FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE

Petite Cottage Bathroom Makeover

2012-02-27T04:00:00.145-08:00

Crisp clean white bead board. Soft gray accents.

A little bit of elegant gilding and a lot of cottage charm.

Those are some of my inspirations for this petite cottage bathroom makeover
that we have been working away on for the past week.
It's a small room and is part of the little cottage on our property.

It was basic with just the essentials & there was water damage from a leak
which resulted in damage to the walls and floor in one area.

The before shows the replaced sheetrock and work starting on the ceiling

We looked at this project as starting from scratch at this point

(Apologies for the dark photo)

Lowes gave each of their Creative Ideas bloggers $500 to head to Lowes

& find the elements to do a bathroom makeover.

I love all of the design and decorating projects that I always find at Lowes while the Mr. shops
for lumber so I knew I would find the perfect elements to make the bathroom amazing.

It was supposed to be a quick trip in to grab supplies but truth be told...
I wandered and dreamed and drooled for several hours.

I even used their free in store wi-fi with my ipad to search a couple products online as well.
All I was missing was a cup of coffee and a little lunch in the garden department.

On my makeover want list:

Lighting, ceiling & wall coverings, flooring, trim and a new sink and faucet

Everything I found was already priced fantastically and even better- on sale!
I also found a couple amazing clearance deals
As a big time bargain shopper
I LOVE that!

My first stop at Lowes was the lighting department.
I knew exactly what type of sconce I wanted for the space.

Something with a vintage feel and lots of charm AND since I had a lot of things
I was planning on doing in the bathroom they had to be priced well too.

I found these beautiful sconces-
shabby, french cottage and so sweet and just $49 each-

yep, they are perfect.

(I already had the chandelier and it went in the center of the room)

We had great bones with the angled ceiling - but it was unfinished sheetrock originally.
We found thin grooved knotty pine planks from Lowes to finish the ceiling with

These pieces come in packs of single pieces that you groove together and then finish as you like

I painted them with Valspar right off the shelf white paint watered down a bit.

Love the character they add to the room with their knot holes and rough texture
and they are priced at $8.99 for 14 square feet.
Awesome.

Next was a drop-in bathroom sink.
We found a perfect white rimmed sink on clearance for just a few dollars

I thought about a pedestal sink-and Lowes had some gorgeous ones for sure
(already thinking about replacing the sinks in my master bathroom with a pair I found)
but I had the perfect shabby old sideboard stored just waiting for a new life as a vanity.

It was A LOT of work to clean it up as it had several issues but it is so charming for the space.

I love the chrome and white faucet- another sale priced find at just $37.

(I'll share the how to on turning this sideboard into a vanity in another post.)

Being a big time bead board girl -of course that was on my list.

I wasn't sure if I would go with bead board wallpaper or bead board panels.

I found both of them at Lowes- but when I saw the panels,
I absolutely loved how detailed their wall board was.

It has a different rounded type groove instead of the more flat ones
and it really makes a difference in how it looks on the wall in person.
Being that this is a pretty small room- we didn't need too many sheets-
they were priced around $18.00 each.

These shelves are made with crown moulding pieces that are actually foam trim boards
I love them because they are fantastic for moist areas like a bathroom and their architectural detail.
They are placed high up on the wall- at 8' to cover the seam where the bead board panels
came together in this 10' tall room.
Some of this trim was leftover from a previous project so we didn't need much more.

I am a big believer in re-using what you can, finding elements that you already have and re-imagining them
and also in mixing old and new.
The old bathroom door is original to our house - just a new coat of paint was all it needed.

The transom type window was a flea market find from a couple years ago~

perfect other than it has one pane of glass that needs to be replaced

(oops...)

The floor was replaced with a creamy sand colored tile that was a Lowes Special Purchase
and just .78 cents each so the whole new floor was around $35

I am so impressed by the design and room elements I found and used for this makeover at Lowes

and how incredibly far $500 went! Next up- working on the shower!

Is it wrong to love a bathroom?

I hope not...
because I'm kinda loving it.
:)

There are a ton of ideas for projects at the Lowes Creative Ideas website

& on their Facebook page and they also offer a free magazine you can sign up for as well.

You can also find me, and the other Lowes Creative Ideas Bloggers and their fantastic ideas,

on the newly launched Lowes Creative Ideas Blogs page at Lowes.com

I was compensated for this post as a member of the

Lowes Creative Ideas Network of Creators and Influencers but the designs and opinions are my own.

sharing at
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Feathered Nest Friday

2012-02-24T06:18:00.004-08:00

It's time for Feathered Nest Friday!!

It's been a busy week over here working on the bathroom so I didn't get too much else done-
I did share my grandmothers china cabinet that I painted and turned into a
library cupboard

as well as a few color, style and design inspirations for the bathroom project
we are working on.

I need to get back to work so without further ado...
let's get on to the review from last week!

HouseTalkn shared her charming desk and 3 different ways she styled it

The Painted Hive shared her updated living room

My Shabby Chateau shared her chalkboard creations

Dixie Delights shared her den makeover

Eclectically Vintage shared her beautiful kitchen remodel

Feel free to grab a Featured button if you would like!

