BH&G Cottage Style

Cottage Style offers tips for boosting curb appeal, fresh ideas for displaying antiques, and plenty of inspiration for brightening any space—no matter the square footage. The personalized interiors of these charming cottages tell their homeowners' stories. Whether it's a suburban bungalow, a seaside cottage, or a forest-dwelling cabin, the romantic houses gracing this issue's pages are lovingly decorated to be character-rich, collected over time, and inviting to all.

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Editor’s Letter

Curbside Charm • Pick your dream house style—beachfront, forest-dwelling, or something right out of a storybook—then use our product guide to bring the look home.

Putting Down Roots • An interior designer’s earthy, lived-in layering cozies up a brand-new home for her growing family.

Back to Basics • For a Missouri blogger, creating a warm and cozy home means focusing daily on all things natural, handmade, and vintage.

In Full Bloom • With a long-nurtured vision and a positive attitude, a couple restores a 1940s New York cottage with labor—and love.

Hidden Gem • Soft colors and elegant touches refresh a once-drab California cottage.

A Family Affair • At her parents’ beach getaway, a designer balances the colorful taste of her mother with the sturdy practicality of her father.

Sea Change • A creaky screen door, rough sand-scraped floors, and gorgeous views at sunrise. This is the story of how a teeny-tiny, one-room gem leaves a giant impression on everyone who visits. Such was the case for New York interior designer Jen Going, who grew up spending summers at the Long Island rental cottage. Jen and her design partner, Stephen Czeck, were tapped to freshen the circa-1950 cottage. The pair nodded to the past by playing up the rustic wood finishes but modernized the whole with a natural palette. Use their ideas as a template for your own rendezvous point, no beach required.

Starting from Scratch • This modern cottage’s medley of vibrant colors, abstract art, and all things happy matches its homeowner’s cheerful personality to a T.

Coming Home • High school sweethearts return to their hometown and put a personal stamp on a familiar house.

Lakefront Splendor • Through floral motifs, playful patterns, and smart reconfiguration, a Minnesota designer dials up the fun—and color—of a family’s beloved retreat.

Good for the Soul • Designer Lizzie McGraw grew up playing on the New York shore of Lake Erie. Here, she shares how years later and just a few miles away, the slow restoration of a timeworn cottage brings her back.

Southern Revival • As an editor for shelter magazines, I was writing stories about beautiful homes—while living in a tiny rental condo. It was time I put those magazine ideas to use. When I landed this 800-square-foot 1943 cottage in Birmingham, Alabama, skeptics saw a cramped house with a falling-down garage. I recognized potential.

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