Skip to content

Top Navigation

Midwest Living Midwest Living
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Home
  • Garden
  • Holidays
  • Videos
  • current issue
  • Sweepstakes
  • Road Rally
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Midwest Living

Midwest Living Midwest Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • On Chicago's South Side, a New River Trail Guides the Way Through Nearly Two Centuries of Black History

      On Chicago's South Side, a New River Trail Guides the Way Through Nearly Two Centuries of Black History

      Paddlers on the 7-mile-long American Heritage Water Trail learn the stories of African Americans who fought for freedom and equality. Read More
    • This 136-Year-Old Nebraska Ranch Welcomes Guests to Create, Work and Learn From the Land

      This 136-Year-Old Nebraska Ranch Welcomes Guests to Create, Work and Learn From the Land

      In a far-flung corner of northwest Nebraska, guests come for an experience that unfolds over miles—a story about a fragile ecosystem and the tough woman trying to preserve it. Read More
    • A Pair of Flower Farmers Sows a New Beginning—Twice—in Madison County, Iowa

      A Pair of Flower Farmers Sows a New Beginning—Twice—in Madison County, Iowa

      Jenn and Adam O'Neal put down roots at Pepperharrow Farm, a 20-acre homestead near Des Moines—and worked with nature to bring it back to life after a devastating 2022 tornado. Read More
  • Travel

    Travel

    See All Travel
    Take a Day Trip to Charming Winona Lake, Indiana—Just 2.5 Hours from Chicago and Indy

    Take a Day Trip to Charming Winona Lake, Indiana—Just 2.5 Hours from Chicago and Indy

    In the sweet Indiana town of Winona Lake, restored cottages house shops while boats ply a peaceful canal.
    • Weekend Getaways
    • Family Travel
    • Around the Region
    • Beyond the Region
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Missouri
    • Nebraska
    • North Dakota
    • Ohio
    • South Dakota
    • Wisconsin
    • Free Travel Info
  • Food

    Food

    See All Food
    Grill Your Biggest, Best Burger Yet with Chicago Chef Erick Williams

    Grill Your Biggest, Best Burger Yet with Chicago Chef Erick Williams

    The James Beard Award winner dishes on eating out, honoring roots and upping your burger game. (Hint: There’s a fried egg and bacon involved.)
    • Comfort Foods
    • Desserts & Baking
    • Breakfast
    • Quick & Easy
    • Chicken
    • Soups & Stews
    • Midwest Favorites
    • Fruits & Vegetables
    • Fish
    • Grilling
  • Home

    Home

    See All Home
    A Designer Turned Her Childhood Friend's Home into a Masterful Mash-Up of '70s and '80s Decor Hits

    A Designer Turned Her Childhood Friend's Home into a Masterful Mash-Up of '70s and '80s Decor Hits

    Shared style crushes help a designer pull from childhood memories to shape a new Chicago area home for a long-time friend.
    • Quick Decorating
    • Featured Homes
    • Organizing & Storage
    • Outdoor Living
    • Seasonal Decorating
    • Room Decorating
  • Garden

    Garden

    See All Garden
    New Rose Varieties for Frills, Fragrance and Victorian Charm

    New Rose Varieties for Frills, Fragrance and Victorian Charm

    Old-timey blooms are back in vogue—and none more so than roses. An Indiana pro shares her growing tips and recommendations.
    • Container Gardens
    • Flowers
    • Featured Gardens
    • Midwest Gardening Calendar
    • Garden Ideas & Inspiration
  • Holidays

    Holidays

    See All Holidays
    Fresh and Colorful Summer Salads

    Fresh and Colorful Summer Salads

    These bright, healthy salads—with veggies, fruits, hearty grains and more—are gorgeous enough to star at your dinner table or a picnic spread.
    • Easter
    • July 4th
    • Thanksgiving
    • Halloween
    • Christmas
    • Valentine's Day
  • Videos

    Videos

    See All Videos
    Chef Jorge Guzmán's Step-by-Step Guide to Making Tamales

    Chef Jorge Guzmán's Step-by-Step Guide to Making Tamales

    Tamales are a project, but many hands—even tiny ones—make lighter work.
    • Brighten Your Front Door with This Colorful Easter Egg Wreath
    • These DIY Orange Beeswax Candles Will Make Your Home Smell Amazing
    • Ring in the New Year with This Glam Star Garland
    • How to Make a Modern Fruit Cake Box
    • An Eye-Catching Oval Treat Box You Can Make
    • Make a Colorful Paper Raffia Wreath to Welcome Fall
    • How to Make a Dried Floral Arrangement
    • How to Make an Easy Pina Colada
    • How to Make an Amazing Pavlova
    • How to Make Pumpkin-Spice Icebox Cake
    • How to Make an All-Butter Pie Crust
    • DIY Pistachio Wheat Stalks for Fall Decorating
  • current issue

