A fictitious family retreat is just what I have been working on the past few weeks.  On 2^nd peninsula, a 1960’s cottage beckoned.  The primary feature is a wall of glass framing a South Shore view-scape of islands and bay with forested hillside in the foreground—wow!  Opposite the view is a wall of pine paneling, appropriately faded after years of sun exposure.  The floors are birch parquet and the adjoining kitchen’s cabinetry is natural maple.  And to “top” it off, there are pine-encased beams stained a definite orange.  Now you may be wondering how to make all of these different woods blend.  The secret is green—nature’s restful and calming neutral.  To complement the sun-faded wood wall, the beams were painted a warm grey-green (think weathered copper) and the walls, a pastel sunlight yellow.  The wide wood trim on all of the windows was left natural to act as a “frame” to the gorgeous views.  All of the wood trim not framing a view was painted a warm white called “Swiss coffee”.  An area carpet of faded green, yellow, and beige soften the extensive parquet floors.  The kitchen walls were painted a faded, pastel version of the grey-green beams.  The vinyl flooring in the kitchen recalls a worn linen floor cloth in a mottled grey green with beige overtones—instant age equates with a nostalgic yearning. 

For cozy continuity, the colours were repeated throughout the cottage with the hallway maintaining the sunlight yellow with “Swiss coffee” white trim and all of the bedrooms painted the pastel grey green again with white trim.  The faded green, yellow, and beige carpeting were installed wall-to-wall in the bedrooms.  The light birch Ikea bedroom furniture springs to life in the grey-green rooms.  In the main living area, furniture from the family’s primary residence will infuse the room cozy familiarity in the form of an overstuffed sofa in dark grey green backed onto the pine wall and a favourite garage sale chair.  Rocking chairs left by the previous owner will provide eclectic comfort for conversation and quiet time while absorbing the view.