The Cottage Journal Cottage Retreats 2023

I can still recall the first time my parents took me and my siblings away for a long-weekend retreat to a cabin in the mountains. The vacation rental was a log home and smelled of cinnamon and pine. It was furnished with rustic, comfortable décor and had stairs that led to a loft bedroom overlooking the living area. The main floor opened onto a huge deck that offered sweeping views of the surrounding mountain vistas. Everything about it felt magical, and that getaway experience we shared as a family offered a peaceful respite we longed for year after year. As an adult, I’ve had the opportunity to travel and experience all sorts of beautiful cottage stays across the country. A coastal bungalow in New England, a Sunday Haus cottage in…

During the process of updating this family cottage, designer Ashley Montgomery had no shortage of inspiration. “The piece of land the house sits on is really beautiful,” says the Ontario-based designer. “It’s on the lake, so we’ve got lots of color coming in; there’s tons of greenery, lots of trees, so we wanted to play off that and just bring a lot of warmth into the home.” Built in the 1960s and updated in the 2000s, the home was rife with potential—and Ashley and her team were prepared to uncover it with thoughtful design choices and a targeted use of fresh paint. Timeworn pine paneling in the living room went lighter, while Ashley took a bold approach in the adjoining space. “With the kitchen configuration the way it was, we…

Architect Wade Weissmann has spent more than 25 years designing classically inspired estates around the world. Based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, his firm, Wade Weissmann Architecture, has been praised for its attention to craftsmanship and design detail and for lending homeowners a feeling of resort living right at home. When a fishing camp on a pristine, private lake in the Northwoods of Wisconsin caught Wade’s eye, he decided to use his design expertise to create his own personal retreat. The resort had been operating for 60 years and had existing cabins on the property that were used as the inspiration for Wade’s master plan: three rustic but luxurious cabins nestled along the shoreline. Tucked into the woods, these fully renovated lakeside cabins provide a tranquil escape from the city. They are…

In designing this guest cottage in Jackson, Wyoming, the team at WRJ Design—along with Northworks Architects + Planners and OSM Construction—were tasked with meeting their clients’ needs while working within a 1,000-square-foot limitation. “They are a large family [whose] children are in college and have friends,” says WRJ’s CEO, Rush Jenkins. “And eventually, they wanted to build a new main house.” The need, then, was for a space that could serve both to welcome visiting friends and to house the family during the construction of the new main home. While the limited footprint presented certain challenges, Rush explains that he and his staff are no strangers to maximizing the use of space. The family’s needs called for a bunk room in addition to the primary suite, a full kitchen, and…

When Margaret and Jeff Rickard set out to build a vacation home that would perfectly suit their family’s needs, they didn’t want it to be a typical lake house. “I wanted it to have more of a rustic elegance,” Margaret says, noting that she tends toward a French flair in her designs. To accomplish that, she crafted a space that is perfect for curling up and enjoying the water views—no matter the time of year. “I just wanted it to be warm yet airy and light,” Margaret says, adding that she opted for on-trend, lighter finishes. In the upstairs living area, the vaulted ceiling is planked with natural wood, which provides a glowing contrast to the crisp shiplap throughout the space. The stone fireplace at the center of abundant comfy…

Barbara Tickle and her husband, Charlie, have enjoyed weekend escapes to the mountains for more than 40 years. Finally, they decided it was time to put roots down in their favorite vacation oasis and build an incredible dream cabin in the hills of North Carolina. With the help of builder Dearl Stewart and architect Mark Paullin, their dream became a reality. Their mountain home enjoys an elegant look yet still feels appropriate to its setting due to their thoughtful use of natural materials and personalized décor. “We wanted it to be rustic without feeling cabin-y,” Barbara says of the home’s interior. The rustic cottage is built with solid wood, complete with stained pine ceilings and flooring throughout, while painted wood-planked walls complement its frame in a soft shade of linen.…