The Art of a Summer House

There’s something timeless about the architecture of leisure. In summer houses, whether centuries-old coastal villas or spare, contemporary cabins nestled in nature, form follows feeling. These are spaces built not for performance or permanence, but for pause.

Historically, summer homes marked a shift in both season and mindset. Roman villas, constructed outside the city, offered respite in shaded courtyards and cool stone halls. In the 19th century, seaside cottages and Adirondack camps emerged as seasonal escapes for families seeking relief from the heat and pace of urban life. Their architecture reflected this purpose: porches to catch the breeze, large shared rooms for gathering, and materials that weathered with grace.

Today, the idea endures. A summer house may be small in scale, but generous in spirit. It is defined by what it leaves out as much as by what it includes. Open-air corridors, indoor-outdoor thresholds, and materials that shift with the light create a sense of presence and ease. These spaces are often layered with found objects, worn textures, and personal artifacts that reflect a slower rhythm of life.

At The Wren, we find inspiration in both the history and the sensibility of these seasonal homes. We look to their simplicity, their restraint, and their capacity to feel both grounded and free. Whether it’s a limewashed wall that mimics the light of an Italian afternoon, or hand-thrown ceramics that feel at home in a garden kitchen, we bring that ethos into the spaces we help share.

The summer house is not just a place; it’s a way of living. It invites air, light, and memory in. It holds space for conversation, restoration, and joy, and reminds us that design doesn’t have to be complex to be deeply felt. Sometimes, the most beautiful spaces are the ones that ask the least and offer the most.