A Shingled Cottage

Another weekend home which just happens to be a shingled cottage with a blue and white interior color scheme.

The homeowners are both designers - she is an interior designer and he designs for a furniture manufacturer.  With three children under the age of 6, they planned the open concept design with easy living and entertaining in mind.

Enjoy!

All images via Traditional Home



Swedish Design in Florida Cottage

Some time ago, we perused designs originating from different countries.....today, I would like to feature Swedish design - American style.

This Florida vacation home is owned by Joanne Barwick, author of Scandinavian Country, interior designer, furniture designer and former editor-in-chief of House Beautiful.  

You will note throughout the cottage almost all of her wooden furniture is painted white or some shade of blue.  The blue and white palette is very Swedish and so is painted furniture.  She also uses comfortable and easy care textiles, such as linens and ticking, and textures from seagrass to wicker.  And finally, the Swedish look is topped off by the constant flood of light thoughout the open concept main floor.

Her accessories of art, hydrangeas, seashells, pillows and plants complete the look.

She and her husband were successful in achieving the look they desired when they built this cottage, as the "views, natural light and easy elegance" are perfectly defined.

What a lovely, relaxed, cool and charming summer home!

Living room

Living room

Seashell collection

Painted chest

Dining room with seashell

encrusted bust in background

Bedroom corner vignette

Bedroom

Bedroom corner vignette

Bednook the grandchildren

fought over - no wonder!

Gazebo dining

Gazebo relaxation

All images via Traditional Home



Suite Dreams in Shades of Blue

Image 1 Charles Faudree

Images 2 & 4 Architectural Digest,

Image 3 Better Homes and Gardens, Image 5 Southern Accents

Images 6 & 7 Elle Decor

Image 8 Suzanne Tucker

My Blue Heaven

Country Living

Carolyne Roehm

Mario Buatta via Architectural Digest

Diamond and Barratta

Coastal Living

Traditional Home

Carolyne Roehm

Carolyne Roehm

Carolyne Roehm

Mario Buatta via Architectural Digest

Mario Buatta via Architectural Digest

Unknown

Unknown

Fabulous Friday Decor

I came upon this gorgeous home while browsing through Architectural Digest recently and wanted to share it with you.

What is so appealing about this down to earth home is it's low maintenance charm.....just what we are striving for as we age.....low maintenance homes, that is!

First of all, the whole house flows from room to room with mostly white (Benjamin Moore Antique White) in the living room and throughout, with that gorgeous, almost baby blue color interspersed throughout with a touch of complementary lavender in the bedroom....softness throughout.  All white would be way too stark, but the blue adds a touch of comfort and serenity.

Secondly, the floors are mostly reclaimed wood...some dark, some light (painted?) and some natural looking.  More importantly, easy to care for without carpets, area rugs or mats.

The rooms, beautifully done by designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard, are very inviting and welcoming, despite the fact there is not a whole lot of ornamental detail......just enough, in all the right places, to make the rooms comfortable and appealing.

The touches of leather in the living room, dining room chairs and foyer chairs also make for low maintenance care.....and again, that soft blue is so easy on the eyes.

The master bedroom is almost minimalist with just the bed and night tables at that end of the room and a chaise in a cosy corner by the fireplace.  Notice that all that was required on the walls is that beautiful hand painted wallpaper.  Despite the minimalistic look, it is very cosy and has just the required elements for pure comfort.

What really personalizes this home is the homeowner's collection of vintage Americana (as seen with the roosters, cash register, etc.), the old kitchen table the family has owned for years (and carves all the family's important information into), mixing old with new - beautiful new, comfortable furniture mixed with old barn doors and other antiques, and surrounding themselves only with what they love (as in the homeowner's collection of black and white vintage prints in her office), their beloved books and flowers......always flowers.

Who would believe this is the new home of heavy metal rocker Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon......and it is lovingly shared by their 12 (yes 12!) pomeranian dogs.

That's why I love this house so much - it is soft, comfortable, welcoming, beautiful and totally lived in and enjoyed!

Hope you enjoy this and have a great week......I will be back in a week or so!

Living room

Another view of living room

Love the barn doors!

Kitchen

Kitchen dining nook

Dining room

Foyer

Master bedroom

Master bedroom reading corner

Sharon in her office

All photos by Roger Davies via Architectural Digest