Text by Ande Fanning
Living on the bay, the porch is a place where friends and family gather, so Susan McGowin set out to create a porch with punch. She painted the wood a cool shade of white that offers the perfect backdrop for brilliant pops of color.
According to Susan, any daybed is inviting but this swinging version is positively irresistible with the addition of plump pillows in a variety of interesting fabrics. She wanted to emphasize the beach locale while underscoring the happy color scheme with fun touches like painted metalwork, ceramic animals, whimsical art pieces, and embroidered linens.
The porch also offers a dining area. Rattan chairs pull up to the table where an artistic seagull is hanging out ready to dive for a crumb. These colorful floor “rugs” won’t slip or slide with foot traffic because they are actually painted on the porch floor. The same paint colors are used on the birdhouse and stand.
Susan channeled the charm of the ‘50s with vintage whatnots tucked among the shelves and polka-dotted farm animals crowing on the island. Vivid paintings decorate the white walls including an artist’s version of a dock party.
With paint in the era’s signature shade of turquoise, the dining area is a step back in time.
Vintage furniture is found throughout the cottage, but especially in the bedrooms. The cabinet situated between the beds was painted white and repurposed as a nightstand. And perched on top is a vintage radio. Twin beds were painted robin-egg blue as was a dressing table that originally came with the bedroom suite.
In the “bunk” room, four guests can easily find a place to rest—each with a different quilt to keep them warm.
