It's the Little Things That Count

After the Christmas decorations come down, I usually allow myself a few days to mourn the loss and wallow in the bleakness of January days. Not so this year! There have been many spring-like days lately that have inspired me to give River Cottage a spring facelift. This has been good, not only for the cottage and it's guests, but also for my own state of mind. The trick, this time of year, is to decorate yet not spend lots of dollars. I hope some of my tips will inspire you to chase away your own winter doldrums.

First let me say that you should never underestimate the power of new houseplants. They are such an economical way to brighten up those empty spaces in your home. I made a quick trip to the WalMart and Lowes garden centers last week, and here are the treasures I brought home with me.
They instantly brought a breath of springtime into drab winter spaces.

My next transition into Spring involved a visit to the Potterybarn outlet store near my son's house in Memphis. I never miss a chance to drop in there when I'm spending time at Will's. Yesterday happened to be a bonanza for those of us searching for new pillows and shams.

Here are some of my purchases. If you have the spring catalog memorized as I do, you'll recognize these pillows as the ones that are still available at full price. What a surprise to find them at the outlet for a substantial savings, especially since I already had the down inserts on hand.

My final tip for spicing up your decor is to simply move things around. It is totally free yet gives your home a fresh feel. I had a long, blank hallway in the cottage that was driving me crazy. I walked from room to room at both houses and came away with a beautiful old table that was pushed into a corner, not getting the attention it deserved. For accessories, I once again delved into my closet stash and put together a group of green bottles from a Big Lots trip many years ago, some junk store candlesticks, and a couple of photos of family pets that I enlarged on my printer and stuck into antique frames (also from the junk store). See how easy this really is?

Using the things around your home and closets also works for an impromptu table setting. River Cottage hosted a small charity event over the weekend, an Italian dinner for six. I used a beige linen table runner on the dining room's farm table with chunky white pottery dishes. For a centerpiece I started with small terra cotta pots of fresh rosemary and called my empty Patron bottles into service as candle holders. (If you don't have friends who drink expensive tequila, Patron bottles can be purchased on ebay. They also make lovely vases.) Anyway, the effect was understated and just right for the occasion.

Since the accent color in the dining room is green, I decorated the sideboard with a rustic wooden bowl filled with fresh limes which can be eaten later- very practical.

Maybe these touches will satisfy my decorating fancies until Spring is truly here and I can begin planning my flowerbeds and pots of blooming things.

Here a Shelf, There a Shelf

Well, I didn't have to wait long for another bookshelf project.  When my Aunt Dot saw Lee Ann's bookshelf upgrade, she immediately called to remind me that she had a WHOLE wall of new shelves.  Since today was a school holiday, I promised her I would come take a look. It was such a pretty space - with a new challenge.  There were many bookshelves but not many books since Dot is an avid reader of iBooks.  I walked from room to room hoping to find items that could be relocated to her wall of shelves, and I was not disappointed.  Her extensive collections of white pitchers and miniature chairs were just the inspiration I needed.  An hour later we were admiring the new arrangement.

As I was driving home, thinking to myself that bookshelf projects don't last nearly long enough, my phone rang.  It was my son, Will, calling to say, "Get ready for a new project."  He is possibly losing a housemate in the near future and will need to downsize to a smaller house or apartment.  House and apartment-hunting are among my favorite hobbies.  Let the search begin!

Dying to Decorate

I got a text from my cousin,Lee Ann, this morning asking for help rearranging her den shelves. She thought I was doing her a huge favor when I said "yes". What she didn't know was that I had been looking at catalogs and house magazines all morning just yearning for a project. Before heading to her house I searched through my own closets for things we might use to supplement what she already had in place.

Here is a photo of the shelves before we began the re-do.


Although I like for shelves to look like everything just casually fell into place, some planning has to be done so that there is some symmetry in the finished look. I began by completely emptying every shelf and sorting the contents by category. I had piles of books, framed photos, pottery pieces, clocks, etc., spread across the floor. I spent some time just looking and thinking about combinations of objects.


When organizing bookshelves, it's overwhelming to see the area as a whole. I try to think of each section as it's own small vignette. It always takes several tries to achieve just the right look. Of course, there's not just one "right" arrangement. It's just what feels right for me or, in this case, what would please Lee Ann.

When designing spaces for a family room, I think it's important to incorporate things that reflect the interests of all family members. After arranging and rearranging and sending Lee on the hunt for more stuff, here is the finished (or almost finished) bookshelf.  Included were Lee's favorite clocks and pottery pieces, books by her husband's and sons' favorite authors, and the guys' University of Tennessee and University of Alabama sports memorabilia. A few adjustments will still be made, but it is already an attractive, organized space.



Lee Ann is not the only family member that indulges me in my decorating obsession.  My son, Will, returned to college Tuesday after a month at home for the holidays. I decided to go back with him to help do some cleaning and decorating updates at his house in Memphis.  After several hours of mopping, vacuuming, dusting, and laundry we decided to treat ourselves to a visit to the semi-new Urban Outfitters store a few minutes from Will's house.  Will has always been a good shopping companion, and this day was no exception.  We loved everything about the store and could have shopped forever if Christmas had not completely depleted our resources. 

