Decorating & Design
June 7, 2018
Find Your Cottage Style: 25 Beachy Spaces With Coastal Charm
If nautical accents and seafaring spaces set your heart aflutter, then beachy cottage style is the look for you. The key elements of this easy, breezy look? Blond wood, woven accents, whitewashed walls and a watery palette. Click through to explore our best beachy cottages that take inspiration from their lakeside locale.
Designer Anne Hepfer used this boathouse’s location on the shores of Lake Rosseau as inspiration for the color palette. Pops of watery blue invigorate the home’s white envelope.
A pair of polished-nickel task lights mounted on either side of the island are the star of the kitchen, and are a subtle nod to outdoor dock lighting.
Back-to-back sofas provide ample seating, while an open-concept floor plan maximizes natural light and boasts uninterrupted views of the lake.
A built-in shelving unit is lined with pale blue grasscloth bookends in the living room’s verdant vista. A geometric pattern on the armchair imparts a note of whimsy.
Luxury and convenience were top of mind in this guest bedroom, so Anne chose twin beds with built-in storage underneath. “You want your guests to have an element of surprise,” she says. “This makes them feel special and excited about the space they’re going to stay in.”
The guest bedroom’s rope-framed mirror and watery blue dresser are examples of how the boathouse’s lakeside locale informed Anne’s design choices.
Nautical touches, like the vintage boating sign and pendants, add personality without going overboard in this cottage kitchen. Industrial stools share the space with modern white dining chairs for an unexpected mix.
Simplicity and translucent layers are key to the great room’s serene feeling. Its focal point is a double-height fireplace wall clad in white Balinese stone.
An exotic-looking chaise and block print-style rug define a reading area in this peaceful principal bedroom.
The principal bath’s pebbled floor tiles bring a natural, beachy feeling indoors. A skylight makes for relaxed stargazing from the soaker tub.
A teak chaise is the perfect spot to enjoy sunset cocktails on the pebbled beach terrace, which is surrounded by indigenous grasses.
For freelance stylist and creative director Jenn Cranston, a white and cream cottage was always the dream. “I love the fresh aesthetic,” she says. “It feels like you’re in the tropics.” To truly capture the sense of oceanside living she craved, Jenn brought in organic materials like bamboo and added loungey seating in the living room.
To create an eclectic dining set, Jenn paired metal bistro chairs with a picnic bench, then painted everything white for cohesiveness.
Open shelving carries the cottage’s laid-back atmosphere into the kitchen. Jenn kept to her cream and white color scheme when choosing the vases, plates and kitchenware. “I had a vision in mind,” she explains.
To create a welcoming entryway vignette, Jenn coupled organic, textural pieces with art objets found at local flea markets.
For an unexpected touch in the principal bedroom, Jenn used a bamboo screen found at Ikea for the headboard.
In another corner of the bedroom, a black-framed mirror acts as a grounding accent against rattan, straw and wood pieces.
Designer Cameron MacNeil chose a light and bright palette accented by deep, calming blues for this family cottage. Standout millwork, reclaimed hemlock floors and rustic elements — like the floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace in the living room — are also found throughout the home.
To give the new kitchen storied appeal, Cameron chose face-framed cabinets and used crisscross detailing on the island. A peaked ceiling makes the kitchen feel more expansive.
A deep blue sectional and rug anchor this kids’ hangout zone. Cape Cod-inspired coffered ceilings and board-and-batten wall panelling heighten the space’s coastal vibe.
To boost charm and functionality in the cottage entryway, Cameron chose a vintage dresser for storage instead of a built-in unit. A rope-hung mirror is a subtle nautical touch.
Slipcovered chairs and an indoor-outdoor rattan sofa offer comfortable spots to sit and unwind in the sunroom.
A vacation to St. Bart’s is what inspired designer Montana Burnett to create this serene retreat on the shores of Lake Rosseau. The great room’s Caribbean-inspired white and wood palette sets the tone for the entire cottage.
To add warmth to the all-white kitchen, Montana chose butcherblock countertops and added wood surround trim.
To give the vintage chairs in the screened-in porch a fresh appeal, Montana painted them a crisp white. Raffia and ocean-themed accents add intrigue and texture.