How to Decorate a Home like a Cape Cod Cottage
Cape Cod style originated in the 17th century in New England. Cape houses are characterized by one and one-half stoires, a steep roof, end gables, weather-worn shingles, dormers and historically accurate shutters.The Cape Cod style can be interpreted in various ways, but the overall themes include pastel colors, lots of white, flea market items, country design fabrics and often nautical themes. Bare wood floors and simple furnishings are another trademark of the Cape Cod style. ,
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Challenging
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Furniture with light finishes
- French country style or lace window dressings
- Shutters for window dressings
- Nautical themed decorations
- Paints: pale palettes
- Imaginative house sign
- Flowers, plants and shrubbery reflective of Cape Cod
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Decorating your Home like a Cape Cod Cottage
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Consider changes you can make to exterior of your home. Install historically accurate clapboard shutters on the outside of the house and white or off-white smaller shutters or lace curtains on interior windows. Install a nautical-themed mailbox and house sign. A house sign is a large, wooden sign that reflects the name of the house. Make the sign yourself or hire a sign maker. House signs reflect the owner's hobbies or to what the house represents and are a play on words. Examples are "Seaduction," "Stone Harbor" (if the house is made of stone) or "OceanBreeze." Contact a sign maker or if you're handy with woodworking, make your own. It can be shaped like a whale, a banner or simply an rectangle. The words are usually painted in large, script. The sign should be hung over the front door or over the garage door a they are on the Cape.
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Select a paint color palette that reflects sea, air ocean and elements of nature. Many paint companies have put together "Cape Cod" color selections. White wash wood trim or interior shutters. Select light colored wood for furniture and keep floors bare wood with scatter and area rugs. Try to keep the color palette pastel and light with touches of dark red and green.
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Select fabrics and window decorations that look worn and "used," sometimes referred to as "shabby chic." Don't worry about having everything matched ... an overall color scheme works well with Cape Cod designs but fabrics can be mixed. Cape Cod style fabrics include heavy white or cream linen slip covers, fabrics with large flowers or historical designs. Nautical themes can be incorporated as well. More than anything, you want to reflect the colors of nature, sand, sea and Cape Cod landscapes, including sand dunes, rocks and seagulls.
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Landscape with flowers and shrubs found on Cape Cod. Not all flowers and bushes will work in soil types not found on the Cape. Plant wild roses, wild strawberries, hydrangea and Morning Glory. The more natural and simple the landscaping, the more authentic. The focus should be on the house design, which is traditionally clean and simple.
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Add other design touches to exterior and interior. Wood chairs and rockers on the front porch rather than wicker, wreaths made from local, raw materials rather than silk flowers and simple window treatments as soon from the exterior will all contribute to an authentic Cape Cod style house.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep in mind that cranberries are harvested around the Cape so incorporate etchings, paintings and other artwork of cranberries.
Search On line for photos of Cape Cod houses to get inspired.
Hunt for New England-themed items at flea markets and garage sales.
Not all plants, shrubs and flowers will grow in soil that isn't found on Cape Cod. Your local nursery will be able to tell you types you can plant in whatever soil you have that reflect what's found on Cape Cod. Bring in a list of those items that are noted in Step 4.
