Throughout, carefully curated finds supply the aura of time. Touches of black can ground a white-on-white space like an exclamation point. Swiveling stools at the island allow family members flexible seating that moves with the conversation.
When interior design firm Croma Design took on a breezy renovation of a summer cabin perched on the shores of a shimmering lake, it wasn’t just another project—it was personal. “It’s actually my mother’s cottage,” says principal designer Amy Kent, who cofounded the firm with principal Ryan Martin.
The home began in the 1960s as a cedar log cabin kit. Though rich in charm, it was dim and dated when Croma stepped in, and fairly intimate at 1,100 square feet. “The whole place was very dark, weathered cedar,” says Kent. “We added more windows and painted it [Benjamin Moore’s Decorator’s White] and it all of a sudden opened up.”
Croma restored the original cedar floors and preserved the local-stone fireplace, with its mantel hewn from the wood of a nearby barn. A 900-square-foot addition nearly doubled the footprint. “It was hard to add on to the log cabin because it’s sort of interconnected, like a Lego block set,” Kent recalls. “We were really limited in where we could add openings and doorways.” They softened the transitions between old and new by adding wainscoting and matching the casing on both sides. “We tried to tie the two halves together so you wouldn’t feel the contrast,” says the designer. The addition was well worth it, allowing for a proper family bathroom and primary bedroom with an en suite.
In furnishing her mother’s retreat, Kent had one main goal: “We wanted it to look crisp, clean, and timeless, so you couldn’t place what year this project was designed in.” To achieve that, Croma turned to many pieces already rich with meaning. “Most of the furnishings were actually antiques that already belonged to my mother. She was living in a bigger home previously, so this was a downsize. But we picked the most special pieces to bring so it would feel to her like her place.” Among them? A linen box now used as a coffee table, a barley twist table with details painted in robin’s egg blue, and an antique rocker worn by generations. The finished home reads as equal parts cottagecore and heirloom sanctuary. And above all, it was made for comfort. “During the summers, my brother and his family and myself and my family come at the same time,” says Kent. “It is a very cozy place to relax.” And her mother’s verdict, when all was said and done? “She just loved it.”
cottagecore
Here, three ways Croma design made this cottage feel cozy.
Layer materials with history. If they had installed entirely new, factory-made furniture and accessories, this home wouldn’t have had the same welcoming feel. The timeworn antique touches—such as paintings of wintry scenes, spindled furniture, and chipped-paint benches—add texture and instant soul.
Inject architectural harmony. To seamlessly unite the new addition with the original log cabin, Chroma added wainscoting and matched casings throughout. “It was a bit tricky to connect the old part to the new part without feeling like you were just walking through a door to a separate section,” says designer Amy Kent.
Design for gatherings. Though technically a summer cottage, the home is tailor-made for connection. “My mom’s four granddaughters all come at the same time,” she shares. With its open kitchen, expanded footprint, and outdoor access, the house comfortably holds multigenerational getaways—complete with joyful noise.
A bunk room gives kiddos a playful space of their own. Delicate antiques can be tucked behind glass to be enjoyed safely. A caned seat is a cozy place for bedtime stories.
