STEP FOUR
Based on the exterior style of Steep Hill cottage and the narrative we are trying to convey, we determined that a vintage style reference was a good start. We also recognized that the nature of cottage decorating, where items are collected over time, meant it needed to be an eclectic style as well.
Based on this, we combined a few reference styles and gave it a name: Vintage Eclectic Cottage.
Fig. “Vintage Eclectic Cottage” Concept for Steep Hill Cottage
Based on the Key Elements in the Steep Hill Cottage interior style profile, we began to assemble a visual inspiration board that reflects these elements.
Key Elements In Steep Hill Cottage’s Interior Style Profile:
| Style Reference Name | Vintage Eclectic Cottage |
|---|---|
| Elements that Complement Exterior Style |
Locally sourced wood floors. Paint grade cabinetry to evoke economical, vintage form. High wainscoting, matching simple window and door trims. V-groove T&G wall or ceiling cladding. |
| Must Haves | Wood cooker stove. Handmade McIntyre tile. Cozy entertaining space. Library and record storage. Accessible kitchen. High ceilings, tall doors. Vintage feeling brass hardware. Optimized view of lake. |
| Colour Ideas | Earthy neutrals inspired by surroundings: brown, green, grey-green, warm white. Vintage style, muted tone wallpaper in select locations. |
| Floors | Solid red pine, matt finish. Softwood will develop character building patina. |
| Trim Details | High baseboard, deep window sills. Simple, unadorned profiles. |
| Storage and Cabinetry | Primarily built in. Simple, shaker cabinetry. Low lustre painted finish. Heritage colours. |
| Walls | Simple, v-groove wainscoting, run higher than usual (vernacular, almost institutional). Plain finishing above. |
| Ceiling | Painted V-groove t&g. |
| Metal Finishes | Unlaquored brass. |
| Window Coverings | Minimal. Vintage fabric. |
| Textiles | Simple, classic patterns. Natural fibres. |
| Appliances | Panel front. Compromise on range (AGA not affordable). |
| Fixtures | Vintage inspired lighting. Traditional brass plumbing fixtures. |
| Kitchen Notes | Vintage feeling. Overlay or framed cabinet doors with exposed hinges. Soapstone. Colorful painted cabinets. Built in storage elements evocative of old milk door. Plate and cup rack. Open shelving. |
| Bathroom Notes | Vintage, english country wallpaper for the main floor common bathroom. Pedestal sink Clawfoot tub. Traditional shower and bath fixtures. |
| Living Room Notes | Possibility of vintage furnishings. Large view of fire. Tiled inglenook with freestanding stove. |
| Dining Room Notes | Vintage, wood table and windsor chairs. Fireplace integration. Banquette seating. |
| Bedroom Notes | Window seat possibility. Four-post bed. |
| Mudroom/Laundry Notes | Function forward. Durable flooring; stone or tile. Colour drenched. |
As a result of this exercise, we now have a working interior style profile that will help to inform our design decisions and create a cohesive plan that pairs the exterior architectural style with a complementary interior design.
Now we’re all set to proceed with the room-by-room design of our home and current renovation project, Steep Hill Cottage.
Now it is your turn to define your home’s interior style profile. In the next (and final) module, we’ll walk through all the key elements to include in your profile.
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-This guide provides a brief, highly graphical overview of Canada's architectural heritage, highlighting the defining characteristics of various building styles and types across different historical periods. We love older Parks Canada publications.
Parks Canada. Buildings of Canada: A Guide to Styles and Types. 1980, https://www.historicplaces.ca/media/7173/buildingsofcanada.pdf.
-This guide, commissioned by an East coast municipality, is quite comprehensive. It provides more detailed information on the architectural styles that are common in Canada.
Town of Sackville. Heritage Architecture Style Guide. 10 Mar. 2014, https://sackville.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Heritage_Architecture_Style_Guide_Final_10March2014.pdf.
-This book provides a comprehensive overview of major architectural styles and building terminology in Ontario from the late 18th century to relatively modern times.
Blumenson, John J.-G. Ontario Architecture: A Guide to Styles and Building Terms, 1784 to the Present. Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 1990.
-A concise introduction to considering the architectural character of your home is provided in the U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Cultural Resources - Preservation Guides. The National Park Service preservation guides are a great resource in general and well worth exploring.
-This book outlines what to look for, what to do and what not to do when working on important building details.
Cusato, Marianne, and Ben Pentreath. Get Your House Right: Architectural Elements to Use & Avoid. Sterling, 2007.
-This book provides an excellent detailed guide to American residential architecture (basically the same as Canadian architecture).
McAlester, Virginia Savage. A Field Guide to American Houses (Revised): The Definitive Guide to Identifying and Understanding America's Domestic Architecture. Knopf, 2015.
-This book provides detailed information on building elements.
Benjamin, Asher. The American Builder's Companion. Illustrated ed., Feb. 26, 2009, Dover Publications.
-This book provides detailed information on building elements indicating scale and proportion.
Radford, William A., Bernard L. Johnson, and Charles P. Rawson. Radford's Portfolio of Details of Building Construction: A Remarkable and Unique Collection of Full-Page Plates, Accurately Drawn and Reproduced to Exact Scale. Complete Details for Every Style of Interior Trim, Including Special Built-In Features. Illustrated ed., Dover Publications, Aug. 31, 2012.
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