Cottage Fresh: A Modern Take on Romantic Style

Is there anything more charming than the comforts of a cottage? The cozy design often features steeply pitched rooflines, inviting front porches, Craftsmen characteristics, and a cheerful aesthetic. Although the typical cottage style is often associated with coastal escapes or idyllic countryside settings, modern sensibilities bring cottage-inspired comforts into any home.

Today’s cottage style embraces the charming characteristics of its namesake while imbuing a streamlined airiness of modernity. Aptly coined Cottage Fresh, this design aesthetic balances the traditional affinity for floral motifs and nostalgia with an emphasis on architectural details, texture, and color. The result is a calming, inviting, and uplifting retreat sure to invoke a feeling of comfort and optimism in your home.

Pull from an Uplifting Palette
The Cottage Fresh color palette is influenced by nature and embodies a whimsical sense of escape. Allow your vision to be inspired by the landscapes of a charming seaside village or wildflowers blooming in an English meadow. Blues, grays, mauves, greens, and shades of cream create a feeling of calm, serenity, and optimism invoking the warmth and comfort of cottage style. Maintaining a soft, creamy undertone throughout the palette creates harmony and allows color schemes to be combined with continuity.

Emphasize Architectural Details
Cottage interior design is built around an emphasis on charming details that seem to unfold at every turn. Preserving – or adding – architectural details help to create character regardless of the home’s age or history. Moldings, cabinetry, backsplash, and fixtures provide an opportunity to add or accentuate details. A combination of historically influenced design elements and vintage items create an ambience that is whimsical yet streamlined.

Play with Pattern and Texture 
The Cottage Fresh aesthetic is a combination of bohemian, romantic, and rustic. Instead of the floral or plaid motifs typically found in more traditional design, opt for natural elements that add a subtle interplay of pattern and texture. Woodgrain, botanicals, and woven textiles blend beautifully in the Cottage Fresh home. Custom cabinetry can also be accentuated using fine details such as saw kerfs. These vertical accents reflect the look of paneling or wainscoting to complement the modern cottage design.

Create Moments of Comfort
Cottage living often carries a promise of slow-paced living that adds to its appeal. Bring these comforts to your home in ways that feel natural to your routines and lifestyle. If you enjoy baking reserve space in your kitchen design to make the task easy and accessible. If you feel most at ease in nature, preserve natural lighting and emphasize windows. Even rituals as simple as your morning coffee or tea can be romanticized using a thoughtful approach to design. Custom cabinetry and bespoke storage solutions allow you to tailor your space to your unique needs as you create a life of beauty.

Finding a design aesthetic that speaks to you often requires exploration and an attunement to the qualities that fill your heart with joy. Inspiration can come in many forms and style itself can take many shapes. Whether you are just beginning to craft your dream home, or if your tastes have evolved, our team of interior designers can help you create a space that reflects your vision. Find a Wood-Mode designer near you to take the next step in your design journey.