Rose Hanson and her husband, Josh Widdicombe, a comedian and presenter of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, purchased a Georgian family home on the Cornish coast in 2022. The house, located on the Lizard Peninsula, was the perfect opportunity for Rose to collaborate with designer Charlie Tilbury, with whom she had planned to form a partnership years prior.
The two women had met while Rose was renovating her London home, and they quickly discovered a shared passion for antiques, craftsmanship, and timeless interior design. Their plans for a partnership were put on hold due to the pandemic, but they reunited when Rose and Josh bought the Cornish house.
A New Venture
Rose and Charlie used the renovation of the Georgian house as a springboard to launch their interior design studio, Penrose Tilbury. The house’s traditional layout, with small rooms, was transformed into a more open and communal space, perfect for holidaying with family and friends.
The kitchen was relocated to a room at the back of the house, creating a kitchen-living-dining area that benefits from garden views and natural light. An existing side return was also updated, with a new formal dining room and two bedrooms, each with an en-suite bathroom.
The house had previously belonged to the renowned abstract painter Barrie Cook, whose skill with color was evident in his work. Rose and Charlie were inspired by his choices and used a similar palette of calming and pretty hues throughout the interiors.
Decorating with Character
Rose and Charlie’s design style is characterized by a playful mix of found pieces, layers of soft furnishings, and beautiful lighting. They are particularly fond of vintage and antique pieces, which they use to create a unique and inviting atmosphere.
A notable example of this is the dining room in the new extension, which features a pair of mirrored display units and two Knole sofas. The room has a classic checkerboard stone flooring and opens out onto the garden, creating a sense of flow and connection to the outdoors.
Rose’s passion for collecting vintage fabrics has also added character to the interiors, with many of her finds being used as cushions and window treatments. A particularly special find is the Pierre Frey silk, which now takes pride of place as the Roman blind in the family bathroom.
The success of the renovation is not only due to Rose and Charlie’s talent for spotting hidden gems but also the team of local professionals who helped them bring their vision to life. From electrical and plumbing work to gardening and design, everyone involved was local to the area, including A Carey Electrical, D&J Bray Plumbing & Heating, Tom Austin Gardens, and Yello Environment & Design.
One of the most striking features of the house is the use of bold colors and statement pieces, which add a delightful charm to the home. The pink lights in the seating area, for example, were a bold choice, but one that ultimately paid off. As Charlie recalls, I remember the builder holding them up and asking us, “Are you sure?”’ But Rose and Charlie were right to trust their instincts.
The house’s interiors are still warm and inviting, ideal for quiet family holidays or hosting friends. However, there is an inherently playful atmosphere that adds a unique touch to the home. The fact that it’s a holiday home gave Rose and Charlie the freedom to push the boundaries and incorporate more luxurious and unexpected elements into the design.
The house is now a beautiful and functional space, perfect for holidaying with family and friends. The kitchen-living-dining area is the heart of the house, and the formal dining room and bedrooms provide ample space for relaxation and entertainment. The Georgian architecture of the house provides the perfect backdrop for their design style.
Rose and Charlie’s vision for the house began to take shape as the renovation progressed. The new extension, with its formal dining room and two bedrooms, each with an en-suite bathroom, was a significant improvement over the previous layout.