Cottage Charm

These simple cottage rooms are cosy, colorful and inviting.  

Each of them has at least one or two of the following elements - open rafter ceilings, studded walls, painted floors or plain pine floors, floral cotton fabrics, slipcovers, quilts, painted and/or distressed furniture, area mats, wallpaper, beadboard walls, planked painted walls and fresh flowers in every room!

Just charming!

 

Libby Cameron

BHG

Kate Forman

Alexandra Stoddard

Old World Charm in California

Good morning, 

I awoke to more snow this morning.....can you believe it! However, it's still better than last year when we had snow well into May.

Look at this lovely Tudor home in California modelled after a dream Cotswold design.....and it looks like it's straight from England thanks to its designer, Linda Floyd of California (we follow one another on Pinterest!)  I love her work.

And I love the details of this charming home. 

Enjoy!

Love the eyebrow window, the stone and slatework, slate roof and leaded glass windows.

Doesn't this turreted stairwell remind you of an old English home?  And that touch of pink!  Perfection!

This sunny conservatory is what caught my eye - Scalamandre fabrics, Savonnerie rug and 18th Century French console.  

Love this kitchen, too - painted, distressed cabinets and French baker's table - a work of art in itself.

Notice the etched glass and Moroccan tiles.

Wood panelled library.

Powder room.

Upstairs hallway with chintz farbric, gingham bench cushion and antiques.

Beautiful toiles and chintz.

Cozy and inviting guest room.

Look at their beautiful back garden with the thatched roof!

Linda Floyd Interiors

Traditional Home

To read about how this house came to be, click here.

The Monteceito Home of Designer Lee Kirch

Last year, I posted (here) a Monteceito cottage owned by designer Lee Kirch - an antique dealer who was (at the time of this article) part owner of an antique shop, Rue de Lillie, in Summerland, California, as well as a shop owner in Vail, Colorado.

As a French country enthusiast, she travels regularly to France to collect antiques.  She completely revamped this house and her passions are evident in every room.

Enjoy!

Lee Kirch Designs

Meredith Specials

Sweet Dreams Cottage

Carrying on from yesterday's post, here's another cottage from the Maine compound.  These cottages are all designed by interior designers and their use of color, fabrics and placement of furniture completely enhance these small, but very cosy, rooms.

Enjoy!

Coastal Living

Cottages, Cottages, Cottages.........

I think I'll do a series on cottages this week since it's that time of year again.

Normally, this long weekend in May is the unofficial start of summer in the Maritimes.  However, this year it was unusually cold (with snow in some parts) and instead of getting our gardens started and opening up the cottages, all of that has been put on hold for now.

Nevertheless, it has me thinking about cottages and I thought I would share some with you.

A few years ago, Coastal Living featured a group of small cottages in Maine that were privately owned and beginning to look run down.  So, a group of 16 interior designers were hired to refurbish the cottages and prepare them for summer rentals.

Each cottage is quite small and each interior is completely different........I thought it was a brilliant idea and fun to see what each designer was able to come up with in such a small space.

Today's cottage is called 'Sleepy Hollow' and was designed by popular Maine designer, Tracey Rapisardi.  Tracey uses pastel colors, likes to re-cycle and upcycle, loves florals and painted furniture and produced a delightful, cosy cottage anyone would enjoy!

Check back tomorrow to see another of these charming cottages!

Have a great day!

Coastal Living

Kate Forman's English Country Charm

I discovered Kate Forman's designs a few years ago while travelling through England.  The first piece I saw was a sofa and it was a standout!  

A former antiques dealer, Kate took up textile design about ten years ago, and since then has established her brand by broadening it to include painted furniture, upholstered furniture, wallpaper, cushions, lamp shade covers, etc.

As you will see, she uses a lot of creams and rosy pinks with an occasional dash of soft blue or green thrown in.  All of it combined makes for a very warm and homey feel.

To see more of Kate Forman designs, check out www.kateforman.co.uk.

Enjoy!

KateForman.co.uk