Tisvilde Summer House

A family of five uses this house from May to September and on most winter weekends. They wanted it to feel open in summer and snug in January, without two sets of furniture.

Easy to live with

Every sofa cover can be washed at 40 degrees. The floors are whitewashed pine that looks better with wear, and there is a bench and hook wall by the door for wet towels and beach bags.

• Washable slipcovers on every upholstered piece
• Built-in bunk room for visiting cousins
• Woodstove corner with log storage under the bench

Summer and winter

Heavy linen curtains and wool throws come out in October and go into a cedar chest in spring. It takes about an hour to switch the house between seasons.