nest egg

Missing Cottage Living

Looking back through some of my favorite cottages...

1. COZY COTTAGE:

I. LOVE. this kitchen.

 

*and this room- great mix of functional, comfortable and classy.
 
 

TTN: you could do this with an unused closet space; take off the doors, put up some curtains, possibly a light fixture, and create a special nook.

<Atlanta decorator Tyler Colgen; photography by Megan Thompson>

SIMPLE COTTAGE:

See the ghost chair in the background..??… Or DO you?? :)

Love the mix of materials in this room- subtle but plenty of texture.

TTN: Again, it's very subtle in color but the mix of textures keeps it from falling flat- and keeping it fabulous!

-love seeing that antique iron bench at the end of the bed rather than the standard bench. Sure, it's not as functional but it looks awesome.

 

<Chaffee Braithwate via Duchess Faire>

COZY COTTAGE:

Another one of my favorites.. Haskell Harris' (previous) home. She's the associate editor of Garden and Gun- so it doesn't surprise me that her style is impeccable. She has since moved from this adorable cottage (to Charleston!) but its' too good to pass up...

So cozy and classy.

<Haskell Harris via Cottage Living and Southern Living>

Eclectic cottage:

Lee Kleinhelter, owner of the Atlanta store Pieces, has lived in (and designed) some fabulous homes over the years. I like this one in particular...

TTN: Apparently Lee agrees with me-! (see texture quote above)

TTN: Swing in the corner? Check.

Lee Kleinhelter, via Cottage Living

Hacienda cottage:

 

Cynthia David and Issac Preminger's home via Cote de Texas

Dear Cottage Living,

we {still} miss you dearly.

 *if you haven't voted for your favorite Boy Room- be sure to cast your vote over the weekend! I'll be back with a budget makeover for the winning room.

 

Boys, Boys, Boys

Oh boys,…. People seem to get stuck with decorating boys bedrooms- whether they are age 3 or age 13. In fact, the difficulty increases with age. 

This calls for….. Voting time!!

 

So, please cast your votes for your favorite boys room!

 If you missed out on the previous Super-fun game ..(-sometimes I feel ridiculous saying things like that- like I'm turning into a crazy woman who forces her internet friends to play this weird game she made up -that may or may not include quotes by Bob Barker ??)     I digress. If you missed out and want to check out what everyone voted for click on these:: (white kitchens) :: (twin bedrooms) :: (nurseries)

And like these previous posts you voted on - I will piece together the winning bedroom on a budget! (to the best of my ability!)

So make sure you vote. (Even if you have no interest in boys bedrooms-(although some are clearly gender neutral) it's just fun to see what you guys like! :)

Here are the first items up for bid today  a few rooms that I think any boy (from tot to college Dude!) would like.

one.

two.

three.

four.

five.

six.

seven.

 

eight.

nine.

 

ten.

 

eleven.

 

twelve.

 

thirteen.

fourteen.

 

fifteen.

sixteen.

 

seventeen.

Then Peter Pan is forced into to growing up… and he starts to show his true colors. (hints: wood, metal, footballs, antlers) 

 

eighteen.

 

nineteen.

twenty.

twenty- one.

 

 

twenty-two.

 

twenty-three.

twenty-four...

 

twenty-five.

twenty-six 

 

Soooo...

Which one will it be??

 Cast your votes in the comments section below.

And stay tuned- Girls Rooms are right around the corner.! 

(Come on DOWN!!!)

(Please excuse me- I didn't have the energy to cite all these but if you click on the picture the info/source should be in the window title. I'll try to fix this later.. Night!.: )

Sneak Peak: Elegant + Whimsical Kitchen

 el·e·gant adj: tastefully fine or luxurious in dress, style, design, etc. 

whim·si·cal adj: Playfully quaint or fanciful, esp. in an appealing and amusing way.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I just got back from meeting one of my out-of-town clients where they are doing a major overhaul on an old, traditional home. It's going to be the perfect mix of elegant and whimsical- I can't wait to see it come together.We finally have the kitchen planned out and I'm so excited about it, I just have to share with you...

A simple, classy canvas: White Dove cabinets + white marble (Pretty white marble is hard to come by lately. We are still on the hunt for the perfect Calacutta Gold slab- Anyone seen one lately?)

With a gorgeous backsplash tile-

(drumroll please)

…..

Walker Zanger Ashbury tile in powder blue. Gorgeous.

 

Oh wait, I'm not done yet.

Centered in the kitchen will be this beauty, who lovingly refer to as "Frenchie"...

+ this antique island on casters (found at ABC Home in NYC)

+ Kohler hi-rise bridge faucet + Rohl white farmhouse sink
  

+ Two of these lanterns in a custom paint finish…

Now you see why I'm so excited??!!!!

Finished product coming early spring.

Note to Year {2010}

Dear Two Thousand and Ten,

It's time to say goodbye.

Just when I got used to writing you down,

you leave me high and dry.

 

You were a good one, and I'll try to recap-

but there is no way to attest.

The adventures of this year- seriously-

I've never felt so blessed.

Market trips and antique shows-

I've become quite the scout.

But after a full day of shopping,

I'll admit- I get WORN out.

Wrapped up some projects and started new ones,

Taking (few) pictures along the way... 

Lots of work and travel, 

including a trip to Santa Fe.

Fell even more in love with light fixtures,

and porch swings- for an outdoor recline.

So I decided I wanted to make my own

and dabbled in product design...

 

We experienced a FLOOD in Nashville-

Boats were cruising down streets.

Then suddenly it was summer

and we fled to avoid the heat.

Went up to New York and the Hamptons, 

and on tour with Brooks & Dunn-!

Then back to Nashville to find a familiar face

on the cover of Garden and Gun. !

Spent some time outdoors,

fishing with my favorite guy-

Planned a big party and a "Haunted Trail" 

  

And that mask makes me want to cry.

 

I've moved to a bigger office, 

piles of fabric books galore.

But I don't care how messy it is,

I'm happy to spread out on the floor! 

 

This year I've struggled with balance-

business woman + friend + wife,

but I listen to the advice of my coffee mug-

"Don't let your inbox run your life!"

 

Just went to Sunny California to visit Hoyt's family-

it rained the entire time!

 

then down south to Alabama- 

first White Christmas since 1889.

 

(OKay it was 1880-but a girls gotta rhyme.)

For me, the best "recharge"

is time with the people I love.

So tell 20 - 11, I'm officially ready  !!

Well….. sort of.