Tour This Antique-Lover's Gorgeous Little Hamptons Home
There's a good reason this adorable cottage was built off center.
Surrounded by sweeping estates, antiques lover Paul Caddell (and his dog, Beulah) makes room for guests in a refreshingly modest Sag Harbor, New York cottage. At 1,600-square-feet, this house isn't quite "tiny." Still, Paul has made some smart and savvy design decisions to take advantage of the space inside the beautiful home. Take a tour of this Hamptons hideaway, and hear his tips for small-space living along the way.
The House
The 3-bedroom Hamptons house was built in 1814. And yes, it is off center! It was built that way intentionally to allow more space for the living room. When Paul added two upstairs bathrooms, he also raised the roofline to add more space. The best part of this little cottage? It's just a 15 minute walk from the ocean.
Living Room
In the living room, Paul's furniture is anything but traditional. He has a settee instead of a sofa, and a slim vintage trunk instead of a coffee table. While his guests probably think his unique decor is only for aesthetic reasons, Paul picked his pieces with his small space in mind. The smaller the furniture, the bigger the living room looks.
He even chose his paint colors carefully, using light colors to make the room look larger. "I use whites like Benjamin Moore's White Dove for walls, add neutral upholstery and bed coverings, then bring in subtle color with pillows," he says.
Kitchen
In the kitchen, Paul has scaled down almost everything—including the kitchen sink. "A smaller take on the popular apron sink leaves more room for countertops," says Paul.
Get the look:
Apron Sink: 24" by 18" sink from vintagetub.com
Stairwell
On the way upstairs, only a single handrail graces the wall side of the stairwell, while the other side stays open to reinforce airiness. Additionally, vertical beadboard walls draw the eye up to create the illusion of taller ceilings.
Paul chose his furniture wisely—some pieces have multiple uses. "A hutch I found at an estate sale not only offers room for glassware and dishes but also has a surface that folds out and is perfect for serving food," he says.
Bedroom
At the foot of the bed, Paul has a small, wooden desk, decorated with plants, and a simple, vintage chair. It's a standard spot for benches or trunks, so why not a desk? "I like giving guests a place to use a laptop or apply makeup," says Paul.
He doesn't worry that his guests won't be comfortable in the small space. In fact, he thinks it makes their stay even more pleasant. "Quite frankly, I think smaller settings can be more comfortable than spread-out or cavernous rooms. Close quarters foster the best conversations!"
Tour More Small Homes!
What's more charming than a small cottage? See more of our favorite small spaces here:
*Seasoned with coastal character, this historic 1,000 square saltbox home packs ample seaside charm into its tiny (sandy) footprint.
*With pared-down furnishings and functional collections, a Santa Barbara couple made the most of every square inch of their quaint (1,300 sq. ft.!) casita.
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