About Us
We relocated from the outskirts of London to this beautiful area in 2019. The seeds of the dream had been sown only a few years before and subsequently developed through our search for the 'ideal' property. The ideal was somewhere peaceful with a view, a brook or a stream and the potential to set up a short-stay room rental/B&B. Our initial ideas included building a holiday cabin in the garden. Eager to get going, one of the first tasks we undertook was to remove some damaged trees near the cabin site. Partway through the job, Rob (the tree surgeon) presented us with a rusty old Kockums kettle he’d extracted from the higher reaches of the ash tree. As simply as that, Kettle Tree Cabin was born! The kettle now adorns the mark of the chainsaw and forms part of the unique décor of Kettle Tree Cabin. Pieces of the 'kettle tree’ live on, forming shelves and other unique features in the accommodation.
After taking advice on our initial plans, we abandoned the idea of a separate cabin in favour of refurbishing the room at the end of our barn. By this stage, the name was embedded in our minds and had already formed the roots of our design inspiration. We wanted to make Kettle Tree Cabin stand out, to balance the luxury feel of boutique style accommodation with elements of nature and texture that reflect the structure and purpose of the original building.
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​We hope you will enjoy your stay and appreciate this beautiful spot as much as we do.
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Tim & Michele
You can follow the Kettle Tree Cabin journey in the KTC Journal
About The Location
Kettle Tree Cabin is a room located in our home, Penllwyn Barn. The barn was converted to living accommodation in 1996 and is situated up a hill on the outskirts of Castle Caereinion village. It’s only a ten-minute walk down the track and along the road to the village pub, where you will find a friendly greeting and some lovely grub! We are surrounded by fields, currently used for grazing sheep for eight-nine months of the year. Sylfaen Brook runs along the length of our garden, parallel to the barn. The brook ebbs and flows along with the rainfall of the season, at its height, creating a lulling backdrop to the magnificent views. During your stay you will experience many of the sights and sounds of country living - hooting owls, crowing pheasants, bleating sheep and occasional lowing of cattle on nearby farms. Rabbits, squirrels and woodpeckers are just some of the regular visitors to our garden. Whilst you are with us at Kettle Tree Cabin, sit back, enjoy the views, listen to nature in action - and at night-time, don’t forget to look up at the stars.
About The Cabin
From the practical to the decorative, every detail in the cabin has been added with consideration of function, style and comfort. The space to store your wellies and walking boots has been given as much priority as the design of the pallet wall, and whilst the pallets may be an embellishment, what lies behind is practical acoustic lining and insulation. From the larger pieces of furniture, like the gentleman’s wardrobe, to the small pieces of architrave reused from the original room, we focused on repurposing and upcycling. In doing this, we have refurbished with sustainability in mind and also created a unique space for our guests. Hunting for the pieces, relating them to the vision and turning them into something new makes them an integral part of the cabin. Creating something from unwanted treasures has tied us to their history, the process and reworking has meant that there is a piece of each of us in the cabin too.
Being in the room immerses you in the story of the kettle and the tree. The breakfast bar and basin shelf were formed from slabs of ‘kettle’ tree, connecting the cabin with its beautiful surroundings whilst creating the foundation for the room full of stories. The scar on the kettle matches those on the bark of the wood; the bark calls out to be touched and the whorls and grain of the wood steer the mind to the seasons and years the tree has witnessed. The pallets on the walls have nail holes, marks and notches; a reminder of the journeys made, conjuring images of countries and seas and of miles travelled. The TV sits in an old golden frame, much of the plaster and gold moulding worn or fallen away, little pieces of history crumbled to dust. The remaining detail hugs the old wood, holding the secret of where the frame hung in its glory and of the picture it set. The wardrobe with its precise labels sits dutifully in the corner. Was the life of the gentleman who had a neat place for everything as tidy as his wardrobe? Reflecting the wardrobe is the dresser top, a silent guardian of the room, its back turned allowing you privacy whilst you sleep. It is the sentinel always looking outwards - what other reflections has this steadfast steward seen?
So you see, it’s more than just a room, it’s a room full of stories…
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Our Social & Environmental Ethos
Our environment -
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Living in a barn is very much about connections with the natural world and we endeavour to do what we can to reduce the impact we have on the environment. We have a biomass boiler, solar panels, a water supply from a borehole and water waste goes to a septic tank. Recycling and repurposing are an important part of the picture and, as you will see when you visit us, the room has been created with this at its heart.
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Supporting Local and Welsh Businesses -
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Toiletries - Our luxury toiletries are supplied by Myddfai Trading Company, a social enterprise in Wales providing opportunities for vulnerable people in the community. They gain work experience, social interaction and confidence in a safe and comfortable working environment. The bottles are refilled and recycled in keeping with our green ethos. The products are vegan friendly and free from palm oil, SLS SLES, Paraben and cruelty.
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Welcome treat - our free welcome treat is sourced locally subject to availability.