Decorating & Design
Tour A Nature-Inspired Cottage By Sarah Richardson Design
Published on July 17, 2017
When the foundation of this Muskoka cottage collapsed, Builder Heath Billington conceived of a space that fit the cabin’s footprint but modernized the layout. A combined kitchen and living area lets people gather comfortably, and large windows let you feel as if you’re right out in nature. This blurring of indoors and out was not by chance: Natalie Hodgins and Shannon Morrison, both of Sarah Richardson Design, filled the space with sky blues and natural texture. The result is serene and nature-inspired, but with personality to spare. Take a virtual tour of the space below.
Painted a dark grey, the boathouse all but disappears into the trees.
Natalie and Shannon used outdoor bentwood chairs to enhance the living room’s indoor-outdoor feeling and painted the coffered ceiling light blue to mimic the sky.
Painting the island and lower cabinets in a darker tone injects color into the light and airy kitchen. Natalie and Shannon tried many samples to attain the perfect cool grey before settling on Benjamin Moore’s Steel Wool (2121-20).
With its full-height windows, the dining room gives the feeling of enjoying meals alfresco. Designers Natalie and Shannon paired a Gothic-inspired chandelier with black fan-back Windsor chairs. To create a matching bench, they had three of the chairs crafted into one unique seat by local furniture makers.
The powder room’s thoughtful details include a two-toned vanity and a charming seagrass mirror that echoes the circular basin.
In the principal bedroom, blue and white patterns, including a tall headboard in a sand-dollar print, play up the cottage’s island location. Vintage finds, like the chandelier and side tables, balance the contemporary pieces.
The blue and white palette is at its peak in the principal bedroom, including a pop of color on the closet doors.
The principal ensuite has a simple, casual look with dark grey cabinetry and hammered-nickel hardware. The light fixtures and dark counters are an elegant twist on cottage chic.
A Murphy bed pulls down to create an extra sleeping area.
A pathway leads from the main cottage to one of the cabins.
The owners dock their classic 1929 wooden boat, Padre, in their boathouse, where they host cocktails every afternoon.
A circle of Adirondack chairs offers a quiet spot overlooking the lake.
Stacey Brandford
House & Home August 2016
Natalie Hodgins and Shannon Morrison, Sarah Richardson Design