Re-Creating a Cottage

By Sara Reimer; Photographer James Yochum; Field editor Gisela Rose
A tiny riverfront home in southwestern Michigan recaptures its original cottage character with paint, fabric and a floor plan overhaul.
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Cottage redo

Antique and new furnishings create an eclectic cottage mix in David Bradley's home in the Michigan beach town of Saugatuck.When David purchased the 1,100-square-foot house, its charm had been stripped away. "It was vinyl-sided and very linear. It reminded me of a mobile home," says designer John Cannarsa, who reworked the floor plan for better function and returned the house to its 1950s cottage style-with modern accents. John moved the entryway, added a porch, and expanded the kitchen and dining room within the footprint. New painted wood floors, wall panels and wainscoting deliver inviting texture. A refurbished stove and retro-style refrigerator highlight the kitchen's throwback design.

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Open up

To make the house seem larger, designer John Cannarsa raised the dining room roof and added decorative rafters. A bench seat keeps sight lines open into the adjoining kitchen. Cornflower blue transforms a wooden piano into a bold statement piece.

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Stylish storage

This creative storage design turns a shallow entry space into a stylish spot for holding towels, shoes and other beach gear. 

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Modern kitchen skirt

A skirt under the sink looks fresh in a modern print.

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Relaxed retro

A refurbished 1946 Blue Bonnet stove from eBay gives the kitchen an old-school vibe. 

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Vintage-style bath

A vintage-style faucet is fitting against classic subway tile, while easy-to-make curtains brighten the bath. Throughout the home, fabrics and bedding in midcentury prints (stripes, polka dots, boomerangs and atomic graphics) add flair for little cost.

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Color cheer

Yellow walls add big cheer to a small bedroom.

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Exterior update

When the home's vinyl siding was peeled away, it revealed a mustard yellow hue-close to the color chosen for the new siding. "We started to discover the true nature of the cottage," says designer John Cannarsa.Click here for a buying guide to this home.

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