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MY ACCOUNT
photo: Indulgy
This large bloom print creates visual interest and keeps the dining room calm with a neutral unifying palette.
"Focal Point" If you want the selected print to act as an accent, use it to draw attention to an interesting architectural detail. For example, apply it above wainscoting, on the fireplace wall, or on bump out walls.
photo: House to Home
Bold avocado wainscoting is balanced beautifully with the vivid toile print in this bathroom. Perfectly suited crisp white fixtures complete the look.
"Top to Bottom" This application is suggested with highly textured wallpapers in more of a neutral color. You want the wallpaper selection to enhance, not overtake, your space.
photo: House Beautiful
The large floral wallpaper in rosy hues is a darling choice for this tucked away bedroom. Using a soft color palette and applying the wallpaper on both the walls and eaves creates a unified space.
photo: Southern Living
This is a perfect example of going bold in color and giving the walls texture with a grass cloth weave.
photo: Apartment Therapy
Framing the cheery yellow wallpaper produces a vibrant accent, as well as making a great backdrop for the white tight back sofa.
photo: HGTV
This sprawling map wallpaper wraps around the room and works beautifully with the sunny windows and simple decor.
Looking back on the year 2012, a few key cottage decorating trends come to mind. Let's take a trip down memory lane of all the exciting products and color schemes that made a memorable year in cottage decor.
An adorable coastal Christmas tree adorned with starfish, sailboats, and colored balls.
photo: Scrapbook Melissah
Farmhouse and Country style stockings hang from decorative hooks.
photo: Cowparsley
Just a hint of holiday cheer brightens up this coastal cottage bedroom.
photo: Coastal Living
Hydrengeas, starfish and seashells are a fresh approach to holiday decor.
photo: Beachcomber
Coral branches add a touch of the sea to this blue and silver holiday scheme.
photo: Coastal Living
Rustic accents add character and charm to this modern tiled fireplace.
photo: Eclectically Vintage
Simplicity with a little glamour for an intimate holiday meal.
photo: Hooked on Houses
Less is more in this simple approach to a white Christmas.
photo: Dreamy Whites
Even though Thanksgiving is behind us, the holiday season of warm foods and gathering with family and friends for long meals continues throughout the winter. You want to ensure your guests are comfortable and feel invited to stay awhile for a cozy evening in. These five seasonal dining tips will not only help to make your dining room look good, but feel good too!
photo: The Kitchn
» Address Seating: Comfortable seating is one of the most important elements in achieving a successful dining experience. Upholstered chairs are the most inviting, but they do take up a lot of space and are not always practical for a messy bunch! If you have wood chairs, try bringing in a seat cushion or small lumbar pillows to add comfort, as well as some color.
photo: Cottage Home
» Linens: Dress up your table with linens to add a personal touch for your guests. Remember to layer for a visually interesting display by alternating between patterns and solids. For example, a patterned runner that runs the length of the table, topped with complimenting solid placements and accenting patterned napkins, is a practical and pretty equation. The patterns of the runner and napkins will hide the inevitable dinner mess, while the solid placements carve out individual dining spaces. This is where you can have fun with color, pattern, and texture to make it your own!
photo: HGTV
» Decorative Focal Points: Creating a successful table-scape is a mix of function and flair. The accent pieces you choose for your table should either be tall and slender, or wide and low, to ensure you are not interrupting the primary reason for gathering: conversation. This time of year is perfect for accenting your table with natural items like pinecones, tree branches, or greenery. When using hurricanes, make sure the vessel is appropriate for the items' natural size and scale.
photo: Inspirational Letters by Millie
» Lighting: The level of lighting directly affects the ambiance of your dining experience. You want to ensure your guests can see who is sitting across from them at the table without causing a fluorescent lighting effect. Having a low slung chandelier is the perfect solution for an aesthetically pleasing and efficient lighting source. The bulbs are usually 35-60 watts, creating a warm glowing environment. Candles are also a nice touch to set the tone for a cozy night around the dinner table.
