Archives for September 2013

The Cottage Bathroom

 

I love the idea of the curtain divider....very ethereal.

I love the idea of the curtain divider….very ethereal.

Forgive me.  This week’s posting was to have been of my Halloween/Fall outdoor decorations.  But I am feeling a bit under the weather and I wasn’t able to take pictures, so I thought I would share my cottage bathroom look book with you for my upcoming renovations.

The bathroom is not an existing bathroom, but rather an existing space. Upstairs, I have a large stair landing area.  Not large enough to be a bedroom, but plenty large enough to fit a small bathroom with room leftover to serve as a pass through to the upstairs bedroom.

The bathroom will have a walk-in shower, a vanity and toilet.  The vanity will be an antique table I acquired months ago and will be modified to fit a bowl sink.  Simple white subway tiles for the shower, white octagonal tiles for the floor and wood planking every where else.  The rule of thumb as throughout the rest of the house will be the same for the bathroom: simple, unpretentious and soft white tones and natural textures.

One finishing touch will be a pair of French, ornate cream and green wall sconces I found in an antique store years ago.  I fell in love with them and bought them without a clue as to where I was going to put them.  I think they will look perfect flanking an old, white painted mirror that I am sure I will find at some point in my weekly antiquing haunts.

I hope you find some inspiration.

Always.

xoxo.

Cindy

Love these old photos.

Love these old photos.

A lovely footed bath.

A lovely footed bath.

Love the antique pine table with the crisp white bowl sinks.

Love the antique pine table with the crisp white bowl sinks.

I always thing being able to see the pitch in a roof makes a room feel tucked away and cozy.

I always think being able to see the pitch in a roof makes a room feel tucked away and cozy.

I won't have room for this in my new cottage bathroom...but I love it anyway.

I won’t have room for this in my new cottage bathroom…but I love it anyway.

It's doubtful I will have room for double vanities...but I love this look.

It’s doubtful I will have room for double vanities…but I love this look.

This bathroom probably best emulates the size, shape and space of my bathroom...down to the pitch in the roof.

This bathroom probably best emulates the size, shape and space of my bathroom…down to the pitch in the roof.

Although doubtful, I will have room for a full sized armoire...but this is lovely.

Although doubtful, I will have room for a full sized armoire…but this is lovely.

More contemporary than is my style, but I think this room blends old and new very well.

More contemporary than is my style, but I think this room blends old and new very well.

I like the neutrality of this bathroom.  The décor is probably more ornate than is my own style.

I like the neutrality of this bathroom. The décor is probably more ornate than is my own style.

I love the old fixtures in an old home.  Doors, floors and windows.  Nothing opens like an old window with weights in the wall or swings like an old wood door.  Just perfect!

I love the old fixtures in an old home. Doors, floors and windows. Nothing opens like an old window with weights in the wall or swings like an old wood door. Just perfect!

 

 

 

The Little Cottage That Could

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In the new year, I am embarking on a major renovation of my little cottage.  The goal is to work with the existing foot print but make the cottage everything that it should be.  After living in the house for ten years, I have come to know it like I know a good friend and have come to understand how I can live better within it.  It can be The Little Cottage That Could while continuing to pay homage to the wonderful old home that was built some 80 years ago.

Certain foundational items will be on the punch list like updating the electrical, insulating the exterior walls and replacing all the sheetrock with horizontal wood planking.

Upgrades will include an additional bathroom upstairs to create a master bedroom en suite, creating an additional bedroom in existing space and adding closets and built in storage.  Special touches will be exposing the rafters upstairs and tucking a sleeping loft above them and a fire place in the den.  If historic guidelines will allow, we’ll do a bump out in the kitchen to give it a little more space.

Several years ago, I was mining the internet and I somehow ended up on a real estate site that had the most wonderful Hamptons Cottage for sale at the whopping price of 1.9 million  dollars.  Location, location, location right?  Of course.  But what really struck me about the cottage was its staggering simplicity.  I fell in love with it and it will be part of my look book that I present to the contractor when I finally get started on the renovation.

I saved the pictures for future reference so I’ll share them with you:

21 22 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12

 

Summer’s Last Hurrah.

 

Some end of summer Hydrangeas add the personal touch for the end of summer visit.

Some end of summer Hydrangeas add the personal touch for the end of summer visit.

Mother Nature had the last word this weekend.  The warmest days of the summer were upon us.  My hope is that it will segue into a fine, fine fall.  I am already thinking about my fall décor and the Round Top Antique Show…two things that bring me an incredible amount of joy this time of year.

Just one last summer post before we all move on.  My house re-design that I have blogged about previously included completely changing my guest room.  As I transition my home to a lighter, coastal feel…this room was a great opportunity to showcase the simplicity of my style.

I’ll be the first to say the room isn’t particularly refined…but that is what I like about it.  It sort of feels like a room you would find in a beach cottage.

Here are the before and after photos.

I hope you find some inspiration.

Always.

Cindy

Before.

A collection of architectural objects.

A collection of architectural objects.

Guest Room.

Guest Room.

Guest Room.

Guest Room.

Guest Room.

Guest Room.

After.

Late summer guests are greeted by lavender infused water, ocean scented candles and simple surroundings.

Late summer guests are greeted by lavender infused water, ocean scented candles and simple surroundings.

With an antique table, heirloom cotton towels and a vintage enamel pitcher and basin, why not create a modern day wash stand?  Still every bit as beautiful and useful as it would have been when my old cottage was built.

With an antique table, heirloom cotton towels and a vintage enamel pitcher and basin, why not create a modern day wash stand? Still every bit as beautiful and useful as it would have been when my old cottage was built.

IMG_7565 (2)

Simple white is my philosophy when it comes to dressing beds. Seasonal quilts, pillows and lampshades are the opportunity for color and change when you want something new and different. These light weight quilts were a steal from Kohl’s at $32 each.

A mostly soothing, white room, I can't resist well placed doses of my favorite color, red.

A mostly soothing, white room, I can’t resist well placed doses of my favorite color, red.

The room formerly had a single queen bed.  Now using two twin beds with white cotton sheets and a light, summer quilt for when the ceiling fan makes the room a little chilled, this room has a simple and quiet countenance.

The room formerly had a single queen bed. Now using two twin beds with white cotton sheets and a light, summer quilt for when the ceiling fan makes the room a little chilled, this room has a simple and quiet countenance.

Direct from local lavender farms, this essential oil is a treat for my guests.

Direct from local lavender farms, this essential oil is a treat for my guests.

Lavender pods along with Lavender essential oil in a vintage basin ready for summer time guests.

Lavender pods along with Lavender essential oil in a vintage basin ready for summer time guests.

My grandmother's vintage towels, lavender infused water with thick terry washcloths for a soothing sleep time compress on a warm summer night.

My grandmother’s vintage towels, lavender infused water with thick terry washcloths for a soothing sleep time compress on a warm summer night.

What used to house a television in another room, now stores quilts for cold winter nights and a small flat screen for guests who wish to squire themselves away to relax and watch Pride and Prejudice.

What used to house a television in another room, now stores quilts for cold winter nights and a small flat screen for guests who wish to squire themselves away to relax and watch Pride and Prejudice.

 

Imported Soap, Burt's Bees Balm and a lovely Ocean scented candle for pampered guests.

Imported Soap, Burt’s Bees Balm and a lovely Ocean scented candle for pampered guests.

Bedside refreshments for overnite guests. A glass and carafe are left bedside for guests and refreshed every evening.

Bedside refreshments for overnite guests. A glass and carafe are left bedside for guests and refreshed every evening.