The fact is it’s been awhile since I’ve posted, but I decided to spend time making the Cottage a home. It’s been a year of scouring antique markets and looking for just the right pieces, those that have meaning. If I’ve learned anything as a Designer, it’s that you simply can’t rush the process. In fact, there are still bare walls (although I did pick the perfect paint colors), bathrooms, and bedrooms to be finished, gardens to be planted, and more memories to be made.
I’ve been using local craftspeople, giving back to the community. But, as with any small rural town, life slows down, deadlines don’t exist (if it means getting in the way of life on the lake). In fact, I’ve waited six months to have beams put into the upstairs bedrooms.
An oak tree was taken to a local sawmill by our carpenters, rough cut and it’s been curing on our back porch (which explains why I haven’t done any tablescapes in a few months since that was the backdrop for photos). If there is one thing I know for sure, it will be worth the wait if the Carpenter Bees don’t destroy it first.
The lake has filled up for the summer, and evenings are spent on the dock watching rosy sunsets unfold across the dusky evening sky. I’ll stay out on the dock swing until the sun dips behind the vibrant blues of the distant ridgelines. The surrounding landscape has been an endless source of inspiration for the interior colors and fabric.
It was the blues of the Mountain range that inspired the main color palette in the Cottage, all supplied by one of my Brand Partners, Benjamin Moore. Polo Blue backs the bookcases in the living rooms and Denim Blue on walls in my daughter’s bathroom. Sweet Daphne will go in the guest room, reminding me of the greens of the surrounding forest, vibrant and lush. A refreshing jolt of color in a mostly blue interior color palette.
There are so many variations, that it took time to find the perfect color palette for our Cottage (which involved a lot of trial and error). Colors that will work well with many interior styles (and all Cottages big and small). So read on to find out my choices! 
1// Horizon-I chose the most perfect gray for all the main walls on the first floor of the Cottage, Horizon from Benjamin Moore. Truthfully, it has become one of my favorite grays of all time (virtually fool-proof). I call it a “shadow color,” since it changes with the light. It’s a color that conjures up images of the water and the sky. I used in the dining room and kitchen at the Cottage, and since it’s an open floor plan it unifies the space, giving the walls just the right hint of gray. It changes throughout the day, from green to blue depending on the light, which makes it such an interesting shade. I tried out many grays before choosing Horizon and in the end, this was a perfect choice. It’s subtle and soothing with just the right amount of depth.
2//Denim Wash-This blue is such a timeless and classic color, it reminds me of the sky outside my daughter’s window. Nature has been a great source of inspiration when choosing colors at the Cottage, and Denim Wash seamlessly blends the outside with the inside. I also wanted something soft that paired well with the fabrics we choose from Robert Allen, and this shade complements the fabric scheme. Denim Wash works with a variety of decor styles and interiors which makes it such a great choice for the Cottage, and our “lodgey lake house” vibe.
3//Polo Blue-This hue gives off the energy of the open waters of the Lake, a little dramatic with an elusive depth associated with deeper blues. I used this color on the backs of the built-in bookshelves as a dramatic backdrop for the accessories of natural elements that I’ve collected along the way. The inky drama of this color also makes it perfect for smaller spaces, and once we begin working on the bathrooms of the cottage, I may use it on the smaller of the two to make it feel larger. It’s truly become one of my favorite dark blues.
4//Sweet Daphne-The forest outside the Cottage inspired my choice of this color. A dose of yellow makes this green deliver a refreshing pop of color. Reminiscent of spring, Sweet Daphne is bold but not too bright, like the green hills beyond the lake. This hue will go in the guest room, the perfect compliment to the vibrant green color palette of the fabrics and a fitting homage to the lush flora that grows outside the Cottage windows.
5//Pashmina-Misty mornings at the lake, both hazy and soothing remind me of Pashmina. The master bath color was driven by the existing ceramic floor tile which looks like rustic rough cuts of wood. I was hesitant to keep them, but over time they have grown on me. Being on the lake with kids, they are virtually indestructible and waterproof! The floors in the bathroom will stay and soon I’ll be sharing one of the completed bathrooms.
I hope you are inspired to use some (or all) of these colors in your home or Cottage! I”ll be posting every week, so if you have any questions about any of the products featured please feel free to email me, I’ll also begin listing them under the Sources. I look forward to having you join the journey! You can also follow me on Instagram for a daily dose of inspiration, from design to lifestyle tips.
This is a sponsored post brought to you by Benjamin Moore one of our Brand Partners. All opinions are completely my own.
Until next time…
Thanks for stopping by!
