cottage tour

I recently shared a peek into this charming little cottage that belongs to my aunt.

At the end of the path that follows the curve of the lake, a few doors down from our cottage, sits a little red cottage, formerly belonging to a fishing lodge.

It's red logs and stacked stones make for an inviting entrance, made only more charming by it's interior just beyond the screen door.

Inside is a classic log cabin, simple and open, with pops of red and the perfect balance of Waverly prints and a few carefully collected antique pieces.

Cottage life is simple living at it's best. A slow morning with a coffee, a long afternoon on the dock and an evening spent fireside. And this space is perfectly suited for such days.

(This pair of tartan lunch pails were from a tag sale I had years ago.)

 She has such an eye for balanced patterns - a bit of toile, a bit of tartan, a few florals and classic stripes and checks.

She repurposed an old duvet cover into curtains.

(This antique monogrammed dish towel was a find on a trip we took together to Hudson, NY)

The cottage has two small bedrooms. One with a double bed with hints of pink, and another in blues with two twin beds. Each has a small closet and while open above to the rest of the cottage, still feels private and separate.

 

Some antique china in a mix of patterns adds character to the tops of the kitchen cabinet.

 

The living room has the best views of the lake.

And while the cottage may be small and cozy, it's high ceiling with it's exposed beams makes the space feel much larger. 

Just the right amount of decor - a few favourite pieces to add character but not clutter.

(I found this pillow made from antique quilt scraps, by a local artist, and couldn't resist getting it. It was like it was made just for her!)

A removable hammock is strung in the screened porch which looks down at the lake.

It's everything a cottage should be - a calm escape, inviting and personal.

And I'm so glad that I get to pop in for a cup of tea and chat.

Inspirations

Tiffany Hechner Dixon

What a pretty little vignette.

 It's Wednesday today, and a general not-feeling-like-doing-much-of-anything kind of day.

I've washed our linens and will eventually get around to some much needed vacuuming, but for now I think I might snuggle a while with Willen under our duvet and read together. Though the temperatures are mild for November, the drizzling rain and dreary skies are making us feel a little lazy this morning.

Here are some beautiful images to inspire you.

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I love the simplicity of this stairway, and the perfect contrast of the dark, rich woods and the bright, crisp whites. I love the collection of framed artwork (something I always have my eye out for), and I would love to find that exact bench and pretty cushions - It's perfect!

Justine Taylor

I can't think of a cozier place to curl up on a day like today. It just needs a lush knitted throw and a warm cup of tea.

Justine Taylor

Another great Butchers Pantry! I love so much about this space... where to start?

1- That sofa. It's gorgeous.

2- The cream walls with beautiful built-ins and ceiling details.

3 - The runner. I've been looking for something just like this for when we remove the carpeting in our hall.

4- The Dutch door in the background!

5 - If this space had a sink - say in the white cabinet in the front right of the photo, this would make the perfect space for arranging fresh flowers.

6 - The storage without the look of storage: Notice the simple hooks under the painting to the left? And all those simple bins that could house so many different things. The umbrella bucket and all the doors on the table?

Martha Stewart

I always think this is a dramatic looking kitchen. I love the rich wood counters and the simple white cabinets, but I think it's the old hardware, the fantastic faucet and the striking floors that make this kitchen so pretty.

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And finally, (seemingly opposite to my own personal style!) this pretty writing desk. I'm white walls all the way, but something about these dark, charcoal walls makes this little space so cozy and warm. The desk is a beautiful piece (though I would find a different chair), and the whole little set up is perfectly inviting. I would actually incorporate this into my home!

An Updated Living and Dining Room

All Photos - The Grower's Daughter

I wanted to share a few quick updates I've been working on in our living and dining room. They are nearly complete, there are just a few more details still needing to be finished.

First of all, I switched out our old loveseats for this loveseat and chair set that had previously been in our basement. It's the classic slip-covered Ikea sofa set. It's white, it's durable, and it looks a little more polished than the covered loveseats did. The old ones may furnish this room again one day, when I've had the chance to get them professionally refinished, but for now, this set is clean and simple - just what I was looking for.

Having sold my old trunk, I needed a replacement coffee table fast. For now, the matching poof works perfectly with a simple white tray on top.

The piano switched walls and I finally hung some artwork. I found this pair of portraits from Tattered and Torn and am happy to have found a home for them. It should be clear that I have absolutely no artwork in my house. This is something that I've always wanted to change. My husband and I both love artwork, and can appreciate good art. However, I have a very specific idea of what I love, and I've never been able to find myself something that matches that close enough. I love old landscapes and ornate frames, but we both find ourselves drawn to old, dark portraits. These two really did work perfectly. Maybe one day I will find two matching frames for them...

Space is quite limited in our living room, but we also have a large family room in our basement that houses our entertainment systems and has a cozy fireplace. I just wanted something simple and put together for our main floor. To me, this room is nice enough for a more formal sitting room, but

is still livable and inviting.

Opposite the loveseat is our armchair. This is my chair - the place where I enjoy my morning coffee and devotional, the place where I knit or read, and the place where Willen and I like to snuggle with our books before bed.

In our dining room, I got a replaced our old white pedestal table with a new one. It's slightly higher, but more narrow than the previous one, so it fits this space better. I also borrowed four wicker chairs from my sister in law. She wasn't using them... I wanted to buy the same ones new... so here they are!  I love my sister in law.

The wicker warms this previously very white space up a great deal (though you can't tell from these dark photos... it's so dreary outside and I'm lacking natural light, but it's been rainging forever!).

And finally, the last of my Limelights. The rest have all turned their dusty rose with the cold weather.