Transitional Cottage Style

When looking for a new home in an established tree-canopied neighborhood, it is hard to resist a 1920s–1930s cottage-revival gem that brims with homeyness and the whimsical detailing of yesteryear’s artistic craftsmen.

This homeowner had her heart set on the colors and comfort of an English countryside cottage. So when she found a too small but ever-so-promising cottage-revival home in a favorite neighborhood, she graced it with a complete overhaul that included new electric, plumbing, flooring, and interior finishes.

An addition designed to honor the scale and era of the original home provides space for a contemporary kitchen, family room, and master bedroom adjacent to the pool. The result is a home that combines the charm and comfort of the past with a floor plan and modern conveniences that meet the needs of today’s families. The décor celebrates the garden colors and soft fabrics found in popular English country design. In the narrow formal sitting room, which occupies the original living room space, the complementary colors of golden yellow and china blue balance to both enliven and calm.

Cheerfully painted green custom cabinets and shelves make for practical storage in the combination library and craft room. The rustic wood table serves double duty as an office desk and a workspace for creative endeavors, while the cabinets and drawers store craft and office supplies.

During the renovations, care was taken to preserve the elements that first won over the householder’s heart, like the arched doorway leading to the dining room as well as that room’s paneling and plate rail. Upstairs, rooms with sloped ceilings require clever placement of furniture to avoid bumped heads, but these ceilings endow the two children’s bedrooms with a charm that will endure in the little ones’ memories.



While they may seem daunting, oddly shaped attic spaces can be reclaimed. In this cottage the ceiling lends this bathroom added architectural appeal.

In keeping with how families live today, the spacious new kitchen offers plenty of storage and room to work. A bar at the center of the room is a convenient spot for snacking and for children to do homework while meals are prepared.

Cabinetry details like capital moldings and sculptured feet help make this a vintage-yet-new kitchen, boasting ample charm as well as fresh construction and new appliances.