Christmas in a Door County Cottage

The winter holidays are especially magical at this cottage-style home on Wisconsin's Ellison Bay, when the cove freezes over and the snow-frosted woods are quiet. With virtually every room oriented toward the waterfront, the Door County home captures a blue-and-white tableau of ice, water and sky.

The living room showcases the home's signature paneling as well as a coffered ceiling and a fireplace made of local stone. Transom-topped windows let in lakefront views and make even moderately sized rooms feel spacious and airy. At Christmas, the painted Dala horses and red tulips on the table reflect the homeowners' Dutch-Scandinavian heritage and spirit.

Wood shoes filled with imported candy are reminders of the family's Dutch-Scandinavian heritage.

Simple, elegant holiday arrangements of soft blue and cream suit an everyday Nordic aesthetic.

Straw ornaments are traditional Scandinavian favorites.

Many Door County year-rounders have Scandinavian roots. The peninsula's rugged landscape appealed to the Swedes and Norwegians who settled here during the 1800s.

Beside the dining area's built-in cupboard, French doors with transoms open to the enclosed porch. As in the living room, the dining area features planked, white-on-white walls, a decor that reflects both Scandinavian aesthetics as well as cottage style. Cherry floors visually anchor the traditional furnishings and antiques.

Delft tiles accent the dining room's tumbled marble hearth.

White-painted cabinets with inset doors, classic bin pulls, "footed" toe kicks and curvy brackets bring cottage style to the kitchen.

Vintage-look lighting and a subway tile backsplash add to the kitchen's charm all year, though festive touches such as the hand-stitched towels hanging on the oven share a holiday message at Christmastime.

A heated fir floor keeps this porch cozy on all but the coldest days. In summer, wicker furniture replaces the hickory.

The first-floor master bedroom's high wainscoting varies the home's panel theme.