Cottage of the Month Casting Call!

We’re looking for a Holiday decorated home to feature for December’s Cottage of the Month! Have a holiday decorated home that’ll knock our socks off? Here’s your chance to be featured!

I know this is short notice for you guys, but the homeowner we had scheduled for December dropped out unexpectedly yesterday so we need a replacement asap!

 

Want to enter your home? Here’s what you need to do:

1) Do not comment on this post. (Although comments of encouragement are welcome!)

2) Instead, please email your submissions to: jennifer@theoldpaintedcottage.com

3) Make the subject of your email Holiday Home

4) Tell us a little bit about yourself

 

Here’s what we’re looking for:

1) beautiful holiday photos of your home

2) a homeowner that can provide a minimum of 60 photos

3) a photo of the homeowner

4) at least one exterior shot of the front home

 

When I would need your submissions by:

We always feature a new home on the 1st of every month. So this means I need everything in a few days before the 1st to edit and create your feature from scratch (It’s a lot of work, friend!)

All photo entries must be received no later than Midnight, Monday night, November 28th

 

For a little inspiration, here’s a look at some of the past Holiday Homes we’ve featured over the years:

 

December 2010

 

December 2009

December 2008

December 2007

 

One lucky person will be chosen to have their home featured for December’s Cottage of the Month. I can’t wait to see your holiday home submissions!

 

And remember, all entries must be received no later than Midnight, Monday night, November 28th.

 

 

Till next time, click and keep up with us on our favorite sites….

 

Cottage8 in Christmas Ideas magazine

Earlier this year back in February, when my blogging pals were having fun decorating for Valentine’s Day and making pink fuzzy hearts, I was frantically decking the halls of Cottage8 for a two-day photo shoot.

 

Imagine my uber excitement when I received a call from the folks at Better Homes and Gardens magazine, for an opportunity to be featured in their upcoming December Christmas Ideas issue, just a month after Christmas already passed. (Magazines sometimes shoot up to a year in advance). I had just finished packing away the last tree ornament and vacuumed up the final flake of mica snow when I got the call, but I couldn’t say yes fast enough.

 

 

The folks at BH&G were the nicest people to work with. Courteous and professional, both the photographer and the stylist were very respectful of our home, our two cats, and all of my things, including our 300lb industrial factory cart coffee table. They understood the way I decorate and that my house is a neutral, non traditional, red-n-green-free holiday zone. They totally got me, which isn’t always an easy thing to do.

 

 

See that 7 1/2 foot tree, below? It came from Wallmart and it’s a fake tree! Yep, it comes in about 200 pieces and requires full assembly. You see, in February it’s pretty slim pickins’ when you’re looking for live trees. I was however, able to score some live garland from a wonderful nursery all the way in Indiana. They provided the swags and loose branches for the mantel and centerpiece on the table (above). It had to be flown in overnight, just in time for the shoot!

 

The stockings were made by my friend Laurie at Bella Inspirations, and she also made the stenciled tree skirt. You can find these and more in her etsy shop. This girl is crazy talented and she’s a super great friend. She came to my rescue for this shoot, big time. If you could have seen the two of us the day before the shoot…we were busy styling the house at warp speed while listening to holiday carols!

 

 

These two trophy cups actually belong to my friend Marcy. She let me borrow them for the shoot. And that pic of me...it was taken just two weeks before I started my diet, over nine months ago. I guess I have an official “before” photo. That sweater literally hangs off of me now.

 

 

I love really simple place settings, and I was really pleased with how this photo came out. That’s one of Laurie's burlap runners on the table, and my friend Rosemary made the number wreaths for the backs of each of the chairs. The little baby pine in the center of the table was from Home Depot, and I simply placed it inside a birch bark vase I found at Pottery Barn several years ago.

 

 

My kitchen “bakery wall” as well as some fun close up shots from the dining room…

 

 

This magazine is going to be carried on shelves until December 19th, and you can find copies of it just about anywhere. It’s one of my favorite holiday issues I’ve seen. Just about every single home in there is a show stopper. I especially adored the featured they did on my friend Layla’s home:

 

 

Stay tuned for my next post…we’re doing a huge Giveaway featuring Bella Inspirations!

 

 

 

Till next time, click and keep up with us on our favorite sites…

 

Interview with Northumbria Byways

It is my great pleasure to introduce Vicky from Northumbria Byways in Northumberland, UK. Byways is the website behind that cute badge with the three border collie dogs in my Sponsor Bar above…

…and they have been with us now for just over a year!

 

Jennifer: Let's start by asking you a little bit about Northumberland. Where exactly is it, and what makes it special?

Vicky: Northumberland is up in the top right hand corner of England and lies on the border with Scotland. It is one of the least populated counties in England and has some really interesting places. For instance, Hadrian's Wall which stretches for 80 or so miles from the east to the west coast. This was built in 122 AD by the Roman emperor Hadrian. It is an Unesco world heritage site and has some very atmospheric sections.