The point of even mentioning this outing is to  correct something I said in my previous post.  The wonderful Urban Outfitters quilts that were out of stock online were quite abundant in the actual store. There was a good selection of sizes and colors. Though I wanted one of each,  I settled for a neat Indian blanket for Will's futon instead.

Today, in the spring Garnet Hill catalog, I discovered quilts that were almost identical to the ones at Urban Outfitters .  Although they are a bit more expensive, the colors are so lively and springy.  They, too, are reversible, so it's like getting two quilts for the price of one.  Be sure to take a look at garnethill.com or visit your nearest Urban Outfitters store if you're in the market for new bedding. This quilt could also be tossed over a boring sofa with a few new throw pillows to give your den a face lift.

garnethill.com

That's a wrap for now.  Perhaps another relative will indulge my need to decorate soon. If not, my other son, Bob, will have to let me have my way with his apartment in the near future.

My Cottage Style

With my River Cottage project complete, I am feeling adrift and unfocused.  For almost a year I spent every waking minute drawing floor plans, searching for just the right furnishings and accessories, rearranging bookshelves night after night, trying out different bedding combinations, hanging pictures...all the fun things involved in getting our cottage ready for its new role as a guest house. 

I've decided to reminisce about all the fun I had accessorizing River Cottage by  blogging about it and showing some of my favorite finds.

I worked really hard at finding bargains for the home's interior since the renovation had been fairly expensive.  This small sofa from World Market was exactly what the livingroom needed.  It is so well made and reasonably priced. Its slipcover has already been through the wash several times and still looks like new.  The pillows are from the Potterybarn outlet in Memphis. 

I can always count on TJ Maxx for the coolest lamps. These seemed perfect for the beachy bedroom.

I have collected pitchers for many years.  My original collection consisted only of  white ones. Lately I have not been able to resist the brightly colored ones.  These are all from TJ Maxx and were so very cheap. I just love them.

I have a favorite antique/junk store in my town.  I seem to always leave there with yet another old frame. They have come in handy for all the art prints I have collected over the years. This crab print was from a Seaside trip many years ago.  A nice frame guy at Hobby Lobby cut a mat and glass to fit the print and the frame.  I love the way it turned out.  The perky pitcher is, once again, from TJ Maxx. 

I have a weakness for tables. These were practically free at my local junky antique store.

This farm table looks old but was actually made recently. It was another discovery at my favorite junking spot.  I catch all these great deals because this place is right on my way home from work.  You notice quite a mix of seating options.  I just combined all the chairs from around the house, and the look worked for me.  I was thrilled to find the directors chair covers on clearance at Pier 1 last fall for $14.95 each.  I think they had originally been about $48. 

Since space was limited in this bedroom, I knew that wall-mounted fixtures would work best.  By choosing the Lowe's version instead of the ones I loved at Potterybarn, I saved almost $100 per fixture.

This quilt is one of my most recent purchases.  I discovered it online at Urban Outfitters.  I loved it so much that I ordered two more.  There were so many fun color choices, and the fabric is unbelievably soft. Yesterday I decided to order one more, only to find that they are now out of stock.  They were such a popular item that I'm hopeful they will bring them back for spring.

If you are shopping on a budget as I was, perhaps this post will give you some ideas for creating just the look you want without breaking the bank.

The Evolution of a Decorator

I am a teacher by trade, a mom by choice, and an interior designer in my imagination.  Over 20 years ago, in the pre-technology era, I had stacks of albums filled with magazine clippings, paint chips, and fabric swatches.  They represented my decorating dreams and inspirations.  More recently I have turned to Pinterest and lovely blogs for design ideas and product sources. My personal style has evolved over those years but remains unpretentious and simplistic, guided more by what I love than what is trendy.

I was fortunate to grow up in an 1830's home filled with period antiques.  This gave me an appreciation for classic furnishings that never really go out of style. It also gave me a yearning, at times, for a relaxed, eclectic mix that had no place in an antebellum setting.

Last spring I was able to realize the dream of an unfulfilled decorator.  My husband and I began the renovation of a classic coastal cottage on our property that would eventually become River Cottage Guest House.  I finally had a blank slate, so to speak, to transform into the cottage of my dreams.  We started with the necessary exterior repairs and landscaping.  Then the real fun began.  My pages and pages of notes and ideas became actual rooms with unique personalities and charm. 

Because River Cottage was going to be a rental property, I didn't want to fill it with expensive things.  I anchored each room with one or two good pieces and then filled in the gaps with flea market and junk store finds.  I haunted the aisles of TJ Maxx and Potterybarn outlet for accessories and bedding.  My junking expeditions almost always turned up great antique frames which I filled with Hobby Lobby prints.  The end result is a fun cottage that my friends and overnight guests seem to love.

I'm often asked how I came up with a certain look or where I found a particular quilt or vase.  I'm always flattered when someone loves what I love, and I'm so willing to share my sources. On this blog I will be posting my favorite looks, products, and sources.  I hope someone along the way will find it helpful.