A few years ago, we decided to purchase a tiny cottage in Cannon Beach, our favorite coastal getaway spot less than 2 hours driving from our home in Portland, Oregon. The front part of the house was covered in dark knotty pine while the back bedrooms were dingy beige. We gave everything a few coats of paint and were amazed at the difference. Last year, we added some round windows on either side of the fireplace to capture more light (the Pacific Northwest can be very dark and gloomy). We were on a tight budget and wanted to imbue a beach style without being too overt. We love our little corner of paradise – it's cozy when the weather is cold and wet and fresh and cool when the sun is hot.