Let’s tour the home of a longtime blogger buddy today! A Cozy Cottage Lake House with lots of black and white has been lovingly made over through the years by a well-known and much admired blogger at My Sweet Savannah.Cozy Cottage Lake House: My Sweet Savannah awaits!
A Dutch door opens directly into the kitchen, and is technically the home’s front door. Design/Photo: My Sweet Savannah.
My Sweet Savannah’s author, Melaine, has created the most charming cottage for her family, and I’m so thrilled to take you on a tour of it today! I have been following this popular blog for years and never go away uninspired. In fact, I’m often inspired to run to the craft store since her DIYs are consistently THAT good.
Melaine says she prefers a mainly neutral palette and likes to add color in small doses, and her interiors remind me how effective black, white, and rustic work as sort of a holy trinity of modern farmhouse style.
Let’s tour pretty rooms and score cozy cottage decor ideas from My Sweet Savannah!
Cozy Cottage Lake House: My Sweet Savannah
Exterior: Before & After
Before
AFTER! Design/Photo: My Sweet Savannah.
Cozy Cottage Porch
I love how Melaine decorates her covered entry as thoughtfully as her interior spaces.
Cedar shake siding on a lovely lake house – Design/Photo: My Sweet Savannah.
Melaine has inspired so many of us over the years with her fabulous makeovers – this bar cart she painted white did not start out so cute.
A bar cart transformation by My Sweet Savannah.
And this dress form makeover is from a few years back, but it still blows me away!
Sheet music dress form by My Sweet Savannah.
Cozy Cottage Kitchen
What a light and bright white kitchen with classic cottage and modern farmhouse style! There are multiple bright ideas in here the designer came up with, including barn doors to a pantry, coffee bar, and something you rarely see in a cottage kitchen…a sexy black sink!
I love these x-back wood counter stools. Photo/Design: My Sweet Savannah.
Barn style lighting in a white cottage style kitchen by My Sweet Savannah.
Aren’t the beveled backsplash tiles beautiful? I had my eye on these when we were selecting tile for our fixer upper’s kitchen. If you like the look, you can find a beveled subway tile in a 3″ x 6″ size RIGHT HERE.
The pantry is behind the barn doors. Photo/Design: My Sweet Savannah.
Rustic wood stools warm up a white kitchen with modern farmhouse and cottage style details. Photo/Design: My Sweet Savannah.
Melaine says, “Most of my white dishes in the cupboards are either from the dollar store or the thrift store and I don’t think any of them were over $3.00.” Photo/Design: My Sweet Savannah.
Melaine says, “This divided wooden tote holds extra silverware and all my napkin rings.” Find a rustic wood option which only looks old RIGHT HERE. Photo: My Sweet Savannah.
Cozy Cottage Coffee Station
Melaine says, “This coffee station is heaven for me and my coffee addiction!” If you have dreamed of creating your own station for caffeinating, find a similar Breville espresso machine HERE. Photo: My Sweet Savannah.
Cozy Cottage Living Room
I love how Melaine has a kitchen item (the farmhouse-y wood bread board) in the living room. Designer Brooke Giannetti did the same thing in her Patina Farm living room, and I wonder if it is there to facilitate serving snacks or an occasional meal in here? Smart cookies!Melaine added texture with a creamy crochet pillow she picked up at Home Goods. Photo/Design: My Sweet Savannah.
Don’t the framed black and white photos above the sofa make a beautifully graphic and personal statement?
Black, white, and neutrals in the living room. Melaine added texture with a creamy crochet pillow she picked up at Home Goods. Photo/Design: My Sweet Savannah.
I’m just crazy about the tone on tone with light touches of contrast. I recently spied this lovely linen sofa you might like.
Melaine added lots of galvanized decor to the living room because she loves how it reads “summer”and keeps things from feeling too fussy. Additionally, they make excellent serving pieces–A FEW OPTIONS ARE HERE. A classic double gourd lamp plays well with more rustic pieces in the space…FIND GOURD LAMPS HERE. Photo/Design: My Sweet Savannah.
Melaine says, “I styled our bookshelves very simply with neutral books and pops of wood and orange.” Melaine added lots of galvanized decor to the living room because she loves how it reads “summer”and keeps things from feeling too fussy. Additionally, they make excellent serving pieces–A FEW OPTIONS ARE HERE. A classic double gourd lamp plays well with more rustic pieces in the space…FIND GOURD LAMPS HERE. Photo/Design: My Sweet Savannah.
See that grouping of white pottery on the shelf? Not pottery at all!!! I love how Melaine saw some pricey examples at West Elm and thought ‘I can totally get that look for a lot less.’ She spray painted thrift store glass vases with matte white! Voila! See what I mean about how I always go away inspired!?! Photo/Design: My Sweet Savannah.
It can be tricky to find a “just right” leather club chair! I love the proportions (not too chubby!) on Melaine’s.
Cozy Cottage Dining Room
The large photo print was the family’s Christmas card a couple years ago – Melaine had it enlarged at mpix. The sign is from THIS SHOP. Photo/Design: My Sweet Savannah. Bench: custom by Uber Chic Home.
Melaine’s bench under the credenza is custom and calls it “A life saver for storage….Believe it or not it holds all of our board and card games. It doubles as extra seating when we need it.” Bench: custom by Uber Chic Home. Photo: My Sweet Savannah.
The large photo print was the family’s Christmas card a couple years ago – Melaine had it enlarged at mpix. The sign is from THIS SHOP. Photo/Design: My Sweet Savannah.
