A beachy and relaxed cottage in Quebec.

This remote house situated near the St. Lawrence River needs no window coverings; in the dining room, the view acts as a large scale living mural. Owners Richard Ouellette and Maxime Vandal chose trellis-back chairs to elevate a humble barn-board table. An oversized raw-wood chandelier strikes a rustic note in an otherwise formal setting.

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A quaint room with a spectacular view.

Pale blue tiles set in a diamond pattern add texture to this kitchen’s crisp white cabinetry. “I know the rug looks like something you’d find in your grandmother’s home,” says homeowner Richard Ouellette. “But I think it’s fun — it doesn’t take itself too seriously.”

In a cottage without curtains, it’s all about nature.

Drue, a terrier mix, curls up in the living room, where an antique hand-carved fireplace mantel from Lyon, France, and a painting by René Richard take pride of place.

A humble space, kept simple and cottage-like.

This home's only bedroom illustrates Ouellette and Vandal's approach to decor: nothing matches yet it melds together effortlessly. Bird-print wallpaper acts as a neutral backdrop for modern ikat pillows and weathered-wood pieces.

A gracious seaside retreat.

An expansive loggia, accessed by French doors from every room, and a widow's walk overlook the pool in Matthew Sapera's New England weekend house.

A two-tone hand railing creates a graphic statement.

This sculptural yet charming living room staircase allows access to a widow’s walk. The room is filled with details typical of Nantucket interiors, from the vintage campaign chest with brass pulls to the bobbin chairs to the sisal rug.

Dark wood caned chairs are a decorative nod to plantation style.

A crisp navy blue and white colour scheme makes the main-floor family room feel relaxed, as do its layered bookshelves and nautical striped rug.

Clean lines contrast with rough, natural granite.

Jutting out of the rocky shoreline, the Glass Boat House, designed by Toronto’s Gh3, cuts a dramatic figure. The design allows for sweeping 360-degree views of the surroundings. For privacy, translucent blinds roll down from the ceiling at the touch of a button.

For more design & decorating ideas, browse our Designer Cottages photo gallery.

Use black granite flooring to ground a light, ephemeral space.

The low-rise furniture keeps the focus on the view, and the polished black granite floor echoes the rocky terrain surrounding the house.

Huge windows flood this modern space with light.

These sleek white kitchen countertops and integrated sinks are made from Corian, chosen for its soft feel and the fact that scratches can be sanded out. For a streamlined look, sliding pocket doors conceal three ovens while panelling disguises the fridge. The black polished granite floor extends to the outside patio and plays off the natural granite seen through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

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Barely visible guard panels are made of low-iron Starphire glass.

A Corian bathtub was installed in the cottage's open-concept principal bedroom to take advantage of the lake views. For more privacy, a flick of a switch encloses the tub with sliding ceramic frit panels.

Bleached-pine floorboards brighten up this small space.

To complement the region’s northern light, owner Monique Waqué decided to decorate with pale colours evocative of Danish style. Check fabrics in a mix of colours and scales are used as the home’s primary pattern. Monique furnished rooms minimally, buying many items at auctions in Denmark or Germany. Much of it is Scandinavian or French, and small in scale to suit the cosy dimensions.

See more great cottage and country rooms in our Cottages & Country Houses gallery, Traditional Cottages gallery, plus see more cottage photos.

Gingham shades add a playful twist to a traditional chandelier.

Light floods into the open-concept living and dining room through five sunny, south-facing windows. French toile throw pillows and a chair recovered in a linen pineapple print punch up the pale grey and white space.

Chicken-wire cabinets keep this look casual.

Pretty canisters and open shelving keep everyday items neatly on display. Waqué is fond of rag rugs — a traditional Swedish element — and uses them here to highlight the green and white colour scheme.

Use river rocks to create a European, cobblestone-style look.

Waqué enjoys using her kitchen-side patio all summer for meals and drinks. Beyond the garden, open wheat fields seem to roll on forever.

Used rugs and tapestries add texture, pattern and warmth.

Cottage owners Juli Daoust and John Baker hired a contractor to paint the ceilings white, creating a uniform look with the walls and floor. Sliding glass doors, high ceiling and tailored furniture make the room feel light and airy. The unusual daybed sofa is a Shaker-inspired piece that’s carried at their store, Mjölk — a Japanese and Scandinavian lifestyle boutique in Toronto.

See more modern cottages in our photo gallery.

This dining table, by Dutch designer Marcel Wanders, offers a modern take on antique style.

The chairs, all mid-century Danish Shaker designs by Folke Palsson and Jorgen Baekmark for FDB Mobler Denmark, were bought online for about $100 each. Cottage owners Juli Daoust and John Baker found the black candelabra while rummaging through the boathouse, while the snowshoes belonged to Juli’s dad.

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A gutsy reno adds European sensibility to a family cottage.

Before she updated her family’s 70-year-old cottage, designer Colette van den Thillart‘s mother advised her to tear the building down. But Colette was determined to maintain the original structure: “I’m not terribly sentimental, but Canadians understand how deep into your system family cottages get.” The result is a cottage that is a scrapbook of her family’s history. At times dark and moody, then airy and Scandinavian, the home is fresh, calm and welcoming.

See more photos in our Traditional Cottages gallery, Cottages & Country Houses, plus more cottage photos.

A Swedish grey-blue shade is the perfect colour to complement warm wood tones.

Walls are covered in beadboard panelling for a classic rural look. The original spruce floor is stained ebony and finished in glossy lacquer to create contrast.

The armoire, tables and bench are antiques found in England.

