Decorating & Design
See Sarah Richardson’s Stunning Rental Cottage
Published on June 9, 2016
If you’re in the market for a private island retreat with a design pedigree, then take a peek at Sarah Richardson’s rental cottage. It’s got everything you could want in a country getaway and, of course, everything is impeccably designed by Sarah and her design partner Tommy Smythe. Click through for a look at the playful interior.
Located on a private outer island with sweeping views of Georgian Bay, the cottage has eight acres for little ones to scamper through. With two docks and a private beach, it’s every kid’s dream summer spot come true. The cottage was originally built in 1950 but was updated with modern windows, a screened-in porch and more.
We’re head over heels for the color scheme in the kitchen and living space. The green floors are a bold move, but when placed next to the white walls and ceiling and soft blue cupboards they look playful and subdued.
A clever use of a corner cupboard turns dead space into an easy-to-reach storage spot for dining essentials like tablecloths, cutlery and small kitchen appliances. And how about those blue knobs? Divine!
The built-in banquette means more people can cozy up alongside each other. It also doubles as a daytime reading nook on less-than-sunny days. The birch log legs of the table bring some rustic charm to the cool color palette.
Pulled back, you can see how Sarah designed the great room to flow together seamlessly thanks to the green floors and wall of continuous windows. The sofa turns into a pull-out bed for even more sleeping options.
The fireplace was left unpainted as a grounding element in the space. Style tip: At cottages, flexibility and versatility are key. Here, the lightweight cane armchairs and stacked coffee table make for quick and easy reconfiguration and the lack of a rug or carpeting means clean-ups are a breeze.
On the opposite wall, open shelving original to the cottage displays some of the vintage dishes purchased with the property. The palette of reds and greens keeps the space from skewing too modern.
In the master bedroom, the ceiling was left unpainted in order to temper the cool flooring, walls and bedding. Having the ceiling a contrasting color from the walls and floors also helps to highlight the height of the space.
The full-length curtains, going from the rafters to the floor, are a great way to extend the sight lines. If you’ve got the height, use it!
Rather than blocking the views from the windows with a wardrobe, Sarah opted for matching bedside chests which are a smart storage alternative. Cottage fashion is all about easy-breezy style, so the back of a door is all the hanging space you’d need anyways!
The cool-hued theme of the rest of the cottage is continues in this guest room, but with lively patterned linens. In order to maximize space, it’s outfitted with a double bed and three bunk beds. Simple wire cage reading lights add to the woodsy charm of the cottage.
Who says cottages have to be all blues and whites? The third bedroom is a departure from the cool blues of the other bedrooms but retains that cottage charm thanks to a few nautical touches.
The wide-plank pine panelling behind the bed slants into a chevron, eliminating the need for a headboard — one less thing to carry over by barge! Just peeking out from under the textured rugs is the green flooring continued from the main space.
This sink is opposite the bed in the yellow bedroom, a nice feature which frees up the main bathroom. We love the towels rolled up in the buckets and the slim wall of green, carried up from the floors. It creates visual interest and delineates the space.
The screened-in porch, just off the bunk-bed room, makes the house feel larger through its similar color palette and soft furnishings. Who wouldn’t love waking up to this serene space right off to their bedroom?
The built-in seat is another storage spot, and very necessary when a dry towel is a hot commodity. In order to maximize the light into the bunk room, the shared wall was treated like an exterior one, with strategically-placed windows at the foot of each bunk bed looking out onto the water. After all, the view is the best part!