It’s time to consider your next cozy escape. Since cottages can be code for floral chintz and wallpaper adorned with ribbon-necked geese, we’ve assembled 11 stylish hideaways that eschew cutesy for comfort.
Madrone Cabins, Point Reyes
Set within Samuel P. Taylor State Park, but removed from its busy campsites, these secluded DIY cabins are the best kept secret in the Bay Area. Shipshape new construction and a faux “wood-burning” stove keep things toasty through the colder months. You’re packing your own linens and walking to a (spotless) bathroom, but at $100/night it’s an easy way to snuggle up in nature close to the city. // weekenddelsol.com
Nick’s Cove, Tomales Bay
Until you’ve stayed in one of these plush bayside cottages, you likely won’t know the depths of the word cozy. Despite the vintage fishing lodge motif, you're more likely to stir a Manhattan from the well stocked mini bar than scale a fish. With pitch-dark skies, an ignite-and-enjoy wood-burning stove and a clawfoot tub resting on radiant floors, it’s a thoroughly relaxing weekend escape. // nickscove.com
Photo courtesy of Wowhaus
Wowhaus, Occidental
Overlooking a redwood forest near the teensy West Sonoma town of Freestone, this attractive one-bedroom cottage sports vaulted ceilings, stylish furnishings, and a homey wood stove. In addition to freshly laid eggs, you can pluck seasonal fruits and vegetables—apples and persimmons right now—from organic trees and gardens strewn throughout the three-acre property. // wowhausretreat.com
Photo courtesy of Healdsburg Modern Cottages
Healdsburg Modern Cottages, Healdsburg
These chic cottages take their inspiration from midcentury design. Each cottage may include a fireplace, spa bath, and private patio with hot tub. All sport clean lines with spare white walls accented by warm blonde wood furnishings. Only two blocks from Healdsburg's town plaza, the cottages feel miles away nestled under old oak trees on a quiet side street. // healdsburgcottages.com
Boonville Hotel, Boonville
The spectacular drive over twisting Highway 128—through live oaks strewn with wisps of pale green lichen—makes Boonville feel further than it is. Boontling, the provincial dialect, doesn’t help matters. The small town's venerable hotel hides seven modern cottages in a bucolic garden. Each is a stunner, but you’ll want the Front Room with its large stone hearth and shower that opens onto a private deck with clawfoot bathtub. // boonvillehotel.com
Sea Walk, Sea Ranch
Graceful, modern architecture envelops Sea Ranch's coastal bluffs. Just mind the interiors that vary with private owners. Oceanfront Sea Walk sports sleek interiors that inspire idle lounging with cushy couches, stacks of wool blankets, and a fireplace flanked by two picture windows overlooking the wild Sonoma Coast. Set aside the TV remote and count the bursts of whale sprays that dot the seascape. // searanchrentals.com
Mar Vista Cottages, Gualala
Sandwiched between a redwood forest and secluded beach cove, these eleven clapboard cottages are surrounded by nature. Four Seasons vet Renata Dorn works hard to create an experience that emphasizes simple pleasures. She hangs a satchel of fresh eggs from your doorknob each morning and cultivates an organic garden for guests to harvest herbs and veggies to prepare in the cottage's cute kitchenettes. // marvistamendocino.com
The Andiron Seaside Inn & Cabins, Little River
There’s lots to adore at this refurbished cabin compound set along the Mendocino coast: kitschy-cool decor, a pair of floppy-eared goats named Peanut Butter and Jelly, a fire pit with s’more fixins at the ready, and a hot tub nestled in a lush Ewok forest. But mostly you’ll cherish the can-I-getcha-another-beer hospitality of fun loving owners Madeline and Scott who host fondue-filled happy hours for guests. // theandiron.com
Photo by Jared Anderson and courtesy of owners
Hip Modern Cottage of Amazingness, Lake Tahoe
A former HGTV star and producer fixed their talents on this north shore cottage and transformed it into a mod year-round hideaway with design-show savvy. Northstar and Squaw are within a 25-minute drive, but the lake and its winter sunsets are only a block away. // vrbo.com
Photo courtesy of Airbnb
Mid-Century Tahoe Cabin, South Lake Tahoe
Concious of the saddening furniture that second homes often attract, the owner of this classic 1950s solid pine cabin dressed it with era-appropriate furnishings that she sourced from the area’s thrift shops. A large granite fireplace and gorgeous Wedgewood stove dial up the coziness. It’s walking distance to South Lake Tahoe hot spots but still feels secluded thanks to a large forested lot with seasonal creek and the occasional black bear guest. // airbnb.com
Photo courtesy of Boutique Homes
Far Meadow, Yosemite
There’s high design in the High Sierras. Three off-the-grid cabins—including two Pinterest-worthy A-frames—sit on 40 acres of private land thirty minutes from Yosemite Valley. Interiors call to mind Smokey Bear making quick runs to Design Within Reach. They’ll close for the season come the first snowfall, but a sister property near Yosemite’s south entrance stays open throughout the year. // far-meadow.com