Sometimes you just need some time away don't you to recharge your batteries don't you? We managed to book a few days off work and head to a beautiful cottage in picturesque Suffolk village last week, and we were relatively lucky with the weather too, so phew. As we were away for less than a week we chose somewhere that wouldn't take us too long to travel to, but somewhere that still felt "away" - our choices were Kent, Hampshire or Suffolk. Kent felt too close to home and more day-trippable and in the end it came down to the accommodation we could book.

And we weren't disappointed. Despite it being so close to Norfolk, a county we're familiar with, it felt different and its landscape was different too with it's timbered cottages, often pink and yellow cropped fields. The fields weren't the only yellow thing though, this welcome bunch of flowers of dahlias and jasmine on the kitchen table was a nice touch, as was the carrier bag full of purple snake beans. And the bottle of fizz in the fridge.

welcome flowers at Oak Hill Granary in Fressingfield

The cottage is a former granary and the kitchen still has the original first floor doors, and the walls were full of character - most noticeable in the pretty ground floor bedroom.

The bedroom at Oak Hill Granary in Fressingfield

It wasn't just the bedroom that was full of character, the whole cottage was and unusually for a holiday cottage the kitchen was full of useful items, and some decorative ones too.

Quirks and a well stocked kitchen at Oak Hill Granary in Fressingfield

A pretty double height kitchen at Oak Hill Granary in Fressingfield

There's those doors I mentioned before.

The original doors at Oak Hill Granary in Fressingfield

For me the kitchen was the best space in the cottage and the double height area meant those doors could really shine. The photo below is taken from the galleried upstairs and gives a good view of the kitchen (and all of our junk - I really should remember to take pictures before we empty the car!)

looking down on the kitchen at Oak Hill Granary in Fressingfield

Upstairs there were a couple of comfy sofas, a church pew and a TV which we didn't even attempt to turn on, it was one of those restful holidays were our usual routine went out of the window. From upstairs there were also great views of the front garden of the owner's house which we were welcomed to use, along with their vineyard - more on that another day.

homely sofas with great cushions upstairs at Oak Hill Granary in Fressingfield

looking down to the garden below at Oak Hill Granary in Fressingfield

Investigating the front garden at Oak Hill Granary in Fressingfield

I think you can tell a lot about a cottage from its bathroom, and this one didn't disappoint with it's lino-ed floor, duck boards and toiletries.

the bathroom at Oak Hill Granary in Fressingfield

toiletries at Oak Hill Granary in Fressingfield

Throughout the cottage there was some great artwork, the first two below hanging in the bathroom.

Some of the nostalgic artwork at Oak Hill Granary in Fressingfield

A framed magazine at Oak Hill Granary in Fressingfield

The French theme continued with the artwork in the bedroom with this "Le Journal de Mickey" something I've not seen before.

Great artwork at Oak Hill Granary in Fressingfield

Upstairs though the walls were adorned with plenty of modern art, my favourite is below.

Plenty of modern art too at Oak Hill Granary in Fressingfield

Although it provoked some debate amongst MOH and I - was it a stack of records, or blueberries or just purple shapes. I guess that's what modern art at its best does, provokes reaction. But I still think it's blueberries...

I was glad I'd packed a colouring book and some coloured pencils as it was the perfect peaceful evening pastime. I must remember to carry this on now I'm home!

Creating my own art and taking some time to do some mindful colouring at Oak Hill Granary in Fressingfield

Do you abandon your normal routines when you're away, especially when holidaying in the UK?