Beach Cottage Chic in Rhode Island
When Kate Jackson’s customers called her, they had been desperately seeking a facelift for their guest cottage at the coastal village of Watch Hill, Rhode Island. The space is adjacent to the main house and utilized by their children and grandkids on the weekends and during summer holidays. Although Jackson kept mostly to the total shore cabin aesthetic, she wanted to prevent the nautical insides typical around Watch Hill.
“I understood I needed to push the envelope somewhat with this cabin, because the space will be occupied with my customers’ children and grandkids, who are hip and young and want an area that reflects their youthful soul,” says Jackson.
at a Glance
Location: Watch Hill, Rhode Island
Size: 900 square feet; 3 bedrooms, two baths
Design challenge: Adding elements of surprise inside the context of a traditional beach cottage feel
Kate Jackson Design
In regards to dressing the bamboo flooring, Jackson chosen for faux fur over sisal or jute within this corner bedroom sitting room. “Everybody anticipates natural fiber rugs at a beach cabin, so it’s refreshing to see different textures blended in with pieces that feel comfortable and comfortable,” says Jackson.
Light blue lamp: Paris Lamp, Safavieh Lighting
Kate Jackson Design
Vintage saris made into shams and bolster covers dictated Jackson’s design route in the bedroom. “I found the saris on the internet and thought they would make an eclectic addition to the space. Through the process, I just went with what I felt as though I’d want to see and feel at a beach cabin,” she says.
Wall paint: Amusement Coffee, Benjamin Moore; swan art: Bird Print Art; Roman shade fabric: Quadrille Textiles
Kate Jackson Design
The rope-covered loft-bed pillar is a nod to the cottage’s nautical origins in White Hill; the cabin is only a couple of minutes from the shore.
Kate Jackson Design
A breakfast corner exudes a traditional cabin texture (beadboard panel and ceiling) with colorful accents (punchy throw pillow pattern and teal tableware).
Kate Jackson Design
Due to the living room’s unique floor plan, Jackson persuaded her customers to embrace a cream-colored hide area rug versus an expected rectangular sisal rug.
Kate Jackson Design
Jackson replaced the original crystal and brass lighting fixture in the dining area with a enjoyable turquoise fixture custom made to fit the room’s small scale. The Pottery Barn dining set was painted a matte black and white to show off the chandelier’s punchy color.
Wall paint: Decorators White, Benjamin Moore; seat paint: Regal Black, Benjamin Moore; light fixture, custom by Sara Milk
Kate Jackson Design
The designer found classic postcards of Watch Hill on eBay and framed them in the dining room. The rolling hills and surrounding gardens are drawn inside with greenery and flowers in vases.
Kate Jackson Design
The living area speaks the easy language of summer: A plump sofa and a casually positioned throw discuss the space with all the customers’ weathered trunk.
Jackson is a big fan of the fig-leaf throw pillow print. “I am really happy to see Peter Dunham create such a gorgeous fabric with fig leaves; they’re a fantastic way to go botanical without going overboard with florals,” she says.
Kate Jackson Design
“I found that these midcentury wicker chairs on the internet and forcing them into the current with textiles,” says Jackson. The designer framed sea sponges and coral pieces in driftwood frames.
Chairs: One Kings Lane
Kate Jackson Design
The china cabinet at the background of the image used to be full of mismatched dishes and ceramic pieces. Jackson gave the cabinet another life by removing the untouched pieces and filling the corner display using mini oil canvases, classic leather publications and family keepsakes.
Kate Jackson Design
A striped lumbar pillow and a framed piece of coral reefs steer the dining room at the direction of enchanting coastal cabin style.
Kate Jackson Design
Jackson says that she was blessed to have carte blanche with each room in the guest cabin. The most memorable moment throughout the design process happened on the final day of installment; her customers had arrived at the cabin and left her a voicemail, telling her how much they loved the cottage’s brand new appearance.
“Hearing someone else’s joy over your work is actually special. I stil have not deleted the voicemail,” says Jackson.