The sitting room sofas are the only soft furnishings in the cottage that aren’t slipcovered, but, Colette says, they’re forgiving — there’s nowhere in the cottage that’s too “precious.”

Bleached panelling imbues a classic cottage.

Large- and small-scale florals and stripes give this room a cohesive look. Decorating on a budget? A covered night table, painted bench and mismatched lamp bases demonstrate the charm of thrift store finds. A bench at the foot of the bed provides a space to store books.

Tour this cottage designed by Colette van den Thillart in this online video. Plus, see more photos in our Storybook Cottages gallery.

See more great cottage and country rooms in our Cottages & Country Houses gallery, Traditional Cottages gallery, plus see more cottage photos.

Create a charming, casual feel with a mix of floral prints.

Painted beadboard combined with pine and bare wood is very country. The chandelier is painted out the same shade as the walls, along with ornate cornice above the doors. Punchy red crewelwork on the chairs injects pattern. An antique beetle cartouche draws eyes up to the vaulted ceiling.

Tour this cottage designed by Colette van den Thillart in this online video. Plus, see more photos in our Storybook Cottages gallery.

See more great cottage and country rooms in our Cottages & Country Houses gallery, Traditional Cottages gallery, plus see more cottage photos.

Large windows brighten up a sunroom.

Interior designer Melody Duron wanted this room to have an organic, outdoor feel, so she brought in a teak dining table and casual indoor-outdoor wicker chairs. She also painted the window seats a soft grey to complement the granite surrounding the Georgian Bay home.

For more inspiration, see our Traditional Cottages photo gallery, Beautiful Sunrooms photo gallery, Cottages & Country Houses photo gallery, plus more Melody Duron Interiors.

White walls and high beams enlarge this interior.

Rustic beams draw the eye upward, making the ceiling in this great room look even higher. A peaked roof keeps the room light and airy, and ceiling fans cool the house on hot summer days.

A neutral colour scheme keeps this room bright.

Painting interiors a crisp white or soft neutral enhances the amount of light coming in from large windows. Here, views of Georgian Bay can be taken in from a comfortable window seat. Pale bedding and open side tables also keep the room fresh and airy.

For more inspiration, see our Traditional Cottages photo gallery, Cottages & Country Houses photo gallery, more Melody Duron Interiors, and Bedside Table Styling Tricks.

Panelling, high ceilings and a collection of antiques inject a sense of history into this space.

The painted wood table and chairs enhance the lightness of this dining room, while classic gingham seat upholstery lends a casual note. The table expands to seat up to 20 guests, creating the perfect space for grand dinner parties.

For more beautiful French country interiors, see our photo gallery.

Rich fabrics, dark woods and mirrored surfaces make for a cosy yet sophisticated space.

The subtle sheen, and blue and brown tones of these throw pillows reference the painting above by Magog artist Johanne Martel. Ornate sconces, chairs and accents layer formality into the room.

Glass-fronted cabinets and a pale green colour palette create a bright and airy atmosphere.

In this farmhouse-style kitchen, ceilings are a soaring 16 feet high. A large table in the center of the room can seat up to six, or be used as an island for additional workspace. Painted floors and painted wood furniture lend a light, fresh feeling.

For more beautiful French country interiors, see our photo gallery.

A crisp palette and dramatic accents give this airy room an exotic feel.

Cane furniture, dramatic blue and white fabrics and pottery set a British Colonial tone, while the original granite fireplace, sisal rug and exposed studs maintain cottagey charm.

Painting the walls and ceiling white brightened an old wood cottage.

This great room — designed by Anne Hepfer — has two sitting areas, an ideal setup for weekends spent entertaining. The huge mirror (custom-made in Bali with tiny seashells) balances the fireplace at the other end of the room. The ottoman is made of antique mats from Borneo. Keeping the backdrop and major pieces neutral means the owner can add bold colour and pattern in easy-to-update accessories.

For more chic interiors by Anne Hepfer, see our photo gallery.

See more cottage photos in our White Cottages gallery, Traditional Cottages gallery, Cottages & Country Houses, plus more cottage photos.

A bright dining area.

Work your style and floor plan around the structure of your space, not the other way around. Part of the appeal of this sunny cottage breakfast room is the uneven beadboard and knotty wood floors. Designer Anne Hepfer kept these elements intact and simply transformed the look with white paint, casual decor and a fresh blue and white palette.

How To
Study a room before you buy or move around furniture. Don’t automatically arrange seating the same way you had it in your last place. Consider the light, surfaces and the room’s function and let those elements direct your choices.

For more inspiration, see our Seaside-Inspired Interiors photo gallery, Traditional Cottages photo gallery, Cottages & Country Houses photo gallery, and Beautiful Sunrooms photo gallery.

This Georgian Bay gem redefines waterfront style.

An emphasis on clean lines and natural materials keeps the focus of this cottage on the wind, water, rocks and sky outside. In fact, the cedar-clad, rectilinear structure appears to grow out of its rocky site. Architects Meg Graham and Andre D’Elia of superkül designed the remote island retreat.

Get more cottage design and decorating ideas in our Modern Cottages photo gallery.

A natural cedar ceiling and silvery-grey oak flooring are rustic counterpoints to the sleek kitchen cabinetry.

Forgoing upper cabinets and conventional appliances (even the fridge is a commercial, below-counter model) means that nothing obstructs the view to the outside.

Save space and add interest in a small space with bunk beds.

In a narrow kids' room, an intentionally high upper bunk creates an airy atmosphere. Colourful fabrics, crisp metal details and traditional pine boards epitomize the modern cottage.