Decorating & Design
Inside 8 Small Summer Homes Around The World
Updated on July 18, 2017
Summer homes may have different names around the world — from Canadian cottages to Scottish bothies — but no matter the location, they’re equally as charming. Discover the quaint places that offer an escape from urban life, and prove summer accommodations don’t need an abundance of space to have superior style.
A kolonistuga, also known as a small cottage on an allotment of land meant for gardening, is where you’ll find many Swedes enjoying their summer. This one in particular belongs to Swedish lifestyle blogger Elin Lannsjö.
Elin relied on natural materials to create a woodsy, pared-back space with Swedish charm.
In the dining room, a natural wood table teams up nicely with matte black Thonet chairs with bare tips for contrast.
This quaint retreat is located in Fejø, a Danish island that’s home to 600 permanent residents. In the summertime, the population grows as vacationers flock to summer homes, such as this blissful seaside bungalow.
A quiet blue-painted floor calls upon the sea, while cloud-white walls and ceilings create a perfect canvas for boho textures and warm colors.
An open-concept floor plan is broken up into zones with narrow pillars that visually separate the space. A spare approach to furniture proves that less is more.
It may be tiny, but this prefab cottage still manages to offer a fully equipped kitchen, lounge space, sleeping area, bathroom, storage, and even a mini dining area.
The spacious kitchen offers luxury stainless steel appliances, butcher-block countertops, and farmhouse-inspired details. The natural sunlight seeping through keeps the miniature space open, airy, and oh-so dreamy.
A clever loft space maximizes square feet in this small country home.
This rural 260-square-foot structure is located on a summer camp along the Northern California coast. The house pulls its farmhouse style from the surrounding dairy farms that dot the property.
The barn-inspired interior is a playful take on modern country. The gingham bedspread in a vibrant red hue offers a jolt of color.
Saloon-style doors off the kitchen are brought into the 21st century with a coat of white paint.
David Latimer, CEO of New Frontier Tiny Living, has a mission to drive the tiny house movement by creating exquisite homes that offer both function and style. Featured here is The Alpha, their flagship home.
Inside, walnut hardwood floors and barn wood ceilings are a seamless contrast to the subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances.
An abundance of windows makes the 240-square-foot space seem breathable and airy. A slightly raised platform breaks up the open-concept area.
To see more of The Alpha, click here.
Dark grout adds dimension to the subway tiles in the bathroom.
This charming cottage is only 1000 square feet. Husband-and-wife bloggers of Beginning in the Middle purchased the 1950s cottage, and set out to renovate the entire home.
Designed with urban flair, they seem to have mastered furnishing the open-concept layout for maximum function.
The switch to herringbone flooring helps define the kitchen area. The combination of tile, brick, and wood walls offers a rustic look perfect for the cottage.
The A-frame loft bedroom boasts boho style, and wisely layers a Persian rug over an otherwise bland carpet for an instant update.
A bothy is a small hut or cottage in remote regions of Scotland, Northern England, Ireland and Wales. The Sweeny Bothy, located on the Isle of Elgg in Scotland, was designed by architect Iain MacLeod & artist Bobby Niven in collaboration with artist Alec Finlay.
A large picture window provides a breathtaking view of the rolling hills beyond. A spare approach to decorating lets the natural landscape shine.
A cozy fireplace is an essential for a secluded cabin, with just a few functional items — logs, a kettle — to keep it company.
Owned by John Baker and Juli Daoust-Baker of Toronto design destination Mjölk, this 1,000-square-foot guest cottage on Ontario’s Georgian Bay is a lesson in stylish, memorable decorating. A clean, Scandinavian-inspired aesthetic makes the place feel more like home for the couple, who can now host a crowd with ease.
The walls are painted in John and Juli’s signature shade: Benjamin Moore’s Cloud White.
In one of the guest cottage’s three bedrooms, a blue-striped Marimekko duvet strikes a nautical note. The space is otherwise neutral-toned and refreshingly uncluttered.