~My Interview with The Old Painted Cottage~

Each month I will be doing a Q & A interview with someone who inspires me. The interviews will be on Websites, Blogs or Boutique shops.

This months interview is with Jennifer, the owner of The Old Painted Cottage. Jennifer has an online boutique with fabulous finds to shop for and she also has a beautiful Blog full of inspiring ideas.

Recently Jennifer and her Husband, Adam completely gutted their home. All of the pictures shown in this post are of their beautiful Cottage 8!

(Jennifer’s answers are in blue)

1) Can you tell me when you started your website and a little bit about the products that you carry?

I started my website 4 years ago. After selling on eBay for over 8 years, I decided to branch out on my own and set up shop online. The products I carry always vary, as I like to focus mainly on old things, one of a kind objects, and things you just can't turn away from.

2) Do you remember when you first started collecting antiques? And the first piece you bought?

Absolutely. I was about 11 years old, and the first antique I bought was an old wind up clock at a thrift store. The clock didn't work, but I was intrigued with its shape and style, and paid five dollars for it.

3) Did anyone specific influence you?

I tend to think of myself as a bit of a sponge, soaking up everything around me. While I can't note a specific source of influence, I can be seduced by beautiful things, and things that intrigue me and push me to look outside of myself.

4) Your Cottage8 home has had a lot of publicity, where are some of the places your home has been featured?

When I first featured my home {our little Cottage8} on our blog, there were so many bloggers that reached out to me and shared photos of our home and our story on their blogs. It was incredibly endearing to say the least. Since then, our home has been featured on Design Sponge, Houzz, and Sheffield's School of Interior Design. There is a future project in the works right now, but I have to keep that one under wraps for the time being.

5) What items are currently inspiring you?

Industrial pieces, dark woods against contrasting whites, unconventional lighting, rustic objects and natural elements.

6) Can you tell me what future projects you are working on and any new things that we can look forward to with your home, website and Blog?

Right now, my living room is getting all my attention. It's the one room that never felt fully pulled together for me, until just recently. Getting all the right pieces on a budget has been the biggest challenge with this project, so it has been a slow pull. But I am incredibly pleased with the outcome so far, and will be posting photos on my blog about our progress with this room.

Thank you Jennifer, not only for being a good friend, but for sharing all of your amazing talents and continually inspiring me!

To shop for some of the gorgeous finds that Jennifer has available, visit her website: www.TheOldPaintedCottage.com

To read about all of the places that Jennifer has
been featured and to see all of her “before” and “after” Cottage 8 pictures as well as inspiring ideas,
visit her Blog:
www.TheOldPaintedCottage.blogspot.com

~French Flair~

There is something so romantic about this picture. I love all of the elements. It has the perfect blend of an upscale room, while still adding touches of whimsy. The antique armoire and Louis chair add formality to the space, while the iron coffee table and architectural pillar bring in a whimsical garden touch and balance out the heaviness of the other pieces. I also love the natural light that floods this space. This room is pure perfection…

(left) What a gorgeous antique French mirror! The architectural details and scrolled elements are just beautiful and the color fits the space perfectly. It is a little creamier than the white walls, adding a slight contrast and making it really stand out. (right) This picture reminds me of a sidewalk cafe in France. The wood and iron folding table and chairs are so charming and the built-in is so beautiful. If you look at the top you can see a leaded glass detail which is just stunning. Built-ins are one of my favorite details to find in a home. They add instant character.

This is a bedroom that I could stay in all day! The wall color is a soothing gray which is just slightly richer than the bedding. It also ties in with the headboard, drapery and the cushion on the built-in window seat. I like how they added some contrast by choosing the damask pattern which has the gray, but also has the cream color which is also seen in the mirror, chandelier, pillows, sheets and other small accents in the room.

(left) This bathroom is pure luxury! Although it’s overall color is white, there are details that still make it an inviting retreat. The architectural panels on either side of the windows and the richness of the chandelier give this space an elegant, worldly feel. And the tub itself is a piece of art. (right) This is a great idea of dividing a space while still maintaining an overall open feel. It really looks like a piece of furniture instead of a room divider. It is functional, as well as beautiful and those, to me are the two most important things to accomplish in creating great design!

The slightly creamy/yellow tone of the fireplace makes it an instant focal point to this Living Room, not only because it is centered in the space, but because the wall color is muted and therefore makes the fireplace “pop”. The room is also very well balanced. The fabric on the couch and the chairs are light, while there are touches of dark, rich colors found on the stool, table, chandelier, curtain rods and beams. It’s overall feel is very formal and elegant.

I feel that there are so many different ways to design a French inspired room and I have pictured quite a few different spaces, all that I feel have French flair!

~A Moment in Time… My Etsy Pics of the week~

(click on the pictures above to be directed to these Etsy shops)

Every week I will be choosing a theme and sharing my favorite items that I come across on Etsy. For those of you who are not familiar with Etsy, it is an online marketplace where there concept is, to Buy, Sell, and Live Handmade.

www.Etsy.com

~Beautiful Inspiration~

I love the warmth that the blue tones add to the creamy whites, while the touch of greenery brings in an outdoor feel and the beautiful chandelier adds some elegance to this sophisticated, yet comfortable space.



(left) A pretty vanity vignette with soothing color tones can turn ordinary accessories into a focal point. (right) This is simply gorgeous! The chippy paint and cream color of the mantel and architectural header are enhanced by the antique white mirrors and the pretty flowers. I love this space...



This bedroom has such a upscale French feel. The antique armoire, oversized mirror with architectural accents and ornate chandelier add an elegance to this room, while the tufted stool, dress form, drapery and small decorative accessories add a slight whimsical touch, giving this bedroom a very high-end look while still feeling cozy.


This living room with it’s fluffy couch makes me want to just snuggle up with a good book and pour a cup of hot chocolate (from the antique tea set pictured). The color palette is so warm and so inviting. I also love the charm that the three rows of vintage shutters adds. This is the perfect room… It has vintage charm, cottage style and sophistication.

~A New Look for a New Year~

(click on the pictures above to be directed to their websites)

I wanted to start off the New Year by updating my Blog and giving it a completely new look. The pictures above are just a sample of some of the beautiful inspiration to come. My decorating style is elegant, French cottage with a whimsical, cozy twist. It is blending these together which creates a pretty and comfortable space to live in. This is the style that you will find on my Blog through photographs, interviews and products that I will feature.

I will be sharing gorgeous ideas for decorating your rooms, including color schemes, textiles, furniture and decorative accessories. I will also be featuring boutiques, websites and blogs as well as doing monthly interviews. You will find ideas for romantic outdoor spaces including structures, flowers and greenery, whimsical pathways and more. Another feature that I am looking forward to, is sharing some of the amazing DIY projects that I come across as well as great holiday ideas and so much more...