SCENIC BEAUTY

This family retreat in Snowdonia has brought the essence of its surroundings inside and it is all completely captivating

- VIVIENNE AYERS

SITTING AREA The space was designed for revelling in the view, with plenty of seating for the whole family. Sofas, Cheltenham Upholstery; in Simply Glacier, Mark Alexander, and Atlas Saffron, Larsen. Armchairs, Heal's. Coffee tables, Oka. Side tables, Pinch. Nina table lamps, Porta Romana. Floor lamp, Vaughan

Perched between the mountains and the sea, this Victorian former captain's villa enjoys the best of both country and coast with its setting on Balkan Hill in the Snowdonia National Park ensuring captivating views across the Dyfi Estuary.

DINING AREA Throughout the house there are homages to the coastal setting, like the wood and leather dining chairs with backs that resemble windbreaks and curtains that have a slight ripple effect that echo the sand of the estuary. Beam table by Marlieke van Rossum; Abi dining chairs by Christophe Delcourt, all Van Rossum

Its idyllic location and the fact that it is built on a copper mine intrinsically influenced the interior design, with the owners leaning towards use of natural materials and crafted pieces, nods to the seascape and pops of copper tones, and this celebration of the surroundings was orchestrated by Lauren Gilberthorpe of Lauren Gilberthorpe Interiors, who was brought in to ensure this much-loved retreat worked for every generation of the family. 'Our brief was to bring together timeless Victorian pieces with a fresh, coastal style,' she explains. 'The clients trusted us to lead the design direction, which allowed us to play with texture, pattern and scale while prioritising a welcoming and practical flow.'