Fresh coat of paint and a few small updates can revitalize your second home
With the warm weather this spring, people aren’t waiting until the May long weekend to head out to their cabins and cottages.
Quite often,the décor inside cottages tends to be neglected, with a mix of unwanted furniture and accessories cluttering them up.
If your second home needs an update, Sharon Grech, colour and design expert at Benjamin Moore, offers some tips to make it stylish, sophisticated and functional.
“Make it modern rustic,” says Grech. “Making the cottage more modern doesn’t have to involve a major renovation. Mixing the clean lines of modern design with the texture of rustic pieces, like barn doors, weathered wood flooring and harvest tables will breathe new life into the space while maintaining the relaxed style we crave at the cottage.”
The interior shown here features predominantly white walls and floors combined with wood panelling, beams or exposed brick, creating the perfect harmony between rustic and modern, says Grech.
“With white, the warm undertones won’t be too striking against natural materials,” she says. “For best results, use a premium latex paint like Aura from Benjamin Moore.
“For the finishing touches, adorn walls with your cabin collectibles like canoe paddles and antlers, and side tables with functional décor trays hosting a mix of rustic pottery, glass, and a few sleek, silver accessories.”
Making over your exterior is just as important.
“Breathe new life back into the outside surface of your cottage by using a premium stain,” says Grech. “Darker-coloured stain is currently popular on the exterior of many beautiful cottages and
this trend isn’t going away anytime soon. Before staining, be sure to properly examine and prepare the surface using sanding and preparation products as necessary.”