Here is what we’ve been buying for Double Vision Cottages lately

1. Beautiful Beach Blankets

Or is it a towel? Regardless, Moop has the best respite for your derriere whenever you are inspired to stop and have a sit. They are sold out right now but restocks are coming!

2. Modern Little Vases

I found Opus Artisan Concrete on Etsy at the very moment that I was trying to figure out how to decorate our table tops. These concrete vases are perfectly petite and add just the modern touch I was looking for. Check out the shop for everything from a concrete lazy susan to a cigar tray.

3. Luxurious Home Goods

The older I get the more I realize how wonderful it is to pay just a smidge more for pillows, hand towels and other home goods. Mae Woven has the elegant, casual pieces that are so perfect for a cottage. Stella has taken to tucking herself into that corner throughout the day now.

The Laundress Home Spray is a delightful, slightly masculine scent that isn’t overpowering. Also, their branding is just the loveliest.

4. Solar Market Lights

Kudos to CJ because this was his idea. He found solar market lights for a reasonable price on Amazon and decided to give them a try. Turns out, they work great. CJ’s only complaint: he wishes he could turn the lights on manually. Instead you have to wait for a sensor to kick them on and we think they should turn on about an hour earlier than they do. That said, we liked them enough to also put them under the bar.

5. Sun Sails for Shade

The deck has added so much communal space to the cottages. But because of the way it sits, it gets that oppressive summer sun all day long (great for solar lights, not so great for bodily comfort). These sun sails (square | triangle) were an excellent near-term solution. They’re porous, so when it rains the water doesn’t pool. And they’re a great price. Longer-term might be a pergola with a ceiling fan but we have other projects that are taking priority. More to come on that hopefully soon!

6. Totally Unsexy Patio Covers

Look, it’s not the coolest, most instagrammable thing about the cottage but it is supremely practical. The furniture covers I picked came highly rated and while I wish they matched everything a little better, I figured a quality cover was a bit more important than aesthetics. Although truth be told I sort of fired off this order without doing a ton of additional research for other colors so, that’s my bad. 

The verdict: highly recommend. I love these covers. They’re vented so they don’t get gross inside and they have straps so that you can secure them to the furniture for those extra windy storms (of which we’ve had a few).

It’s been an unusual summer but I am thankful for the time we’ve had at the cottage. We never thought we would stay here for more than a week at a time. But living here has given us a chance to really figure out how it works the best for us. These little finishes are helping things feel more complete.