Text by Alice Doyle / Photography by John O’Hagan
Crab Point guest house takes a page from classic cottage beach dwellings of the early 1900s with historic details and rooms designed to take full advantage of the island views.
What do you need to create the ideal guest cottage experience—a pristine setting with beautiful views and a home that is both lovely and functional to satisfy even the pickiest of visitors. Joanne and Bruce Montgomery had an enviable location to work with on Whidbey Island in the Puget Sound, about 25 miles north of Seattle. They also had the good sense to engage Ross Chapin, a local architect who specializes in small space design.
The petite cottage is only 1,200 square feet but feels more spacious due to the floor plan and clever use of built-ins. “Storage should not be forgotten, especially in a small house, where clutter can quickly overwhelm,” Ross says. One of Chapin’s space-saving designs is a built-in eating alcove, which has a smaller footprint than a traditional dining room table and chairs. A custom built-in dining nook saves space and provides an intimate place for meals. The blue-and-white cushions play into the subtle nautical theme of the cottage.
“We wanted Crab Point to feel like a classic beach cottage from the 1910s,” Bruce says. “We included an extensive use of wood walls, wainscoting, and details in the carpentry to create a historic look.” The kitchen island does double duty as an eating area and food prep station. The hanging lamps were salvaged and reworked. “Built-in cabinets and shelves are a terrific means for taming the storage issue in an elegant way,” Ross says.
With the impressive views (the house is set on a point), lush gardens, and a pretty front porch, the interiors could have been an afterthought, but instead, they bring a connectedness that makes the rooms flow with comfort and ease. The great room with high ceilings is the heart of the home with its abundance of windows that flood the space with light and views.
A classic color palette with striped and printed fabrics, light wood floors, and white walls showcase that classic beach cabin style the Montgomerys wanted to replicate, but there is also practical in the pretty. For a nautical look, Joanne used fresh blue and white throughout the interiors and understated seashore elements in fabrics, framed prints, and other decorative accents.
“The wood floors are hickory, which has a very knotty look but is one of the hardest hard woods and holds up well given all the sand that can be tracked through the house,” Joanne notes.
The bead board wall brings vintage character to an airy white bedroom.
The bright white bathroom may be petite, but it has generous storage space and a small window to let in natural light.
The guesthouse uses custom built-ins, like this bench, to maximize space and keep clutter contained. With everything about the cottage so meticulously planned, there is no doubt that every guest will long for a return invitation to Crab Point.