FROM OUR EDITOR

One of the best things about summer in Canada is ditching town after work on a Friday (maybe even skipping out early) and travelling to cottage country. (My sister’s cabin, which my grandfather built in the 1940s, is my fam ily’s go-to.) On the weekends I don’t manage to make it out of the city, I find ways to bring cottage style living into my day-to- day life at home. Whether I display a casual arrangement of fresh-fromthe-garden flowers on my kitchen countertop or enjoy a glass of rosé on my patio with my feet kicked up, that easy, breezy carefree lifestyle is what August is all about.

This issue invites you to bring elements of cottage style home. We feature three vacation homes boasting casually chic aesthetics with dreamy views, serene palettes and sink-into-me furniture. In “Into the Light” ( page 64), tour a bright country house that perfectly combines vintage, antique and modern styles. “Windows of Opportunity” ( page 72) showcases a stunning getaway for an architect and his family on Keats Island, B.C. Finally, a retreat in East Hampton Village, N.Y. (see “Enter Summer,” page 82), displays the quintessential laid-back elegance the Hamptons region is known for. Plus, a special decorating section (see “Perfect Cottage Style Palettes,” page 50) presents three schemes, complete with paint and textile suggestions, decorating tips and flower arrangement ideas.

This August issue is best enjoyed when lounging outdoors or, even better, relaxing by the water with a cool drink in hand. If you need me, I’ll be doing the same.