Located on the picturesque Duke Street in central Padstow, on the north coast of Cornwall, is the home of landscape painter Sarah Adams, who for the past 18 years has slowly and carefully restored and extended the seaside property.
A characterful house, which features two bedrooms, a kitchen, dining and living area and study, plus a two-storey gallery, studio and workshop, is now for sale, and offers the chance to combine luxury coastal living in a sought-after seaside location, plus the option to run a small business in the old town.
‘After 18 amazing years here I feel it’s time for a change,’ Sarah tells House Beautiful, ‘and have decided to retire from running a gallery to concentrate on my own work. I love my home and studio, but I’ve decided to downsize now, and let a new person write the next chapter in the story of 30, Duke Street.’
The architectural and geological aspects of the North Cornwall coastline often dominate Sarah’s paintings
The south-facing gallery, which is the oldest part of the building, has a lovely shop window which Sarah uses to promote her own work and that of other contemporary artists. There’s a second exhibition space above, and on the top floor is where Sarah’s studio currently resides, complete with a rather fitting paint-spattered floor. With high ceilings and a mezzanine to store her canvases, it also offers pretty views over the rooftops of Padstow’s Old Town. A versatile space that is bathed in natural light, it could be an additional retail space, or residential accommodation.
The house sits behind this, and can be accessed either from the gallery or via the wrap-around back garden. There’s a lot to admire in this home, from the arched gothic doors, to the timber-framed glazed extension which houses the open-plan kitchen, dining and living space.
Notably, too, there’s a cedar-clad extension upstairs, designed by Sarah to resemble an old village hall or school building, with engineered ash floors (the same hardwearing finish developed for the Saatchi Gallery).
Throughout, the interiors are light and bright with a clean aesthetic and a neutral, pared-back palette. Unsurprisingly, art decorates the walls, with reclaimed items used to furnish the home. We love all the details too: Treasures (namely seashells) are works of art themselves, displayed in glass cabinets, while bookshelves are styled with white tomes.
White-painted cabinetry and stainless steel worktops are key features of the bespoke kitchen. There’s a plate rack above the sink and a built-in dresser, providing ample space for crockery. Steps from the kitchen lead to a raised dining room and snug, centred around a large double-sided wood-burning stove, converted by Hotpod from a repurposed spun steel trawler net bobbin.
A large, reception room with singular north-facing light is currently used by Sarah as a study and music room. In here you’ll find exposed beams, scissor trusses and high ceilings, plus extensive glazing. The patio can be accessed by concertina doors from the kitchen and from French doors in the dining and living areas.
In the main bedroom, painted in a pale blue to connect to the coastal landscape, Sarah has repositioned the door to take advantage of the outlook. It’s a wonderful spot to enjoy a morning coffee in bed with a view of the tide.
Meanwhile the garden, which feels like a private sanctuary away from any sort of bustle, is characterised by Delabole slate-clad walls and low-maintenance beds filled with lavender, fruit trees, roses and a range of shrubs.
Just like the house, the garden is built into a hill, so there are terraced areas with spaces for a table and chairs, and the higher up you go, the better the views get. Positioned at the top is a sheltered bench, the ideal spot to watch boats on the estuary. There’s also a footpath from the back of the garden which leads to the estuary and beaches, skipping the town centre and providing access for coastal walks.
‘Padstow is a wonderful place to live and work, so full of life, with a close-knit, year round community; quiet off season and lively in the warmer months,’ says Sarah. ‘I’ve loved having the gallery as an annexe to my studio, and many of the gallery visitors have become friends over the years. The location is amazing, the shelter of the Camel Estuary and the ruggedness of the North Cornwall Coast have inspired my work.’
The property is on the market via Inigo for £1,500,000.
Take a tour below…
The gallery space on the ground floor with a shop window
The gallery on the ground floor is filled with Sarah’s work and that of contemporary artists
There’s another gallery on the first floor with white-painted floorboards
This is Sarah’s studio, where all the creativity happens
The studio walls are filled with her paintings and offers lovely views out beyond
The all-white kitchen is contrasted with stainless steel worktops
The wood-burning stove takes centre stage in the open-plan living area
The study could also be used as a living room
The garden is a secluded, tranquil space
This is the rear of the property with a view of the garden
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Olivia Heath is the Daily Editor at House Beautiful. Heading up all things digital, Olivia loves nothing more than uncovering tomorrow’s biggest design trends and revealing the best tips and tricks to help you decorate your home like an interior designer. Week by week Olivia shares the most stylish high street buys to help you get the look for less (while compiling her very own, and rather lengthy, homeware lust list) and showcases the best makeovers (who doesn’t love a before & after?), as well as the hottest and most unique properties on the market.
Prior to making the switch to interiors on House Beautiful, Olivia worked at Reveal magazine, where she reported on celebrity and entertainment news by day, and attended showbiz parties and red carpet events by night! Olivia has an MA in Journalism with an NCTJ qualification, and a BA in Journalism and Media & Cultural Studies.
