A Special Retreat to a Cozy Yet Minimalist Cottage

Who enjoys a fun and/or relaxing weekend retreat to get away from it all? I know I do! A few weekends ago my daughters and I took a trip to nearby Ottawa located on the Illinois River. We stayed at a small resort called Heritage Harbor, where I’ve stayed before. But this time, I booked one of the newer homes and have photos of the cozy yet minimalist cottage for you to enjoy!

 

The resort has several “neighborhoods” and the house we rented, Anchors Away, is located in the newer section called Navvy Town (that’s not a typo – there are two v’s). The resort has homes you can buy and live in year-round, or you can choose to rent a house or condo from the various options available.

The front entrance through the screened porch into the minimalist cottage is light and bright, leading down a short hall to the main living area. To the immediate left of the front door is a powder room, and a staircase is on the right leading to the second floor which has two bedrooms and bathrooms.

 

Since it’s a rental, furnishings are kept to a minimum, but they’re comfortable and ample enough for a short stay. Some of the cottage owners live in Chicago and ride their yachts along the Illinois River to Heritage Harbor, which has a large docking area for boats of almost any size.

Here’s a glimpse from the front door into the main living area which includes the kitchen, dining space, and family room. I have to commend the designer for making great use of the small space.

 

The kitchen is adjacent to the dining table and includes a breakfast bar and large pantry. Although it’s small, the kitchen is super efficient and had everything we could possibly need, including cookware and place settings.

 

The living room features a comfy leather couch and that little accent chair was surprisingly comfortable. My two daughters and newly born granddaughter accompanied me on this little getaway to the cozy and minimalist cottage. We each had our own bedroom and bathroom, which is ideal in a house full of girls!

 

Although we didn’t watch a lot of television, we did enjoy “Holiday” with Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet. We took time to visit nearby Starved Rock State Park and the quaint town of Ottawa. For history buffs, Ottawa was the location of the first debate between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas.

 

Here’s a view of the kitchen from the living room.

 

The stairs to the finished basement are just off the dining area and lead to a bedroom, full bath, and another lounge area with a television. I forgot to take photos of that area, but I did snap pictures of the upstairs bedrooms. This first one is the bedroom where I slept. One of the main things I look for in vacation rental reviews is whether the beds are comfortable and of course, the cleanliness of the place. Anchors Away checked both boxes.

 

The other upstairs bedroom has the same bed but different bedding. The upstairs also had a washer and dryer which we didn’t use, but it’s convenient if you’re staying longer than a weekend.

 

Heritage Harbor is busy during the summer and the screened porch makes a great spot for being outside but free from mosquitos. You’ll notice there’s some construction outside as new homes are being built.

 

This view of the screened porch shows the proximity of other rental units. Not all of the neighborhoods have houses this close together. The resort truly has something for everyone in the way of housing styles and sizes. There’s also two pools, a restaurant, the harbor, a walking trail, a dog park, and a pickleball court.

 

I love the look of these cozy yet minimalist cottages in Navvy Town. So quaint!

 

If you live in the Chicago area and are looking for a quick getaway, I highly recommend Heritage Harbor.