Christmas At The Treetops

The great, snowy outdoors inspires this breezy lakeside cottage’s holiday makeover.

- Jessie Yount

When the first snow of the year comes around, there is no better place to retreat to than a cozy cottage with loved ones. And that’s exactly what Marta Malviya, of the design blog Mackinaw Road, along with her husband, Raj, and their two children do when the wind picks up in Michigan and they need to escape from the cold. But it’s not just the calming ambience that makes the house feel like home—it’s the childhood memorabilia and time-honored décor, combined with a sprinkling of festive accents, that really spark joy in this coastal cottage.

REVIVED COTTAGE

The home—dubbed the “Treetops”—was built in the early 1900s, and doubles as a winter getaway and a summer beach cottage. When the family purchased the property, they made a few key renovations, and these simple design choices set the tone for the rest of the house.

“We used a lot of white paint to brighten the home, and had the floors refinished and stained gray,” says Marta. “I also added peel-and-stick tile flooring, which is both durable and fun.” In particular, Marta used peel-and-stick flooring in her bathrooms, rather than paying for expensive tile flooring.

Artificial Trees: Yay or Nay?

Because it’s a vacation home, this coastal cottage is populated with faux trees and wreaths that last the whole season. But every home is different, so let’s talk about the right fit for yours.

PROS

• Artificial trees are hassle-free. Forgot to water the tree all week long? No problem. Don’t have time to sweep before company arrives? That’s no problem either. With an artificial tree, you’ll never have to worry about its condition changing over the month or two that it’s around.