01 Nov Recapturing the Charm of a Bygone Era

Bringing Retro Charm and Nostalgia to this Plum Island Beach Cottage.

When we met with our clients on the renovation for their 1951 beach cottage, their vision was clear – capture the spirit of the home and their Plum Island community with a fun design throwback to an earlier era. Our challenge was to capture that feeling while making the most of the cottage’s small footprint.

In the kitchen, it started with the perfect appliances. After considering the options with a couple of retro appliance companies, we found Big Chill’s Beach Blue  the clear standout — the perfect combination of function and style in a fun color that has just the right amount of impact.

To better define the space, we added a small wall at the left side of the kitchen that enclosed the side of the upper cabinet, a small detail that creates a much cleaner look. Floating light oak shelves created a light open feel, and the vertically installed picket-shaped full wall backsplash draws the eye up, lengthening the space.

Small details matter. Note the classic cup pulls on the crisp white cabinets and our incorporation of the flush-mount light fixture over the sink that once belonged to the owner’s grandmother.

We carried that clean nostalgic feel to the living room with soft white shiplap on the walls and a cozy classic woodstove in the corner. The bathroom was updated in complementary blue and gray tones offset by a striking light gray and blue printed porcelain tile tub enclosure. To give unity and a sense of spaciousness, we used neutral oak vinyl plank flooring throughout the space.

This 1950s cottage is now an inviting and beautiful space that evokes the charm and nostalgia of a simpler time with modern functionality, a perfect retreat that’s true to the spirit of Plum Island.

We are proud to announce this retro beach cottage renovation was featured in the September 25, 2022 edition of Boston Globe Magazine’s Style Watch.