Description
Fae Chapel is a secret slice of unadulterated charm, nestled in remote Welsh mountainside country. This home, so fittingly named, carries with it a longstanding artistic and local heritage. Today, Fae Chapel offers a tranquil retreat, in the heart of hiking terrain, full of original charm and designer panache.
Finished with natural flair, this charismatic home is dotted with uplifting touches, while the quality of furnishings and fittings remain impeccable. Fae Chapel is an eighteenth-century original baptist chapel, converted in the 1980s, and given an interiors refresh by the current owner in 2015.
Far from being just another anonymous holiday rental, the sense of personal commitment to this stylish bolthole is evident, from the pot of home-made jam to the generations-old paintings of Welsh fairies, hinting at the folklore of the region (a legacy of the owner’s grandmother.)
This home with-a-difference has a deceptively austere exterior, with its classic, Baptist chapel facade entirely intact. Linear and tall-standing, the chapel is framed with slate-grey Welsh stone and a jade green front door. It overlooks the charmingly over-grown and un-manicured graveyard, with its two distinctive sequoia trees with their cinnamon coloured bark.
Ideal for writers, designers, foodies, artists and walkers, Fae Chapel is a veritable retreat from the bustle of crowds and urban living, it offers a unique space full of quirky charm and eccentric interiors, overlooking the silvery peaks of the Brecon Beacons.
The owner is a writer/ film producer who comes from generations of local family, her ancestry being notable local characters who were lovers of the land and artists. This home offers ultimate, tranquil seclusion in the heart of nature for those who wish to escape to a mystical, Welsh idyll, fully set up for accomplished self caterers.
The kitchen is full of fifties-inspired touches, from the creamy cupboard doors with toned mustard handles, to the printed wall-paper in the style of Orla Kiely. Accents of canary yellow, aqua and powder blue worktops give this space a youthful feel, while the monochrome floor tiles, vintage crockery and retro pastel-toned appliances provide an abundance of designer flair.
The dining space is open plan, ideal for informal breakfasts, with views of the beautifully wooded graveyard. The sleek, polished fifties style table provides a wonderful spot to enjoy a fresh coffee, farm-produced creamy buttered toast and hand-made marmalade.
The paintings, at every turn, are reminiscent of Welsh folklore and mythology; the Celtic taste for a rich sense of other-worldliness is vivid; Welsh folklore is largely told through a longstanding poetic heritage, in which tylwyth teg (fairy folk) featured prominently.
Fae Chapel offers a little haven of escapism, with its playful design aesthetic and references to Welsh folklore, this home is an antidote to modern paced living. Even the guest lavatory imbibes the retro theme: with flamingo print walls and power blue fittings, no detail is left under-thought in the unique home!
With characteristic thick, solid walls, the living room is cosy and inviting, with the log-burning stone and original chimney breast as the centrepiece. Designed for ultimate “downtime,” the sofas are exquisitely upholstered in tweed and suede style fabrics; the thematic patterned wallpaper offers accents of deep purple, complementing the beautifully polished brass mirror. With ambient lamp lighting, thick curtains, and sofas, this is a space to snuggle up away from the mountain chill in the glow of the fire. The bookshelf is bursting with holiday reading as well as walking maps and guides, and an extensive DVD collection thanks to the film industry professional owner!
Fae Chapel is suitable for either two couples, or a small family with older children. This charming home offers two, airy double bedrooms, both with en-suite bathrooms and sumptuous king size beds, finished with wonderful soft furnishings including silk printed cushions and locally crafted quilts. One of the bedrooms has views of Pen Y Fan - which can be viewed from the vantage spot of the bed; while the other bedroom has views across the churchyard.
The original, arched chapel windows offer the bedrooms a timeless elegance, as well as abundant natural daylight. The bathrooms are nothing less than exquisite in their finishes - with the same wonderful arched windows, one boasts a claw-footed bath tub. An additional note of luxury being natural seaweed bathroom products and thick, fluffy hotel style towels!
The Churchyard room has a woodland themed wallpaper, finished with a calm and neutral palette, it is a well-proportioned space, brimming with personal style. With a solid, mahogany antique dresser, beautifully upholstered chair and woodland themed paintings; this is an enchanting escape from modern life.
The “secret garden” room has floral patterned wallpaper in a space that is unequivocally pretty! With dusty pink velvet curtains and a window-side writing desk with a beautiful blown glass lamp, this is the ultimate writers “nook.” With stunning Designers Guild cushions, dresser with mirror and jade coloured bathroom tiles; this is a romantic haven of peace and design indulgence!
The outdoor space comprises a charming courtyard, fragrant with terracotta potted marigolds and blossoming trellis. This space is furnished with two wicker sofas and a log burner. Nothing else can conjure such an authentic Welsh mountainside ambience as that scent of burning logs in the air! Sprigs of rosemary and thyme are on hand for guests’ roast dinners. Visitors will enjoy relaxing, perhaps after a morning hike, with a good book, or an evening glass of wine along with some local goats cheese and cold cuts as the sun softens over the mountains.
Picnics in the churchyard, surrounded by pretty cottages and farms, offer a unique al fresco dining experience in unadulterated tranquillity.
Wifi connection is fast, so those who wish to work from home will be able to do so, choosing from one of the two desks with a view, or, those who wish to ‘cosy up’ with Netflix and a glass of wine are in luck!
Whether it be a cosy, snuggly winter retreat, or a summer idyll of mountain tranquillity, Fae Chapel offers a unique, vibrant, home-like, yet flawlessly comfortable haven, brimming with idiosyncratic charm and personal style, in an area of outstanding natural beauty. /n Security deposit /n £500 credit card authorisation required, it is refunded in full subject to a damage inspection on departure. /n Arrival time /n 3.30 pm onwards /n Departure time /n Before 10.30 am /n Energy costs included? /n Included in the rental price /n Linen & towels included? /n Included in the rental price /n Pets welcome? /n Pets not allowed /n Changeover day /n Friday and Saturday for weekly bookings or any days short breaks /n End of stay cleaning included? /n Included in the rental price /n Smoking Allowed? /n No smoking inside the villa /n Minimum stay /n 3 nights /n Heating costs included? /n Included in the rental price /n Internet access? /n Wifi connection included
