Weekly Design Inspiration: Cottage Days
One of our favourite parts about the summer is the fact that we are often reminded of our childhoods spent at the family cottage, filled with memorable trinkets and lots of laughs. Today, we still have that same love for all things cottage and cozy design. We love that the cottage allows for certain design elements that may not fit in at a typical family home. We’re going to take you through some of our favourite design choices fit for family fun!
Hit the Hay
Previously, people viewed cottage bedrooms as a place to lay down after a long day and the space didn’t allow for much more than a double bed. Now, people expect a little bit more from their bedrooms but still love the cozy cottage feeling. In order to achieve this, we reach for rich, mid-tone woods that wrap the walls and ceiling for that cocoon-like feeling. A sloped ceiling adds to the rustic nature of the space while pared-down headboards complete the unfussy look. Double up on skirting details for the ultimate vintage throwback!
Source: Rebecca & Genevieve
Source: Round Table Design
lights out
Lighting plays a huge role in any home, but especially in a cottage where you want to achieve a certain feeling. Lighting really finishes off a space and speaks to the character of the home. That’s why we have two go-to looks for our cabin homes. Firstly, we always love a back-to-basics candle-inspired silhouette. For this you can either secure the real deal and go with wax candles or you can find a fixture with a candle-like fixture. If you’re more old-school than rustic, consider using lights with fabric lampshades instead! For this you can either find an existing shaded fixture or you can sew your own elasticized shade if you want a particular fabric. We love to see a delicate pattern on an articulating sconce!
Source: Nadine Stay
Source: Alexa Hampton
rock solid
Another staple feature in any cottage is the fireplace. Fireplaces have always been the gathering spot in the home as we have so often relied on them for our needs. Now, some people don’t see the point in having a large fireplace take up real estate in the home but we still stand by the fireplace. In fact, we love to see a fireplace that stands as a cottage feature with large, textured stones and stacks of firewood. We think that there is still something to be said for having that connection with nature at the cottage and how it brings everyone together!
Source: Heidi Caillier
Source: Frank Ponterio Design
Design Tip: So often we get intimidated by dark colours, thinking that they will make the home feel small and uninviting. However, we think that if done correctly, rich colours draw you into the space. For a cottage we think that it’s actually a great idea to create intimacy through colour!
