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Homes

Magazine captures cottage culture

Cottage Living is for people who love style and simplicity in a cottage or wherever they dwell, says the editor.

By ELIZABETH BETTENDORF
Published February 10, 2006

Pop quiz: On any given night would you rather wear jeans and flip-flops or cocktail attire and blister-inducing party shoes?

Eleanor Griffin is betting on the former.

Everywhere you look, it's obvious Americans want to slip into a more relaxed lifestyle, says Griffin, editor-in-chief of Cottage Living magazine.

Gone are the rigid social mores that once chained us to formal sofas in barely used living rooms. Who says you even need a sofa when a couple of club chairs call your name?

And the dining room? Think of it as a space to house anything you want, says Griffin, who has plenty of ideas on the subject of relaxed living.

At a recent conference at the Design Center of the Americas near Miami, Griffin described the ingredients of what she considers "comfort, simplicity and style."

You don't have to live in a cottage to appreciate her magazine, which has a circulation of 900,000 and is owned by Time Inc.

"When you say "cottage living' it's about a way of life, a state of mind," says Griffin, who is based in Birmingham, Ala.

That state of mind seems pervades a population of stylish, comfort-driven readers who might live in a suburban ranch house, Key West conch shack, Charleston cottage, second-home beach house or Seminole Heights bungalow (a neighborhood the magazine has covered).

The magazine may well be on to something bigger, a longing by a small but interesting segment of the population to trade a single-family house in the 'burbs for smaller digs closer to the city.

Or the beach.

"They're willing to trade amenities of living in the suburbs, such as large amounts of space, for other amenities such as a view, or conveniences like being close to shopping and entertainment," says Trent Green, an associate professor of architecture and urban design at the University of South Florida.

Often people who like the idea of cottage living and smaller digs also like traditional architecture, he adds. They might be well-off baby boomers or empty-nesters who grew up near older, more traditional communities.

And those who opt for cottage life in the 'burbs are usually attracted to the same thing in a different setting, gravitating toward developments with traditional homes and traditional planning ideas, such as a town square, shops and other destinations accessible on foot.

Some live in what Griffin calls "the new old house" - new construction with "exterior cottage character" and all the interior amenities of a suburban home, much like the Longleaf community in Pasco County.

Think you've caught the cottage bug?

Decorating is easy if you follow a few simple principles.

Griffin's ideas about stylish comfort work for just about any income level and in just about any home. She advocates surrounding yourself with the things you love, planning seating "for the way you really live," and giving the most humble house a pedigree with a tightly coordinated paint scheme.

Yes, you can have your stuff. But edit it so that everything has its place and nothing looks cluttered.

Overscale pieces can add comfort and style, even in small spaces, she says.

And be willing to take risks, like using two daybeds in a living room, as the owners did in one house featured by the magazine.

For a more urban cottage look, Griffin suggests upholstering headboards and doors for a fresh, modern look. She also loves "the look of white china in open shelving" in a cottage-style kitchen.

More cottage-inspired advice from Griffin includes:

* Get collections together in stylish bookcases and off tabletops.

* Editing furniture can give a room a more contemporary look; edit out items that look pretty but are uncomfortable.

* In a small house, every single space has to be usable, so consider other options for little-used areas like the dining room.

* Personalize with monograms, letters and numbers.

* Drum shades (a traditional looking lampshade that hangs pendant-style over a table) are a fresh alternative to chandeliers.

* Mix old and new pieces for an immediate sense of history.

* Go gutsy and consider using darker trim around windows and millwork instead of opting for the safer lighter colors.

* High banquettes (a ledge or shelf) can create the illusion of added height and space.

* Give a home office a view. Take it out of a corner and nestle it in a beautiful spot in the home, Griffin advises. "It takes the pain out of paying the bills."

* Put a hall space to work with built-in shelving and cabinetry.

* Incorporate a sense of time and place by using local materials or a historical piece or two.

Most important, Griffin notes: "A cottage comes in all shapes and sizes. Even a typical suburban ranch house can have the cottage look. It's not a set-decorating style; it's a way of life."

[Last modified February 9, 2006, 09:10:11]