What’s the biggest way to create the cottage impact for your exterior? For Lisa Furey of Lisa Furey Interiors, the biggest challenge in designing this home in Bluffton, South Carolina, was fitting livability into such a small space—only 690 square feet. Her clients wanted a low-country farm-cottage style. This included extending the farm cottage style to the home’s exterior. “All the elements are consistent throughout to make it feel bigger,” says Lisa.
WORKING WITH THE SPACE
Since space was so limited, big windows— and lots of them—were a must. “They let in as much light as possible,” Lisa says. “It makes the space feel bigger.” Sidelights framing the door let in even more light and help give the facade its airy appearance. Farm-cottage style calls for a mix of classic and modern pieces. Lisa extended the interior look to the exterior with brick accents on the porch and industrial cottage lighting, while retaining a modern look through the gray Hardie board siding and bronze standing seam roof.
The board-and-batten siding complements the shiplap used in the home. Another component of farm-cottage style is light colors, which helps the space feel bigger. The white columns and light gray siding contrast well with the dark metal roof. “The most important aspects of design are functionality, livability and aesthetics all combined,” says Lisa.
Know Your Elements
• Hardie board: A siding material mixed with cement fibers to enhance its durability.
• Standing seam metal roof: Metal roof made up of panels with interlocking seams.
• Sidelights: Vertical windows on either side of an entry door.
Want more simply beautiful ideas for cottages? Check out this dreamy Southern California beach cottage
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