A cottage tour

I will be away from my computer for a few days, but have some fresh posts scheduled for while I am away. I won't be able to answer comments, and all packages will be mailed on Monday the 14th.

But please do leave a comment if you'd like to be entered in the JUNE GIVEAWAY.

Before I had everyone come to visit for my Creative Cottage Girls Weekend, I actually cleaned my whole house.  All of it! at once!

While it was spiffed up, I took advantage of the tidiness and snapped some photos.  I thought that I'd post them while I was out of town.  This is the back door of my studio.  I  found this table (at a garage sale) made from an old grate that matches the round grate that I use as a welcome mat. 

The shutter is an old one that I painted for a design show house that I was part of a few years back. Its been out in the shed, because I don't have a lot of red and black around here. But I kind of like it in this outdoor spot.

A month or so ago, I did a major over haul on the bathroom and posted about it then. But it got a few more switcheroos recently.  Some of the mirrors that were in the dining room got moved into the bathroom. Not a big change, just some bigger mirrors.

Its a small room with no windows, so an assortment of mirrors is good for making it feel bigger and lighter.

On the side of the built in cabinet, I hung 2  old bird pictures from a flea market, that were under $1 each and a $2 framed picture that I got at Bottoms Up market.

The redecorating that I started after Christmas was mostly a lot of editing and lightening up.  I've removed most of the colorful things from the downstairs of the main part of the cottage and gone all neutral. 

I'm finding it very calming. And with a houseful of puppies, a couple of elderly dogs, and a 3 year old, calming is not bad.

When I repainted my dining room furniture and redid a buffet that had been in my son's room  as a dresser, I showed you some photos of what I'd done.  But here is a final look, with it all pulled together and cleaned up. You won't see that often around here.

Well, mostly cleaned up, kind of looks like I was in the process of cleaning, see the mop?  Which reminds me, have you tried the Mr Clean Magic Eraser mop??????  It is beyond wonderful.  I have light floors that are always all dog tracked and dirty. This mop cleans the tile with one light sweep across the floor better than all the scrubbing and scouring with my old mop ever did.

This is the last of our peonies for the year, I already miss them!

Most of the peony bushes that I have are white with a blush of pink.  They were planted years ago by the farm wife who lived in this home way before we did.  I owe her a thank you!

 

Finally, I have found the right chairs for Sugarwings' table!!  These are pastel, old, and just the right amount of chippy.  I sanded them up so more paint wouldn't chip off, then sprayed them heavily with poly to baby proof them, and painted her table white to coordinate.  (lots of poly on it too) I'm thrilled to have her plastic and vinyl Disney Princess table and chairs gone now. There was always something disturbing about dining off of Cinderella's breasts.

Notice the rug? Its bamboo and can be mopped. Which is good because I have a dog about to turn 17, is senile, and he can't be trusted to know where he is peeing. No other rugs are allowed in the house because of him.  Probably more than you wanted to know about my house... But I am diligent about keeping the dog pee cleaned up and gone. I clean the floor with vinegar and orange peel, so unless I am just fooling myself, the house doesn't stink.

I'm pretty paranoid about that, but besides keeping that old guy corralled most of the time, there isn't much I can do about it.

Next post while I am with my sisses and away from the computer will be Sugarwing's room.

Comments

[sadie]

I think my favourite posts of yours, are when you show your home (clean and tidy or not!). It's so beautiful and totally inspirational. I love your sofa, with all the cushions on top. I am in a quandry right now with our sofa. We bought a new one a few weeks ago, it's French style, and has a couple of bolster cushions on top of the seat pads. I can't make up my mind if I want to add a load of squishy cushions or not. Seeing all of yours makes me think 'well, maybe..'

Gosh, another person with an end to their peonies. I recently mentioned to Heather at Pretty Petals that hers had all gone, and yet mine have yet to flower! They are still in bud. Which is great, means I still have the treat to come,but normally they are out when it's Humbugs birthday. They are late this year. I'm pacing up and down like an expectant father!

Thanks for the post. A dose of yummy gorgeousness was just what I needed on this grey and gloomy, drizzly afternoon (just your typical British summer!!! )
xx

[lululiz]

You have a very beautiful home.

[charmaine deadman]

Karla!!! I love, love, love, your grate welcome mat at your studio door! I also love you house, so pretty!
Thanks for posting! Lot's of inspiration!

[LuLu Kellogg]

Karla, your home is SO lovely....thank you for the tour. How beautiful!

