Going Coastal
SOAKING UP THE SUNSHINE: Tricia and Brian McLoughlins cottage is the last original one atop a hill overlooking Manhattan Beach, possibly owing its longevity to its sizable 2,600 square feet. With storybook gables, shingle siding and a Dutch door, it more closely resembles an English country cottage albeit one with surfboards and beach cruiser bicycles. At top, whimsical, small interiors like the one above top preserve the feeling of intimacy despite the homes scale. This is a house you can beat up. Its easy, casual, uncomplicated living, Tricia says. (Allen J. Schaben / LAT)
SUN CATCHERS: Lizzie McGraws nearby cottage in Inglewood brims with antique touches, open shelving and muted prints. Youve got to be a certain kind of person to live in a cottage, McGraw says. (Genaro Molina / LAT)
STEEPED IN THE LIFE: Summers spent in a cottage on the shore of Lake Erie left their mark on McGraw, above, who apart from living in a 1920s cottage also runs Tumbleweed & Dandelion, a store on artsy Abbot Kinney Boulevard that sells custom furnishings and accessories celebrating the lifestyle. (Genaro Molina / LAT)
SCALED-DOWN SLUMBER: Although Lizzie McGraw sums up her small bedroom as a dresser, a nightstand, a bed, the spaces crisp white linens, bright flowers, stuffed pillows and other personal touches infuse it with a sense of warmth and simplicity. (Genaro Molina / LAT)
