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"My philosophy of decor is that nothing should be too precious.

A child should feel free to put her feet on the sofa, a guest,

his cup on the coffee table. I believe in cozy, not fussy;

relaxed, not stiff. I believe in living in, on, and

around one's things, not merely with them."

- Rachel Ashwell, Shabby Chic

Some Elements of Cottage Style

Vintage floral fabrics - bark cloth, cotton, linen, poplin

Weathered wood furniture - armoires, tables, chairs, benches, cabinets, dressers, stools, ladders, etc.

Garden items brought indoors - chairs, tables, benches, rolling carts, etc.

Potted plants and flowers in colorful vases of different materials

Mixing florals and stripes, patterns and solids

Relaxed, casual atmosphere - a comfy, cozy, curl-up-with-a-book feel

Some cottagey materials: wicker, iron, stone, terra cotta, milk glass, pottery

Soft lighting through lamps

Candles, blankets, lots of throw pillows, down comforters, quilts, and other cozy things

Some Thoughts on Cottage Style

Remember that cottage style can mean different things, but it is always about being surrounded by things you love where you can put your feet up and let go of the notion that your home has to be perfect. Spills are okay because of slipcovers; rust is perfectly acceptable on old iron pieces. You can show off collections of silverplate, milk glass, sap buckets, colorful glass bottles, shells, tins, vintage signs, and on and on. As long as it's done tastefully, you can mix and match all kinds of things; sets of matching furniture aren't required, and as long as things are coordinated and work together, not against each other, you don't have to stick to a strict pattern scheme. Part of the fun of cottage style for me is going on treasure hunts for pieces often overlooked by others and finding new uses for them, piecing together a houseful of odds and ends that weren't made to come together but end up doing so quite beautifully.

Examples of Cottage Color Schemes

Monochromatic whites

Pastels for a relaxed or romantic feel - light blues, greens, pinks, lavenders, pale yellows

Bolder colors for a cheerful feel - turquoise, sea green, red, darker pink, yellow, orange

Red, white, blue, green, and yellow for a nautical/beach cottage feel

Deep reds, browns, rust, etc. for a rustic or mountain cabin feel