Whimsical Cottage Refresh

Instead of a remodel and addition in a more modern style as the homeowner initially intended, she concluded her home had plenty of space for her needs, as long as that space was used wisely.

With fresh inspiration, the project restarted, this time with no planned addition and only minimal adjustments to the home’s layout, instead making the most of each existing room by focusing on carefully considered interior design with quality materials and furnishings that represented the client’s new perspective.

The project became an exercise in identifying and procuring the exact item that best encapsulated the project vision: decidedly different, refreshed spaces tied together by a whimsical and playful character that creates an unexpected sense of unity among them.

In the living room, the space was designed around a distinctive, handmade sofa, upholstered in a variety of patterns and colors. A statement centerpiece, the sofa stands out against the neutral tones of the walls and window treatments, which were selected not only for their balancing effect but for their own distinctive qualities.

The curtains’ hand-applied rickrack trim adds to the space’s cottage feel, while the blues and whites of the rug connect with the exciting collection of colors in the sofa. The soft pink lounge chair helps to ground the otherwise pattern-filled space. What’s more, some aspect of each one of these pieces also appears elsewhere in the home.

In each space, these subtle connections strengthen a feeling of cohesion between the wealth of whimsical details, bold patterns, and rich colors. For example, the living room’s standout art piece collected on the homeowner’s travels mirrors the rich, colorful tones in the fireplace sconces.

The fireplace itself encapsulates the homeowner’s playful vision. Fluted pillars painted a vibrant green echo the original trim at the front door. They frame a delightful pattern of hand-painted Delft tiles featuring storybook illustrations such flowers, boats, and fish, each one specifically selected for its personal significance to the homeowner.

The marble of the new fireplace hearth is the same stone as the countertops found in both the kitchen and the bath, becoming a unifying element found throughout the home. Additionally, the cabinetry, flooring, turned wood curtain rods, and curtain rings were designed in a consistent style and material — apple plywood and maple — adding to the sense of unity between each unique room.

The play between shape and proportion are visible throughout the home, as well. Rounded, oversized wooden knobs on cabinetry and undersized wall pegs speak the same language as the rounded wooden brackets used for open shelving. Light fixtures, whether small bulbs or balloon-like globes, and even the light switches, also sport this same rounded silhouette.

In the dining nook, the custom banquette was designed with a row of roomy drawers below the cushioned seat. Beyond, the kitchen offers a mix of open shelving, wall hooks, and cabinetry to create storage solutions for everything from finishing salt to small appliances.

These practical improvements are perhaps the homeowner’s favorite result of the project – she never imagined she could have so much storage in her small home.

Utilizing some materials and motifs that had caught the homeowner’s eye during her life abroad was important, and led to some remarkable magical finds. The unique tiles of the fireplace surround, the custom and hand-made drapery, and the embroidered fabric used in the dining banquette are all examples of both the homeowner’s quirky aesthetic and the selection prowess of the Board & Vellum team.

A pink bathroom was a must for this homeowner. And, as the the home’s only bathroom, the second priority was plentiful storage. This materialized in several ways. Deep drawers in the vanity ensure cosmetics and personal care items stay organized and accessible. Shelves set into the wall and a narrow marble cap above the sink keep frequently used items close at hand. Open shelving on the walls provides storage for linens and more. In the shower, tiled in a dusty pink Fireclay Tile, a spacious shelf has room for all shapes and sizes of products.

Intentional detailing such as this may not be the first thing to get noticed in a home, but the overall result is a spaces that are surprising without being overwhelming, curated without feeling clinical.

Through fluid communication and a deep relationship between the design team and the homeowner, these and other unique details were brought into the design without conflicting or competing for attention, instead coming together as part of an effortlessly whimsical whole.