Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Seaside cottages

Since I'm away at the beach, I figured it was a good time to show some seaside cottages. Not the Newport variety, but actual cottages. The book 'Cottages by the Sea' by Linda Leigh Paul features a number of amazing cottages in Carmel, California. I had 2 favorites that I want to share with you.
The house seen at the top images of the post is called 'Hansel' -aptly named, don't you think? The street side is a quiet, almost fairy-tale cottage. The handmade quality of the finishes just adds to the charm. The designer, Hugh Comstock, designed the place in a folk tudor style to showcase his wive's 'Otsy-Totsy' dolls in 1924 to show to potential buyers as they had overflowed their own home. The interior is small at 300 SF but adorable. Efficient little beach cottage perfect for 1 or 2! I love the soaring ceiling. Thats a guest loft up the ladder from the living room.
Less of a cottage than a small house, the second project is more my speed to actually live in. I love this house!
The Hasenyager House was built in 1931 by MJ Murphy in a French Tudor style and was restored in 1987.The house, typical of the time period, features forest-green painted steel windows. You know I love those! I especially love this large rounded bay window in the living room seen above and below.
The garden is divided into 'rooms' and features a treasure trove of plants - roses, lupine, forget-me-nots, wisteria, iris, rhododendrons, lilacs, lavendar and rare trees. A perfect cottage garden!
The interiors are still cozy but not as tiny as the hansel house. I love the wood floors and beams.
The kitchen is obviously from the 1987 remodel but I don't mind it -the white cabinets and appliances are very beachy and I love the addition of the beautiful rugs and blue cabinet.
This is a book that is definitely worth checking out!

22 comments:

Terry said...

I grew up dreaming about southern beach side cottages. Frame, low-riding in the low country, fragile and a bit seedy having been roasted in the sun and heat. These beautiful "seaside" cottages could be at home anywhere.

studioJudith said...

Absolutely delightful little dollhouses: they do seem to invite one to play!
Hope you're having fun playing at
the beach .. .
Jjjj

Scot Meacham Wood said...

I do believe I could just close my eyes and point . . . and be perfectly happy in any of those images.

Thanks AD. I needed a little beach-side vacation just about now.

Prairie Girl Studio said...

hi ~ just slipped by via lisa's 'a bloomsbury life' and have to say you have me melting here with these cottages ... the top two images brought tears ... and the 'otsy-totsy' doll story is so sweet ...
off to seek more of your most delightful blog ~
prairiegirl

Prairie Girl Studio said...

forgive me ... i should say FASCINATING blog!
enjoy the beach ~
prairiegirl

Kwana said...

What a pretty book. Now I want one. The seaside cottage not the book. LOL.

Scott Fazzini said...

Perfectly charming! Thanks for the sweet pics. Have a great trip!

Anonymous said...

A friend as these houses on Flickr as a group. I will have to try it. I see those cute houses and I think "Hobbitzes live here!" They could fit right in the Shire!

Great post!

P.Gaye Tapp at Little Augury said...

love them both,but my heart belongs to Hansel.enjoy the sea,la

Karena said...

My style of get away spots by the sea!

Debra said...

Ohhh-I love them both. The smaller one would make a perfect studio- especially for late night painting inspiration. I'll need to look for that book- thanks for the little tour.

Chris said...

My dream is to have a summer house in Ogunquit Maine, or Rockport, MA. There are such lovely cottages on the sea there.

pve design said...

my dream!

Abby said...

This post makes me want a little beach cottage by the sea. I love the loft ladder that climbs up through the scalloped edge hole.

katiedid said...

I just love Carmel. These cottages are so charming! Thanks for the peek.

The Chukker said...

I had a great time checking your blog. Extremely interesting!

Janice Hugg Salisbury said...

I enjoyed looking at your cottages. Makes me wish I was in one of them. I'm just learning this so I haven't even posted anything yet. Maybe I can figure it out. I hope. :)

Anonymous said...

What a great blog site. I'm so glad I found you. I have a problem, though. As my daughter would say, I "by accidently" subscribed to "comments" as well as posts and want to unsubscribe (comments portion only). Do you know how I'd go about doing so?

Many thanks, Debra

ArchitectDesign™ said...

Debra, this is a technical question I can actually answer (as the same thing frequently happens to me). When you get one of the emails -go to the bottom of the email and there is a link to 'unsubscribe'. Follow that!

Anonymous said...

Hi - me again. I've followed your instructions but can only find "subscribe" - no "unsubscribe". Help!.
Debra

Anonymous said...

Hi, me again.

I cannot find an unsubscribe button - just subscribe. Is it me? Thanks. Debra

ArchitectDesign™ said...

Debra, in the emails themselves which are follow up comments
don't you see under the comment - a 'post a comment' link you can click on and then underneath that - an 'unsubscribe to comments on this post' link? If not we may be using different systems somehow and I'm not sure what to do! Sorry I can't help further!