Arriving late at night in Rococco, I opened the door and was welcomed with the warmth of the property as well as the smell of fresh flowers. Throwing off my heels, I walked up the stairs to the living area and smiled happily at the stunning interiors, the generous welcome hamper and the lovely ambiance – relaxation begins! One of the first things I spotted was the deep roll top bath and I knew how I wanted to spend my evening. Popping open a bottle of wine, grabbing the Roberts radio and the bubble bath, I sunk into the heavenly hot water listening to my favourite tunes. I couldn’t remember the last time I had enjoyed a bubble bath without someone knocking at the door or a cat meowing to be fed – the only thing I could hear was the light music coming through the speakers and the scrunchy sound of the bubbles on my feet. It was the perfect way to loosen me up and prepare me for one of the best night’s sleep of my life in the plumb and lush king bed.
I woke up embarrassing late, obviously needing the lie-in! It was so nice having the conservatory next to the bedroom because I could potter about in the comfort of my dressing gown. I whipped up a quick breakfast and lazily sat in the conservatory, enjoying the sun come through as I snuggled up with my hot cup of coffee. If I wasn’t careful, I could have lost my whole day in the comfort of the retreat, so I decided to get up and explore the town. I was feeling refreshed and really wanted to hit the shops to see what goodies I could find to take home with me.
Totnes was such a unique and interesting town and I was lucky that it was right on the doorstep. There was a gorgeous selection of unique and boutique shops, quirky art galleries and delicious eateries and coffee houses. I fell in love with so many shops; Love Frankie which sold playful and fun home adornments, Fifty-Five A that offers chic clothing for those looking for something different and Holly Keeling Interiors which hosted a range of beautiful vintage pieces and refurbished items. After several hours of losing myself (and my money!) shopping, I decided to stop for a coffee at the colourful Biance e Massimo; a gorgeously intimate café with an artistic and Italian vibe.
Just across from the café, I could see a local market selling an eclectic collection of goodies. Wandering over, I could see vintage clothes and smell delicacies cooking from around the world. The thing that really caught my eye was all the fresh and seasonal produce; speaking with the stall owners the vegetables were all grown in Devon and the breads all home made and fresh from that morning. Going around the different ingredients, it sparked the inspiration to create soup! I love cooking but working full time I don’t always have the joy to properly create a delicious dish and this was the perfect opportunity to exercise my culinary skills.
I made my way back to Rococco, placing all my shopping in the bedroom, including my new dress I bought for dinner later. I decided to get cracking on with my soup, enjoying how well the kitchen was equipped and how nice it was to be alone in it rather than family members and friends constantly buzzing around me. I cooked with a glass of wine, taking my time with preparing the ingredients and enjoying the peace and quiet. Whilst I let the soup bubble away, I got the electric wood burner going and sat down on the cosy sofa. I really loved the colours of the living room, especially the deep pink cushions matched with the duck egg blue; it was such a feminine and relaxing space. I decided to browse through the DVDs, all girlie classics such as Bridesmaids and Dear John, and chuckled about how long it had been since I watched a chic flick – afternoon sorted!
My soup was ready, but I had already booked a table at a local Italian, so I let it cool to have for my lunch tomorrow. I got into my brand-new dress, grabbed my purse and strolled over to Jano, a charming Italian eatery right next to the church. It was nice to see the town alive at night and I had picked the perfect restaurant to watch it all from. Upon entering Jano, I was welcomed by the chatter of Italian and the smooth sound of Jazz; the establishment was quaint with only small amount of spaces which made the atmosphere so homely and friendly. I ordered a bowl of freshly made pasta sprinkled with a cream sauce, herbs and lardons made with seasonal ingredients as well as herbs and oils made at the owner’s very own farm in Italy!
After the tasty meal and a couple of glasses of wine, I decided to explore the night life of Totnes which was a bubbling and fun environment. I found myself making friends with a group of women at The Totnes Brewing Company whilst I treated myself to a couple of tasty cocktails. We sat outside in the rustic beer garden, cold but the night was incredibly clear which meant we had views of Totnes Castle. I stayed out late, drinking merrily – it was such an ease on my mind knowing that I was only a walk away from my sanctuary for the weekend. I bid farewell to the barmen and my new friends and made my way back to Rococco, ready for another perfect night’s sleep.
Waking up, I felt wonderfully relaxed but was sad to think I was going to be leaving in a few hours. I bought a croissant at a local bakery and ambled down the river. It was great that even though I was staying in the centre of Totnes that I was just a walk away from nature and able to hear the sound of the birds and see hilly countryside. Back at Rococco, I started packing my things, including the goodies I had bought form the day before, whilst I heated up the soup to have for lunch. I took a seat at the dining table so I could eat whilst taking in the pretty interiors and appreciating the property one last time. Cleaning up, grabbing my bags, I let out a happily sigh before saying goodbye to this perfect retreat which gave me that much-needed me-time and relaxation.
Feeling inspired? Have your luxury getaway at Rococco here.
