Any new projects?

[Lynzee]

Now that the holidays have come and gone, is anyone working on (or getting ready to start) a new cottage improvement/decorating project? Would love to hear about projects in the works and how they're progressing.

[Lisa S]

Last week I went down to the basement to do some major cleaning. My husband refers to my basement work area as the paint store. I buy paint like some women buy shoes! Anyway, I decided the best way to dispose of half empty paint cans was to actually paint with them... I painted the walls in the basement playroom with all of my leftovers. I promised the kids that they could paint pictures of whatever they liked on top of the freshly painted walls. Then I chickened out. So, I painted faux pictures frames right on to the walls and asked them to paint their pictures inside the frames. I painted faux windows and had the kids rubber stamp the curtains to make a "fabric pattern". In another corner, I painted Mt Hood and some fir trees and put the kid's tent in front of it. It turn out pretty cute! When I work on the house, I'm very careful and try to be historically accurate. In the basement I got to be sloppy and creative... Totally different, kind of silly and I got rid of loads of paint!

[Lynzee]

Wow! You accomplished all that in a week? Mt. Hood, trees, windows, picture frames... Again, wow! What a fun idea! It sounds too cute. And the kids must love it--especially knowing they helped make it happen. Thanks for sharing. Mind if I "borrow" your idea? :) I just finished converting a bedroom into a "grandkid's bedroom" (one side for older kids/other side for babies) and have a huge wall behind the crib that has nothing. I had thought about trying a mural but can't seem to draw a straight line with a ruler, so this might be the perfect solution. Maybe section off the wall and let each child do his/her own thing--a piece of their childhood they can share with their children someday. Hmmmm...I'm liking that a lot!

[Lisa S]

It was fun! The rubber stamping went a long way in compensating for mom's lack of artistic ability...

A room at grandma's house ~ you have lucky grandkids!

What's on your post holiday project list?

[Lynzee]

The grandkids' room was more a necessity than a luxury. Living/dining area is 22' by only 8', so I wanted a place for them to escape from adult conversation, get comfy, watch TV, read, play games, etc. It was a fun project--a little challenging trying to decorate for boys and girls--ages ranging from 13 to 1--but it came together.

My overall post holiday project is the same as my pre. Trying to give this place some "eye appeal". When my husband retired from the military we moved into a 1930s cottage that had never been a permanent residence--just a weekend beach getaway--and had never had the loving care a home gets. Specifically, I am working on the shower in the master bath. It has cement walls and I am "tiling" it with paint--which, BTW, is how I know I can't draw a straight line with a ruler. A rubber stamp would definitely come in handy for this project! :)

[Lisa S]

Rubber stamps, a level, painters caulk and a hammer ~ tools I want to be buried with!

My dad was in the Marine Corps while I was growing up. There is something about us military folks that needs to create a permanent nest.

Your cottage sounds intriguing! Would you mind telling me more about it?

Someday, I'd like to buy a winter cabin up at Mt. Hood. I bet there are some inherent troubles with houses that have been seasonal rentals. What have you encountered?

[Lynzee]

Father was career Army. Husband career Navy. Definitely time to put down roots.

Haven't rented this place to anyone since we've owned it. My parents owned it originally and they didn't rent it either. Was just a place for family members to use on weekends, during spring breaks, vacations, etc. Spent a lot of time collecting keys when we moved in. :)

A winter cabin at Mt. Hood sounds wonderful. I'm not familiar with that area. Does it get a lot of snow? We lived in the Adirondacks for 5 years (guess the Navy forgot we'd been sent there). It was where I discovered cottage life and fell in love with it.

How's that for a question for the board? What do you love most about cottage living?

[Lisa S]

How wonderful to have a house like yours in the family!

Mt Hood always has a little snow. It's (usually) a great place to ski. It's really very beautiful.

Good question for the board...

I’m enamored with cottage living because it suits family living. The rooms of a cottage home aren’t so big that you get lost in them. Most cottages have a little nook or cranny to nestle in to read or meditate. There is beauty in little things in a cottage home ~ like glass door knobs or old hinges. Every cottage home seems to have its own character.

[blessingshappen]

Hi Lisa S and everyone else,

I have glass doorknobs! I love them. We just got a new phone system at work today and we can conference call 32 people together along with myriad other high tech functions!! Isn't that just great?!?!? There are so many features on our phones (about 54) and the manual is so thick, it was nice to come home to my cottage home and know I could turn my glass door knob and get into my bedroom and go to sleep. Stress may be everywhere but cottage living is a state of peace and comfort.

:eek:

[Lynzee]

I so agree with both of you. There seems to be a beauty and serenity in cottage living that I hadn't experienced before. Though most of my rooms are still evolving, I love the casual, relaxed feel of each one. Most of the furniture has been in my family for years (dressers with glass knobs!) and though time worn, it is comfy, cozy and perfect for the cottage lifestyle. Friends and family members strongly disapproved of my decision to go with a white decor and, by their own admissions, were surprised to find that even with all the white, they find it warm and inviting and casual enough that no matter how hard they try, they just can't resist the desire to settle in, put their feet up and relax. That, to me, is what cottage living is all about.

Don't suppose anyone has any tips on creating that feeling in a hotel room? Leaving on a ten day business trip tomorrow and dreading the hotel part! :(

[Mari']

Lynzee,

Isn't it awful being in a stuffy hotel room.
Have fresh flowers ordered for your room or pick them up before you get there. Try taking some great smelling candles to burn in your hotel room in the evening. Take your journal if you use one, a great book and some soothing music. Order up tea service. You may not get the complete cottage effect but hopefully it will be better than the standard hotel fare.

Have a great and productive trip.

[Lisa S]

I like to take family pictures in nice picture frames.

[Lynzee]

Had to pack another suitcase after I read your suggestions! Got the portable CD player, my fav CDs, tealights, bubblebath, my own towels, my fav afghan, books and mags, and my fav pic of my hubby. Your ideas are going to make a world of difference next week! Many, many thanks!

[zuzus_garden]

Hi all,

Mind if I join in?

I'm not going anywhere, but the tea lights, fav magazines and bubble bath sound wonderful! I'll just pretend I'm going somewhere. :)

Oh, and if you decide to start a new thread with your idea, Lynzee, I'll share!
How's that for a question for the board? What do you love most about cottage living?

Take care,
Zuzu

[Lynzee]

I'm back and running around like crazy playing catch up, but had to log on and tell you how much your suggestions helped me during my trip. Those things truly made an incredible difference when I'd get back to my hotel room at the end of the day and there were days when I actually couldn't wait to get back there. Those things gave the room that "peace and comfort" blessingshappen spoke of. I can't thank you enough!

Hi zuzu! Glad you joined in! I'd gladly have let you go in my place. :) I don't know what it is but I seem to have become a real homebody lately. :confused:

Thanks again!
Lynz

[zuzus_garden]

Hi Lynz,

Glad you're back home again and catching up on posting.

My daughter and I went to London several years ago, and had an amazing time, but after 10 days we were ready to come home.

It may sound corny, but there's no place like home! :D

Take care,
Zuzu

[Lynzee]

Thanks, Zuzu. It's great to be back! I really missed checking in to see what's going on. Finally had a chance to post my question. Can't wait to hear what you love most about cottage living.

Lynz