I have a soft spot for cottage design. I have worked lakeside for more than half of my career – finishing everything from the cozy, casual log cabin to the perfectly appointed super-sized retreat. And the attraction has always been simple – we use our cottages in ways we don’t use out homes. Cottage design is of the ‘roll up your sleeves’ variety – every choice made will be used and loved, maybe even passed down. It has to be functional, easy, accessible, practical.
When we transplant for the weekend, we tend to not leave. We sleep in a little more; we read the entire newspaper (delivered dockside if you’re lucky); we insist on the family dinner. That hum of the week – alarm clocks, schedules, survival – is replaced with…wait for it…free time. We unplug. We unwind.
Good design has to support that – including everything from the way the space is planned to how the furniture is laid out and made to making everything kid-friendly because even if you don’t have kids, you probably have a dog, a spouse, guests. We accommodate the way we live at the cottage without apology and there really isn’t a space we don’t use. Here are some of my favorite cottage design lessons:
Bringing the Outdoors in: Outdoor fabrics have come a long way. From the way they feel to the textures, colours and patterns available, there really isn’t a style compromise in using them anymore. They offer liquid and stain resistance…need I say more? I use them for upholstered pieces and accents. You will pay a premium but these fabrics will pay themselves forward in spades and will be insanely forgiving.
Comfort First: This goes without saying but bears repeating. And some people confuse size with comfort – over sized doesn’t necessarily mean sink in goodness. Extra deep pieces are actually tough to design around – they affect the scale of everything else in the room and can dwarf even significant pieces. Keep upholstered pieces in check with the size of the rest of the room and make sure it is sink in, put your feet up comfy but doesn’t swallow you whole.
Take your Time: Another precious thing about cottage design is we have the luxury of time and should take advantage of it. Get your basics – great upholstered pieces, somewhere to put your paper and morning coffee – but hunt for the rest. Fill the gaps with finds, memories, special pieces that tell some sort of story. Cottage design is OK incomplete. Much better to do it slowly and right.
Next week: We enlist the talents of the uber talented Lisa Besseling, designer and principal of the Stony Lake Furniture Company in Lakefield, Ontario, to get the lowdown on what is fresh in cottage design and what this season’s must haves are.