Thursday, May 14, 2009

Yes Virginia, There REALLY is a Cottage

Let's take a look as you enter the showroom.... (click to enlarge any photo)

To the left.........


And to the right....(hmm.....daybed needs more pillows). That's my desk in the back corner. I do my inventory there and wrap up orders.


A peek from the other side. To the left........


And to the right....


Past the front hall that still needs lots of work.....All of the walls and the cathedral ceiling in the workroom are also this wood siding stuff. Dark, dark, dark...


Into the work room (that also needs lots of work). This is the stainless steel bench where I make floral wreaths, swags and arrangements for my home. I love this workbench because you can glue to your heart's content and just scrape it off of the bench. Overhead on the beams, I hang the dried florals and baskets. I hope to get this room painted a light color with white cabinets sometime before winter this year. It's a dark room but has lots of natural light, as you can see.


The other side of the workroom. This is the table where I paint and craft. You can see how the sun streams throught this big picture window. Back on the buffet are some arrangements I did for a wedding recently, and my funny little bear that sings, "When I'm 64", gift from a friend for my birthday. Sometimes I have a little TV on and will take a break to watch some DIY or craft shows. I know, I know, it's a little overkill with the TV, but hubby wanted a flat screen for our home viewing and this doesn't fit in the bedroom cabinet.


Still in the workroom, a place for the silks in an old cradle. In the background some lamps that need work and a few supplies. I have four of those tall dressers with supplies in them. I don't know how I could do without them!


I love this old stacked cabinet. It was in hubby's garage for years with tools in it before I met him. He wanted to throw it out and I wouldn't let him. Someday I will clean it up and paint it ivory. It has no glass or doors on the bottom, but isn't that what FABRIC is for??


More florals.....

Into the kitchen. Remember back when we re-did this? That door came from the main house and we made it into a pocket door here. It leads to the bathroom. I left the old hardware on it because I like it. Inexpensive ceramic tile on the floor and I still need to paint the cabinets white. The cabinets came from Restore for $50.00 and the dishwasher and stainless sink came from the main house, too.

Still in the kitchen looking at the rest of the counter area with the Fridge. See?, I have one cabinet partially painted. It's a different kind from the others but still looks pretty good. We bought the stove and fridge when a local appliance store went out of business (very cheap). These windows are sliders and look out over a little wooded area between the main house and the cottage. Birds abound out there and I always hang a hummingbird feeder outside the sink window so I can watch them while cleaning my brushes.


Looking from the pocket door toward the back door. It's so chippy and old that it makes me smile every time I see it. I almost hate to paint it because it's so charming (and original to the cottage). See the ceiling? Well.........we had a leak in the roof from so much snow this past winter and will need to replace that part of the ceiling when we find out if the leak is fixed. I was just sick, let me tell you. There are no built-ins on the right side of this kitchen. Instead, I chose to use a large cabinet with shelves that came from an old schoolhouse (I painted a gazebo scene on it), an old radio cabinet that the microwave sits on, a Hoosier that someone painted white (not me) and an old aqua cabinet that had scary clowns on it. It's really chippy, but I sanded the clowns off as they scared my granddaughter. I don't know why they put such pictures on children's furniture.

Walking out the back door, we can stop by the pink honeysuckle bushes that are now blooming. What a heavenly smell!!


Thanks for stopping by and please come to visit me at the cottage again.

14 comments:

Connie said...

Finallllllyyyyy!! I'm so glad you posted it, honey. It's fantastic and I could live in that with no problem.....Gorgeous!
xoxo,
Connie

Katie said...

WOW! Ok, I'm calling first dibs on becoming your live-in cottage caretaker, when I'm old and homeless! I'll vacuum and dust and clean up after you've crafted in exchange for room and some bread! Hee hee

Bertie it is just a magical place!

Anonymous said...

Wow Bertie,
Thanks for stopping by & your sweet comments on my tussies.
Now I am drooling over your cute cottage.
What a great place for working or playing.
I wouldn't want to leave at the end of the day.

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Bertie,
I love your cottage studio. It has so much charm and inspiration. I could move right in. What a wonderful place to create. I love that you can be at the sink and watch the birds. Everything is so cozy. It really needs to be shared in a magazine.

Thank you for stopping by. So great to see you and so glad you are back in the swing of blogging again.
Hugs, Celestina Marie

Unknown said...

Hi Bertie, I love your cottage, I could be very happy there! Thanks for sharing.

vickie said...

WOW Bertie, everything looks beautiful! What a wonderful workplace! (I LOVE my pillow shams)!

Shirl said...

Hello Bertie, wow this is just beautiful, I could move right in! I love your work space! You have it set up so nice. Love that cabinet from hubby's garage! Cradle for flowers is a great idea. They are so hard to keep neat!
Bless you, Shirl
Shirls Rose Cottage

Reflections from the Stone Nest said...

Hi Bertie,

What a gorgeous showroom. And the workroom, boy could I play in there! Everything looks just perfect and gorgeous! Thanks for sharing your photos. I can see lots of hardwork in those!

have a great week
Kitty

Secondhandrose said...

What a fun place, I would never want to leave!! Everything you touch is a gem!

karen

Ele at abitofpinkheaven said...

Bertie, THis is FABULOUS! Thanks for the pictures.

Stephanie ~ Angelic Accents said...

Aunt May would be so proud! I see much love & care has been given in restoring this wonderful cottage! So fun to be able to see where you craft! I can just imagine you standing in the sunlight at that stainless steel table & gluing away!! Thanks so much for sharing a glimpse into your cottage life with us!

Love,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents

The Pink Rose Cottage said...

Oh wow! Just beautiful!!!

Kathleen Grace said...

This is beautiful! Is this a shop open to the public? You have so many lovely things in the cottage!

The Barnett Family said...

I love your cottage. This is my first time to visit your blog. Is this where your live or is this like your business? Either way....it is perfect! Wish I could come and visit and of course stay awhile.