In the utterly beautiful and almost majestic Cornwall, on the southwest coast of England, where rugged cliffs meet crisp blue waters. There, you will find Christen Pears reading a book and having a cocktail in the Bell Tower window, looking out over the harbor. Since settling down in Cornwall in 2013 with her husband, they have renovated an 18th-century farm into three holiday cottages and transformed the characteristic Bell Tower into a Scandinavian-design dream for guests to rent while exploring the Cornish landscape.
Christen Pears is a journalist turned fitness professional who now runs a holiday letting business. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, arranging flowers, and collecting and selling vintage glassware—all while padding around in her Inabo slippers.
You had a career in journalism before settling down in Cornwall, and now you are a Pilates instructor and rent out holiday cottages. It seems like you have chosen a lifestyle that gives you more time at home and more opportunities to enjoy your hobbies. How has this lifestyle change impacted your daily life and the way you engage in your hobbies?
I certainly thought that a career change would give me more opportunities to enjoy my hobbies but sadly, the reality of running my own business is that I seem to have less time for myself than when I was a journalist. Like a lot of small business owners, I find it quite difficult to drag myself away from work so I have to make a conscious effort and put aside some time for leisure activities.
Your interior design has been featured in several magazines, among them Country Living and Magnolia Journal. Please describe your inspiration for designing the holiday cottages and your home. What is your interior aesthetic?
I’d describe my interiors style as modern rustic. I’ve been strongly influenced by the buildings themselves; the house is an 18th century farmhouse and the cottages have been converted from the old outbuildings. I’ve tried to reflect this in the use of natural materials such as wood, stone and slate but I also have a passion for midcentury design, particularly the work of the great Danish designers like Borge Mogensen, Arne Jacobsen and Poul Henningsen. I think their designs are timeless and they work beautifully in any setting, including a Cornish farmhouse. I’ve deliberately chosen mostly vintage pieces partly because I love their patina but also because they have less environmental impact than new items. I don’t like interiors to look overly designed and am a great believer in Josef Frank’s theory of Accidentism. I hope the spaces I’ve created look if they’ve evolved over time.
From one insider to another, I too have a small obsession with collecting porcelain. How did your interest arise, and how did it become this joyful side business?
I’m very lucky to live close to The Leach Pottery, one of the most influential pottery studios in the world. I became interested in pottery after visiting a few years ago and interviewing their lead potter for a magazine article. At first, I just collected pieces but in the last couple of years I’ve started throwing pots myself. I’m not particularly good at it but it’s a wonderful creative outlet and I enjoy it very much.
You have the tradition of making a Friday cocktail each week. Please tell us more about the tradition and what setting you prefer when sipping on your cocktails?
The Friday Night Cocktail dates back to when I was living in Bermuda. Chris was working on a sailing ship from Monday to Friday and when he and the crew came home at the end of the week, we all used to celebrate with a cocktail or two. I didn’t know very much about cocktails in those days but my friend and I now source and sell vintage glassware and we’re always keen to try out our new discoveries. There’s something very satisfying about the ritual of making a cocktail and it’s a lovely way to mark the start of the weekend.
Reading is clearly a cherished pastime for you. What role does reading play in your life, and do you have any books or authors that inspire you?
I’ve loved reading for as long as I can remember. I’m an only child so it was always a way for me to entertain myself but also to connect to other people and stories. Interestingly, I’ve found my love of reading has helped me make real life connections through the book reviews I post on Instagram. The reading community on there is a very supportive and informative one. I love so many books and authors it’s difficult to narrow them down but I particularly enjoy the works of 20th century British women writers including Elizabeth Bowen, Elizabeth Taylor and Barbara Pym. I also enjoy Golden Age detective fiction and the Sherlock Holmes stories as well as works by the great thriller writers including Eric Ambler and Graham Greene. My guilty pleasure is Jilly Cooper.
What are your favorite cozy spots where you like to unwind with a book, a cup of tea, and your Inabo slippers?
You’ll usually find me reading on the sofa or in bed but when we don’t have any guests in The Bell Tower, I love to curl up on one of the window seats. The only problem is that the view can be quite distracting.
Finally, if one were to rent one of your holiday homes, what would you recommend they do during their stay?
There’s a lot to do in this part of Cornwall but if you’re a first time visitor I would highly recommend a visit to The Barbara Hepworth Sculpture Garden in St Ives and, of course, The Leach Pottery. We also have the wonderful Minack Theatre, an outdoor theatre carved into the cliffs above Porthcurno beach. Exploring the coastline is a must and there are lots of wonderful walks along the South West Coast Path. For those keen on swimming, you can take a dip in Penzance’s art deco lido, The Jubilee Pool, or enjoy a swim at Prussia Cove which just a couple of miles from the cottages.