photo: Sophisticated Edge
» Dining Room Rugs: An essential design element in any dining room is the rug, which anchors the table and chairs, while adding color and comfort. Choosing the right type of rug is not always easy, but low-pile, tight weave rugs are best. This allows for easy maintenance, like spot cleaning and vacuuming, while also making it easy for chairs to move. The size of the rug is also important. You want to allow enough space for the chairs to stay on the rug, even when pulled away from the table. Choose a rug that will be cozy on the feet, and sized correctly for your guests’ ease of use.
photo: Houzz
Brought to you by Cottage Home– specializing in cottage furniture & farmhouse tables
[post_title] => 5 Tips For Successful Seasonal Dining [post_excerpt] => Even though Thanksgiving is behind us, the holiday season of warm foods and gathering with family and friends for long meals continues throughout the winter. You want to ensure your guests are comfortable and feel invited to stay awhile for a cozy evening in. These five seasonal dining tips will not only help to make your dining room look good, but feel good too! [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => 5-tips-for-successful-seasonal-dining [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2019-08-22 14:57:54 [post_modified_gmt] => 2019-08-22 18:57:54 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://distinctblog.wpengine.com/?p=1483 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw [post_icon] => ) [7] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 1359 [post_author] => 3304 [post_date] => 2012-11-28 10:37:07 [post_date_gmt] => 2012-11-28 15:37:07 [post_content] => Today’s front and back entryways seem to be a source of clutter, extra "stuff", and disorganization for most homes! It is a natural drop off station, a place for reminders as you are coming and going, and where hats/mittens/coats/shoes stack up all year round. It is no wonder clutter and chaos can quickly occur in a busy household. Here are a few helpful hints to create a practical, organized, and aesthetically pleasing mudroom:
photo: Mochatini Blog
photo: House Plans & More
photo: Lavender & Ash, Better Homes & Gardens
In everything from fashion to home decorating, the emphasis today is on reflecting your own personality and lifestyle. Throw out the old rules! Experiment! Play around! Find a style that is uniquely you.
In July, we talked about farmhouse tables—the ‘must have’ for cottage-style country furnishings. Now, it’s time to talk about chairs. Of course, the first consideration is the size of your dining area and how many people you want to seat. Do you choose a table with extensions to expand seating capacity for special occasions? And what about extra chairs or seating for all those guests?
The first thing to remember is that not all chairs need to look alike. You can combine styles and colors in a harmonious blend. Painted chairs can brighten a room with easy-to-care-for finishes. If you are using painted wood chairs as your primary seating or as an accent – don’t overdo. Select one or two colors that blend and work well with your overall décor.
You can also mix and match seating styles. How about upholstered chairs for the head and foot of the table, matched with wood chairs along the sides? There are countless chair styles available that can harmonize to create a distinctive decor. One of the most popular is the country-style Windsor chair, which originated in Britain and quickly became a staple of American dining room furnishings. Some with arms and some without—some simple and others more ornate—there are numerous variations on the Windsor theme with a Colonial motif.
Another popular choice is the ladderback chair, a simple and more compact style, often with rush or cane seating. There are also fanbacks, ryebacks, wheatbacks and open backs. For a more rustic décor, there are twig chairs or wicker chairs. The list goes on. There are authentic antiques and affordable reproductions made to look like antiques. When not in use around the dining room table, these chairs can also serve as accent pieces throughout the home.
Mix-and-match also applies to today’s most creative table-top settings where not everything needs to look alike. Use old family china, napkins, serving pieces and silverware to make each place setting a unique collage of family memories.
