Joists above have been left exposed, while new engineered oak floors underfoot have been laid. The front desk sits at the rear of the room.

Steps lead into a charming and unusual stairwell, incorporating a built-in glazed corner cabinet, and into a second exhibiting space. Above is the painting studio, but its versatility could lend it to being an additional retail space, or residential accommodation. Each room benefits from large windows and a south-west-facing position that bathes in light throughout the day.

The house sits behind and can be accessed either from the gallery or via the wrap-around back garden. Built into a hill, the first floor of the gallery leads through a room currently used as a workshop - perfect for framing paintings or stretching canvases - into the ground floor of the house. Entry is to a lobby, where there is access to a shower room and a pretty bedroom, the headboard formed by refined wall panelling.

Upstairs is the cedar-clad extension, designed by the owner to resemble an old village hall or school building. A very limited palette of materials has been used, with engineered-ash floors (with the same hardwearing finish developed for the Saatchi Gallery) and white-painted walls that work in tandem to foster a peaceful atmosphere.

A bespoke kitchen comprises white-painted cabinetry with stainless-steel worktops. A plate rack sits above the sink and a built-in dresser has ample space for keeping crockery. From the kitchen, steps lead up to a raised dining room and snug, centred around a double-sided wood-burning stove, converted by Hotpod from a spun steel trawler net bobbin.

With its singular north-facing light, the current owner uses the large, second reception room as a study and music room. With exposed beams, scissor trusses and high ceilings as well as extensive glazing, the space is light and has wonderful connections to the outdoors. Access to a patio is granted by concertina doors from the kitchen and from French doors in the dining and living areas.

There is also an entrance hallway on this floor, with underfloor heating, and a fantastic monochromatic tiled floor from Mandarin Stone. There is a cupboard plumbed for a washing machine and a guest WC beyond.

This floor is also home to the principal bedroom, where the owner has repositioned the door to take advantage of the outlook, making it possible to have a morning coffee in bed with a view of the tide. The space also has a large wardrobe and a bathroom with fittings from Lefroy Brooks.

The Great Outdoors

A very lovely mature garden encircles the rear of the house, delineated by the Delabole slate-clad garden walls, with numerous low-maintenance beds filled with lavender, fruit trees, roses and a wide range of unusual shrubs. Despite its proximity to the centre of Padstow, it has the feel of being very many miles from any sort of bustle. Like the house, the garden is built into a hill, and therefore comprises terraced areas with spaces for a table and chairs; the higher up you go, the better the views get. Positioned at the top of the garden is a sheltered bench, the perfect perch to watch boats on the estuary.

A footpath from the back of the garden leads to the Estuary and beaches, skipping the town centre and providing access to many spectacular circular walks.

Out and About

The Cornish fishing town of Padstow is known for its lively bustling streets and thriving food scene, all found on a beautiful stretch of coastline. Still a working harbour, the town is surrounded by striking beaches and is a wonderful base from which to explore the Camel Estuary. It also has an excellent selection of fresh seafood restaurants, cafés and bars, including Rick Stein’s Seafood Restaurant, Paul Ainsworth at No6 and Prawn on the Lawn.

Several other well-known towns and fishing villages are within easy reach. Port Isaac is just a 30-minute drive away, its charming harbour the setting for Nathan Outlaw’s Michelin-starred The Fish Kitchen. Port Isaac is also a lovely place to commence a hike along the Coastal Path, passing through Port Gaverne and heading towards the famed Tintagel Castle. Within easy reach is the National Trust-managed Trevose Headland - a stretch of coastline renowned for surfing, hiking, its lighthouse, wildlife and birdwatching.

Elsewhere, The Pig Hotel at Harlyn Bay is also nearby, and Coombeshead Farm has an excellent menu defined by its nose-to-tail approach to eating. The geodesic biome domes at the Eden Project, designed by Nicholas Grimshaw in the late nineties, are around a 35-minute drive inland. St Ives is reachable within an hour and is a great choice for fresh seafood from beach shack to white tablecloth, Tate St Ives and the Barbara Hepworth Sculpture Garden.

Communications to Cornwall have vastly improved over recent years, with the A30 dual carriageway just north of Truro giving fast access to the M5 motorway at Exeter. Newquay’s train station connects to Plymouth, with direct trains to London from here in just over three hours. Cornwall Airport (Newquay) also provides regular shuttle flights to London Gatwick, Stansted and many other seasonal European destinations.

Council Tax Band: A
Business Rates: Approx. £9,106 per annum