Thinking Colors,Barstools, Fabrics and Porches…..The Next step...

It is now time to begin the fun part of my job. Give the cottage and new happy personality by selecting the colors  furnishings and fabrics.
The first thing you will see when you open the front door is the back of the barstools….a good place to begin.
Here are a few of my other projects with bar stools front and center. It isn't that I am such a hugh fan of them but in small space it makes for  a good conversation location  and additional seating.

A Richard Leo Johnson photograph

a Richard Leo Johnson photograph

I created a slipcover  for a boring brown upholstered bar stool.

a Richard Leo Johnson photo of my tiny Fish Camp Cottage..

"99 Steps to the Beach Cottage"

Fun, Happy extra seating  

Bohemian Cottage vintage bar stools

outdoor bar at Tween Waters Cottage

Palm Cottage

Doc Holiday Cottage www.tybeecottages.com

 I try never to repeat things so tomorrow the fun begins. I will share it all right here with you…"the good the bad and the ugly ". It will evolve into a Happy Cottage by the ocean. Stay tuned…..

400 square feet of Magic!!!

A Tiny simple cottage that touches your soul when you walk thru the door.

art and Tybee Turquoise..and lots of white!!!

http://janecoslick.myshopify.com/collections/janes-colors


a tiny stove....but it can cook the turkey!!!



one big room with wall dividers

and  a beautiful Bellamy oyster painting

www.Bellamyart.com


pocket windows and more great art



the bar   for "bed and breakfast"



tiny shells with Tybee Turquoise

the guest room in ticket boot



a tiny table makes for the island and extra counter space

 

A Tiny beach house helping to raise money for a spay and neuter clinicwww.tybeefun.com. Come see it in person.......
You can also sleep there if you would like to... Contact Mermaid Cottageswww.mermaidcottages.com to rent Old Love cottage.

Happy colors!!!!














 

To Create Outside The Box.......

  First ..Thank you for your positive and heart warming words for my kitties.............

This week I have some serious "BUDGET FLUFFING " to do . When the budget is tough, the creative juices really get a workout!
Over the years, when I restore a cottage most of the money is spent on the  plumbing ,AC/heat, electrical , paint , insulation and usually a roof. When it comes to the "fun part"...the money is limited so many of the cottages  are created "outside the box"......Using materials in unusual ways and buying things that are absolute bargains. Once I bought 12 twin bed skirts because the fabric was bright and they were practically giving them away.

I have some serious work ..design on 3 cents...so I looked thru my old images for some ideas.
Cottage design is more casual but most of the ideas can be expanded upon and used in many situations. Tybee is funky and fun.. No serious designs needed here.


taking a bed skirt that you bought on markdown.. cutting it into a no sew valance



using an odd shutter for a valance and taking a full sized double bead and making two by screwing the headboard and foot board to the wall



creating a sitting area from a old desk and odd stools



faking a headboard

a curtain rod from a bamboo rod and deer antlers



adding an odd light  fixture on a blank wall....just for interest



making a curtain rods out of tree branch



adding fun color..paint is cheaper than most things

                              (Richard Leo Johnson photography)





adding some ball fringe to anything 








making closet "doors" from a fun shower curtain

making a lamp from something

mixixng and not matching the lamps and shades to created something interesting

making pillow and slipcovers from seriouly discounted sets of sheets

creating a light fixture from white party light

close up

creating a kitchen cabinet from old shutters

I will be seriously digging into my bag of tricks and my storage unit.

A little fluffing is good for the soul..............

Luscious Little Cottage Pink..................

The color, the cottage, the beginning.......
I bought this cottage in the 2005. It was the smallest but the most expensive cottage.  It was next door to my 99 Steps Cottage so I wanted to preserve the little piece of the world at the dead end of the street... a small sand dune away from the ocean. I knew it would be sold and torn down and a mega mansion built in its place and I would have never forgiven myself.
I added a picket fence  and finished off the ticket booth( the back space). I painted and painted and painted ...Added the shutter over the front window, a handrail (with old antique pickets) new steps, and an antique brick patio at the base of the steps. I Added central heat and air and more paint. I replace the old shower with a nice new bath tub a new kitchen and an outdoor shower. I added one small window on the side to have a view of the ocean..
On day I was sitting on the back steps looking at the pink beack lily and ..the color of pink came to  me...I worked on different combinations of colors to come up with a match  to the lily... and I REpainted once more only this time  it was Luscious Little Cottage Pink.   http://janecoslick.myshopify.com/collections/janes-colors/products/luscious-little-cottage-swatches
I would not suggest this for an exterior  color but in this spot , I felt it added some personality to the 465 square  foot space. I used 3 colors and white to make it happy and inviting.


THE COLOR........

the pink beach lily

ths  lily bush

In the beginning....

the back view

the front view once I added the fence

then came the window box and wood awning over the pocket windows

the interior once I restored it

the view toward the front..a day bed with an ocean view. I added a window where the painting is on the left..for the ocean view

a detail shot of the ticket booth with the twin beds made from driftwood.

The cottage was featured in Coastal Living Magazine. I loved how Elizabeth Beeler styled it.....Under the slipcover on the chairs she exposed the animal print upholstery on the chairs...

Anna had just started working with me so they make her the model

  

the versatility of slipcovers

the kitchen window

The Present.................

I sold the cottage to a family who love it as much as I do. They have redone the cottage in their own style and gave it a wonderful name OLD LOVE.  ( it even has a Bellamy oyster shell painting)
When they are not enjoying the cottage, they rent it thru Mermaid Cottages.www.mermaidcottages.com
 Take a look......
http:bookings.mermaidcottages.unitmvc/detail/41344   The guest love staying there. I have met so many nice cottage renters and many come back year after year to spend time in  Old Love.