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.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home August 2017
Designer: Anne Hepfer
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.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home August 2017
Designer: Anne Hepfer
Back-to-back sofas provide ample seating, while an open-concept floor plan maximizes natural light and boasts uninterrupted views of the lake.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home August 2017
Designer: Anne Hepfer
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.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home August 2017
Designer: Anne Hepfer
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.”
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home August 2017
Designer: Anne Hepfer
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.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home August 2017
Designer: Anne Hepfer
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.
Photographer: Heather Ross
Source: House & Home July 2013
Designer: Lara Irwin
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.
Photographer: Heather Ross
Source: House & Home July 2013
Designer: Lara Irwin
An exotic-looking chaise and block print-style rug define a reading area in this peaceful principal bedroom.
Photographer: Heather Ross
Source: House & Home July 2013
Designer: Lara Irwin
The principal bath’s pebbled floor tiles bring a natural, beachy feeling indoors. A skylight makes for relaxed stargazing from the soaker tub.
Photographer: Heather Ross
Source: House & Home July 2013
Designer: Lara Irwin
A teak chaise is the perfect spot to enjoy sunset cocktails on the pebbled beach terrace, which is surrounded by indigenous grasses.
Photographer: Heather Ross
Source: House & Home July 2013
Designer: Lara Irwin
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.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home June 2010
Designer: Jenn Cranston
To create an eclectic dining set, Jenn paired metal bistro chairs with a picnic bench, then painted everything white for cohesiveness.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home June 2010
Designer: Jenn Cranston
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.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home June 2010
Designer: Jenn Cranston
To create a welcoming entryway vignette, Jenn coupled organic, textural pieces with art objets found at local flea markets.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home June 2010
Designer: Jenn Cranston
For an unexpected touch in the principal bedroom, Jenn used a bamboo screen found at Ikea for the headboard.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home June 2010
Designer: Jenn Cranston
In another corner of the bedroom, a black-framed mirror acts as a grounding accent against rattan, straw and wood pieces.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home June 2010
Designer: Jenn Cranston
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.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home June 2015
Designer: Cameron MacNeil
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.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home June 2015
Designer: Cameron MacNeil
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.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home June 2015
Designer: Cameron MacNeil
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.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home June 2015
Designer: Cameron MacNeil
Slipcovered chairs and an indoor-outdoor rattan sofa offer comfortable spots to sit and unwind in the sunroom.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home June 2015
Designer: Cameron MacNeil
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.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home July 2015
Designer: Montana Burnett
To add warmth to the all-white kitchen, Montana chose butcherblock countertops and added wood surround trim.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home July 2015
Designer: Montana Burnett
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.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home July 2015
Designer: Montana Burnett