Project: Harbour Cottage
Architecture: REIGN Architects
Location: Pictou, Nova Scotia, Canada
Year: 2017
Photo Credits: Julian Parkinson
Harbour Cottage sits on a Nova Scotia peninsula, where 180° views of the Atlantic and red-sand beaches greet visitors every day. The owners—who escaped Toronto’s bustle here as children—still return each summer with their own kids, continuing a family tradition. Their late father built the original cabin by hand in 1962, but over decades of piecemeal updates, mismatched wood finishes crept in and distracted from the landscape.
A Unified, Light-Filled Interior
To brighten and simplify the interior, we white-washed the walls and installed crisp white cabinetry, allowing light to flood every corner. Then we introduced a soft-grey fireplace to anchor the living room. We also restored the original timber floors, sanding and oiling them with a Danish lye technique to achieve a smooth, “beached” matte finish that mimics the pale sand outside.
Honoring Memory While Expanding Vistas
The owners cherish the old fireplace and exposed rafters, so we preserved those features exactly where they stood. Next, we removed a partition wall and added a west-facing window in the dining room. Now, the sunset spills across the red sands and streams into the cottage, forging a powerful connection between indoors and out.
A Kitchen at the Heart of Summer Life
Meanwhile, we upgraded the cramped kitchen with white Corian countertops and streamlined cabinetry, dramatically improving storage and workflow. At its center, we placed an eight-foot island that frames the beach view and draws the family together. As a result, the kitchen has become the cottage’s social hub—where cooking, chatting, and memory-making unfold against the Atlantic backdrop.
By blending cherished elements with fresh, functional design, Harbour Cottage now feels coherent and welcoming. Moreover, salt air and shifting tides always surround it, inviting future generations to carry on the family’s coastal legacy.
