How to fake a cottage: Decorating ideas from Samantha Pynn

Cottage-country style

There’s something about cottage-country style—the casual look of mismatched furniture, low-maintenance finishes and happy patterns—that makes you instantly relax and feel at home. But for the young family living in this retro house, the dated kitchen and honey-pine walls were far from charming. I worked with my team of experts to transform the dark and woody home into a bright summery getaway. All it took was some paint, new floors, vibrant textiles and, well, a little more paint.


Choose nature-inspired accent colours
Bring the outdoors in with an applegreen sofa, warm wicker armchairs and piles of pillows in shades of fern. And nothing shows off these soft, organic hues — and says classic cottage — like white painted panelling.


Get this look: Wall paint, snowfall, Para Paints. Flooring, Ponderosa Pine in Natural, Carpet One. Pillow fabric in Heirloom, Cobistyle. Sofa fabric, Robert Allen.



Meet our expert: Samantha Pynn is the designer and host of Summer Home on HGTV Canada, Mondays at 8 p.m. EST.

Don’t renovate — refresh!

A gut job often isn’t necessary. We found the kitchen’s original lower cabinets married easily with butcher block counters and new glass-front upper cabinets. Adding an apartment-sized stainless steel fridge and stove modernizes the space without interfering with the original footprint. And an intensely coloured backsplash adds pizzazz.
Tip: Opt for open shelves to turn your storage into a pretty kitchenware display.

Stick to one type of flooring throughout
A consistent floor from room to room creates a less-cluttered, seamless flow, which makes the space feel much bigger. Pine floors in this home add warmth and rustic charm. Plus, you only need a broom to clean up sand from the beach (or grit from the city).



Get this look: Counter accessories, Breville. Shelving, Ikea. Appliances, GEAppliances. Cabinet hardware, Lee Valley Tools. Counter top, Belanger Laminates. Backsplash, Subway tile in Q098, Carpet One. Akurum Cabinets, Bredskar sink, Ringskar faucet, Ikea. Lights and drapery rods, Rejuvenation.

Paint everything!

From walls to cupboards, chairs to chandeliers, a lick of paint will modernize and unify a yard sale’s worth of cast-offs. Here, a coat of white paint on a chunky wooden table and heavy iron chandelier gives the dining area a clean and spacious look. Tip: Snip ferns from the garden for a simple yet stunning display.


Note: The pale green paint on the chairs is a thread that connects the two rooms (the kitchen backsplash seen on the previous page).


Get this look: Dining chairs, Calder's Antiques. Chair paint, Fresh Artichoke, Para Paints.

Frame a map of your favourite getaway

Create a cottagey entranceway by accessorizing a store-bought console with items that have a country feel. DIY artwork perfectly complements treasures like pitchers, bottles, sailboats or an old-school fan.



Get this look: Wall paint, Snowfall, Para Paints. Flooring, Ponderosa Pine in Natural, Carpet One.


Get more inspiration at HGTV.ca/summerhome.

How to get the look

1. Make it pop with paint.
Hustle, Para Paints.

2. Show off your fleet.
Gluckstein Home regatta sailboats, $10 - $15, Home Outfitters.

3. Toss in a touch of the tropics.
Paisley embroidered pillow, $45, Pier 1 Imports.

4. Perfect for field-fresh daisies or pink lemonade.
Bistro pitcher, $5, President's Choice.

5. A classic table gets a colourful update and adds punch to a neutral room.
Table in green, $300, Canfloyd, 1-800-263-3551.

6. Corral anything in wicker.
Steven & Chris hyacinth baskets, $160/2, Canfloyd, 1-800-263-3551.

7. Glam up a harvest table.
Vivian chandelier with shades, Crate&Barrel.