A stunning garden bathroom boasting a beautiful freestanding tin tub with a divine view of the stars isn’t the only interesting feature about The Workers Cottage.
The delightful three-bedroom period cottage also boasts a storied past; having once been owned by the late Queen Elizabeth II as part of her Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
Interior designer Jolene Marshall and her family are only the property’s third owners, having bought it in 2020, and extensively renovated it from top to bottom the following year.
Prior to this, Jolene tells me, the 19th-century property hadn’t been touched in years. Now, completely transformed, The Workers Cottage is a hugely popular holiday home [theworkerscottage.co.uk] and it is also hired out as a location house for brand shoots.
And it also has a to-die-for outside bathroom, which was featured in The Times.
Jolene says: “In May 2020, my family and I fell in love with a charming cottage in our home county of Norfolk, inspiring the birth of The Workers Cottage.
“It hadn’t been modernised for decades but it wasn’t hard to fall in love with this period property and the idyllic location. It is a very special place.
“This retreat is a testament to timeless design, blending old-world charm with modern elegance. The sensitive top to toe restoration work was carried out over the course of a year by a small selection of local trades.
“The interiors, designed and curated by me, exude a naturally timeless aesthetic, incorporating bespoke details and unique finds to elevate the spaces.
“What stood out to us was the property's magical ambiance, even before renovation. It captured our hearts and led to its transformation into a haven for guests seeking something exceptional.”
Jolene, 44, who lives in Norfolk with her husband Jason and their three children, has worked as an interior designer for more than two decades.
Her extensive and distinguished list of clients include those with an ultra-high net-worth, but Jolene isn’t at liberty to say who.
She founded her company Landed Projects to offer clients a comprehensive service to develop their property portfolios offering bespoke project management and interior design services.
Jolene tells me: “While client confidentiality is paramount, in my career I've had the privilege of managing remarkable projects across the globe from Penthouses in New York to luxurious pool and spa facilities and modern country estates.
“My clients now are a mix of boutique hospitality, property developers and property consultancies with UK based projects.
“This year, I am eager to bring my expertise to these rural settings, crafting bespoke solutions that harmonise with the natural surroundings and elevate the charm of countryside residences.”
The holiday cottage sleeps six guests in three bedrooms, and is a 15-minute drive from the wonderful North Norfolk coast.
On the ground floor, guests will find the boot-room as well as a utility room with a large Belfast sink.
Then it's in the spacious hand-painted kitchen-dining space, decorated in chalky tones with an original exposed flint wall. Curl up in the cosy lounge, featuring oak flooring, and a log burner.
Open the double French doors to step out to the outdoor kitchen, perfect for prepping food for a BBQ, and take in the vast 100-metre-long garden, in which Danielle tells me the family are working hard to preserve the legacy of the previous owner who was a passionate gardener.
Here, guests will find some of the old orchard trees, with an apple and pear tree still providing an annual harvest. At the bottom of the garden, a bistro table underneath a scented pine offers a perfect spot to sit with an evening drink or a morning coffee.
It’s also home to one of the property’s more opulent features: the outdoor bathroom, which was inspired by the family’s stays at Soho Farmhouse, using reclaimed timber, brass lighting and a freestanding tin tub.
Jolene tells me: “The standout feature of the cottage is the bath cabin overlooking the garden, a significant investment providing guests with a unique and luxurious experience.
“I wanted to create the element of escapism and the feeling of being surrounded by nature.
“We have recreated an outdoor bathing experience with a rustic luxe outdoor bath cabin. An outdoor copper shower and a luxurious double-ended bath provide Guests with the most stunning, and private, place to relax all year round.
“Shower off in the garden on a hot day and sink into a deep bubble bath in the evening surrounded by trees and birdsong.”
Back inside the cottage, on the first floor, there are three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Guests in the master bedroom will be afforded breathtaking views over the garden and the neighbouring Sandringham estate-owned fields.
Jolene has mixed 20th-century furniture pieces with contemporary craftsmanship throughout.
The second bedroom features raw oak details as well as natural texture lime plastered walls; while the third bedroom boasts two single beds with beautiful bespoke headboards by Fermoie.
“The style of the interior is a naturally timeless aesthetic blending a careful mix of old and new.
“My favourite space in The Workers Cottage is the kitchen, a sociable hub overlooking the garden created by merging smaller rooms.
“The dining spaces are the most social spaces. In the winter sitting around the large table in the kitchen while someone cooks, or sipping on a coffee on one of the armchairs by the French doors and in the summer the indoor/outdoor living with the outdoor kitchen and seating area comes to life.
“While summer brings the garden to life, guests adore the cosy allure of the cottage during autumn and winter. The wood burner season enhances the cottage's warmth, inviting guests to relax and unwind.”
So where in The Working Cottage does Jolene like to go to relax: “The snug. The woodburner on, reading one of the many books from the design book library in the cottage with a cup of tea and a biscuit – or maybe a wine!”
The interior designer admits renting out a holiday cottage can be hard work - maintaining the property to an exact standard inside and out and staying on top of regulations.
She says it certainly isn’t passive income, as she manages the branding, booking systems, marketing herself rather than hiring a management company.
But, she admits, it’s worth it - not least for the wonderful comments left by guests after their stay.
Jolene, who will be looking for more interior design projects outside of London in 2024, tells me: "Among the many heartwarming compliments, and those guests who come and stay time and again, the biggest compliment has been when a guest chose our cottage as the backdrop for a marriage proposal in May 2022, and we worked with him to set the scene for a romantic proposal in the garden, a moment we're immensely proud of.
“They are returning for their wedding weekend in 2024, which speaks volumes about the memorable experiences we offer.”
