Belle Maison

A cottage with a view

STORY BY LIESEL SCHMIDT PHOTOGRAPHY BY SUMMER DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHY

For most the words “beach condo” conjure images of multi-story buildings with cookie-cutter units stacked side-by-side and on top of one another, all facing some glittering beach with neighboring buildings whose similar aesthetic clogs up the natural beauty with a depressing sense of commercialism. But this particular home in Orange

Beach is less condo and more cottage, giving the family to which it belongs a homey and enchanting place to spend beach vacations.

A single-family home on risers, the family has created a sanctuary at the shore, an escape from the busyness of daily life and a retreat for gathering together. Painted a soft, barely-there color of green, the board and batten façade is like an homage to their roots—one of its points of charm. “Our family is in the lumber and timber business in Lee and Chambers Counties in Alabama, and the color of the cottage reminded us of pine trees. We thought it only fitting to name the cottage ‘The Knotted Pine’ in honor of our dad, who started the business in the late fifties,” explains the matriarch of the current generations of the family.

Boasting numerous windows, the home certainly capitalizes on the view. Under the second floor, the riser space offers storage as well as covered entertaining space, perfect for post-beach hang outs or picnics. “The cottage is nice and strong and very attractive but not overdone, which suits our family,” the owners observe. “The concrete entertainment space below the house has a front-seat view of the community pool, and we have plenty of space for grilling and Lowcountry boils.”

Inside, the home is roomy enough to accommodate everyone—all adults and grandchildren—with 5,000 square feet comprising seven bedrooms and six-anda-half baths as well a third-floor bunk room in addition to living spaces. “One of the things that my family loves about this property is that everyone has privacy, space and comfort,” say the owners. “That was a major factor in our family purchasing a beach cottage to share.”

With its whisper-soft use of grays, whites, and creams, the color story at Knotted Pine is minimal, employing texture and pattern to create any visual interest. Again, the cottage’s moniker is given a nod, as walls, ceilings and floors throughout are either wooden plank or wood-look, which gives the interior spaces a particular warmth in addition to the natural light spilling through its multitude of windows. Located on the third floor, the main living spaces of kitchen, dining, and family rooms epitomize coastal chic, with comfortable furniture in neutral tones and an open-floor plan ideal for large gatherings.

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Kitted with custom white cabinetry crowned with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and a large island with bar seating, the kitchen was clearly designed for entertaining. “It’s the perfect kitchen for all of us to cook and spend time together,” the owners note. Gray glass backsplash tiling adds another layer of texture, and massive pendant lights above the island light up the space.

The finishes—the furnishings, the fixtures, the color ways, the various accents—all are specifically chosen for this beach life, this home away from home, by Kelly Hollis Crabtree of Hollis Interiors. “Upon purchasing the cottage, we immediately enlisted Kelly, who is not only our decorator but also a friend of ours,” explain the owners. “She did a tremendous job and pleased the entire family. In addition to the cottage, Kelly has also remodeled five condos and a hunting lodge for different family members, and she is in process of remodeling yet another condo in Orange Beach for a family member.”

A gathering space at its soul, the cottage’s third-level bunk room sleeps six, while the bedrooms are spacious and luxurious. Bathrooms boast beautiful fixtures and materials, designed to feel vacation-like instead of merely serviceable. This is a home to be enjoyed, to be looked forward to. And for the family, this home checks all the boxes. “We love our cottage and the Orange Beach area,” say the owners, “and we are so very blessed to be able to enjoy our time as a family in this way.”

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