High on a hill, less than two hours and a world away from Toronto, is Sarah Richardson‘s discreet country house, Starlight Farm. Fans have been following along with the construction, design and decorating journey on her hit HGTV series, Sarah Off The Grid.

In the mudroom, each family member has their own closet plus a basket stored on open, accessible shelves. A cowhide-covered bench provides seating.

In the sunroom, throw pillows have patterned fabrics inspired by the woodsy setting. “This house is meant to feel connected to the natural landscape,” says Sarah.

Statement ceiling treatments like the dining area’s dramatic star-like compass rose — a recurring motif on the farm — visually defines the area on the open-concept main floor. The simple white covers on the seat and back cushions of the rattan chairs bring a relaxed, indoor-outdoor vibe.

A durable marble “rug” installed in the high-traffic area between the kitchen’s sink and stove has a mosaic detail at the ends that’s reminiscent of fringe.

“Since this house is for forever, I wanted it to be dressed in a palette that I would never tire of,” says Sarah of the principal bedroom’s calm, quiet and ethereal neutrals. Painted to highlight its ornate carving, an antique bench piled with pillows is an elegant perch. Sarah used a carved architectural fragment from a church to create a canopy effect above the bed and added contrasting wall panels and an antique silver-plated chandelier to emphasize the ceiling height.

The pool is a favorite spot for relaxing and entertaining.

Natalie Hodgins and Shannon Morrison of Sarah Richardson Design filled this Muskoka cottage space with sky blues and natural texture. Outdoor bentwood chairs enhance the living room’s indoor-outdoor feeling and the light blue coffered ceiling mimics the sky.

Painting the island and lower cabinets in a darker tone injects color into the light and airy kitchen. Natalie and Shannon tried many samples to attain the perfect cool grey before settling on Benjamin Moore’s Steel Wool (2121-20).

With its full-height windows, the dining room gives the feeling of enjoying meals alfresco. Designers Natalie and Shannon paired a Gothic-inspired chandelier with black fan-back Windsor chairs. To create a matching bench, they had three of the chairs crafted into one unique seat by local furniture makers.

The powder room’s thoughtful details include a two-toned vanity and a charming seagrass mirror that echoes the circular basin.

In the principal bedroom, blue and white patterns, including a tall headboard in a sand-dollar print, play up the cottage’s island location. Vintage finds, like the chandelier and side tables, balance the contemporary pieces.

Sarah and her husband Alexander renovated a charming 1950s cottage on a Georgian Bay island in six short weeks for Sarah’s Rental Cottage. For this open concept living/dining room, she stuck to a grey, white and blue palette pulled from the landscape and views.

The original kitchen felt cut off, so a wall was knocked down to open up it up. Sarah added new cabinetry, stools at the island and large, expansive counters in durable butcher block. Sarah recommends saving money on flat-front doors. “They’ll look sleek and are easy to wipe and wash off. They can be customized or painted for a splash of color to a simple room.”

When she first walked into the principal bedroom, Sarah was reminded of a tree house. It had great bones with high vaulted ceilings and lots of windows, and built-in side tables were a major bonus. She used spa colors and layered in whimsical prints for an airy, fresh feel. The side tables were topped with hard-wearing stainless steel.

Sarah’s known for her watery palette, but the bold marigold scheme in this guest room complements the honey tone of the wood walls. This room was formerly used to store water toys and tools, but now it’s a cheery retreat.

In the kids’ camp-cabin bunkie room, nautical blue was the jumping off point for the decor scheme. Hanging buckets on pulleys and blackboards are a fun personal touch from Sarah.

The home seamlessly blends traditional and modern elements. For a dramatic moment in the kitchen, Sarah offset the time-worn shiplap ceiling with a wall of contemporary Moonstone mosaic tile.

In the principal bedroom, quilted bedding, a shag rug and trellis-inspired headboard and mirrors add pattern and texture.

In another bedroom, old-fashioned quilts are modernized against crisp white walls and a geometric pendant light. Patterned fabrics on pillows and a striped rug lend the space an easygoing charm.

Designers Natalie Hodgins and Kate Stuart designed this kitchen’s cabinets to resemble freestanding antique furniture for a sophisticated, old-world feel. An oversized island is perfect for entertaining.

Natalie and Kate wanted the house to be a fresh, pastoral take on lakeside living. The home’s large, lofty living room was inspired by the landscape that surrounds it, with a whimsical forest-inspired chandelier, woven coffee table, and sand-colored sofas. A deep blue rug grounds the space and makes the seating arrangement feel more intimate.

The homeowners chose to forgo installing televisions in the home so that there’d be more time to read. In the library, wing chairs covered in a fun floral print make for the perfect place to curl up with a good book.

A nautical display is a sweet touch on the main floor.

Natalie and Kate chose to paint the principal bathroom’s ceiling a pale seafoam green for a breezy, tranquil feel. The homeowners decided against installing mirrors over the vanity in favor of preserving the view outside, and left the windows undressed to let light stream through. “It’s not so important what you look like at the cottage,” says one owner.

Inspired by the shingled homes on Maine’s picturesque shoreline, Susan Sinclair-Brockelsby and Gerry Brockelsby hoped to recreate the charm of New England architecture when it came to building their own weekend home. Designer Sarah Richardson provided another major source of inspiration; Susan admits she is a longtime fan.“I just thought everything she did was yummy, so I contacted her office, and they came out right away,” says Susan.

The library features a gold bar cart, rich alder wood panelling and pure linen drapes with a duck motif by Schumacher (not shown). “The only thing missing are cigars,” jokes Natalie. A coffered ceiling suits the country setting.

The vanity was custom-made to look like furniture, while vine wallpaper “has a beautiful organic feel that brings the outside in,” says Natalie. A large nautical-style window recalls New England architecture.

Intricate chinoiserie-style wallpaper turns the hardworking laundry room from utilitarian to charming.