A Summer Home Tour of Our 1920s Beach Cottage (Part 1)
Welcome to our 1920 beach cottage, where relaxed coastal style and vintage finds come together every summer. In this post, I’m sharing part one of our summer home tour, along with the simple decorating ideas I use to bring that breezy, beachy feel inside.
When you’re done here, part two continues into the kitchen.
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Summer at Our Puget Sound Beach Cottage
Summer is hands-down my favorite season, and living on Puget Sound makes it even better. If you’re not familiar with it, Puget Sound is an inlet of the Pacific Ocean and part of the Salish Sea, here in the Pacific Northwest.
Whether we’re kayaking, swimming, or eating dinner out in the garden, this time of year is all about slowing down and being outside as much as possible.
I also get to enjoy the rewards of my cut-flower garden, which I start planning in January. But before the blooms really get going, I pull in early-summer color with a mix of faux flowers and fragrant Trader Joe’s finds.
Inside Our Coastal Cottage Living Room
We’ve spent the last 14 years renovating our 1920 beach cottage from top to bottom. When you walk through the front door, there’s no formal entry… just a view straight into the heart of our home.
I try to keep things clutter-free, but that’s a challenge in a 1600-square foot house.
This summer, I kept the decor casual and simple. There’s so much to enjoy outdoors this time of year that I like to keep things low-maintenance inside, too.
Easy Summer Decorating Ideas for a Beach Cottage
Here are the four things I do every summer to refresh our space:
If you’re working with a small space like ours, I’ve shared more ideas in the post on decorating a small beach cottage.
Flowers, Greenery, and Faux Finds
My garden isn’t quite blooming yet, but I always keep flowers on display inside. June is a tricky in-between month in the PNW garden, so I rely on faux blooms and store-bought stems to fill the gap.
And here’s my confession. Most of the greenery on our coffee table is faux. I love gardening outdoors, but houseplants don’t thrive for me, and I’m terrible about remembering to water them. With so many good faux options out there now, I’ve embraced the low-maintenance route indoors.
Lavender and geranium plants are easy choices for summer, too. They smell wonderful and don’t mind if you forget about them for a few days.
Mixing Vintage and Coastal Style
I’m always drawn to vintage pieces, and the cabinet in our living room is one of my favorites. It fills up quickly, and it’s the only real display space I have, so I make the most of it.
I added a few seasonal touches like citrus and lavender-scented candles from Antique Candle Co. They instantly make the space feel more summery.
SHOP BEACH HOUSE PILLOWS
SHOP NEUTRAL AREA RUGS
Opening Up the Kitchen
One of the biggest transformations in our cottage was removing the wall that separated the living room and kitchen. The space flows so much better now, and the vintage corbels and columns we added give the openings extra charm.
If you want to see just how far this kitchen has come, the before-and-after photos tell the whole story.
You can spot the front door near the bakery sign, right where our tour began.
We don’t have a traditional entryway, but we’ve made the most of the space with clever storage.
The vintage gray glass cabinet holds all our blankets and quilts since closet space is limited. Yes, our linen closet lives in the living room.
Beach Cottage Summer Decorating FAQs
How Do You Decorate a Beach Cottage for Summer?
Keep it simple. Swap heavy textiles for lighter materials, bring in fresh or faux flowers, and add a few coastal touches like vintage oars, shells, or glass jars. A navy-and-white palette instantly reads summer without feeling themed.
How Do You Make Coastal Decor Look Collected Instead of Themed?
Mix vintage pieces in with your coastal accents and limit yourself to a few beachy items per room. One pair of vintage oars or a single jar of shells carries more weight than a shelf full of anchors.
What are the Best Plants for Summer Home Decor?
Lavender and geraniums are easy, fragrant choices that work indoors and out. If houseplants aren’t your strength, quality faux greenery fills the gap with zero watering required.
Final Thoughts
Thanks so much for coming along on part one of our summer home tour. I’d love to hear how you’re decorating your own home this season, so leave a comment below.
And don’t miss part two, where the tour continues into our summer kitchen.
Until next time,
Happy Decorating!
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Your garden and home is just stunning! You have such a green thumb! It’s so summer! It’s got to be so relaxing sitting out there enjoying the water.
I always love when you share views of the water. So magical! And you’ve decorated so beautifully for summer. From the blues and whites to all the relaxed coastal touches, it’s all so pretty and welcoming! Thanks for sharing your wonderful home with us all!
Shelley
So many gorgeous and inspirational ideas! I adore your two fur boys. It’s truly a joy to be on tour with you!
