Design Drool: Cottage Living in L.A.

Filed under: Famous Homes, Design, etc, Cool Homes

We're swooning over this eco-friendly beach retreat.

While living in Southern California a decade ago, Venice Beach was my stomping grounds. I loved the relaxed, artsy vibe in this oceanfront city, where I could drop into a cafe for a cappuccino, hear a poet read at Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, or troll for Fair Trade or artisan-made clothing or home decor along the boardwalk -- all to the tune of street-musician funk.

Now when I return I'm filled with nostalgia, but I mostly find nearby hotels disappointing: a mix of high-priced Santa Monica hotels and cookie-cutter chain properties in Century City or El Segundo.

So when I stumbled upon a trio of one-bedroom furnished cottages for rent by the week in Venice Beach -- aptly called Venice Beach Eco Cottages -- I immediately flipped open my calendar to plan my next return to Southern California. Finally, an opportunity to vacation like a local!

Since they're owned by a couple who value sustainability, these cottages employ an eco-friendly mantra. Cleaning products are non-toxic. The cottages are solar-powered. Bed and bath linens are made from organic, unbleached cotton. The walls are insulated with recycled denim. Appliances -- because you know you'll want to cook once you hole up in here -- are Energy Star certified. And in a rare move in the lodging industry, 3 percent of gross revenues are donated to local charities.

"Our objective has been to show that truly sustainable design and restoration can go hand-in-hand with beauty and comfort," says, co-owner Cynthia Foster (Dr. Karel J. Samson is her partner), adding that this is "one of the few areas in L.A. where you can walk to everything -- wonderful!"

Le Bebe Cottage

The goal in decorating Le Bebe was to evoke 1960s Paris, matching a dusty shade of blue with cherry-red and pairing that palette with eclectic finds like a mirrored nightstand, butterfly-printed curtains and a chandelier. A birdcage was repurposed into a swiveling chair in the same cherry red shade, and that color prevails outside where there's a bistro-dining set with cherry red chairs.You'll feel extra at home with a fireplace in the living room to keep warm when those Santa Ana winds blow through.

This is the kind of cottage where you're going to spend a lot of time snapping photos of the decor because you'll be dying to replicate it at home.

Aunt Zoe's Place

Although this is called Aunt Zoe's Place, we're guessing that most of our aunts did not possess this much decorating savvy. L.A. winters can be cool, so the fireplace is handy -- not to mention retro-cool. The owners had a 1940s lakeside cabin in mind when outfitting this cottage, which is evident in its neutral white palette. In the bedroom, creamy vanilla mingles with soft amber Simple, nature-inspired art on the walls is the perfect fit for a temporary home by the water. (If you like the art in your cottage, ask the owners if you can buy it. Much of the art, created by local artists, is for sale.)

Vintage curtains hang in the kitchen along with the results of a few DIY projects, such as a shelf painted over with a coat or two of green paint and a cute skirt below the farmhouse-style sink. The retro flooring (containing the same shade of green as the little shelf) and little houses inside the cubbyhole are the kind of knick-knacks that make you feel like you're staying in someone's house, which is exactly the feeling the owners want you to have. "The three little decorative houses in the cubbies were a gift -- custom-made by our house painter and painted in the same shades as the cottages themselves," says Foster.

A chandelier hanging in the kitchen -- made by Foster to match with the glamorous (we're kidding!) job of washing your dishes -- is a fun surprise. Keeping with the historical character was important to the owners. Above, in the kitchen, you can see a vintage leaded-glass rectangular window bought in nearby North Hollywood.

After washing the sand and salt off your skin, slip into crisp, white linens in this comfy bed with an antique-iron bedframe. The exposed wood beams overhead will make you feel at home.

Papa Hemingway's Cottage

Whereas Aunt Zoe's Place and Le Bebe sport a bit of feminine flair, Papa Hemingway's cottage is for the guys. A vintage travel poster rounds out rich dark furnishings and trim.

Comfort is not sacrificed inside Papa Hemingway; a deep soaking tub for long baths is a wonderful touch. Look closely and you will see that the bathroom floor is made out of recycled wine corks.

Sure, you're going to want to hit the beach in L.A. But if you stay here, you may linger in bed longer than planned.

For more Design Drools:
-Eco-Luxe Huts in Spain
-Where Kate Moss Vacations

And if you're craving more about Venice Beach, check out these great pieces from AOL Travel:
How to Enjoy Venice Beach Boardwalk
Venice Beach House Rentals

 

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