The Wall Street Journal recently crowned a storybook cottage in Carmel Highlands, California as its 2025 House of the Year after thousands of reader votes. The home—built in 1925—features classic storybook architecture with a curved roofline, stone chimney, and whimsical fairytale character.
Why this was curious to me is the result isn’t just about one charming house but it revelers something bigger happening in interior design right now.
First, character is beating minimalism. After a decade of ultra-minimal white boxes, buyers are gravitating back toward homes with personality and history. Things I noted within this cottage included: wall paneling and millwork, creams and warm neutrals, natural materials like stone and oak, and arches and irregular shapes.
Second, natural materials are still winning. Another striking detail is the heavy use of light white-oak woods and stone accents. That’s part of a broader shift of white oak replacing gray stains as well as stone returning to fireplaces and kitchens.
Next, color is returning—but softer. The palette in the cottage isn’t bold modern color. Instead it’s soft creams, warm whites, and layered neutrals.
And finally, the romance of old homes is back. Perhaps the biggest signal to me was the house is 100 years old! Storybook architecture itself dates to the 1920s-1930s, known for whimsical roofs, uneven lines, and fairy-tale inspiration. For years, the industry chased new builds with clean lines. But buyers are rediscovering something older homes offer naturally: irregular layouts, handcrafted details, and sometimes often uneven floors (the “cozy” and “charm” of a prior era).
So what do you think of WSJ readers’ vote? For me, design is moving away from sterile perfection and back towards warmth, craft, and character (even if there’s a few uneven items in the home).
🔗 See more photos and read more about the WSJ Home of the Year at WSJ
📸 Images courtesy of Sherman Chu and The Wall Street Journal
📸 Images courtesy of Sherman Chu and The Wall Street Journal
