Dear Abelloseq: I so understand of what you speak! I will share this: I have 115 yr old Victorian Farmhouse. I have very carefully retored the outside, and the house needed this - I really cannot be anything else - and Yes I love it. HOWEVER, I AM NOT restoring the inside! I am taking out wall, opening up rooms. I AM keeping the original heart pine floors, the beautiful heart pine doors (restored), etc. I will use cottage windows on the back. In the kitchen I am doing a beamed ceiling to the roof-line using the repurposed 1/2 inch PETRIFIED Knotty Pine currently in the DR (office) - My point: I think embracing the structure of home can be done - without living with it inside. And while I will use reference materials in the home - I want light, open and airy! Not dark, heavy and oppressive - as much of victoriana was. YOU could change your home completely to a more cottage feel by using the first model I suggested - adding shakes over your horizational wood lathe; under all roof peakes? And simply changing HOW you apply colors? Adding non-functioning hardware to your garage door - until you can get a new one with cottage doors? Using different materials for lighting fixtures and house numbers? NOT chrome. It is a simple switcheroo! IF you like cottage - then perhaps finding a book at the Library on this period of style home would be the best concept? Simply cover ALL of the Board & Batten with shakes you can stain to match your home? You could STILL use Bermuda shutters on the front windows - for heat protection; privacy; and cooling purposes - I have seen these used all over Las Vegas - especially at restaurants. On your entrance - use a pergola, which incorporates some Arches - stain a darker color - you could still plant vines along here - use a darker flag stone to your entrace way - cool this down again with deep planted materials in a newly built stacked stone planter and CHANGE the front door to an OAK door? ALSO for that FP in the LR - you could have someone build a BOX over it for the base - and cover it with anything you like - bead-board; paneling; stacked stone; I think this would be very simple - it might be more of a modern interpretation - but with arts and crafts - cottage - it is all about the material and color. All of these designs : Arts & Crafts; cottage, Praire was the knee jerk reaction to the overwhelming heaviness of Victorian imposed styles. Let us know - we will be waiting for your fabulous re-do!

melmo78 Thanks so much the links are a big help! I like the idea of putting the manuals in a binder for future reference, I am definitely going to put that into the plan too! mpoulsom awesome lego furniture, do you remember what website that was on? do you know if they sell these in the US yet? Thanks so much everyone for all your help! It is my first time finding this blog and I am already motivated for New Years projects!! Will definitely be a regular on here!

Ok, also much prefer real, but understand about the vent. As mentioned: put whatever you have into a container that looks like it would hold up a large, real plant. Most fakes come to you in these teeny tiny containers! So, buy a great looking large ceramic or basket and top off with moss. You could add a real trailing ivy to the pot to increase the "realness". Cheap and easy to change out.

There are high quality artificial plants and trees available, but they are not going to be found at Target or Michaels. My company hand makes artificial trees and plants. We also have preserved NATURAL trees and boxwoods for indoors. If you go with higher end products you will have a much better look in your design. If you go with really cheap dollar store then it will look fake and like a very old grandma's house. When you go to a fancy hotel and love the decor.. a lot of it is because of the design of interior artificial plant accents. Bamboo, Reeds, Palms, Moss, Boxwoods are very popular now. I would stay away from the old Ficus you can get from any discount store.. but a cool white paper birch tree would really stand out. Just buy quality products and you will be ok with Artificial Plants.