The dining room overlooks the lake and woods, so Melaine says she kept the decor subtle and understated so as not to compete with the beautiful scenery outdoors. The sign is from her favorite sign artist here, and she says, “the credenza almost blends into the wall which was my intent.” I have never met a tulip style dining table I didn’t love – see THIS ONE for a similar look to this. Photo/Design: My Sweet Savannah.
Cottage Chic Black and White Bedroom
The JuJu hat over the bed has been with the designer for a while now, and she says of it: “I love the contrast with the dark walls (BENJAMIN MOORE Graphite) and the texture it brings in.” Her brass chandelier can be found RIGHT HERE. Photo/Design: My Sweet Savannah.
Aren’t the grain sack pillows the designer had embroidered with a mongram lovely!?! Photo/Design: My Sweet Savannah.
Like Melaine, I love the complex scent of Diptyque’s Baies (roses with black currant but not overly flowery), and it’s gorgeous in this large size with a black container you can re-use in endless ways. FIND IT HERE. Photo/Design: My Sweet Savannah.
Like Melaine, I love the complex scent of Diptyque’s Baies (roses with black currant but not overly flowery), and it’s gorgeous in this large size with a black container you can re-use in endless ways. FIND IT HERE. Photo/Design: My Sweet Savannah.
Master Bathroom
My Sweet Savannah.
Design/photo: My Sweet Savannah.
The art work is from MINTED. Photo: My Sweet Savannah.
Tall cabinets provide closet-type storage in the bath. Photo: My Sweet Savannah.
Teen Bedroom
Bedroom with BENJAMIN MOORE Graphite walls and American flag. My Sweet Savannah.
Outdoor Dining
Find white French industrial metal chairs RIGHT HERE. Photo/Design: My Sweet Savannah.
Here’s another example of Melaine’s innovative ideas for repurposing what someone else might just toss. This black frame was part of packaging that came with furniture shipped to her. She made this rustic wall decor with leftover pieces of wood she painted in various shades of beachy blue-grey.
Love this! Photo/Design: My Sweet Savannah.
I learned about these Peyton Barrels from World Market on My Sweet Savannah. Here, Melaine uses one as a table. FIND HERE. Photo/Design: My Sweet Savannah.
and if you loved the rustic modern dining room in this home, you will love the style you’ll find RIGHT HERE!
Hope you decorate the new week with random acts of kindness, friends.
I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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Hi Michele!
I wake up each morning and look for your post.
Thank you for always getting my day off to a “lovely” positive start!!
The bench shown in the kitchen is actually made by Uber Chic Home. They use vintage California grape harvesting boxes for drawers and tons of amazing textiles for upholstery.
I was so happy so see it in this beautiful home.
Thanks again for being here!!
Carmella
How exciting to learn the source! I will dig deeper so I can link to this source of lovely! Thanks so much! 🙂
Kristin
September 17, 2018 / 6:29 am
I’m with you Carmella, I can’t start my day without checking in with Michelle!
Connie
August 21, 2018 / 1:35 pm
Love the crocheted lumbar pillow she has. I have made similar pillows from sweaters. An easy DIY project…just keep your eye out for sweaters at thrift stores for the color you’d like and voila! You have something ‘hand done’. 🙂
What a lovely home showing how classic black and white can be beautiful!
What a great idea! I am good at collecting the “ideas” but not as good at executing the projects. I find old cashmere sweaters at the thrift store all the time and think there must be some great craft ideas with them. You’re right – there is nothing quite like handmade! Thanks for reading and adding beauty here. 🙂
Chuey
January 13, 2019 / 5:05 am
LOL, I gave just a cursory glance at the bedside table, quickly read the candle… thought it said “Babies”—! First I thought, “Aww…” then, “EWW!!!”. Depending on the time of day, I suppose😄. Anyway, loving going through all the nice views and vignettes, will be coming back to see more.
hahahaha – i can totally understand why your brain read it as ‘babies!’ that is hilarious! I have this candle as well – here’s the official description: “it expresses the irresistible freshness of a bouquet of roses, sweetened with blackcurrant leaves.” Thanks for being fun!
You had me with the sheet music dress form!!! OMG! Want it!
Author
Me too! Neeeeed it! 🙂
Hi Michele!
I wake up each morning and look for your post.
Thank you for always getting my day off to a “lovely” positive start!!
The bench shown in the kitchen is actually made by Uber Chic Home. They use vintage California grape harvesting boxes for drawers and tons of amazing textiles for upholstery.
I was so happy so see it in this beautiful home.
Thanks again for being here!!
Carmella
Author
How exciting to learn the source! I will dig deeper so I can link to this source of lovely! Thanks so much! 🙂
I’m with you Carmella, I can’t start my day without checking in with Michelle!
Love the crocheted lumbar pillow she has. I have made similar pillows from sweaters. An easy DIY project…just keep your eye out for sweaters at thrift stores for the color you’d like and voila! You have something ‘hand done’. 🙂
What a lovely home showing how classic black and white can be beautiful!
Always a pleasure to read your posts.
Author
What a great idea! I am good at collecting the “ideas” but not as good at executing the projects. I find old cashmere sweaters at the thrift store all the time and think there must be some great craft ideas with them. You’re right – there is nothing quite like handmade! Thanks for reading and adding beauty here. 🙂
LOL, I gave just a cursory glance at the bedside table, quickly read the candle… thought it said “Babies”—! First I thought, “Aww…” then, “EWW!!!”. Depending on the time of day, I suppose😄. Anyway, loving going through all the nice views and vignettes, will be coming back to see more.
By the way, what *is* the candle’s scent?
Author
hahahaha – i can totally understand why your brain read it as ‘babies!’ that is hilarious! I have this candle as well – here’s the official description: “it expresses the irresistible freshness of a bouquet of roses, sweetened with blackcurrant leaves.” Thanks for being fun!