  

The Castles

This was a troubled land which saw many battles between the English and the Scots. We are fortunate in having two magnificent castles at Alnwick and at Bamburgh. The castle at Alnwick was used as the setting for Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films. Bamburgh castle has a reputation for being haunted. We also have what might well be one of the most appropriately named castles at Chillingham which which also has some very unpleasant spectres indeed.

Border Reivers and the troubled times

Around the same time as the border wars were being fought there was a general lawlessness to the area and this encouraged a wild west mentality with families grouping together and raiding their neighbors. The outlaws were called Border Reivers and they have left us with words such as bereaved and blackmail.

Our heritage from the 19th century

The border troubles and wars meant that most of the county was desolated and lagged behind the rest of England. But the 19th century brought coal and lead mining as well as ship building. This brought great wealth and has resulted in some magnificent country estates.

Jennifer: Could you talk a little about what Byways actually does?

Vicki: Yes of course. We help visitors coming to Northumberland to find the best vacation rentals for their own requirements. We have been in this business for over 15 years, and a lot of the holiday homeowners are our friends.

Jennifer: Can you introduce us to some of your favorite houses?

Vicki: Ok, lets start with "Dunsdale house". It must be the highest house in Northumberland. It sits half way up an ancient volcano and yet you still get real quality accommodations.

Then we have "The Bathing house". This was built by the family of a British Prime minister back in the 19th century and sits literally on top of the beach. The Estate here is where Earl Grey tea was first made.

This is John Dodds (below), a local farmer who still ploughs his land with Clydesdale horses…

Jennifer: What is the story behind the 3 border collies on your badge?

Vicki: We know a farmer up in the Cheviot hills who is working really hard to preserve and grow the local sheep stock. Every lamb is hand delivered and then tagged and recorded. He looks after his stock with lots of love and care. However the countryside is hilly and steep so that although he has a quad bike he still needs his working dogs. These three border collies are called Kale, Tweed and Glen. They are named after local rivers and to us they are a direct link with traditions going back hundreds of years. Interestingly, one of the local collies was involved in rescuing American air crew when their flying fortress crashed here during WW2. The collie received the Dicken medal for valor and is fondly remembered.

Jennifer: Why have you chosen to advertise with The Old Painted Cottage?

Vicki: We liked the idea of quality from days gone by. Individualism, uniqueness and well just being special is something which we treasure and felt that your readers might like to share our views of this beautiful country around Northumberland.

    

Thank you Vicki for speaking with us today. I know I’m feeling inspired to get out of my own backyard and visit foreign, magical places far and wide, Northumberland being number one on my list. Okay, I’m off to go dust off my passport…

 

Till next time, click and keep up with us on our favorite sites….

 

Flea Market Style Decorating

I think my headboard mantel painting opinion –should I or shouldn’t I- has been officially swayed. I tallied the votes, and it was 100% “paint it black” across the board. Thanks to all those that weighed in your opinions. Good thing I have a fresh can of Ralph Lauren’s Black Truffle paint ready to go! While I start prepping for that huge project, my friends over at Design Shuffle were kind enough to write a guest post to share with you today….Take it away, Susi!

 

Hi, I’m Susi, a writer for Design Shuffle, a community where interior designers, other design professionals and home owners can share inspiration and projects. It's a great place to find inspiration. One of my favorite blogs for cottage style is The Old Painted Cottage so I am thrilled to be guest blogging about flea market style decorating ideas today. I have a few new pieces in my home but most everything is thrifted or a flea market find. Flea market style decorating is so personal. For me it is a mix of mid-century modern and antiques; for someone else it might be French and vintage cottage. That's what makes it such a fabulous way to decorate! Enjoy these flea market style decorated spaces.

Flea market style can be anything from shabby to chic and everything in between. Traditional and painted pieces mix with classic style accessories in this chic entry.

Love the flea market style in this bedroom. A mix of painted furniture adds interest. The botanical prints, a great flea market find, make a charming trio of artwork above the bed.

Flea market style can also be global. Mixing elements from different countries and styles gives an eclectic look with a global vibe in this home office.

Love this shabby chic room filled with flea market style. Great flea market finds to look for to include in living rooms designs are painted furniture, lighting, china, textiles, and accessories... pretty much everything!

Decorating with flea market finds applies to the walls too. There are some great paintings, prints and photographs by unknown (and sometimes very well known) to be found at flea markets.

Flea market finds are great for styling bookshelves. Beyond vintage hardcover books, look for color and patterns that work with your décor. Add a few things that speak to your personality too.

Flea market finds are great for decorating a kitchen. Open shelves, a popular trend in kitchen designs these days, are perfect for showing off collections and flea market style.

 

Paint is your friend when decorating with flea market finds. Flea market style is all about incorporating different finds into one unique room. Paint can unify everything for a more cohesive look. Images ( 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 ) Similar to a flea market, Design Shuffle is a great place to share ideas and gain inspiration from a variety of interior designers, including San Francisco interior designers and Boston interior designers!

 

Thanks again to Susi for sharing her design inspiration and eye candy for us all to enjoy. I know I’ve already Pinned my favorites! Stay tuned for my painted headboard mantel update…and wish me luck!

 

Till next time, click and keep up with us on our favorite sites….