COTTAGE LIVING ......HERE I COME

COTTAGE LIVING IS A RELAXED WAY OF LIFE, IT'S MEANT TO RELIEVE STRESS; SO THINK "SIMPLIFY", FOR A SOOTHING EFFECT. REAL COTTAGE LIVING RELIES ON CREATIVITY MORE SO THAN CASH; USING WHAT YOU HAVE AND TURNING IT INTO IMAGINATIVE NEW USES. PRIMITIVE CUPBOARDS AND TABLES WEARING CHIPPED PAINT

 ARE MUST HAVES FOR COTTAGE LIVING. USING SECOND HAND FINDS ISN'T JUST PRACTICAL, IT'S A GREAT WAY TO ADD YOUR PERSONAL STYLE. I'M AN "OUT OF THE BOX" DECORATOR; WHEN SOMETHING I PLAN GOES AWRY, I REVAMP AND IT TURNS OUT SO MUCH MORE WONDERFUL THAN I PLANNED!
TURNING THE INSIDE OF THE COTTAGE INTO AN OUT DOOR GARDEN CAN BE ACHIEVED WITH PRESSED FERNS IN A FRAME' AND TOPIARIES IN TIMEWORN FLOWERPOTS.

IF YOU'RE A COTTAGE DWELLER WANNABE; YOU CAN GIVE ANY ABODE AN INSTANT MAKEOVER WITH PAINT,
SLIPCOVERS, OR SIMPLE WOODCRAFTING SKILLS. CHAIRS DON'T HAVE TO BE FORMAL OR EVEN MATCH.

A COTTAGE IS NOT JUST A COTTAGE WHEN YOU PUT YOUR OWN PERSONAL TOUCH TO IT. WHEN I THINK OF COTTAGE LIVING I SMELL ROSES AND SEE A PICKET FENCE

SURROUNDING THE PROPERTY. I SEE OLD AND PALE TEA DYED FABRIC AND QUILTS, COVERING FURNITURE AND ARCHITECTURAL FRAGMENTS FROM THE FACADES AND LANDSCAPES OF CONDEMNED OLD BUILDINGS THAT GIVES IT A VINTAGE CHARACTER; AND OF COURSE I SEE WHITEWASHED WOOD BEADBOARD CEILINGS AND WALLS, PAINTED WOOD FLOORS OR RUGS MADE FROM NATURAL FIBERS(COIR),AND ADIRONDACK FURNITURE.

    

YOUR LIVING SPACES REMAIN INVITING WHEN YOU COMBINE YOUR TREASURED FINDS. YOU CAN GO TO FLEA MARKETS AND TAG SALES AND REMEMBER THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT. COTTAGE STYLE IS EVOLVED OVER TIME. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUY IT ALL AT ONCE; THINGS WILL COME TOGETHER. THE FUN IS IN THE HUNT!
THE GUEST ROOM OF A COTTAGE SHOULD BE NO LESS SPECTACULAR. HOMEY ACCENTS AND COZY NOOKS FOR NAPS

OR READING ARE PARAMOUNT TO A CHARMING RETREAT.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE A HEADBOARD FOR YOUR GUEST ROOM, AN OLD MANTEL SAYS "COTTAGE". DON'T HAVE A BEDSIDE TABLE?

 A STACK OF SUITCASES DOES THE JOB WHILE PROVIDING STORAGE FOR LINENS.

WELCOME GUESTS WITH A BASKET OF FLOWERS AND HOMEMADE TREATS AND SEVERAL COUNTRY MAGAZINES!



BECAUSE OF SMALL SQUARE FOOTAGE EVERY COTTAGE NEEDS AN OUTBUILDING ... OR TWO!

