topic Re: COTTAGE STYLE in Home

COTTAGE STYLE

Oznell — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 21:29:54 GMT

I always say I lean toward cottage style, automatically, but sort of 'Mad Hatter" cottage, since I like Deco, Art Moderne, midcentury accessories too. There's a twist of French in there, and, OK, throw in a tiny vein of coastal, since blues are important.

But a recent British article just focused on "cottage", period. They showed rooms that veered modern in spirit, and also rooms that were more traditionally vintage. Which version of the ever-elastic cottage category do you prefer-- more modern or more traditional? Cottage, by its nature, is a very forgiving, and encompassing style.

Very eclectic California woodsy cottage , belonging to designer Leeanne Ford. Modern, rustic, vintage.

Sweet corner of a very old room-- so antique, the beams are wavy...

By definition, cottages are eclectic- a mix of this and that. Some common denominators-- 1) traditional or obviously comfortable upholstery, 2) appreciation of plants, flowers and natural things, 3) beams or exposed rafters, 4) antiques and/or lots of wood, 5) fireplaces,often, 6) painted ceilings or floors, 7) color, usually, 8) pottery and art of different eras, 9) lack of pretense, and often a sense of the impromptu, and most important, 10) feeling of coziness.

Both the next two images were in the same article on cottage design:

I'd call this, cottage-coastal-modern. Love the fat stone lamp and antique rug. Interesting credenza focal point, since they lack a hearth. Warm weather cottage...

This is more what I think of as 'classic cottage'. Mixing eras, etc., with a knowing eye, whimsical, unself-consiously welcoming--

One is more modern, one more traditional. I like them both. But I might lean more to the clearly vintage one, plus it has a fireplace and space for books...

Another one, oh, yeah. And another hallmark of the style, using old chests, bureaus and highboys in living rooms. And an embrace of art, of all kinds.

As adorable and necessary as this little guy is, where is the cottage kitty? I bet cottages have at LEAST as many cats as dogs....

Cheerful.....

.....Or moody. I like this image actually a bit better than the more manicured one above. Love the leaning, unframed painting, the "schoolhouse hooks" on the wainscoting, the weathered table, casually flower-laden basket. Epitomizes 'cottage' to me.

Bright and happy--

This casually filled cabinet is such eye-candy--

Below, love the quirky spool table, lush curtains, stacked books, crackling fire, and vintage sailboat. @luvzchiz , since you always want a doggie, (me too), here's a bonus 'cottage' one for you...

Re: COTTAGE STYLE

Citrine1 — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 22:42:04 GMT

Beautiful! I love it all.

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luvzchiz — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 23:27:07 GMT

@Oznell 😍Awww, thank you for thinking of me! That beautiful doggie makes the room.

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BlueFinch — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 01:00:13 GMT

Ah, there's nothing like refined rustic for me. I could sit down and relax a spell in some of these scenes. They're all warm and welcoming.

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SaveTheTurtles — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 01:45:47 GMT

I love all of it.

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ID2 — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 11:16:58 GMT

I live in a cottage on a lake in upper, lower peninsula of Michigan. I LOVE cottage style and my home is decorated very cottagey but looks nothing like these photos. I'm always amazed at how cluttered and crowded people decorate. I could barely even walk through the room with stuff laying everywhere. My home is light and airy and am able to see our beautiful lake from every room.

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Babyfran — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 11:53:43 GMT

LOVE the cottage style, especially the English cottage style. To me that's " home." The more nooks and crannies filled with nick nacks and eye candy the better! 🎉

Thank you for posting these delightful pictures! The ginger jar collection is gorgeous.

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jubilant — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 12:26:21 GMT

I liked most of these. Something very warm and inviting about "cottage" decor....especially English Cottage. It seems to say to me, "come in a sit a spell".

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faeriemoon — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 13:25:38 GMT

Cool and funky; right up my alley.

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Patriot3 — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 13:57:19 GMT

Love these pics!

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shoptilyadropagain — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 14:33:50 GMT

The English Cottage style is not one necessarily for me but I do like a couple of these rooms (more than the others). For me, these would make a great Airbnb/vacation rental.

Re: COTTAGE STYLE

Oznell — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 16:30:25 GMT

Exactly, @Babyfran , and other cottage fanciers-- joy, and non-stop fun.

If you all can stand a personal anecdote, that I think illustrates the cottage "mentality": The other day, I was trying to "boost" my two accent colors of pinky blush and navy in my living room for spring.

I have enough pink. But just one navy throw, a few pillows, and a small, vintage cobalt glass pitcher. But for my main grouping of pottery, that has two pieces of blue and white chinoiserie, and one sky blue Weller vase, I needed one solid, chunky dark blue item. What to do? Remembered the vintage, "blue betty" teapot we have in dark blue. So up goes the teapot, with the other blues, my makeshift "vase" filled with greenery. Gives just the shot of navy needed.

Not a big deal, and something a lot of us would think of and do. But I think the impulse to 'improvise' that way, is quintessetially cottage-- if at all possible, use what you have!

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Catiele — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 18:48:04 GMT

Love the cottage but too much stuff in it. It's my age I know.

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AuntG — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 22:45:55 GMT

Love the Mad Hatter reference. My favorite was the dining nook.

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Oznell — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 11:36:31 GMT

@Catiele , you could be right about the fact that as we mature, we prefer fewer things around us and less visual demands on our attention. I know that's partly behind my de-cluttering of the last decade.

But I also think we all have different thresholds of what we can tolerate. The beauty of cottage, for me, is that it can be streamlined and more spare-- like the Leanne Ford cottage, the first doggie image with the black iron stove, or the image with the weathered table and single leaning painting-- or it can be full-on classic English cottage "profusion".

This thread does show more of the "English bounty" look, true!

To me, 'cottage' seems to be a bit more about an attitude, the way you put things together, than it is about how much is there, maybe.

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Judaline — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 14:09:07 GMT

I can just imagine that dog looking at the photographer and thinking, "And you are here because...........?" haha

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DREAMON — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 14:37:28 GMT

I like all of the rooms but B and D are my favorites.

I am a fan of the Fords so Leeanne Fords room ( B) makes me happy!

They are all inviting and comfortable.

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Babyfran — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 14:55:09 GMT

@Oznell , I love the color scheme you have going on for the spring. Blush pink and blue is right on in my book! Beautiful.

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Estellee — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 21:41:32 GMT

@Oznell Thanks for posting such beautiful pics. Love to see the pups by the fireplace

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spiderw — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 21:57:11 GMT

Everything is so appealing and beautiful! There is much warmth and loveliness throughout the photos. It is all about what you love and makes you smile and feel good and a cottage is always a cozy warm setting for relaxation and peace.