Interesting use of color - LOTS of ideas
Really good ideas regarding lighting for the kitchen and darker areas of the house - paint pallette
Darker paint colors always pop when paired with white wainscoting.
I paint my cabinets and trims (beadboard, baseboard, crown molding, doors, windows, etc.) the same color.
Beadboard works wonders on the ceiling, especially between joists that may otherwise sport unsightly stippled or popcorn ceiling treatments. Go directly over the existing ceiling with furring strips and screws (see the lower half of this post for what I mean).
While beadboard walls ain't exactly new and groundbreaking, but installing 4x8 sheets horizontally is a bit more unexpected. To do this in your own home, keep in mind you'll need a strip of vertical trim between each 4x8 sheet for it to look right.
Maybe paint the hallway floors? 13. Painted checkerboard floors in a 1903 Washington Victorian. This kitchen, like many design projects for interior designer Jennifer Ryan and Scott Hendrickson, started small and became bigger. Originally a wall divided the room in half, creating small, awkwardly shaped spaces. The couple removed the wall and began the careful process of blending old and new. They retained the original base cabinets and trim, added new upper cabinets and hardware, and painted the original wood floors in a minty green and cream checkerboard motif that’s repeated on the porch and the living room walls.
Pantry idea Back door idea
A comfortable bench in a window nook is the perfect spot for kicking off one's shoes and curling up with a good book.
Kitchen? Bath? Dining? Barn Light USA Ivanhoe® Sinclair Porcelain Pendant - $175 Two of these porcelain pendant lamps situated over a large rustic dining table would surely add a classic farmhouse feel. Conversely, you could put them in a more modern, sleek kitchen to add a little "country warmth."
COTTAGE STYLE TIPS: Creamware, Ironstone?, basic white porcelain Style Secret: Open Shelving Not so long ago, kitchens didn't have the banks of upper cabinetry that are standard now. What they had instead was shelving, home to stacks of plates and bowls, canisters of dry goods and baskets of edibles. And in cottage interiors, not much changes in the translation, although nowadays the look is as much decorative as it is utilitarian. Hot tip: Open shelves are not for the chronically disorganized, so you'll have to keep clutter in check (and commit to a little extra dusting). Dishware that hews to a similar look and palette, such as ironstone, creamware or basic white porcelain, is ideal for cohesiveness.
COTTAGE STYLE TIPS: vintage tile and hardwoods! Style Secret: Old-Fashioned Flooring Ever seen a classic cottage with wall-to-wall carpeting or slick vinyl? We haven't. You want more rustic materials that can take a few hard knocks. Wood (stained, painted, pickled, stenciled or simply left natural) is queen, but you can bring in brick or stone as well. Keep rug materials simple, such as sisal or braided cotton. Hot tip: Although tile isn't the first material that comes to mind when you think about cottages, it can work as long as you choose a style that reads as vintage (for example, the small hexagonal tiles that often turn up in bathrooms).
COTTAGE STYLE TIPS: SLIPCOVERED FURNITURE! Style Secret: Slipcovers Slipcovers and cottage style were made for each other. What’s more laid back than tossing a sheet over an old sofa and calling it a day? OK, so it’s not quite that simple, but the right slipcover does lend a low-maintenance charm — and hides a multitude of upholstery sins. Hot tip: The sheet thing? Really, don’t do it. Slipcovers should be tailored, closely contouring the piece beneath. There are loads of ready-made styles on the market, but if you’re willing to invest a little more cash, you can have one custom-fitted for a crisper profile.
COTTAGE STYLE TIPS: (EYELET!) Style Secret: Feminine Fabrics As much as any other element, fabrics define cottage style: delicate florals, ticking stripes, gingham, eyelet. Natural, textured materials, such as cotton, linen and burlap, fall right in step with the look. Vintage fabrics, from hankies and dishcloths to flour sacks and aprons, pop up on pillows, quilts, chair seats and more. Curtains are usually simple, sheer and breezy. Hot tip: Keep a light touch with the floral prints. It’s fine to mix and match a few, but too many can feel overly sweet, especially if they’re all small scale. Ditto for lace — you don’t want your house to look like a bridal shop.
COTTAGE STYLE TIPS: Style Secret: Airy Palettes Cottage colors feel as soft and clean as a cotton sheet fresh from a clothesline. No jewel tones or shocking brights here — think white mixed with ivory mixed with cream. Layer in pale pinks, blues, greens and other washed-out hues. Don’t combine too many pastels; stick with one or two shades instead. Hot tip: If you can’t resist a bit of bold color, go right ahead. But limit it to a handful of smaller furnishings or accessories, and keep it tone on tone. One turquoise pillow in a tumble of pale blue ones might look fresh and appropriate, but if you also throw down a chartreuse rug and paint the ceiling lemon yellow, the look veers in a different direction.
Cottage Style tips: Style Secret: Beadboard If there's one thing that shouts "cottage," it's beadboard. This classic grooved paneling is a perennial favorite, and for good reason: Not only is it easy to install, but it's a no-brainer for adding warmth and character to a bare wall, a blank ceiling or bland cabinetry. You can't go wrong by painting it creamy white, but it's also fun to add a hint of subtle color and distress it ever so slightly. Hot tip: Beadboard can be a strong addition to a room, so a little goes a long way. The paneling in this bathroom pops because of its texture, despite being in the background.
Cottage style!!!
I'm still really fond of the Swiss Coffee/Latte White. White is really one of the most asked-about colors. The perfect white is sought after for cabinets and trim. Undertones in white paint are important and can really shift a palette. My favorite pure white is White Dove OC-17, by Benjamin Moore. This white, shown here in this gorgeous kitchen, is crisp with no undertones. It looks great against any color.
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