A Neutral Cottage Accented with Dreamy Pastels Offers Refined Elegance

uncluttered cottage style
Photography by William Dickey
Photography by William Dickey

By Lauren Eberle

Making the most of a small space became the ambition of this cottage-dwelling couple, who aimed to integrate their curated collections in a clever, uncluttered fashion.

When Brooke and Andrew Bell hosted their final supper club before moving from their 1940s cottage, the couple pulled long tables outside, lining them up in a farmhouse fashion for a beautiful evening of memory making under the stars. With 10 people around the table, the meal was delicious, the laughter was contagious, and the setup, Brooke reflects, was symbolic of the couple’s cottage lifestyle. “We were always looking for ways to make the most of a small space, and that’s where creativity came into play,” she says.

Photography by William Dickey

Brooke, a magazine editor, also lives in an edited, uncluttered way, taking great joy in solving how to best use her space. Take, for example, the Bells’ living area, a long rectangular expanse that positions the dining space on one end and the living space on the other. “Making rooms like this flow and function in two ways can be a challenge,” says Brooke, who chose to anchor the living area with a natural rug, statement art, and a furniture arrangement conducive to conversation while keeping the whole room cohesive with a calming neutral palette.

Photography by William Dickey