Small Cottage Styling

This home illustrates how size is not a factor in designing your dream décor.

Sometimes a wrong turn can take us to the right place. That was the case for Janet Korff, a former chef and chief esthetician, whose home exemplifies elegant small cottage styling. About 30 years ago, Janet accidentally turned onto a tree-lined street and found herself in an idyllic part of Redlands, California. That’s when she saw it: a quaint cottage surrounded by a profusion of roses.

small cottage styling with white and antique furniture and white drapery — ENTRY POINT. There is no formal entryway in the cottage, so guests find themselves in this area once they step through the front door. It features one of Janet’s favorite pieces: a black desk from the mid-1800s. The pheasant is a gift from her son and keeps watch over the room.

Good Things Take Time

“I thought, ‘I wonder who could be so lucky to live there,’” she says. It took about a decade, but Janet and her husband, Larry, eventually purchased the cottage. “It fell out of escrow twice before we were able to buy it,” she says, “and both buyers were planning to tear it down and build new on the property.” In a sense, she saved it—but, as she says, “In the end, it saved me.”

small cottage styling white with blue accent pillows — KITCHEN TABLE. A table from the mid-1700s adds loads of character to the kitchen dining setup. “My middle son was an antiques dealer at one point, so I got a few really good pieces from him, and this was one of them,” Janet says.

chandelier in small cottage kitchen styled in white and blue — HEAD CHEF. As a former chef, the kitchen is important to Janet. “I decorate like it’s a central part of the house—because it is,” she says. “I often have large gatherings, so I use both the kitchen and living area to seat people.” She wants her guests seated in the kitchen to feel as if they are in the heart of the home versus the kitchen, so she always has beautiful art, flowers and comfortable slipcovered chairs and pillows in it.

After 40 years of marriage, Larry sadly passed away in 2019 and Janet has found peace in the cottage, which is filled with their memories. Now she tries to live as simply and stylishly as she can, and while some may think it’s a challenge to maintain a chic and cozy home with only 970 square feet, she has found it liberating.

gallery wall with paintings and art prints in small cottage — A STUDY IN STYLE. After Larry passed away, Janet converted his office into a little study for herself. It is full of books and art, and is quite cozy for an afternoon nap.

Commence Small Cottage Styling

The cottage was built in 1890 for the gardening staff of a large estate. That estate was torn down in the 1960s, but, miraculously, the little cottage was left untouched—and it’s in good company, situated among 12 homes lining Historic Prospect Park. “Across the street is a 17-acre botanical garden and citrus grove. When the oranges are in bloom, the scent is intoxicating,” Janet says. The cottage was in an unfortunate state from years of neglect, but Janet and Larry worked around the clock for six weeks to make it habitable. They painted the walls in Simply White by Benjamin Moore and refinished the flooring, plank by plank.

vintage desk and bird figurine in small white cottage

vintage painting of a horse beside antique hutch — HORSING AROUND. Equine art is seen throughout the home and is an homage to Janet’s love of horses and riding. “A good horse painting is timeless,” she says.

“We did not change the floor plan. All we did was refresh everything that was already there,” Janet explains. New kitchen cabinets made to mimic the originals and new bathroom fixtures were installed, but the home’s spirit remained untouched. It even has the original clothesline that Janet uses every week.

Rearranging furniture since she was a child, Janet filled the interiors with beautiful old paintings, gold-framed mirrors and moldings, and shares it all on her blog and Instagram.

vintage straw hat and bird drawing in circular frame — HAPPY HATTER. Just as others wished to tear the cottage down and Janet saw beauty in it, so she often does in other items, like this delightfully tattered garden hat. “It’s another favorite item of mine,” she says. “It looks like someone would have thrown it away, but its condition adds to its charm.”

small cottage styling in bedroom with gallery wall and white and blue color scheme — ART GALLERY. In the primary bedroom, Janet has a gallery wall hanging composed of several art pieces. “The reason I use gallery wall hangings is because I have a lot of beautiful and oftentimes meaningful art that needs a place to hang, so I go for it and hang it,” she says. She simply eyes the whole thing out and starts nailing.

“Because the cottage is small, I can give my attention to the beauty surrounding my home,” Janet says. “If I lived in a larger home, more time would have to be spent maintaining it. As it is, everything has a place.” Her romantic, Old World style pops against the white walls, making her aesthetic fresh yet perfectly suited for the historic home.

white powder room in small cottage — PRETTY POWDER ROOM. Janet and Larry replaced the sink, tub and toilet in the primary bathroom and painted it white. A gorgeous Ethan Allen drapery (found at a parking lot sale for $5) is a perfect replacement for a door, since a door in the small space would be awkward and heavy.

black and white tile floor in small cottage styled with vintage pieces — SHELF LIFE. An antiques shop was going out of business and Janet was able to snag a bamboo shelf for $20. “The shelf is special to me because it reminds me of the shop, which I miss dearly,” Janet says. “The owner, Pat, was the loveliest woman you could ever meet.”

black and white kitchen with farmhouse sink and subway tile — WASHING UP. The couple rebuilt the sink area of the kitchen while staying true to the original design. Janet adores the space and how it displays her beautiful glassware. “All my dishes are beautiful, and I think they should be seen,” she says.

tomatoes lettuce and bread on kitchen counter in cottage — FARM TO TABLE. Gerrards is a favorite neighborhood market and Janet sourced this produce there. “It is located right in the middle of the historic homes, away from our downtown area,” she says. “Heirloom tomatoes, lettuce and fresh-baked bread is a typical lunch for me.”

plums on cottage kitchen table — FRESH FRUIT. These are plums from Janet’s next-door neighbor’s garden and the cookbook is her favorite one: The French Laundry. “I aspire to Thomas Keller’s attention to detail in cooking and presentation,” she says.

pantry in small cottage with white beadboard — SHOP AT HOME. The kitchen pantry is a delight to step into. “We paneled it in white beadboard and had more shelving put in. It houses all my pantry food, beans, rice, oats, pasta, canned goods and fresh goods too,” Janet says. It feels like her own custom market filled with beautiful foods.

sunroom with vintage pie plates in small cottage — CHARMED BY CHINOISERIE. Janet is an avid antiques hunter and has been collecting blue-and-white chinoiserie for decades. She displays it on the front porch, where its patterns add depth to the space. “I love this spot to sit and relax,” she says.

Looking back, Janet marvels at her journey to the cottage and how, when she first saw it all those years ago, she wondered who was lucky enough to live in it. Now, she’s the lucky one—and so is the cottage.

If, like Janet, you love (or simply find yourself in), a small space, read on for Small Space Styling ideas. Of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to get your daily dose of cottage inspiration!