Dream Cottage

Be still my beating heart! If I woke up in this cottage I would think I had died and gone to heaven. The white, the femininity, the shabby touches...heavenly.

Credit for images: Trevor Tondro for the NY Times

I feel awful. I spent most of yesterday and today in bed. Yuck. About all I had energy to do today was look up these great rooms. There's nothing like fabulous design to lift your spirits. I mean, can you really imagine anyone actually being sick in one of these rooms? Me either. Anyhow, Enjoy.

Image credits from top to bottom: Homes and Gardens, Homes and Gardens, Elle Decor, ?, Domino, Country Home, Domino, ?

To be honest I have no idea what theme I was going for with my design post today. Feminine? Vintage? A touch of whimsy? All I know is that rooms like this make me dream of one day having a lovely renovated country house full of vintage wonderful-ness. I especially love the unique wall feature in the above picture--so unique.
As a teenager I would have died to have had this room! Though technically this is supposed to be a master bedroom it is very feminine and soft. The kelly green rug does give a nice break from the pastels.

One day I will have a refrigerator like this one. End of story. Oh, and throw in the sink too while you're at it.

I love most the candlesticks collected on the mantle, reflecting in the mirror.

Don't you adore the way the brick wall makes an impromptu bed frame? I also adore the contrast between the lacy white bedding and the coarse red brick wall.

Ok, so what if the flowers are what I like most about this picture? The sink too. However I am opposed to all tile flooring.

I love pretty much everything about this room from the gorgeous wrought iron above the bed to the chandelier to the banged up vanity. Pure loveliness.

Well that was a great mini-vacation into dreamland in the midst of finals. If I have to write one more paper I think I will scream!

(all images from Country Living magazine)

This is how you do neutral!

A neutral design pallet can either make a statement or bore you to tears. I think the key is to vary the textures used in a neutral room. Adding a 'pop' of color either in bright or pastels can really draw the eye toward a piece(s) you want to show off. Plus, neutrals make rooms look larger than what they really are by bouncing the light around.



All images from the lovely homesandgardens.com (who I think should really consider publishing an American version of their magazine!)

Lovely. Although I'm not fond of the color of the dresser in this picture, the flower arrangement is so creative. It makes me smile! :)

A lovely sunroom from the soon to be defunct dominomag.com. I can't believe I won't have that magazine to look forward to each month.

Wouldn't you just love to spend a lazy afternoon here, reading and dreaming? I know I would.