Renovated by interior designer Joanna Gaines, the Hillcrest Estate in Waco, Texas features an impressive 20th-century house and several acres of land. And nestled into the lush greenery of the estate is Hillcrest Cottage, a tiny rental that's a lesson in small space design.
Joanna has truly made the most out of the space and channeled cottage decorating ideas, creating an idyllic holiday rental that embraces her classic rustic style on a small scale. She's taught us how to style a small house and proved that even the tiniest spaces can nail that open, airy feel that's synonymous with the rustic cottage aesthetic.
Take a tour around the cozy yet open rooms of this beautiful rental property, and for those who aren't quite satisfied just with the pictures for inspiration, you can rent it on Airbnb and experience the beauty of Hillcrest in person.
Embracing the property's traditional architecture, Joanna has opted for a classic white for the cottage's exterior paint color, a clever choice that makes the small building feel elongated and larger. Guests are met with a charming pair of black-painted shutters and potted trees framing and softening the entrance.
The Hillcrest Cottage is a great example of the modern cottage style. Despite the open-plan nature of the space, Joanna has made each area feel individual and its own. Using the white sofa in the cottage living room to separate from the dining area, the space feels snug yet airy and bright. She's still embraced the classic architectural features, such as the wood beams, the stone tiled floor, and the exposed brick fireplace, but she's breathed some life into the room by opting for delicate neutral pieces.
Old properties can feel a little stuffy, especially when you are dealing with low ceilings and small square footage. But with the mix of contemporary furniture, the room feels eclectic and trendy. From the round coffee tables scattered around the room to the desk nestled to the side, there's a zone for every need. Pair this with the rustic antique-style decor, and it's the perfect balance of old and new and embraces the transitional style.
Joanna has grounded the otherwise soft, neutral color palette and followed black-and-white room ideas, adding accent black furniture to avoid an overly traditional feeling cottage. The white-painted walls allow for these darker pockets that vary the palette and make the space feel contemporary. Joanna keeps the wooden accents (like the beams and mantel) bare to provide warmth and an organic feel.
The modern farmhouse dining room is situated within the living room, and despite the space's compactness, it feels like a separate, spacious area. Above the wooden dining table hangs a floral triptych that frames the space and adds to the earthy, organic vibe. The area is relatively minimal, but a large potted tree in a woven basket makes the area feel laid-back and inviting, tying in with the other plants dotted around the space.
Joanna has proven that small kitchens can be stylish and chic, making the most of this compact space. Continuing with the monochromatic color palette, the kitchen cabinets have been painted in a subtle light grey, opening up the space and making it feel brighter. The wooden accents tie in with the rest of the space and nod to the classic cottage style, adding warmth and character that contrasts against the grey palette.
The mural draws your eye down the kitchen, not only adding some character into the space but also creating the illusion that the room is longer. Acknowledging the minimal style of the kitchen, Joanna has ensured to bring some intricacy and personality by incorporating a nature-inspired wallpaper, reminiscent of Hillcrest's luscious grounds.
Joanna has ensured that every space feels light and bright, tricking the eye by making the rooms feel bigger using white. The same goes for the bedroom. Despite straying from typical cottage bedroom ideas, the master bedroom still feels cozy despite its neutral palette. Using plenty of vintage wall art and plants, Joanna has given the space some character while still following a relatively minimal design.
The linen bedding, large potted plants, and rattan blinds add to the space's serenity and give the room a modern organic feel. Its natural earthiness pairs beautifully with the white walls. The vintage-style rug cozies the space with some softness while bringing some pattern to contrast against the simple bedding.
Simple yet elegant, the bathroom in the Hillcrest Cottage is an example of bringing luxury and classic design into even the smallest of spaces. Although it's a relatively small bathroom, Joanna has been sure to use timeless subway and mosaic tiles that ground the space and add to its elegance. The olive green paneling contrasts against the monochromatic scheme, bringing some much-needed variation and richness that pairs beautifully with the gold hardware.
You can really tell that the space has been designed as a whole, there's a effortless flow from room to room. She's followed a similar color palette and used similar materials and decor in each individual room to make each area feel cohesive and connected yet still like its own zone. The sink is made of marble (like the kitchen's countertops), adding to the sophistication of the space.
Joanna has gone for a classic cottage garden look using a simple wooden pergola and a set of comfy loungers. Mirroring the warm wooden beams in the cottage, the pergola is a clever way to connect the interior to the garden.
Connected to the living room with classic French doors, the terrace feels airy and bright, just like the rest of the house. Vibrant shrubs are scattered around the perimeter, bringing color and vibrancy that pairs beautifully with the minimal furniture.
Shop the Hillcrest Cottage aesthetic
Joanna features several round coffee tables like this one in the living room. Bringing a contemporary feel, the Louise table is the perfect way of decorating with black in small doses.
An easy way of making a property feel cozy is by decorating with art. Joanna opts for black and white prints like this vintage-inspired tree landscape and scatters them on the walls, making the space feel eclectic and homely.
You'll notice a few woven baskets in the Hillcrest Cottage. Whether you're filling yours with a potted plant of some cozy blankets, a basket is a handy (and stylish) addition to any home of any style.
Filled with foliage or colorful flowers, this textured ceramic vase feels vintage and will elevate any plain surface. Joanna features a pair of rustic white vases like this one in the dining room, filling them with some branches for a modern organic look.
The wooden bar stools in the kitchen bring an earthiness to the gray color scheme. While we love Joanna's pair, this set of bar stools ticks all the boxes with their leather cushions and asymmetrical legs, bringing a classic, midcentury elegance at an affordable price.
Printed rugs do a great job of softening a space. Joanna recognizes this by using two like this one in the living room and the bedroom. Although simple, the intricate pattern will bring some intricacy to an empty floor and pair beautifully with wood furniture.
Joanna has stayed true to her classic modern rustic style. She's managed to make a small cottage feel elegant and contemporary, utilizing the space as much as possible with a light color palette and scattering lots of vintage decor. Recreating Joanna's elevated cottage look couldn't be easier, as much of the decor is available to shop at her homeware store Magnolia.
