Isobel Star Interior Design Creates a Welcoming and Layered Cottage Design

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a characterful cottage design by 2025 SBID Awards Finalist, Isobel Star Interior Design.

Isobel Star Interior Design was commissioned to reimagine a historic holiday cottage in Helmsley, to balance character with modern comfort. The design sensitively embraced the cottage’s charm and thoughtfully updated it and maximised functionality. A mix of vintage finds, natural materials, and a warm, timeless palette creates a welcoming, layered, lived-in feel. The bold yellow front door ensures the cottage stands out in holiday listings, while evoking the charm of long English summer days.

What was the client’s brief?

The clients wanted to create a holiday home that felt warm and personal while keeping the charm of the Victorian railway cottage. Their aim was to offer guests something more thoughtful and unique than a standard holiday let, comfortable, welcoming, and full of character. It also had to be practical and easy for the clients to maintain.

What inspired the design of the project?

The cottage itself was the main source of inspiration. I worked with its original features, existing elements such as the bathroom sanitaryware, and the building’s quirks rather than against them choosing colours, textures, and details that embraced the cottage’s history and its countryside setting. I wanted the interior to have the storybook quality of an English country cottage.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

Working within a tight budget was the biggest challenge. We had to make careful choices about where to invest and where to be resourceful. Combining bespoke joinery, window dressings, and quality finishes with vintage finds and high street pieces gave us the right balance.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Seeing the cottage come together as a space that feels both calm and inviting was a real highlight. The tradespeople and delivery teams loved being there as the project took shape, often commenting on how charming and welcoming the cottage felt. The clients are delighted with the finished result, and it has been hugely rewarding to see it so warmly received. Guests have shared wonderful feedback about the interiors, and the cottage is now fully booked well into 2026, with many already planning return visits.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

The SBID Awards are highly respected in the industry, and it felt like the right platform to share a project that shows what can be achieved even on a tight budget and to celebrate the collaborative effort with my clients.

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

It has been a huge boost. As a young studio, it is encouraging to have this recognition so early on. It has helped raise the profile of my work and given me confidence to continue creating projects that are thoughtful and honour the setting and soul of a building.

Questions answered by Isobel Star, Interior Designer & Founder of Isobel Star Design Studio.