The Moodboard: Design Ideas for Every Room

In the first post I described the vision for our Balaton hilltop cottage: what we want to build, why, and what makes the property special. This post goes deeper. It’s the visual reference library Dori and I have been pulling together, room by room.

A moodboard made public. Not everything ends up in the final design, but together these images show the direction.

Overall design concept

A warm, grounded cottage interior that blends wabi-sabi philosophy with Scandinavian-Japanese (Japandi) sensibility. Timeless, deeply comfortable, where natural imperfections are part of the point.

Guiding principles

• Comfortable, airy spaces with continuous flow between indoors and out.
• Natural, tactile materials throughout, in a warm neutral palette with sage and terracotta accents.
• Built-in furniture wherever possible, durable washable fabrics, and smooth zone-to-zone transitions linked by the tile-stove bench.

Key materials & textures

• Reclaimed and natural wood (oak, pine) for floors, beams, and furniture; linen and heavy cotton in undyed tones.
• Lime plaster or clay walls; rattan and woven cane for panels and headboards.
• Natural stone and ceramic for counters and tile-stove details; matte sage and terracotta zellige in the bathrooms.

Colour palette

• Base: cream, warm white, sand, natural plaster; woods in honey oak, warm pine, reclaimed timber.
• Accents: sage green and olive (Bathroom A, guest bedroom); terracotta and burnt sienna (Bathroom B).
• Metals: aged brass, matte black, brushed copper.

Entry

• A sitting bench wraps the tile stove with built-in shelves above and basket storage below; possibly a second fireplace element on this side.
• Opposite side: wood or wrought-iron coat hooks, open shelves, low shoe storage, plus a built-in cupboard for coats and seasonal gear.
• The bench continues into the kitchen and living area, tying the whole ground floor together.

(No inspiration images for the entry yet — this section is still being developed with the architect.)

Kitchen

• Airy and functional, with generous counter space and a strong indoor-outdoor connection.
• Large island with integrated cooking stove, dishwasher raised to working height, and open shelves flanking the window.
• Rattan or cane-panelled cabinet doors; the tile-stove bench continues through to unify kitchen and living space.

Living room

• Three connected zones, each with its own character, sharing one warm material palette.
• A generous, multi-use space for relaxing, reading, conversation, and dining.

Couch & window seat area

• Main lounging zone anchored by a window seat or built-in daybed stepping down to a lower sofa, bookshelves built into the surrounding walls.
• Alternative: raise the whole corner as a platform (“dobogó”) with hidden storage beneath; a low shelf or console behind the sofa defines the zone.
• Firm fixed cushions in washable, durable fabric (heavy linen, cotton canvas); the actual window is smaller than some references but still works at a smaller scale.

Armchair corner

• Two generous armchairs facing each other with a small table between, mid-century wood frames in leather or warm upholstery.
• Shelving behind the chairs, or a narrow shelf continuing from the dining bench along the wall.
• Floor or reading lamp, a soft rug, and a knitted pouf for comfort.

Dining area with tile stove

• Long reclaimed-wood trestle or farmhouse table seating 8–10, with a built-in bench wrapping the tile stove and firewood storage underneath.
• Wishbone or woven-seat chairs on the open side; paper-globe or ceramic pendants overhead.
• A showcase fireplace as a focal point, giving the ground floor two fire features.

Bathrooms

• Shared wabi-sabi base: plaster walls, wooden details, stone or ceramic vessel sinks, matte zellige or handmade-look tiles, “washed” paint walls.
• Generous vanity with one or two vessel sinks, a wooden drawer and open towel shelf below, wall-mounted taps in aged brass or matte black.
• Accent colour sets them apart: one sage green, one terracotta.

Sage green bathroom

• Matte sage green zellige in the shower area and as a backsplash.
• Pebble stone shower floor, brass or copper fixtures.

Terracotta bathroom

• Warm terracotta or clay-toned matte tiles in the shower and on floors.
• Washed-plaster accent walls in a warm pink-terracotta tone, brass fixtures.

General bathroom inspiration

Master bedroom

• Wabi-sabi calm: natural fabrics, plaster walls, an uncluttered retreat with a reading corner and small workspace.
• The defining feature: the Balaton-facing wall opened into a floor-to-ceiling panoramic window, framing the lake from the bed.

Sleeping area

• Natural linen bedding on a low platform or wood-frame bed, twin configuration that pushes together for couples.
• Plaster walls with potential for an arched alcove behind the bed.
• A swing chair or daybed for reading, rattan or woven bedside lighting.

Workspace

• Doubles as the house’s only quiet workspace — for briefly checking in, or an hour with a view.
• Floating wooden or built-in desk, a comfortable mid-century chair, a shelf or two above.
• Warm task lighting: a pendant or wall-mounted reading lamp.

