I’ve just spent the morning scouting around for unique places to stay in Sussex, like you do, and discovered this intriguing home, which I’m calling a “cottage of curiosities”. It’s in the pretty town of Rye and I thought you might like to know about too.

Dot Cottage is a quintessential English cottage – with a twist. It’s one of three old workers’ cottages in a row, opposite the tempting Knoops hot chocolate shop, close to the centre of town. It’s quaint facade offers little clue to what lies behind the front door…

Inside, it’s an exquisite treasure trove of vintage finds – from the yellow velvet sofa, to the gallery wall, to all the curios, the cubby of crockery, you name it. I’ll let you take a moment to look at all the little details.

Dot’s owner, Catherine, “loves creating worlds” and thrifting for vintage finds is in her genes. “I lived in Spain for five years in my twenties and there’s a day a week in each Barrio when people put what they don’t want any more on the streets,”  she says. “Oh my god what a thrill! We furnished our whole flat from tit bits from the street.”

There’s an open plan lounge-dining room filled complete with a woodburning stove for cosy nights in…

Resting behind the dining table is one of Catherine’s favourite features of the cottage, an old window repurposed into a mirror.

She started creating this magical world no sooner had she moved in. First painting the front room pink – it’s now green – and slowly dismantling the fitted kitchen and putting together a “new” using her eccentric foraged finds to give it its unique farmhouse feel.

Everywhere you turn in Dot Cottage there’s a delightful corner to admire, like this stack of vintage crockery in a nook next to the stairs; a picture gallery in the lounge featuring art by her friends, Leyman Lahcine, Drew Bauer and Tim Redfern.

Upstairs, there’s one cosy kingsize bedroom, home to another of Catherine’s favourite pieces, a part of a fireplace which turns out makes a convenient bed head…

Let’s not forget that the wonderful world of Dot Cottage continues outside into the cute little private courtyard garden, filled with lots of random pots of flowers and rambling climbers, a pleasant spot to sit with your morning coffee or evening glass of rose.

Book your weekend at Dot Cottage in Rye, East Sussex, here.

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