Part 2: Creating the Cottage

I am so excited to share Part 2 of Creating our Cottage! Today is all about outdoor living! When we were designing the house, I knew I wanted a large covered porch to take in the beautiful Core Sound views! The deep porch spreads the entire width of the house, creating a great outdoor living space. For the porch columns, we used a synthetic material to prevent a rot problem. The ceiling is synthetic beadboard painted in Sherwin Williams Retiring Blue, which is a fabulous shade of haint blue! We had intended to do the porch flooring in Ipe but due to material shortages we went with sustainably sourced Denya instead. It has the same great natural wood tones and withstands the elements similarly.

The porch has 3 sets of French doors leading onto it from the house so I created zones on the porch off of each door. One set of French doors leads out of the master bedroom so I set up our lounge zone there. It is outfitted with 3 teak chaise lounges and all weather cushions. Neutral cushions allow me to change up throw pillows with the season.

The other two sets of French doors lead out from the family room. Off the center doors, we have created our outdoor living room. It is grounded by an Annie Selke outdoor rug in a fabulous french blue. The sofa and side chairs are the Caroline Collection from Pottery Barn. I chose this furniture because of its all weather rattan over an aluminum frame. Perfect for the harsh salt air elements. A teak coffee and side table keep a coastal feel. I made the throw pillows in fabric from Spoonflower by designers Danika Herrick and Viv Designs. I have linked the look HERE.

Off the third set of French doors is the dining zone. A 5 foot round teak dining table from Frontgate anchors the space surrounded by pale blue and white aluminum bistro dining chairs from Serena and Lily. All of this was chosen for it's coastal feel and it's low maintenance yet durable materials. An XL Big Green Egg set in an Acacia table gives my hubs a great place to grill out while the family hangs out together.

Of course the porch would not be complete without an American and a North Carolina flag anchoring the steps. It is a very welcoming space that the whole family has been enjoying immensely. The live oaks keep the porch shady while the breezes off the sound keep it cool and comfortable. It is truly the best spot for morning coffee and a devotional, an afternoon nap and a good book, and al fresco dining with a glass of wine! The dogs love the porch too! The yard is fenced in so they have been enjoying lots of outdoor time!

Read Part 3 HERE where I share the beautiful wet bar with a custom countertop made by my husband! Missed Part 1? Read it HERE

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