Wardrobe

• Full built-in wardrobe along the left wall with rattan or cane panel sliding doors.
• Inside: hanging rail, shelves, drawers, and basket storage.
• Some sections lockable, to store Airbnb supplies separately from guest-accessible areas.

Guest bedroom

• Keeps the natural base of the home but adds more colour and personality; the sage green palette carries through from one of the bathrooms.
• Sage or olive tongue-and-groove panelling, rattan or cane headboard, natural linen bedding with striped or patterned accents.
• Woven pendant, simple wooden furniture, botanical prints, and a natural-fibre rug.

Kids room

• Six built-in beds arranged creatively, plenty of storage, a reading nook, and floor space to play.
• Simple but fun, with colour coming mainly through bedding and textiles.

Sleeping — 6 built-in beds

• Six beds built into the walls in a creative bunk arrangement (L-shaped corners, stacked pairs with central stairs, or triple bunks).
• Each bunk with its own reading light, a shelf or cubby, a privacy curtain, and a storage drawer in the base.
• Natural wood and white paint for the structure; colour from bedding, quilts, and cushions.

Play & reading area

• Shelves for toys and front-facing book display at child height.
• Floor cushions, poufs, and a soft rug for a cosy reading and play corner.

Terrace

• Extends the home’s living space outdoors, bridging the kitchen and the garden.
• Outdoor cooking area, lounge corner, and hanging swings.
• Simple, practical, connected to the landscape.

Outdoor kitchen

• At the far end of the terrace, almost merging with the garden, so you cook facing the view.
• L-shaped layout: a cooking station (gas grill, wood fire, possibly a pizza oven) with bar-height seating alongside and a stone sink; may need a light shade structure that never blocks the entrance.
• Rustic stone, concrete, and reclaimed wood; thatched or woven canopy for shade; rattan stools or wine-barrel seating.

Lounge, dining & storage

• A cushion-storage bench doubles as a small lounge near the kitchen entrance.
• Covered Mediterranean dining: raw wood table with built-in bench seating, woven pendants, and a plaster-arch daybed lounge in the corner.
• Hanging swings on the front balcony (one large, one or two small, easily removable); striped floor cushions and string lights for evenings.

Swings, cushions & details

Garden

• Organised around the existing trees and fireplace.
• Distinct zones for lounging, kids’ play, and gathering, linked by natural paths.
• A consistent palette of reclaimed wood, stone, and greenery.

Tree seating areas

• A wooden sitting and lounging area wraps the tree on the right side of the garden (facing the house).
• Options range from a raised stone platform daybed with striped cushions to a simple wooden deck with pillows under the branches.
• Places to read, relax, and watch the kids play.

Kids’ play area

• Near the second tree: a large play table with tree-trunk legs and small stump seating.
• A sandbox/mud kitchen with an A-frame wooden play structure.
• Possible additions: swing, trampoline, and water play, all in natural materials that blend with the garden.

Fire pit & gathering

• The existing fireplace stays; L-shaped reclaimed-wood benches with built-in log storage wrap the fire bowl.
• A rustic table nearby under hanging woven pendants for outdoor dining.
• Reclaimed wood and stone throughout; tree seating built around trees, not against them; play elements integrated into the garden.

Wellness

• A sauna, hot tub, and outdoor shower on the right side of the garden (facing the house).
• Doubles as an adult wellness retreat and a kids’ wet play zone.
• Guiding principle: the easier done, the better.

Sauna

• A small, simple wooden sauna hut on a deck (light cedar with string lights and a glass door, or a dark-stained modern cabin).
• Towel hooks and a wicker basket outside.

Hot tub

• A wood-fired barrel or round wooden soaking tub, ideally with a small firepit nearby.
• Adirondack chairs, lanterns, and string lights overhead.
• Doubles as a water feature for the kids.

Outdoor shower

• A simple outdoor shower attached to or near the sauna.
• Black wood panel wall with a copper rain shower on a gravel/pebble base.
• For rinsing off after the sauna or hot tub.

A wooden deck ties the sauna, hot tub, and shower into one area. Open question: is wooden decking sustainable enough long-term, or are alternatives needed?

The palette, in summary

A few threads keep recurring across these rooms. Warm neutrals (cream, sand, honey wood) with sage green and terracotta as the accents. Natural, tactile materials: reclaimed wood, linen, lime plaster, rattan, natural stone. Built-in furniture wherever possible. Ambient, indirect lighting throughout, cottage-warm, never harsh. And nothing in the house you’d be scared to set a wine glass down on.

If you’re an architect or interior designer and this aesthetic is your thing, get in touch. We have the vision, the property, the mood boards. We need the right creative partner to push it further.