At Home With Michelle @crosswatercottage
This week we are at home with Michelle the lady behind the visually stunning home instagram account @crosswatercottage where she shares images of her incredibly beautiful self-build country cottage and her day to day life wither her husband and dogs. Michelle's home is set in amazing scenic countryside and we love it..
Tell us a bit about you
I live in Co. Down Northern Ireland with my husband Eddie and our 4 dogs. We live in a new build at the foot of the Mourne mountains which we moved into a year or so ago. I work full time as a large animal vet and enjoy mountain walks with the pack, DIY projects and a bit of crafting when I find a spare moment.
Tell us about your home
Our home is a self-build which my husband and I were heavily involved in. In fact, so much so that Eddie built it! It is a new home, but we tried to be sympathetic of our beautiful surroundings with a country cottage style. The stone we used on the exterior is Mourne granite and is local to the area. Ours came from the little cottage that used to stand here hundreds of years ago. I love character in a home, and we have tried to add it throughout our build. From exposed beams, sliding sash windows and traditional stone walls.
How would you describe your home?
I have never really thought that I have a certain style, as I have just picked things we like and tried to make them work. But now that it is starting to come together, I think it reflects a traditional country theme.
Which is your favourite room in the house?
My favourite room would have to be our bathroom. It really is the most relaxing room. We have a feature wall in stone, different lighting levels and the comfiest free-standing bath. Close the door and I’m in my very own spa.
How does your home reflect any passions or interests that you have?
Everything country! From the cottage kitchen to the DIY tartan pelmets. The colours, pictures and style reflects what we love…the countryside and all the animals that come with it. I naturally gravitate to things which look old and have a little rustic charm.
What are your favourite items in the home?
I love our kitchen table and chairs, rustic and practical. Oh and our hot tap, literally one of the best inventions ever.
When you moved into your house was it the finished article or was it a project?
Oh, it is far from the finished article and very much a labour of love. We have a blank canvas which is lovely and as we live in the house, we have more and more ideas for what we would like.
Have you done any renovation?
We are definitely up for tackling anything. Between us we have built walls, tiled and grouted floors, built the fireplace, painted everything, sowed out our garden, made pelmets, made a trellis, panelled walls, made a footstool, built a hen house, created a vegetable patch and made patio furniture.
Pretty sure there will be more to come!!
Have you had any DIY or styling disasters?
Yes! I colour matched some paint for our bedroom, it was supposed to be ‘setting plaster’ after I had 3 coats of paint on, I realised the room was more 3 year old girl barbie pink than the relaxing hue I was going for!
What is your top home styling tip?
Ha! I definitely don’t feel qualified to answer this one, but what I would say is choose things you love. Not just because it’s on trend or fashionable but because looking at it makes you happy.
Is there anything in your home that you couldn’t live without?
To be honest not really, to me a home is more about the people (and dogs) that live in it. That’s what makes it extra special.
They say that every home tells visitors a story about who lives there. What do you think your home says about you?
This person is in love with all things rustic and country! I hope it would be inviting and welcoming, somewhere where you can feel at home and cosy up with a good book.
The Home Edit
Lived-in look or showhome?
Lived- in
If you could only paint your walls one colour, which one would it be?
School house white
What is your pet hate when it comes to your own or other’s homes?
Lots of shiny glitzy things, just not my cuppa tea.
Favourite front door colour
Green
Carpet or Floorboards
Floorboards
Kitchen table dining or formal dining room?
Kitchen table
High gloss or rustic?
Rustic
Wallpaper or Brick Walls?
Brick walls
Want More?
If you enjoyed being at home with Michelle, you might like to take a look inside other popular home styling accounts on instagram and find out more about the people behind them. You can see more of these "at home with" articles here