Kim your home looks beautiful! Love all the gorgeous summer vibes!
*Correction: Neither one of us “has.”
Still in teacher mode… haha
It’s funny how we are both avid gardeners…(literally obsessed with gardening) and neither one of us have indoor plants! I can’t have them because the soil often grows mold and I am highly allergic to it. I am okay in the garden on drier days but have to be careful after a lot of rain and in shade gardens. Indoors I just can’t risk it. Anyway, I am with you on using the faux plants indoors. They have come a long way. You might have noticed that faux pothos in my kitchen corner. I actually think I love it more than a real plant because it is beautiful and I don’t have to worry about it. I have enough plant babies outside that need constant care!
Okay now to the good stuff. I. LOVE. YOUR. HOME! Everytime I “come over” I become more attached. I am a beach girl at heart and am looking forward to having my own coastal cottage within the next ten year span. I love how your home has all the vintage goodies and cottage character but with just enough coastal vibes to authenticallly tie in to your surroundings without being “beach themed.”
Great choice to open up that wall! It all looks great. Can’t wait to see your kitchen and garden in a few weeks!
*Correction: Neither one of us “has.”
Still in teacher mode… haha
Your garden and view are absolutely breathtaking! I definitely understand why you love summer so much! All of your summer touches in your home are beautiful too. Thanks for sharing!
Kim,
You summer beach cottage tour is so stunning. Everything so fresh and relaxing.
I always love stopping by and taking a look around your cottage, Kim! Your home is so inviting and I love how intentional your decorating is: everything has a purpose and reason. An outdoor dinner on your deck looks absolutely amazing! So happy to be touring together this week. Happy Summer!
Thank you for the kind words, Anne. It means a lot. I always enjoy doing these tours together.
Now that I’ve picked my jaw up off of the floor, I can leave a comment. WOWZA! I’ve always loved your cottage and drool over each photo. This year with the new pieces and super colorful surroundings, I’m overwhelmed with smiles. Everything is fantastic. What a dream life. And I’m totally jealous of your green thumb. So glad to have seen this and toured with you today. JUST AHHHHMAZING!
You are just the sweetest Cindy. I can’t tell you how much your kind comments mean to me. Thank you so much for making my day.
I am blown away by this home! What a dreamy place to spend time in – that water view is incredible…one day I hope to have a home on the water too. I absolutely love your styling and the welcoming feel in every detail!
Thank you so much, Tamara! We pinch ourselves every day when we see this water view. Summer is always so much fun when we can be out there more. It was so nice to “meet” you this week. You have such a beautiful home.
Everything about your home is beautiful, Kim! I love the corbels and vintage columns you added to the kitchen divide last year and all of your vintage furniture pieces. Ollie and Jax are such sweeties, I’m sure they enjoy that spot on the window seat. I’m looking forward to seeing your famous garden in all its glory soon! Thanks for the tour, have a lovely weekend!
Hi Jayne! Thank you so much. I’m really happy with how the columns and corbels turned out as well. I am impatiently waiting for the summer blooms as well. They can’t come fast enough. Happy summer sweet friend.
Your home is amazing and your gardens are truly legendary. I have enjoyed seeing them for years. I loved the tour inside your living room, such an inviting space filled with some lovely antiques. You have created such a warm and welcoming home. Thanks so much for joining the tour this season, your home is a delight to tour.
I can’t thank you enough for the opportunity to join all of these talented ladies on your tour, Marty. I have had such a great time and met SO MANY new bloggers here this week. Thank you for the kind words. Happy summer!
Oh Kim your house is my dream! That view and the flower garden. I’ve always wanted to live by the water. I too like to garden but most of my garden is shade, so I love seeing a beautiful sunny flower garden. Also loving the inside of your home. So cozy, collected and pretty! I really enjoyed your beautiful tour.
Thank you for the kind words, Julia. Our backyard is all shade and on a hill so we have a very unique situation of having the garden, greenhouse, and deck all in the front yard. But luckily it all works. I’m so glad I got the opportunity to be on the tour with you this week. Happy summer!
Talk about Charm with a capital C….dang! This is so incredibly dreamy, Kim. So happy to “meet” you, and I would be honored for you to share my home. 🙂
Thank you, Erica! I can’t tell you how much I loved your gorgeous home. Can’t wait to follow your blog going forward.
Kim, what a gorgeous home you have??? How you have incorporated the costal feel is very naturally authentic – if that makes sense☺️ There’s so much to love, and I can’t wait to see your kitchen??
Thank you, Anita. I really appreciate it. Looking forward to following your blog this summer.