LuLu♥

[Bobbi]

As always, you inspire me. I love the peace of your rooms. We, too, are rugless, not so much because they pee, although heaven knows Joey would love to have a rug to "go" on, but because my housekeeping is just not up to rugs and four dogs, 2 of them larger than me. It is a shame, because when I bought the house, I bought some beautiful large rugs which are still rolled up and wrapped in the garage. Anyway, as always, thaks for sharing! Loved the earlier pic of SugarWings and her Momma. That was a keeper! Bobbi

[Lorrie]

Beautiful pics, Karla. Your home is very much "YOU", and that's such a good thing.

Lorrie

[LORRAINE BELL]

Morning Karla...as usual the pix of your lovely home are inspireing...I love how you share your life with us...I love how the pix are your own home ,not from one of the mags...have a great time out...Lorraine

[Danielle]

Oh Karla, Such a cozy and beautiful home!

[Stephanie]

Karla, I just love seeing your pretty home pics! I just thought the dining room was my fav ~ now I don't know ~ it is all just too beautiful for me to choose one area. I really love the bathroom re-foofing with all the mirrors ~ I'm a mirror fanatic, you know.

Have a fun and safe trip!

Big TX Hugs,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents

[Dorthe]

KARLA,
such a beautifull home, I love your rooms in white, with a little tone of pink here and there. just wonderfull.
Dorthe

[Melony at Whimsy Daisy!]

Removing and editing. I loved reading about this. It is something I apparently cannot grasp at this point. Your home is cozy and beautiful...so let THAT be a lesson to me!

[Carrie]

Your home is lovely....as are you, my friend. I am having a little tour as well...if you have time please stop by!

[Debra Ganas]

AAAAhhhh soothing and restful. That is what I see when I look at your rooms. Just beautiful Karla. You just inspired me to go DO SOMETHING in my house.
Thank you. I've said it before but I will say it again. Yours was the first blog I EVER read and continues to be the first one I go to each day. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[Kristen]

I love your house. It's beautiful !

[Janis]

Hi Karla,
You have a very lovely home. I do like the neutral tones
as they are very calming. LOVE the chandeliers that you
have in your kitchen and dining room.
Sugarwings table and chairs are so sweet.
I like the idea of using vinegar and orange peel....for
the floors. Please, please......I need your recipe for it
and can it be used on hardwood too? I have some doggy
issues also.
I'm sure you are having a wonderful time with your
family. Enjoy!!
Thank you so much for doing some posts while you are
away. : )
Hugs,
Janis

[Ceekay]

I enjoyed seeing your rooms. They are wonderful. I love the new table and chairs for Sugarwing. BTW, I was wondering if they would come out with an eraser mop. I haven't seen it yet, but believe you me, that baby will be part of my cleaning family. I love those erasers. Have you tried the all surface windex? Another one of my favs!!

[Linda]

Your home is SO lovely, Karla...thanks for sharing it with us!

[Patty in Kansas]

Oh, Karla....your home is lovely, but I love that you are the same as I am with your beloved pets....even when they get a little dotty. God bless you for being patient with the seventeen year old gentleman! The pale colours of your home are dreamy. Hope to meet you this summer! Patty in Kansas

[Robin Carr]

The house is wonderful. Thank you for the tour.

[Lesley Walker]

Your house is enchanting. I wish I could say the same about mine.lol. Blessings

[Jane]

Love the house tour - so beautiful and serene!

Jane - Jacksonville

[Patty Absec]

Karla~ Thank you for blessing me with pictures of your home...what an inspiration! I imagine my home one day looking so lovely.
Blessings to you~ Patty
http://www.thismyblessedlife.blogspot.com

[andrea-faded plains]

Your home has a beautiful glow to it...just beautiful.

[Laurie]

Oh, thank you for the tour of your lovely home! I really like the neutral colors and it is, indeed, calming. I like your painted shutter outside!

(Also: I know what you mean about the doggies -- future pet accidents with my Lab are inevitable as she gets older, and I will try your vinegar and orange peel treatment!)

[Robin]

Karla I just LOVE all the neutral colors you are using downstairs now! A few years ago I painted my dining room such a cozy little cottage color...minty green...now I'm ready to change it and go all neutral! It is so calming and soothing isn't it? But with hairy dogs and messy family (including myself) it never quite gives me that "ahhhhh feeling!"

[Mitzi Curi]

I enjoy the views of your home so much. They inspire me to get redecorating plans solidified for my place, which hasn't been updated in a while. Oh, and those Mr.Clean Magic Erasers are awesome!