Brought to you by Cottage Home - specializing in cottage furniture & farmhouse tables
[post_title] => Dining Chairs: Think Outside The Set [post_excerpt] => Your dining room is probably the most popular room in the house during the holidays when families and friends gather around the table for festive feasts. And, if you are planning on doing some dining room redecorating, now is the time to think out of the set. The traditional dining room table and chairs ‘matched set’ is giving way to a more creative ‘mix-and-match’ approach. [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => dining-chairs-think-outside-the-set [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2019-08-22 14:57:54 [post_modified_gmt] => 2019-08-22 18:57:54 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://distinctblog.wpengine.com/?p=1316 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw [post_icon] => ) [9] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 1281 [post_author] => 3304 [post_date] => 2012-11-02 15:38:03 [post_date_gmt] => 2012-11-02 19:38:03 [post_content] =>
photo: House Beautiful
Brought to you by Cottage Home - specializing in cottage furniture & farmhouse tables
[post_title] => Design Tip: Foyer Space
[post_excerpt] =>
Color is one of the most important elements in designing a room or space. It sets the tone for a room and provides a background for the rest of the design. Generally, stronger and brighter colors should be used in the smallest amounts as a tool to accent a space. Use a bright color in a foyer to invite guests into the home and play up a smaller space. A bright blue is clean and crisp, giving the space a bright, airy feel. Balance the brightness by bringing in accents, such as an array of pictures, a rich runner, or a unique chair.
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A staple of the country or cottage home, today’s braided rug is reminiscent of earlier days evoking memories of hearth and home. With sophisticated colors and patterns, braided rugs are now ‘at home’ in any setting from county cabin to urban contemporary. These are not your Grandma’s braided rugs!
The braided rug carries memories of a simpler time when families gathered around the hearth at the end of a busy day. This traditional American craft actually originated in England and traveled to North America with the Pilgrims. Simple and sturdy, these rugs were used to warm the cold wooden floorboards in Colonial New England. The braided rug soon made its way West with the pioneers, and quickly spread throughout the country.
Women gathered in the evenings, braiding rugs from old scraps of fabric, worn coats, and discarded pieces of clothing – the ultimate in recycling. They passed the skill along to their daughters, working together while the men repaired harnesses and tools. In its earliest form, there was little attention paid to design or color. Most braided rugs had a strand of black fabric running through the entire rug, since black was the most readily available fabric culled from old black coats, pants and jackets. The black strand was braided with whatever other colors were on hand at the time. This was commonly referred to as the ‘hit-or-miss’ pattern.
A typical braided rug is made from three strands of fiber. Just like braiding hair, the right strand is wrapped over the center strand and then the left strand is wrapped over the center strand, in a continuous cycle of repetition. When it reaches the desired length, the braid is then sewn together into various shapes and sizes – round or oval being the simplest and originially most popular. Eventually, square and rectangular rugs were made, some even reversible.
When New England emerged as a center for wool-making in the 1800’s, braided rugs became more sophisticated and complex. Skeins of wool became available, replacing the old discarded fabrics and remnants. As designs became more intricate, some women even developed their own recognizable style, much like a signature. There were borders and variations of patterns using color and shading. The humble braided rug came into its own as a treasure of American Folk Art.
Like its cousin – the antique hand-sewn quilt – heirloom braided rugs are difficult to find today and usually fetch high prices. Their age and fragility often makes them better suited for wall art than for a floor covering.
Hand-braided rugs are still made today by crafters and artisans following the time-honored tradition of the early colonial settlers. As cottage or country style furnishings have come into vogue, the braided rug is fast becoming a focal point of the new ‘old’ décor. Few are still hand-crafted, while most are machine made, making them more affordable. Today’s rugs come in a variety of materials, including wool, cotton, nylon, chenille cotton and even polypropylene for outdoor use.
Unlike their humble ancestors, contemporary braided rugs offer endless choices – round, square, oval, rectangular in standard or custom dimensions to fit any setting. Patterns and colors range from bold stripes to subtle hues. Some braided rugs replicate the traditional patterns that date back to the 1800’s when braiding was in its heyday. Others set out in a striking, creative new direction to impart a contemporary interpretation to the traditional braided rug with vertical, concentric and cross-sewn braids. Some rugs are even made using ‘micro-braids’ for enhanced color variation. Reversible rugs enable the homeowner to change the décor with the changing seasons. No wonder the simple braided rug is experiencing a renaissance – finding its place in homes from the seashore to the mountains, lakes, and prairies. Quite simply – the braided rug is as American as apple pie!