 IF YOU'RE LIKE ME, YOU'LL TURN IT INTO A COTTAGE TOO! YOU WILL ALSO WANT TO SURROUND YOUR COTTAGE WITH A PICKET FENCE AND A GATE. I MADE MINE ONE WINTER IN THE BASEMENT AND COULDN'T WAIT TO SET IT UP.
NOTHING STAYS THE SAME FOR LONG AROUND MY HOUSE; TWICE A YEAR I HOLD AN OPEN HOUSE AND PUT JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING UP FOR SALE; WHERE AS I DON'T LIVE IN A COTTAGE, I DECORATE LIKE I DO; IT ALL SEEMS TO WORK OUT. A GIRL CAN DREAM, CAN'T SHE!?

-TIPS ON COTTAGE LIVING-
*OPENING THE WINDOWS ON A NICE DAY RATHER THAN CRANKING UP THE AC.
*'HAVING AN EYE FOR RETRO CHIC AND GOING FOR IT
*BEING SURROUNDED BY THINGS YOU LOVE.

* WHEN BUILDING OR REMODELLING YOUR COTTAGE LAY TONGUE AND GROOVE FLOORING ON IT'S BACK TO MAKE IT LOOK OLD, SO WHEN IT GETS BEAT UP THROUGH THE YEARS, IT DEVELOPS A WONDERFUL PATINA.

*PLASTIC FURNITURE IS JUST THAT-PLASTIC. HIT THE FLEA MARKETS AND TAG SALES AND PICK UP WOODEN ODD CHAIRS AND TABLES AND PAINT THEM WHITE, OF
COURSE! ! (MY MOTTO: IF IT'S NOT MOVING PAINT IT WHITE)
*LET SUNLIGHT FLOOD YOUR ROOMS.

*WHEN COLLECTING FOR YOUR COTTAGE, BOTANICAL ART AND VINTAGE VASES AND TERRA COTTA ARE EASY TO FIND COLLECTIBLES THAT MIX WELL WITH FLORAL FABRIC.

*FOR A RUSTIC COTTAGE LOOK IN THE KITCHEN AND BATH, STICK TO OPEN SHELVING AND GLASS CONTAINERS. DON'T FORGET, NOTHING SAYS COTTAGE LIKE A CLAWFOOT TUB. "'INTRODUCE WHITE FURNITURE. IT MAKES EVEN A BOXY ROOM FEEL MORE OPEN.

*USE WICKER AND UNIFY DISPARATE PIECES WITH PAINT; EVEN PASTEL COLORS SAY COTTAGE.

*TUCK PICNIC BASKETS UNDER TABLES FOR HIDING OTHER DECORATIVE OBJECTS TO SWITCH AROUND LATER.
*ADD OVERSTUFFED PILLOWS IN FLORAL PATTERNS.
'*LAY AREA RUGS TO SOFTEN THE FLOORS AND WARM YOUR TOES.
*REMEMBER .... WHEN YOU START WITH SOMETHING WORN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT GETTING RUINED. '
*COLLECT VINTAGE TICKING, OLD WHITE BUTTONS(I DISPLAY MINE IN AN OLD GLASS ROLLING PIN). OLD VASES, AND OLD JUICE GLASSES ARE NICE TO PUT CANDLES IN.
*WEATHERED FRAMES THAT ENCASE STILL LIFES OR LANDSCAPES ADD TO THE COTTAGE AMBIANCE. "'COLLECTIONS ARE MOST GRATIFYING WHEN THEY ARE SEEN.

* USE EVERY ROOM TO SHOW OFF YOUR PERSONALITY. "'GROUP DECORATIVE PLATES, MIRRORS, OLD LICENSE PLATES AND SIGNS, OR EVEN FRAMED TEXTILES TO MAKE A STRONG VISUAL IMPACT ON A WALL.
*A CHILDS ADIRONDACK CHAIR HUNG ON THE WALL MAKES A HANDY MAGAZINE HOLDER.
*USE IRON PATIO CHAIRS AND TABLE IN YOUR DINING ROOM TO CREATE AN OUTDOOR CAFE EFFECT.

& MOVE OBJECTS AROUND EVERY NOW AND THEN FROM
DINING ROOM TO KITCHEN ETC.; THE EFFECT WILL SEEM LIKE A NEW SPACE!