Case Study: A Light-Filled Home Designed for Calm Living
From a knocked-down bungalow to a light-filled coastal retreat. How thoughtful material choices and sculptural lighting helped one Cornish home find its character.
Spotlighting this light and contemporary home, thoughtfully curated by Tracey from @lived_in_and_loved where natural textures and a soft palette come together to create a calm and balanced interior. Illuminated by our signature No.1 Pendant, Neap Wall Light and a trio of our Bue Pendants over the island, the lighting introduces movement and gentle sculptural interest while zoning the kitchen and dining areas.
In this blog, we caught up with Tracey to explore the design thinking behind the space and how each element was chosen to create a relaxed, liveable home.
Can you tell us about your project?
We had been looking for a property in Cornwall for a while when the bungalow on this site came on the market. It needed a lot of work! We knew it would be a big renovation project but after discussing the pros and cons it made sense to knock it down and rebuild.
As well as being more cost effective it meant we were able to dig down and build a house with two floors! It's been a long project as it's not easy managing a building at a long distance and dealing with coastal weather as well as its environment but we are almost there now!
How does living in Cornwall influence the way you approach your interiors and the atmosphere you want to create at home?
This is a holiday home for us to use when we are down visiting friends and family, but we have also designed the building with the potential to holiday let. We have a large open plan living, dining, kitchen area upstairs to make the most of the sea views and most of the bedrooms are downstairs, with large doors leading onto the garden and to also make the most of the views of the sea. We want to relax here and enjoy it, so we chose a lot of natural materials inside and out that blend in with the natural environment of the area.
What drew you to the No.1 Pendant for your dining space, and where did you want it to sit within the room?
When we were designing the house we knew we wanted a pendant in the middle of the room. This is what you see when you walk into the property so we wanted the wow factor without taking the attention away from the view. We also had a lot of space to work with so the bigger the better. The fact that the pendant is made from oak works beautifully with the kitchen and the rest of the interior, and also we loved how they were sustainable & made locally — it was so important for us!
What role did the Bue pendants play in shaping your kitchen design — how essential is island lighting for you?
These lights were perfect! We knew we wanted 3 pendants above the island, and knowing we had the large statement pendant over the dining table we wanted the island lights to be subtle. The shape & colour work really well with the kitchen & the use of oak on the fittings tie it in nicely with the rest of the room. Our island is essential for carrying out tasks but these beautiful pendants add interest to the space as well.
How did the shape and material of the light change the feel of the room once it was installed?
We have a few pendants and wall lights from Tom Raffield in the house and what drew us to them were the natural material they're made from and their minimalist style. Each light transformed a dull space or plain wall into a more sophisticated space. They are functional pieces of art!
What is it about handmade or natural materials that appeals to you in your home?
We have a lot of windows focusing on the view outside, we want to work with this inside the house as well as being more sustainable and local with our product choices. Internally we wanted natural materials, so the lights work perfectly.
How does the lighting change the space in the evening?
When the lights are on in the evenings they create the most beautiful silhouettes on the walls. The lighting is soft & relaxing, I love them!
How important is sustainability to you when making design choices at home, and do you try to prioritise pieces that feel timeless rather than trend-led?
We definitely aim to invest in a piece of furniture, knowing that it will last — "buy well, buy once". Trends come and go and are costly to follow with furniture so we prefer to buy items we like knowing they will last. Finding sustainable timeless classics like Tom Raffield lights is always our preference.
Posted: 01.05.26
Updated: 01.05.26