A Californian Beach Cottage Renovation

When putting together a relaxed, coastal theme, good design does not mean cliche blue and white stripes, clusters of white coral and decorative oars, it is about creating a haven that shouts, "come in, sit down and relax" and importantly stamping your style. It can be traditional or contemporary, it may have a Mediterranean feel or it could be rustic and neutral. In the renovation of this Californian beach cottage we see a combination of most of these styles that has come together to create a coastal haven for its owners.

Usually I don't include 'before' shots in my posts, in this instance I wanted to show the open plan living area of the cottage prior to the renovation. The tired, dated tiled floors have been replaced with beautiful wooden planks giving the room a timeless look. The ceilings have had a coat of white paint which has opened up the space, helping to increase the visual height. 

Louk Enterprises and Noelle Schoop Design have lifted this beach cottage out of the 80's, giving it a fresh new look. For me, the secret to their success is a balance of old and new, layering, adding texture and importantly, retaining the original character of the cottage. 

Above and below: The 'Before'

Above: Open plan spaces can be difficult to plan, here the designers have excelled, organising five living areas (including the kitchen at one end), all complimenting each other in one large space. If you are looking for ideas for an open plan layout, you may find this previous post helpful, 'Making the Best of Open Plan Living'.

Above: The fireplace is a focal point and helps to define areas

Above: A second casual seating area with an eclectic mix of furnishing

Above: The room flows through to the new kitchen

Above and Below: The kitchen is in keeping with a traditional Hamptons style. Using a white central island with dark cabinets prevents it from appearing clinical, which sometimes happens in an all white kitchen. White and natural wood also works well in kitchens

Above and below: An eclectic bedroom, mixing old and new and using lots of textures

Above: Traditional style in this bedroom

Above: The contrast of brass against the marble herringbone tiles is beautiful. This really shows off the gorgeous shower head, a stainless steel finish may have got a little lost

 

I am very smitten with this house and have drawn a lot of inspiration from it. I love the attention to detail with the styling and the wonderful combination of old meets new. The open plan living is fabulous and writing this post has made me want to start an entirely new project.