LEFTOVERS & A GOOD READ FOR YOU!!!!!!

COTTAGE STYLE


COTTAGE STYLE IS SOFT, COMFY & COZY. IT’S A MATTER OF TASTE ON HOW YOU WANT YOUR DECORATING STYLE TO COME THROUGH. SOME PREFER THE TAILORED COTTAGE LOOK WHILE OTHERS PREFER THE LAID BACK APPROACH. HERE ARE SOME IDEAS THAT I HAVE USED FOR MY CLIENTS OVER THE YEARS.

FOR A NEUTRAL PALETTE, THROW ON SOME PILLOWS OR A THROW WITH COLOR.



PAINT ONE WALL A COTTAGE COLOR THAT WILL POP WHEN YOU WALK IN THE ROOM

MONOGRAMS, VINTAGE LINENS, LAMPSHADES GIVE YOUR ROOMS ONE OF A KIND APPEAL.


CUSHY SLIPCOVERS THAT CAN BE PULLED OFF & TOSSED IN THE WASH OR CHANGED ON A WHIM


VIGNETTES OF CANDLE STICKS, SHELLS, NATURE TO EVOKE THE COTTAGE LOOK


DON’T DO IT ALL AT ONCE, AN OVER TIME LOOK GIVES A MORE COHESIVE, EASY FEEL & IT’S FUN TO GO OUT “ON THE HUNT” SEVERAL WEEKENDS.
LANDSCAPED ART GIVES YOU THE FEELING OF BEING ONE WITH NATURE & IF IT’S A SENTIMENTAL OIL, ALL THE BETTER




USING MULTI PATTERNS IS OK AS LONG AS THE PATTERN HAS ONE HUE IN COMMON. I LOVE THE LOOK OF TOILES, FLORALS, CHINTZES & CHECKS

AHHHHHH!! PAINTED FURNITURE, WHAT SAYS “COTTAGE” MORE THAN THAT……ESPECIALLY IF IT’S PAINTED WHITEWASH MY MOTTO: “IF IT’S NOT MOVING, PAINT IT WHITE©”

ZHOOZ IT UP!

ZHOOZ ( TO GLAM UP, GIVE A CERTAIN JE NAIS SE QUA)


I SCOUR FLEA MARKETS, TRASH HEAPS, GARAGE & TAG SALES, HAVE PICKERS LOOK FOR “JUNQUE” FOR ME. I LOVE THE HUNT AND AM ALWAYS IN “ON” MODE, “LEAVE NO STONED UNTURNED” IS MY MOTTO OR SHOULD I SAY “LEAVE NO JUNQUE HEAP UNTURNED”
I LOVE ITEMS WITH CHARACTER, THAT TELL A STORY, THE MORE PRIMITIVE THE BETTER.

SOME OF MY FAVE TIPS I USE OR EMPLOY IN MY DECORATING:



TO GIVE HIGH IMPACT TO A WINDOW HANG THE CURTAIN, FABRIC OR DRAPES HIGHER THAN THE WINDOW, IT ADDS DRAMA & STYE.
IF YOU HAVE AN ORNATE FRAME OR WANT TO ZHUZZ ONE UP HANG IT FROM A PIECE OF LINEN OR HEMP

AN OLD FRAME OR TIN CEILING SQUARE LOOKS GREAT AS A CEILING MEDALLION



YOU SPY THE UGLIEST LOVESEAT AT A SALE & TRANSFORM IT INTO A ONE OF A KIND SEAT: TICKING, LINEN,A METALASSE OR CHENILLE BEDSPREAD. REFASHION & REPURPOSE IS THE BARGAIN HUNTERS CREED


AREN'T THAT IMPRESSED WITH YOUR FRIDGE (STANDING OUT LIKE A SORE THUMB IN THAT KITCHEN? PANEL IT & SWITCH OUT THE HANDLES WITH GATE LATCHES.



LOCKERS, SUITCASES, BASKETS HIDE A MUTLITUDE OF KITSCH, THAT YOU CAN ROTATE LATER WHEN THE MOOD STRIKES FOR ANOTHER REDO.



USE AN OLD FRAME AS A MENU BOARD IN THAT FRENCH KITCHEN. JUST PUT A PIECE OF LUAN IN THE MIDDLE OF IT & SPRAY WITH CHALKBOARD PAINT



FOR A FRENCH LOOK PAIR AN OUTSIDE BENCH WITH YOUR KITCHEN TABLE OR USE YOUR METAL OUTDOOR TABLE & CHAIRS FOR A CAFÉ LOOK
HOW CAN YOU MAKE EVERYDAY OBJECTS MORE INTERESTING? GIVE IT ZHOOZ!!!

RELAXED COLOR

SURROUNDING YOURSELF WITH COLOR IS THE MOST PEACEFUL & LESS STRESSFUL THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOURSELF, AFTER ALL IF YOU DON’T RELAX & FEEL COMFORTABLE IN YOUR OWN HOME, THEN WHAT’S THE USE OF BEING THERE?




PILE THE PILLOWS ON, EVEN IF THEY’RE WHITE ADD A FEW WITH COLOR TO SPARK CREATIVITY IN YOU WHEN YOU WALK IN

EASE YOURSELF INTO COLOR WITH ONE EYE POPPING OF COLOR FOCAL POINT


PAINT SOMETHING, RECOVER SOMETHING……
IF YOU LOVE CHIC THINGS BUT WANT CASUAL/COMFY, USE PAINTED PIECES THROUGHOUT YOUR HOME





DISPLAY COLORED DISHES, GLASSES IN AN OPEN CUPBOARD. IF THEY’RE SENTIMENTAL FAMILY ITEMS ALL THE BETTER TO PUT YOU IN A GOOD MOOD
DON’T GIVE SECOND THOUGHTS TO PURCHASES. IF I WANT IT, I BUY IT, I KNOW I WILL FIND A SPOT FOR IT EVENTUALLY & MAKE IT WORK SOMEWHERE. I CALL IT”LIVING VICARIOUSLY THROUGH JUNQUE” NOTE: A WRITER ONCE TOLD ME HE LOVED THE WAY I SPELLED JUNQUE”……IT MADE IT SOUND LIKE MUNDANE OBJECTS WERE GIVEN A STATE OF ELEGANCE.
FOR THE BEST USE OF COLOR ON YOUR PORCH, USE VINTAGE WATERING CANS AWASH IN PASTELS (PAINT A FEW) IF YOU CAN’T FIND THEM ALLREADY PAINTED. VINTAGE GARDEN TOOLS OR ADVERTISING TINS CAN ADD A PUNCH OF COLOR. USE THE TINS AS FLOWER POTS.