Architectural Details Bring Classic Cottage Charm

Cottage living is simple, clean, and relaxed. However, the architectural details in a cottage style home can be anything but simplistic in design.

The details do make the difference when it comes to decorating and adding those extra special touches that make a cottage a home, sweet, home.

Architectural details can be added at any time to any room in the cottage style home. The addition of these wonderful accents actually adds history, charm, and warmth to the rooms of your home and to the overall atmosphere.

Here are some ideas for bringing in the details that make a cottage a welcoming place to live, work (just a little bit), and play.

Corbels

Corbels have been around for hundreds of years and were originally designed as primarily a functional piece for supporting a load. That is actually the purpose for which they are still used, but now they can be as simplistic or as decorative as you’d like for your project. Corbels remind one of a support bracket in design. Corbels are used in cottage home décor for supporting bookshelves, display shelves, fireplace mantels, bars, or kitchen countertops.

Wood Rosettes

Wood rosettes are a beautiful architectural detail that brings the cottage feel into your room with style and beauty. Wood rosettes can be purchased individually and added to your project. Rosettes are often seen in corners of large, painted mirrors. Wood rosettes add a decorative element associated with cottage style decor on door frames, cabinets, and furniture.

Ceiling Medallions

Cottage style homes usually have at least one chandelier gracing the dining room, living area, or a bedroom. Ceiling medallions are pieces of decorative plaster that flat against the ceiling as a focal point for a chandelier or ceiling fan. These medallions can be very simple in design, or extremely ornate. Ceiling medallions can also be used as decorative wall hangings in a cottage home.

Beadboard

Beaded board, wainscoting, cornices, hardwood or painted plank wood floors, lattice, old windows and doors, and architectural molding are all trademarks of cottage style decorating. Wainscoting wraps walls or ceilings beautifully. Lattice can be used as a wall ornament or to bring texture and architectural interest into a room. Beaded board is a traditional cottage style accent to furniture pieces or kitchen cabinets.

Exposed Beams And Open Shelving

Open shelving, bookshelves, and exposed woodwork (such as beams and mantels) are still popular elements in cottage decorating design today. When cottages were first being built by local craftsmen, the support beams in both the ceiling and the walls were often left open. Cottage dwellers used simple wooden planks attached to the beams or studs for shelving. Now, some cottage owners will paint exposed beams white to keep the home feeling light, airy and relaxed.

Cornices

A hallmark of cottage style decorating is to use cornices to bring visual interest and a decorative touch to any room. A cornice is the uppermost section of the architectural molding that that sits along the top of a wall or sits just below a roof. Cornices can be very ornate or simplistic in design and are easily painted to match or coordinate with your cottage décor.

Salvage

Salvage pieces are always a welcome addition to cottage style homes. Keep your eyes open at flea markets, auctions, thrift stores, and garage sales for unique pieces of furniture or simply odds and ends that could be transformed into architectural details for your cottage home.

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