A ‘Home Tour’ of Treseren in Cornwall

Built in 1819, this Georgian gem is an old Mine Captain’s House and has been lovingly renovated by owners Emma and Paul Caddis, who have a background in TV, film, and hospitality.

Approaching the renovation project, Emma and Paul were faced with re-wiring, re-plumbing and stripping back layers of dated wallpaper and carpet. They uncovered elegant architectural bones and made some surprise discoveries, including signatures under the stair treads of previous occupants dating back to the 1830’s, revealing the house’s history as a Mine Captain’s residence. Working with a local historian, they discovered the story of Captain John Middleton, a real-life Poldark, who led the rescue effort during Cornwall’s worst ever mining disaster in 1846.

‘Reading the old newspaper cuttings and finding his signature under the stairs felt like we were walking in Captain Middleton’s footsteps. We wanted to honour the history and romance of the house as well as creating a beautiful space fit for the 21st century.” – Emma

Bringing their home up to date, Emma and Paul focused on the architectural features, complementing the soaring archways and period features with a neutral palette, blended with vintage and modern pieces, original Cornish art and natural materials. Juxtaposed to this is the decadent cocktail bar, Loveday’s, which screams 1920’s Great Gatsby glam, complete with a gold-leafed ceiling and vintage chandelier.

‘Slightly hidden around the corner from the stairs, we wanted this room to feel like a secret gem – a special place to discover in the house. Working with brilliant Interior Stylist, Suzanna Symons-Thomas, was one of the best things we did. She joined us mid-way through creating the bar and helped push us out of our comfort zone. We loved every minute of looking at mood boards and going all out glam.’ – Emma

Originally a store room with white walls and restrained décor, the space has been transformed and now features smoky walls in Farrow and Ball’s Charleston Grey, a vintage bar and furniture including a gorgeous cocktail sofa in its original 1950s dusky pink velvet upholstery. The design details are inspired by the history of the house, with a gallery wall featuring the family trees of the Mine Captain families who once lived there. A Georgian hipped mirror with original gilding sits above the fireplace and a pink neon sign hangs above the curvaceous cocktail bar.

The name, Loveday’s came from one of the first residents of the house, Loveday Champion, married to Mine Captain John Champion. The name is captured in neon above the bar, adding a modern twist and evolving the spirit of place from the 1840s to today.

Weddings at Treseren offer a home from home atmosphere in a unique setting, with guests staying for two or three nights and immersing themselves in a bespoke wedding experience, enjoying fine dining, bespoke cocktails and luxury accommodation all under the magic of a Cornish sky.