Brought to you by Cottage Home - specializing in cottage furniture & farmhouse tables
[post_title] => The Braided Rug: A Tradition Old & New
[post_excerpt] =>
A staple of the country or cottage home, today’s braided rug is reminiscent of earlier days evoking memories of hearth and home. With sophisticated colors and patterns, braided rugs are now ‘at home’ in any setting from county cabin to urban contemporary. These are not your Grandma’s braided rugs!
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Mother Nature can often be an inspiration for interior designing. Bring natural elements into a space for instant depth and beauty in a room. As shown in this room, simple colors and outdoor elements lend themselves to a care-free sophistication.
Natural elements, like flowers and greenery, are easy to change in and out with the seasons – always keeping a room fresh and updated. Floral fabrics and natural wood furniture also lend themselves to an “earthy” air in a room.
source: Home Rules
photo: goodhousekeeping
Brought to you by Cottage Home - specializing in cottage furniture & farmhouse tables
[post_title] => Design Tip: Bring The Outdoors In
[post_excerpt] =>
Mother Nature can often be an inspiration for interior designing. Bring natural elements into a space for instant depth and beauty in a room. As shown in this room, simple colors and outdoor elements lend themselves to a care-free sophistication.
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As we hunker down for a long winter here in New England, we are reminded to prepare our beds for cozy sleeping. Here are a few cottage bedroom decorating ideas and inspiration photos for an inviting, warm, and easy to care for seasonal bed!
1) Choose a comfortable type of sheet set, because that is what your body will be predominately exposed to. There are several kinds to choose from, but we prefer 100% cotton because there are no harsh chemicals found in cotton. It is a hypoallergenic material, soft to the touch, and an environmentally friendly natural fiber. It is also an easy to care for material, durable, and not prone to pesky static!
photo: Pine Cone Hill
photo: Sarah Klassen
photo: Heirloom General photo: Pinterest
4) Building off of your top blanket layer, you want to choose shams and decorative pillows that will play off of your color scheme. There is no need to overdo the decorative pillows, and there is a reason they are called throw pillows! Choose a practical number of extra pillows that you don't mind tossing on and off the bed daily.
photo: Tchochokes
Brought to you by Cottage Home – specializing in cottage furniture & farmhouse tables
[post_title] => Design Tip: Layering Your Linens [post_excerpt] => A few layering bed linen ideas and inspiration photos are featured in this design tip for an inviting, warm, and easy to care for seasonal bed! [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => design-tip-layering-your-linens [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2019-08-22 14:53:22 [post_modified_gmt] => 2019-08-22 18:53:22 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://distinctblog.wpengine.com/?p=1815 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw [post_icon] => ) [comment_count] => 0 [current_comment] => -1 [found_posts] => 149 [max_num_pages] => 12 [max_num_comment_pages] => 0 [is_single] => [is_preview] => [is_page] => [is_archive] => 1 [is_date] => [is_year] => [is_month] => [is_day] => [is_time] => [is_author] => [is_category] => 1 [is_tag] => [is_tax] => [is_search] => [is_feed] => [is_comment_feed] => [is_trackback] => [is_home] => [is_privacy_policy] => [is_404] => [is_embed] => [is_paged] => 1 [is_admin] => [is_attachment] => [is_singular] => [is_robots] => [is_favicon] => [is_posts_page] => [is_post_type_archive] => [query_vars_hash:WP_Query:private] => 0dbe9e196ba98950e8a177c9a8d45bb9 [query_vars_changed:WP_Query:private] => [thumbnails_cached] => [allow_query_attachment_by_filename:protected] => [stopwords:WP_Query:private] => [compat_fields:WP_Query:private] => Array ( [0] => query_vars_hash [1] => query_vars_changed ) [compat_methods:WP_Query:private] => Array ( [0] => init_query_flags [1] => parse_tax_query ) )
Use our country decorating ideas to generate the warm and cozy feeling of a beautiful country farm. All of our country style decorating posts are sorted by Color Boards, Rooms to Love, Inspiration Boards, Get the Look and Design Tips to help you with ideas for your specific design project. If you have a target color in mind or are decorating a specific country room all of these country decorating articles can be sorted by the tags listed below each article. We are interested in your feedback. Please let us know which posts you like the most and subjects you would like us to cover in the future.
