It’s hard to imagine but this quintessential California cottage once had all the charm of a roadside motel! Today blue-painted clapboard (which was once bad stucco), flowerbeds, arbors, and an iconic picket fence have transformed the home’s exterior.
(All photos by John Ellis- Styling by Sunday Hendrickson )
Inside, dark walls were eliminated with coats of warm white. New windows and French doors add charming architecture and invite in the sunshine.
Drop ceilings were removed to reveal vaulted ones. Beams were added and unappealing parquet floors replaced with with wide planks in a whitewashed finish for a clean rusticity and easy upkeep.
Rustic beams and moldings add architectural interest to the dining room. Whitewashing these elements keeps them from weighing down the airy style. Designer Lizzie McGraw of Tumbleweed & Dandelion helped getting the finish of a once-brown table just right by painting it white and sanding it slightly.
The best thing about white is that it’s a blank canvas. Dark accents strategically placed—such as the dining room’s sideboard, the living room’s piano, and the kitchen countertop, help to anchor the whiteness of the rooms. Unfettered windows and soft white backdrops create the light and airy look that makes a happy home—and makes rooms easy to reaccessorize.
(Below) Bump out windows surround the farmhouse sink to enhance the garden view. The sink adds both country charm and utility.
In the all-white bedroom bold medallion patterns make a graphic statement. The wicker furniture and wood accents—such as on the lamp base— add contrast and texture to balance the the neutral backdrops. When you are in the mood for a change of pace all you need to do is to vary the color palette with seasonal pillows, throws or rugs.
An ordinary wooden picnic table goes from brown to wow with a glossy coat of turquoise. A plexiglass pergola protects a painted country cupboard from the elements.
A cozy little porch was created from an awkward window bumpout. Though its movement is limited, the wooden swing adds a classic cottage touch to the setting.
Planting delicate blooms in movable—and easy to replant—simple containers amps up the cottage feeling of any garden. The recycled and repainted barrel blends with the exterior to let the blooms show otheir true colors.
TIPS FOR LIVING WITH WHITE
WHITE HAS A CLEAN SIMPLICITY that’s easy to live with. But there are some tricks to picking the right whites.
> Bright whites are fresh and clean, but they can go cold, especially in rooms that don’t see a lot of light. Ward o the chill by choosing white paint with warm undertones.
> White needs to be grounded with color and texture to prevent a lost-in-space feeling. Natural woods, woven baskets, and soft pattern will do the trick.
> To warm up white the country way, “age” furniture, floors and trims with a light sanding. Or, as you’re painting, wipe osome of the topcoat to reveal a previous color or the wood finish.
>To give fresh white paint a slightly weathered finish, lightly sand areas that would logically see wear. such as edges and crevices.
From driftwood colored floors to washable white slipcovers, many elements of the house were designed to stand up to pets (and people!), while creating a chic but warm and charming cottage atmosphere. Who would believe this little charmer was one the homeliest house on the block?!!