    current issue

    See All current issue
    About Us

    About Us

    • March/April 2022 Issue
    • January/February 2022 Issue
    • November/December 2021 Issue
    • September/October 2021 Issue
    • July/August 2021 Issue
    • May/June 2021 Issue
    • Summer 2022 Issue
    • Fall 2022 Issue
    • Winter 2022 Issue
    • Spring 2023 Issue
    • Summer 2023 Issue
  • Sweepstakes
  • Road Rally
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Midwest Living
  2. Homes
  3. Homes Featured in Midwest Living
  4. House Tour: Eclectic Lake Cottage

House Tour: Eclectic Lake Cottage

May 09, 2013
Skip gallery slides
Pin
Cozy exterior
All those random items you love can add up to a great-looking home. This Michigan cottage shows how to make eclectic work, with its mix of antiques, modern furniture and outsider art.
Start Slideshow

1 of 13

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Artful groupings

Artful groupings

Antiques such as these croquet balls make up many of the artful displays in a 1,200-square-foot summer cottage by Lake Michigan.The homeowner was prepared to raze the deteriorating 1920s cottage when he bought it, but then decided to renovate and redecorate.Now its furnishings include modern metal-mesh chairs, a 1960s orange floor lamp, a clawfoot tub salvaged from a nearby field, and an Amish milking stool. The artwork is mostly by artists unknown by the typical gallery owner. But the sum of these seemingly random parts is a warm and charming home.

1 of 13

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 13

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Living room mix

Living room mix

Eras and styles blend in the living room, where a 1950s beverage cart stands beside an Amish bench and a painting by self-taught artist Casey McGlynn.

2 of 13

3 of 13

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Classic entry

Classic entry

The stained wood door is one of the original items saved during remodeling.

3 of 13

Advertisement

4 of 13

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Color accents

Color accents

Removing a wall created a surprisingly large gathering room in the small cottage. Artwork stands out from the home's white palette, which is splashed with color from pieces such as the quilt.

4 of 13

5 of 13

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Beaded board stairwell

Beaded board stairwell

Vertical and horizontal wood on the stairwell creates visual energy.

5 of 13

6 of 13

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Kitchen charm

Kitchen charm

Stock cabinets feature custom glass doors echoing the home's new windows.

6 of 13

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 13

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Recycled pillow

Recycled pillow

The chaise lounge's pillow was made from a grain bag.

7 of 13

8 of 13

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Old tub, new bath

Old tub, new bath

An antique claw-foot tub sits in a dormer in a new bathroom carved out of attic space.

8 of 13

9 of 13

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Bedroom art

Bedroom art

This bedroom features a painting of a woman by Lee Godie, famous among Chicago's outsider artists.

9 of 13

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 13

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Crazy quilt color

Crazy quilt color

A Victorian crazy quilt decorates brings a big splash of color to this bedroom.

10 of 13

11 of 13

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Attic bedroom

Attic bedroom

Black paint updates the iron bed in the attic bedroom of this Minnesota home; orange pillows add seasonal color.

11 of 13

12 of 13

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Kitchen art

Kitchen art

The kitchen features outsider art created by scraping scraps of wood.

12 of 13

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 13

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Cozy exterior

Cozy exterior

An Amish-made fence surrounds the yard and flower borders, while a casual grouping of chairs on the deck invites guests to kick back and relax. 

13 of 13

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 13 Artful groupings
    2 of 13 Living room mix
    3 of 13 Classic entry
    4 of 13 Color accents
    5 of 13 Beaded board stairwell
    6 of 13 Kitchen charm
    7 of 13 Recycled pillow
    8 of 13 Old tub, new bath
    9 of 13 Bedroom art
    10 of 13 Crazy quilt color
    11 of 13 Attic bedroom
    12 of 13 Kitchen art
    13 of 13 Cozy exterior

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    Midwest Living

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Contact Us
    • Help
    • Free Newsletters this link opens in a new tab
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Customer Service this link opens in a new tab
    • Renew this link opens in a new tab
    • Advertise this link opens in a new tab
    • Affiliate Program
    • Free Travel Info this link opens in a new tab
    • Special Promotions this link opens in a new tab
    • Sweepstakes this link opens in a new tab
    • Video
    • Home Advisor this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithMidwest Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Do Not Sell My Personal Informationthis link opens a modal window
    © Copyright Midwest Living. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.midwestliving.com

    Sign in

    View image

    House Tour: Eclectic Lake Cottage
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.