A few layering bed linen ideas and inspiration photos are featured in this design tip for an inviting, warm, and easy to care for seasonal bed!
Read more
This darling cottage kitchen is the perfect size for a weekend getaway. It offers the essentials without any unneeded extras cluttering the small space. The backdrop of all white allows the pastel color palette to pop and draws your eye immediately to the arrangement of polka dots, florals, fabric collages, and painted furniture. The use […]
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This cozy cottage bedroom design is instantly inviting with its soothing color palette and quaint cottage charm. Muted sea foam adorns the paneled walls and a second shade of sea foam layers the bed. The beautiful chestnut stained English Country bed is a striking focal point against the misty tones. Flanking the bed stands two […]
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Sometimes a room is in need of more than just a coat of paint to bring it’s personality to life. Wallpaper provides a decorative back splash that sets the tone for a space using color, design, and texture. Introducing the right wallpaper to your room isn’t always an easy feat, so here are a few […]
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Looking back on the year 2012, a few key Cottage decorating trends come to mind. Let’s take a trip down memory lane of all the exciting products and color schemes that made a memorable year in Cottage decor.
Read more
Take a look at these beautiful holiday décor ideas for every kind of cottage style! From a farmhouse in the country to a cottage by the sea, everyone can enjoy a colorful holiday season!
Read more
Even though Thanksgiving is behind us, the holiday season of warm foods and gathering with family and friends for long meals continues throughout the winter. You want to ensure your guests are comfortable and feel invited to stay awhile for a cozy evening in. These five seasonal dining tips will not only help to make […]
Read more
Today’s front and back entryways seem to be a source of clutter, extra “stuff”, and disorganization for most homes! It is a natural drop off station, a place for reminders as you are coming and going, and where hats/mittens/coats/shoes stack up all year round. It is no wonder clutter and chaos can quickly occur in […]
Read more
Your dining room is probably the most popular room in the house during the holidays when families and friends gather around the table for festive feasts. And, if you are planning on doing some dining room redecorating, now is the time to think out of the set. The traditional dining room table and chairs ‘matched […]
Read more
Area rugs usually come in a range of standard sizes. The ratio of the length to the width for standard sizes is similar to the “Golden Ratio” of 1.6, which is a popular, visually-pleasing design parameter. Size availability will vary by manufacturer and specific rug design. Custom area rugs tend to cost twice as much […]
Read more
Color is one of the most important elements in designing a room or space. It sets the tone for a room and provides a background for the rest of the design. Generally, stronger and brighter colors should be used in the smallest amounts as a tool to accent a space. Use a bright color in […]
Read more
A staple of the country or cottage home, today’s braided rug is reminiscent of earlier days evoking memories of hearth and home. With sophisticated colors and patterns, braided rugs are now ‘at home’ in any setting from county cabin to urban contemporary. These are not your Grandma’s braided rugs!
Read more
Mother Nature can often be an inspiration for interior designing. Bring natural elements into a space for instant depth and beauty in a room. As shown in this room, simple colors and outdoor elements lend themselves to a care-free sophistication.
Read moreAt Cottage Home, we know purchasing custom furniture and décor on the Internet can raise some concerns and questions. Our business is dedicated to pioneering a new process for providing high-quality made-to-order furniture on the Internet. We strive to make it as easy as possible for our customers to have access to custom bench-built products for their homes.
Our focus is on providing an unparalleled furniture buying experience through our careful selection of high-quality products, the in-depth product details provided on our website, our knowledgeable design & selection assistance, a full range of samples services, and a specialized delivery process.
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