Text by Elizabeth Czapski
While the cottage way of life lends itself to many different settings as the seasons change, there’s something especially magical—and not to mention refreshing—about a cottage on the water come summertime. Whether it takes us back to the enchanting nostalgia of carefree childhood summers or simply provides a scenic escape from daily routines and responsibilities, the feel of a salty breeze paired with sparkling, sun-soaked views of the seashore brings about inherent relaxation. If you’re planning a summer getaway or just dreaming of one, let the beautiful beach cottages below transport you to a waterfront state of mind. With locations ranging from coast to coast and styles spanning classic, contemporary, and eclectic, there’s something for everyone in this roundup of favorites!
Scenic Retreat
The waterfront views and relaxing lifestyle are what tend to draw visitors to the Eastern Shore, and this Sherwood, Maryland, cottage-style home capitalizes on both of these selling points. The open floor plan takes utmost advantage of the scenery with glass windows and doors spanning the living, dining, and kitchen areas—all decorated with a transitional coastal style that prioritizes comfort and durability for a carefree getaway. Preorder your copy of our latest book, Dream Cottages, to see more when it releases 8/15.
Seaside Sophisticate
This Jacksonville Beach, Florida, cottage captures the feel of its coastal surrounds in an unexpectedly elegant way. Adeptly mixed prints and motifs reflect an organic sea-life theme, which brings fresh balance to the traditional furnishings and fixtures that elevate the overall aesthetic. Get your copy of our Summer issue to step inside.
Cozy & Casual
A young, active family designed their charming Bethany Beach, Delaware, vacation home with one primary focus: fun, relaxed living. They retained the welcoming, laid-back nature of the house but gave it a contemporary face-lift with an open-concept floor plan, a slate-and-blue color palette, and hip interiors inspired by family hobbies and passions like surfing.
California Dreamin’
Searching along the California coastline in San Diego, this couple was after a fixer-upper on the water. Though they ultimately had to sacrifice direct ocean views, they fell in love with this 1930s English-style cottage with a thatched roof and traditional English tea garden straight out of a fairy tale. The owners designed and renovated the cottage themselves, opting for a shabby chic vintage aesthetic with their own unique beach-cottage twist that includes period-style Hawaiian floral prints in addition to a few coastal motifs and nautical French-stripe linens.
Palm Beach Pretty
A collection of Lilly Pulitzer quilts made in the ’60s by this homeowner’s mother served as the muse and starting point for the lively patterns and vibrant hues woven throughout this 700-square-foot guest bungalow on Jupiter Island, Florida. Bright blue, coral, and citrus green play off white shiplap for a design that feels slightly retro yet current. See more of this beauty in our Summer issue.
Shore Up
This homeowner built a quaint New Jersey cottage just a short walk from the Atlantic shore in an effort to downsize from an underused house and adopt a simpler way of life at the beach in a smaller space packed with purpose and personality. Inspired by local cottage traditions, from a broad porch that runs the width of the house to painted floors, as well as family interests like sailing, surfing, and swimming, the home is classically tailored to its seaside setting and the stories of the people who dwell within it.
Island Idyll
On North Carolina’s tranquil Bald Head Island, this blissful beach haven uses thoughtful design elements coupled with a mix of playful and timeless inclusions for a look that designer Vicky Serany of Southern Studio Interior Design calls “casually sophisticated.” “It’s your classic get-away-from-it-all beach house,” she explains.
Coastal Character
Nestled along the scenic coastline of Washington’s Puget Sound, this 1920s cottage is a treasure from the inside out. With breathtaking water and Eden-like garden vistas beyond the storied structure, a decade’s worth of vintage and antique collections add one-of-a-kind character in keeping with the quaint eclectic style of coastal Pacific Northwest communities.
Beach Bliss
This Milton, Delaware, getaway emphasizes its location on beautiful Broadkill Beach, utilizing a minimalist design approach with furnishings and accents that blend into the oceanfront backdrop rather than distract from it. Light and airy interiors span a classic spectrum of blue, sand, and white that reflects the view outside a plethora of windows.
Vibrant Revival
Just a stone’s throw from the Atlantic Ocean, this magical 1930s beach cottage on St. Simons Island, Georgia, immediately captured the hearts of its owners with its distinctive charm despite being small on square footage. Renovations opened up its spaces with a luminous white palette that helps the home appear larger than it is and sets the stage for bold accents of favorite candy-colored hues like bright orange and cool turquoise that nod to the abode’s island surrounds and vintage roots.
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