Cosy change from wide open spaces

When your home pays homage to minimalism in its purest form, there's no room for ornaments, collections and mementoes. Keith Smith didn't realise how much he missed them until he bought a longed-for rural retreat. "They've been packed away in boxes for ages so it's been good to see them again and some clutter suits this place," he says.

His artfully-displayed glassware, talking model of the Avengers and miniature cars aren't what many of us would regards as clutter. But when you've spent 10 years in a white empty space, it must seem that way.

"I still love the other house, which is very minimalist and open plan with no pictures on the walls. But I wanted something different. I spend a lot of time here and, to be honest, I'm beginning to prefer it because it's so cosy," says Keith.

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He bought the cottage, in the horse racing village of Middleham, North Yorkshire, in January last year. He spent childhood holidays in the Dales and always wanted to live in the National Park. "I kept a close eye on the JR Hopper website and as soon as I saw this cottage I had a feeling it was the one," he says. It is in the heart of the village with lovely views and had a great deal of potential.

Keith, 57, who has his own design and build company, knew just how to make the best of the property. He trained as a furniture designer and worked in the building trade before retraining as an exhibition designer. He also specialises in refurbishing commercial and domestic interiors.

His practical knowledge of construction and flair for design meant he knew what he wanted to do within minutes of stepping into the two bedroom cottage. "It was a holiday let so it was very basic and with woodchip on the walls and it needed doing up.

"It also had a porch inside that restricted the space living room and a dog-leg at the bottom of the stairs that also encroached. I knew if I changed things round I could make the room more spacious."

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He remodelled the staircase and moved the kitchen door from underneath the stairs. He also created a chimney breast to add character and a suitable spot for a new fireplace of local stone. Like the rest of the cottage, the sitting room is painted in British Standard goose wing grey.

"I wanted neutral but not white like my other house and not beige or magnolia. I chose grey and it's got a lot of warmth about it if you choose the right shade." It works wonderfully with his black leather Philippe Starck armchair and the yellow Swan chair by the window.

The kitchen units are from Ikea and he fitted them himself adding a shabby chic tall cabinet that he fashioned from a waist high piece of furniture. "I like altering things. I cut the cabinet in half and stacked one piece on top of the other to make a tall one."

Upstairs in the main bedroom, he combined storage with art and built a fitted wardrobe with doors that boast a digital print of the Monarch of the Glen. An old Philips table lamp from the 1950s has a new home on the bedside table.What looks like wood panelling is actually blown vinyl.

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The rather sad bathroom is now stunning after Keith ripped out the old bath and immersion heater and replaced them with a large walk-in shower.

He added a French style table and customised it with a marble top to make a gorgeous stand for the modern sink.

A Kartell Louis Ghost chair and a large Componibili cabinet complete

the scene.

The project, which also included plastering, new windows and a redesign in the garden, took a year. With everything perfect inside, Keith now spends time enjoying country life in characterful Middleham.

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He's also enjoying being able to buy a few new ornaments and accessories that give a new interpretation to rustic.

So there are stags' antlers, tartan cushions, and a miniature silver Massey Ferguson tractor.

He's even got a dog – a six-inch pot model of a black retriever that has pride of place on the mantelpiece.

Keith Smith's The Design Factory, email: [email protected]