CREATING A COMFORTABLE COTTAGE STYLE HOME
Whether it’s a French Country Cottage used as a seaside escape, a rustic mountain English Cottage, a woodland retreat overlooking a wonderful view, or a lakeside cottage just for summer getaways, they all have a common spirit. It’s almost guaranteed that if you have a cottage by the water or a wonderful view, you’ll be spending a great deal of time outdoors. Nonetheless, once inside you’ll still want to be able to gaze upon the view that drew you to this special place. As with other types of cottages, windows are an important feature. Often windows are left bare for a look of simplicity. Cottage Style Interior Design evokes a feeling of serenity and a sense that, for the moment, time is standing still…proving that simplicity can be both inviting and elegant.
Cottage Style Interior Decor conjures a feeling of quiet contentment, recalls sweet memories of summers past, and sparks a longing for a simple and relaxing life. The dictionary defines a cottage as a dwelling of a small home of a peasant or farmer, often found in Europe centuries old. And from this lifestyle a certain manner of decorating has emerged – one that is gracious yet unpretentious, free of any formal constraints, a style creating a snug and cozy home. French Country Decorating has become the trend in recent years, because we are looking for more comfortable rooms and the perfect place to relax. “Cottage Décor” is a free spirit. There are no rules, but there is an underlying sense of playfulness and ambience. Since the main objective is relaxation, you should outfit rooms to be welcoming, comforting, and casual enough that you can kick off your shoes, curl up on the slip-covered sofa, and devote time to simple pleasures. French Country Décor can be informal with just a hint of elegance, or it can be completely casual and laid-back. Often, an air of romance pervades. As a designer, I have a passion for the cottage style of decorating. I love the mix of casual elegance with a touch of Country French and English Country, then I like to throw in a little bit of rustic, especially if you are in the mountains.
A lakeside cottage is big on theme accessories. A wooden canoe is a great way to draw the eye up toward a vaulted ceiling. As with any cottage, Cottage Furniture for a lakeside home should cater to comfort in a casual and carefree style. French Country Window Treatments hanging from large oars are a perfect accent for a lake house. The façade of a cottage usually makes a decorative contribution to the front porch. Adding comfort and beauty means accessorizing porch chairs and other seating with not only plump cushions, but colorful pillows and throws as well. For a rustic décor, Navajo prints, checks, and deep-colored floral patterns are an excellent choice. Stripes and large, bright floral designs, on the other hand, are better suited to a Cottage Style seaside escape or a farmhouse in a rural setting. No porch would be complete without flowers or greenery.
There is something mystical, even spiritual, about being surrounded by towering evergreens, a French Country Cottage nestled in the woods or in the embrace of a mountainside is at one with nature. The interior of a woodland cottage pays tribute to the great outdoors. Each room should have a focal point. In a rustic living room or great room, that focal point is usually the fireplace. While some fireplaces are typical in size, others can be quite massive in a mountain cottage. When decorating in a mountain style you can go in many directions. The great camps of the Adirondack’s has contributed much to the rustic style we use in decorating today.
By adding a bentwood chair or a piece of willow French Country Furniture, you can create a woodsy style to any room. I love to mix a few rustic pieces to a cottage style, and you’ve created rustic elegance. I like to use a willow canopy bed painted white mixed with painted pieces, accenting the windows with French Country voile sheer fabric and you’ve created a light, airy space with a rustic mix. It’s a refreshing look.
French Country Interior Decorating and collecting seem to go hand in hand. While many accents are indicators of style, collections reveal the personality. Your collections will give your cottage its individual character. The cozy comfortable style of cottage living is so popular today. It’s a great design to live with for a comfortable lifestyle.
Email me at caiken1@windstream.net if you would like to discuss a decorating idea or dilemma. This is another in my series of home INTERIOR DESIGN IDEAS from your Atlanta Interior Designer; I hope that you use them to help you create a comfortable cottage style home.
For more decorating ideas or to browse our interior design catalog that feature lots of Mountain Cottage and French Country Furniture just click here.