Blue and White Outdoors Room

After four days of blue and white interiors, I am ending this week with an exterior room - the ultimate in backyard living!

If any of you watched Million Dollar Decorators on HGTV this winter, you will remember the California decorator, Mary McDonald.  This is her own private back yard and dining pavilion with her collection of blue and white ceramics.

Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend.

All images via Veranda

Rose Cottage

Going from one end of the spectrum to the other, we are today looking at a 1912, 800 sq. ft. gabled cottage surrounded by a vine covered white picket fence.  (Wish I had an exterior shot!) 

A couple of the previous cottages this week were newly built for growing families and clearly had some professional design help.  All lovely!

But, today's cottage, as mentioned, is much smaller and the interior was put together solely by the single homeowner, who had previously lived in much newer and much larger homes (12,000 sq. ft.!) until moving into this home about 15 years ago.

When purchased, this house was dark and drab with low ceilings.  The homeowner immediately removed the ceilings and opened up the rafters, removed the old shag carpet and started painting everything in the house, inlcuding her dark furniture.  Through trial and error, she has found her own comfort, style and peace as she continues to shop estate and garage sales.  And what she doesn't love and keep for herself, she freshens up and sells at her own garage sales!  And she wouldn't have it any other way!

Cheers to her hard work, ingenuity and tenacity!  This is a real charmer and in keeping with this week's post, is all in blue and white!

Enjoy!

All images via Cottage Style



Nantucket Shingled Cottage

Isn't this a little piece of heaven? 

This is one charming cottage.....and under those Nantucket blue skies it definitely looks heavenly!

This is my third day of blue and white interiors, so I will finish the week with the same.

Watch for tomorrow's little gem!                                     



All images via Hamptons Cottages and Gardens



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