Sophie Pearn has lived at The Cottage for two and a half years.
Sophie Pearn, 31, is originally from St Day in Cornwall and has lived at The Cottage for two and a half years. She recently graduated from UWE in Bristol with a MSc in Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes at the Metanoia Institute. The Cottage is a co-operative house that’s been running for 20 years. The building was originally abandoned and was used as a squat but now it is home to over 11 people that run ticketed parties in their back garden. Tia Boddey interviewed Sophie about living there as part of our My Pad series…
What led you to Falmouth?
Falmouth holds nostalgic memories for me because I used to spend a lot of time here with my friend that passed away when we were 18.
We would go out loads and she was a big diver so she would show me all the places that she went diving around Falmouth.
So it had a lot of sentimental value to me and I just, in a really weird spiritual way, felt like she was calling me to here and was like, this is your next chapter.
How would you describe The Cottage in three words?
Home, magic, and chaos.
What does living at The Cottage mean to you?
It means I can live as authentically as possible in a creative way with kind people that all have a shared vision of community.
I think we all really take pride in the fact that we’re really grateful to live here and that it really is a blessing with how the housing situation is.
Because it’s a co-operative, there’s so much we can do with the space that you couldn’t do in a regular house.
Our bathroom has a gold ceiling because we randomly decided to paint it at midnight, why not?
Is there anything specific that you personally do to make where you live feel more homely?
I am a trinkets and treasures girl.
I need home comforts and all of those cozy, tactile things like candles.
But I would say for me, when you live in a big house, people love food, and I love cooking, so I just love bringing people together around the dinner table.
Do you see yourself living here long term?
I think about going away, but then I envision what my next project is or who we’re going to get for the next event.
I’ve only ever lived in Cornwall and Bristol, so I’ve definitely got really itchy feet to go and experience other cultures.
One day I might quite like to buy a van and travel, so I could come back and maybe live in a van here.
I could see myself being here long term, but if the right opportunity came up I would change it because I know that I could come back.
Sophie’s back garden where music events are held bi-yearly. She is pictured at the home-made bar.