Reuse, recycle and repaint
Work with what you have to bring country charm to dated cottage
Q We bought a cottage, and it’s super small, super ’70s and super awesome. It comes with most of its furniture, which is seriously granny-style but with potential. We don’t know what to keep and what to donate, or if we should just start fresh.
There’s barely time to design — I’m working on it mostly from my office on lunch. What colour should I paint the cottage? It’s dusty rose with wood window frames and wood ceiling beams.
Can you recommend where to buy things online (from my cubicle)? We want the cottage to feel beachy and country. All ideas for this time capsule are welcome.
A Congrats. Ever since Summer Home, the cottage show I filmed a few years ago, cottage decor has been on my radar.
Definitely try to work with what you have in the cottage, especially any wood furniture. Painted furniture in white, black or a bold colour will bring country charm to your cottage. Replace such things as disintegrating sun-bleached curtains and dusty old carpets and rugs. Any textiles or upholstered furniture that are allergen hazards should be thoroughly cleaned or replaced.
As far as paint goes, paint over that dusty rose with a soft white to bring a breezy beach feeling to your cottage. On Summer Home, we painted every cottage in Para Paint’s Snowfall.
At the cottage, you don’t have to paint your window frames if they’re substantial, but do paint any wood window or door trim that’s less than three inches wide. For now, leave the wood beams and live with them for a year. It’s better to paint them on a rainy day at the cottage a year from now, than to wonder whether you should have left them rustic and woodsy.
Every time you head to the cottage, and as you become familiar with the area, you’ll pass little shops by the side of the road. Out-of-town second-hand shops have great prices and plenty of wares to bring a little bit of the country to your place.
To create a beach vibe, decorate with things that would normally be used outdoors. This year I’m loving Natasha Wittke’s Norquay paddles. These uber-cool artisan paddles will work beautifully on the wall or in the river.
I’ve done a little shopping for you. Hopefully these finds will help you leave the office and head to the woods!