Have you ever spent time in a kitchen, maybe at a friend or relative’s house, that just seemed really awkward / difficult to work in? Something didn’t seem ‘quite right’ but you couldn’t put your finger on what it was? I have a guess about what caused the problem…. THE LACK OF A WORK TRIANGLE…
Around here we have been… CELEBRATING eleven years with {D}! What a fine young man he is becoming! He is still very obsessed with all things airplane, and we splurged a bit on his gift by buying him a flight lesson at our local airport. It includes half an hour of instrument instruction and half…
Have the holiday cards from friends and family started to arrive? Give them a place of importance with one of these 21 creative holiday card display ideas. It is the most wonderful mail season of the year! Soon the holiday cards are going to come pouring in. Seeing the beautiful smiling faces of friends and…
It’s the weekend after Thanksgiving. The turkey and mashed potatoes have been consumed and the last crumb of pumpkin pie is now gone. We had a fabulous time visiting with family and friends. This is always such a special time of year as we reflect on all we have to be thankful for. Those of…
I’m back today with another MAKEOVER TAKEOVER! The first virtual takeover, of my own parents bathroom, was received very well and I have since had a few requests come in from readers with tricky spaces they would like help with. Remember that this is a FREE digital home design consultation, which is available to anyone…
Beautiful makeover, great concept with the folding shower bench & main door being a sliding barn door . I like the ‘pop of color’ of the towels against the black/ white & gray & patterns . Can easily decorate seasonally with other colors too. Looking forward to seeing the next Makeover/Takeover challenge:)ReplyCancel
The cost of building materials and labor has gone up considerably through the years, making it even more difficult to build a brand new house. Many people have taken to buying a fixer upper and slowly repairing and updating it to meet their personal needs. This can be a wonderful option for those who don’t…
Today I am introducing a brand new feature to the blog – THE READER SHOWCASE – where I share photos and information about projects that YOU, my lovely readers, have tackled! I know there is a ton of amazing talent out there, and am excited to show everyone in blog-land what you have been working…
In the last Saturday Sketchbook post, I discussed the three outdoor spaces I have been working on for the cottage. I casually mentioned that the front porch may or may not have railings. Then someone on Instagram posted this picture, and it sent my mind spinning. image source Do you see what I see? Isn’t…
I vote planter, possibly a taller scale but not the railing. My reasoning is with the stone elements, putting is railing will give it a ‘boxed in’ feeling where the planters with flowers & or grasses; an airy, open dimension. For added heights besides low growing foliage, try medium height native grasses ( which can stay & in the Winter( these look beautiful topped with snow ) With Mn Winters you can change it to include minature , decorative Evergreens with lights. Don’t feel like you have to be so ‘by the book’ some of the most beautiful designs are a mix as is in fashion of clothing textures/designs. Looking forward to seeing what you choose- as always it will be beautiful! ReplyCancel
For that style, railings. Our midcentury ranch has a brick planter and box hedge on the front edge of our porch and it’s one of my favorite things about our house, but I don’t think the planter aspect works as well for your plans. They might work better if they weren’t so low, but they feel really out of scale with those heavy stone elements. They work for that big neoclassical porch because the columns are slender, the bases are much more delicate, and the tops of the plants are basically in line with the tops of the bases. Your big stone elements need something taller, and the spaces between the railings balance their heaviness better than the solid planter. ReplyCancel
Good points Bonnie – I’m not totally sold on the overall size or height of the stone elements… maybe I could scale those down a bit and the planter up a bit? To me it just seems weird to have a railing I guess, when the porch is so low to the ground. And I for sure wouldn’t want the rail where the porch swing will be – so even if we do use rails, they won’t go all the way around. The good thing is, there is still a lot of time to figure this out! 😉ReplyCancel
I was telling people in the Facebook comment thread that I see the planter more as a piece of furniture, that can be removed if need-be (like, in the winter maybe?).. I also think that it would work best to have the big planter piece, but have the actual soil and plants in separate containers that drop INTO the large planter, so that they too could be easily switched out. In the winter I can imagine some spruce type elements and berries with lights?! There would maybe be 3 changes during the year: In the early summer, fall, and for the winter – which I guess wouldn’t be any more work than if I had landscaping beds?ReplyCancel
Keeping your home organized is one of the best ways to add simplicity to your life. Check out these home organization ideas to get a kick start on your simplifying journey. The cold is setting in, which in the Midwest means plenty of time will be spent indoors over the next few months. I’m not…
Welcome to the first installment of the ELEMENTS OF HOME series. Each month I plan to showcase a different residential style here on the blog. It is my hope that by laying out the basics of each home style, you will be able to determine which suits your lifestyle and preferences the most. When designing…
Your article has been a wonderful read for me… we are getting ready to do our exterior./. and I am going for the cottage look. When we change the roof by the end of the year.. we are adding to the overhang to create a sweet covered porch…but heres my landscaping question— I love used brick… my walkway is already just a slope (with no steps) thinking of making it possibly a flagstone path and then brick up near the house. And my color combo I am shooting for is a light neutral gray (Benjamin Moore) and black shutters…your thoughts??ReplyCancel
A front porch would definitely help add that cottage charm! Ranch style homes are difficult in that regard, however, because the roofs typically have a low pitch. Perhaps if a porch can’t be worked in, a white painted pergola could work to cover a patio space in front. I would also suggest to pay particular attention to the landscaping to add interest and cottage appeal. Good luck!ReplyCancel
Hi there! I’m in the beginning stages of possibly purchasing a house that reminds me of an English cottage. It currently is brick with sections of siding. If I purchase the home I would love to do the German Shmear technique on the brick and replace the siding with stone. Would those two elements work together? I appreciate your feedback. Thanks! ReplyCancel
Hi Demetra,
That sounds like a lovely home! I would love to see it. Feel free to email me a photo at arrowhillcottage@gmail.comReplyCancel
