Postcard Perfect: The charming cottage was a labor of love for owner and builder Tim Sites (left with husband Hal Creel and pup Lucas), who rescued it from near dereliction, renovating it inside and out, including replacing its asbestos-shingles with Nichiha fiber-cement siding.
The subtle wood grain stays true to the home’s original exterior. Inside, the couple has filled the modest space with decades’ worth of art, antiques, and memories from around the world.
Bold Blue: The bright living room is the heart of the home, where the couple’s many treasures—including an antique Vietnamese vase—take pride of place. Friend and interior designer Elysa Lazar continued the blue color scheme inside, adding white trim and a pair of Petra sofas from Acquisitions Charleston to give the room a light yet grounded center.
Custom curtain panels frame the windows, while Ryan Studio Giorgio shell pillows in a slubby linen flax layer in texture. Shelving on either side of the fireplace provides space to display more collectibles, and the pass-throughs keep sight lines clear from the front door to the garden windows at the rear of the house.
Collected Style: A vintage lamp sits on an antique side table, illuminating a painting by abstract artist and friend George Read. Lazar sourced new furnishings that meld with the couple’s collection of art and objets without competing for attention.
defining moment: The double-sided hearth is a central feature, connecting the living and kitchen spaces. Cabinets painted in Farrow & Ball “Railings No. 31” pair with “Shadow Storm” marble countertops and Rohl “Campo Collection” faucets in polished nickel.
Sites’s company, Artis Construction, built the leather-covered banquette and island, topped by Artemide pendant lights.
quiet luxury: The primary suite connects to the kitchen through a laundry room/butler’s pantry. The grey grasscloth wallpaper—Schumacher “Haiku Sisal” in charcoal—framed by dramatic trim painted in Farrow & Ball “Mopboard Black” adds depth to the space.
A 1930s brass pendant from Antiques of South Windermere illuminates the custom dressing table.
In the adjoining bath, a marble backsplash and brass hardware add a luxurious feel.
A handsome retreat: In the bedroom, the gilded mirror above the antique sideboard provides a focal point for two low-slung mid-century modern lounge chairs accented by pillows wrapped in vintage African fabric from Antiques of South Windermere.
The blue hues extend up the stairway, where the whimsical Bust with Crocodiles by Sergio Bustamante guards the transition. Upstairs, a brighter palette helps the smaller rooms feel more spacious.
A corduroy-cushioned seat fills a nook in the sunny den.
In the den, a large area rug grounds the room, flanked by an oversized sofa and vintage leather recliner.
The guest bedroom features hand-blocked cotton bedding from Sister Moons.
Rear view: A new deck frames the spacious garden, providing the perfect spot for alfresco dining.
Wicker furniture from GDC Home, including a large sofa accented with red pillows, pops against the pale blue siding—Benjamin Moore “Phillipsburg Blue” with ”Brush Blue” trim, a pairing made to complement the cottage’s original proportions.
The charming 1940s cottage was a worthwhile labor of love for owner and builder Tim Sites
