Dear Debbie: I have a design dilemma. I just moved into an old home in a community situated beside a large lake. I like the听beach cottage look, but I have no idea how to create such a style. Can you help, please?
Giuliana
Cottage, beach or seaside style is timeless and cheerful. I am sure you will enjoy creating your new home鈥檚 character with a combination of new and gently used finds. It encompasses many elements that are relaxed and connote your personal preferences. You will see lots of wood on floors and furniture, fabrics in practical cotton canvas and fabulous florals, checks and prints that mix and match everywhere throughout your home. Wood floors are warmed up with jute and rag rugs, but old Persian carpets also look grand.
Start with a neutral palette, selecting shades that are drawn from nature and the beach. Blue and white is a timeless combination and you will find a diverse range of wallpapers and fabrics from which to choose. Sea and sky blues are soothing and provide a fresh, spa-like atmosphere. These shades resonate for nautical themes, but are also peaceful country. Fern and apple green are happy and fresh colours that bring the garden inside. A kitchen and dining room happily embrace greens, and are made richer when paired with whites. Seashell shades suit bedrooms, with beds layered in handmade quilts and patterned or pure white linens.
Cottage-style homes happily replicate the outdoors, and that includes furniture. It is fine to have wicker chairs and tables in the living room. Slip-covered pads and lots of cushions soften seats in the living and dining room. Ironware is a good complement, seen in lighting fixtures and by the fire.
The cottage kitchen shown here demonstrates the free and open character of this style. All the cabinets are either open or glass front with colourful crockery in plain view. Lace trim is glued to the front of some of the shelves. An old candy counter found at a local flea market was transformed using a simple antiquing technique. The old surface was sanded and a high-adhesion primer applied to seal the wood and prepare for paint. Two coats of semi-gloss white paint were then applied and allowed to dry. To create the aged patina, a brown glaze was brushed over the entire surface and then rubbed back with a cloth, removing most of the glaze, but leaving small amounts in the cracks and crevices.
Another decorative option for the kitchen is bead-board cabinetry. Bead board can also cover the sides of a counter and be applied as wainscoting on the walls. It looks great painted white, and can be antiqued using the technique above. Upper walls can be painted to match the cabinets, or choose a wallpaper that you love. The country kitchen can be as plain or pretty as you please.
Plain or patterned tile makes an appropriate backsplash 鈥� in a contrasting colour such as red to add some zing. Wood and tile floors are in character, as well as linoleum. A popular choice, linoleum is hardwearing, comfortable underfoot and comes in a variety of colours and patterns that give it a 鈥渘ew鈥� country look. You will find lots of inspiration online and in magazines. Have fun.
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Debbie Travis鈥檚 House to Home column is produced by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. Email your questions to [email protected]. You can follow Debbie on Twitter at twitter.com/debbie_travis, and visit Debbie鈥檚 website, debbietravis.com.
