A foraged & homemade Welsh country Christmas
If I close my eyes and imagine my perfect Christmas country retreat it might look something like this. Although it seems to have fallen straight out of a fairytale, this isn’t a magazine photoshoot – it’s a real home. What’s more it’s available to rent through The Welsh House, so you can book a stay for your own taste of the fairytale.
The vision and creation of Dorian Bowen, Ty Unnos is a traditional thatched cottage in a remote corner of Carmarthenshire. The idea behind the house originates from an old Welsh tradition in which it was believed by some that if a person could build a house on common land in one night then the land would belong to them.
This is a real ‘home-made home’ built in a traditional way using materials readily to hand, stones from the fields, clay from the ground and timber from the woods – an authentic reconstruction of the legendary ‘one night house’ built between sunset and sunrise.
I was lucky enough to be an early visitor to Ty Unnos shortly after Dorian completed work on it last year and it really was like stepping back in time to a museum quality interior. Internally the cottage has been furnished with traditional Welsh antiques inspired bya slate worker’s cottage from North Wales relocated in St Fagan’s National History Museum. The only truly modern element is the bathroom which features a stunning cantilevered bath!
Dorian made the tree out of larch twigs. I think it is quite possibly the most beautiful Christmas tree I have ever seen.
Picture windows offer inspiring views of the rustic Welsh landscape and lime-washed walls and antique Welsh furnishings lend it the air of retreat, with a refreshing lack of 21st century gadgetry.
Images © Ioan Davies.
Just beautiful!
Just beautiful!
This is exceptionally beautiful. I love the book ornaments! Extraordinary!
This is exceptionally beautiful. I love the book ornaments! Extraordinary!
What a beautiful cosy place, now this says Christmas to me 🙂 That tree is absolutely amazing too.
What a beautiful cosy place, now this says Christmas to me 🙂 That tree is absolutely amazing too.
Thank you all for your comments. Ty Unnos really is every bit as magical as it looks in these pictures and I feel truly honoured to be able to feature Dorian's beautiful creation here on Design Hunter
Thank you all for your comments. Ty Unnos really is every bit as magical as it looks in these pictures and I feel truly honoured to be able to feature Dorian's beautiful creation here on Design Hunter
Gotta love those foraged materials. This just shows that you don't have to spend a lot on decorations. Great job!
Gotta love those foraged materials. This just shows that you don't have to spend a lot on decorations. Great job!
Wonderful photos – the true spirit of Christmas is here – I really really must try those recycled paperback decorations. And that tree is just truely inspiring! Beautiful!
Wonderful photos – the true spirit of Christmas is here – I really really must try those recycled paperback decorations. And that tree is just truely inspiring! Beautiful!