Relax
Sited high above the Pacific with a view stretching to the horizon, the Pacific Retreat Idea Cottage has all the drama of a sea captain’s home. Seattle designer Kelly McCombs selected upholstery and natural materials that bring warmth to the main living area, a welcome approach during Oregon’s cooler months. She chose heavily textured fabrics in natural colors to accompany gleaming wooden furnishings. Douglas fir walls and hickory flooring add texture and rich graining to the rooms, tying the bungalow to the surrounding forest.
Design tip: Pillows aren’t permanent! For a quick makeover, change out your accessories.
Get Kelly’s Classic Style
“Old possessions lend a sense of history to a new space,” says Kelly, who scoured flea markets and auctions for vintage finds to mix with antique reproductions. “I accessorize with pieces that appeal to the surrounding area and give a home its spirit.”
Cook
In the kitchen, neutral walls act as a backdrop for wooden window casings and custom cabinetry. A built-in cupboard with glass doors and open shelving provides storage and
display space for dinnerware. Windows fitted with modest, striped Roman shades allow natural light to flood the space.
Design tips: To break up the large expanse of cabinetry, Kelly chose a dark stain for the island and a lighter tone for the wall units. She also divided the space
visually with countertops of varying heights.
Looking to combine modern style with traditional warmth? Match clean-lined stainless steel appliances with rich wood cabinetry. The result is contemporary and classic, with an emphasis on function.
Gather
The home’s open plan lends informality to the dining room and links the space to the kitchen and living area. An uninterrupted line of floor-to-ceiling windows spans
the outside wall, and a steel chandelier hangs above a dark, wood dining table large enough to feed a crowd.
Rest
“It feels like a tree house with an ocean view,” says Kelly of the elegant master suite decorated in earth and sea hues. The bedroom has a distinctly different feeling from the rest of the home. Cool, blue hues soften masculine furnishings, and a bolster pillow edged in velvet adds a soft, luxurious accent.
Design tip: Go natural. Mount beach finds between glass and let the wall color serve as your mat. (Just make sure you don’t take home protected sea life.)