(the code is over at my BUTTONS page at the top of my blog)

I want to share some fantastic finds from a couple of my sponsors

Paris Marketplace has such dreamy treasures~ I LOVE this pillow!!
AND it is only $16.00!!! Seriously. $16.00! Definitely on my list along with the Madame version!!!

Brayton Cottage has this darling little watering can available
I would love this for using the bathroom I am working on!

Curly Willow has this darling art available in her shop- love it.

Okay~

Onto this weeks edition of Feathered Nest Friday!!

Welcome to new partygoers, welcome back and thank you to all my party animal friends

for taking the time to come over and share your wonderful

links each week!

PLEASE SHARE

decorating, flea finds, designs, transformations

crafts, table settings, etc.

ANYTHING related to feathering your nest!

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THANKS SO MUCH!

Cottage Bathroom~Inspirations

2012-02-22T07:56:00.004-08:00

coastalliving.com

We have been working away on a little bathroom project over here-

I'm not ready to share it yet...

It is so close...

and yet so far from being finished and photo ready

homeaway.com

So thought I would share a few of the inspirations I have collected for the space

rural society.com

Each of these photos represents a color, finish or style I am loving for this cottage inspired room...

or maybe just something I am drooling over too!

lol!

rawkinsandsaffron.wordpress

google
I adore the white on white on white.
Simply gorgeous

google

Love the vintage or vintage inspired tile on the floor and the wood running the width of the room in this one.

google

Classic. Simple. Beautiful.

google

Can you tell I love bead board in a bathroom?

;)

frenchflea.blogspot.com

I am really loving the gray with the white here

aestheticconcepts.blogspot

The mantel behind the tub? So dreamy!

google

Oh I just love this bathroom!

The gray vanity. The marble floor. The wood walls. The chandelier and THAT MIRROR!!!

*sigh*

Housebeautiful.com

This is one of my favorites- so gorgeous.

The black and white tile, clawfoot tub, french doors and chandelier- love it all.

decor pad

Love the wide plank wood walls.

decor pad

Light, bright, and beautiful!

Enveloped in beadboard- this is so charming.

decor pad

In our master bathroom- which is also vintage and was a remodel job- I used beadboard mixed with wallpaper.

My bathroom is far more romantic than the look I am going for in the bathroom we are working on

but I do love how the ceiling came out in here so I am including it as an inspiration as well.

I am tanking up on coffee this morning

& am hoping to get everything all wrapped up and it ready to share by the weekend!

Happy Wednesday!

See you tomorrow for Feathered Nest Friday!

Painted Library Cupboard

2012-02-20T15:38:00.009-08:00

I love old vintage linen cupboards and china cabinets

especially when they are painted.

Ones with tall and stately lines...

ones with shabby chippy sweetness...

google image

Ones with glass paned doors or old chicken wire inserts

google image

Love them.
Old cupboards are perfect for displaying books, treasures or photos.

I have a vintage china cabinet that was my grandmothers and she gave it to me about 15 years ago

but kept it at her house and used it to hold her mothers china and wine glasses.

It is not an antique antique- it is probably from sometime in the 1970's

It's lines are simple, beautiful and classic though the finish wasn't perfect.

I was inspired by so many painted cupboards I have seen out there in design books or blogs
and I was especially inspired by the beautiful cupboard that Brooke Giannetti- Velvet and Linen -
has in her office.
Ohhh... I LOVE it!

The more I thought about my grandmothers cabinet the more I kept thinking that it would look beautiful

in a coat of shabby paint.

Softer. Lighter.
More like some of those antique cupboards I love.

It would be perfect to hold oodles of books in the living room, silver and china in the kitchen
or even fabrics and bits in the office.

So I grabbed a couple cans of chalk paint, put Pandora on my Ipod and painted away.

I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Coco first- I wasn't 100% loving how dark it was coming out so I then layered another coat of paint on it again with Coco mixed with right off the hardware store shelf White.
It created a very pale shabby grey... which I am loving!

I wanted a lighter look on the interior so chose ASCP Country Grey and left the tops of the shelves dark.

I haven't put any wax or distressing on it yet~ not sure yet if I will try the dark wax or clear.
Some of the finish came out a bit streaky and splotchy... which I have noticed with chalk paint
and for the most part it doesn't bother me.

I love that the doors open all the way ~ so many possibilities for displays.

A little stick house my daughter built for a school project, a chunky reproduction pediment and starfish finish
the display inside and an antique baby basket filled with hydrangeas fit perfectly on the top.

The books are all turned backwards and are mostly antique books I have collected for various reasons.
I love the old curled darkened ruffled edges, worn corners and gilded pages showing.

(Had to get a photo of little Miss Bella sitting in her favorite spot to look out the window)

I'm kind of loving where the cupboard where it is right now
but not sure it is staying there yet ~ I have another spot in mind too.
Things are always moving from room to room over here.

I've been busy working away on finishing up the bathroom re-do

will be sharing it's refreshed and remodeled look soon!

Hope you are having a fantastic long weekend!!

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Feathered Nest Friday

2012-02-17T07:14:00.000-08:00

It's been a busy week of antiquing and field studies over here~

so I haven't gotten too much done.

I shared a post about Yellow Inspirations-

including inspirations for my bedroom

I am re-thinking painting it a new color yet again...

I definitely do love the yellow.

I also shared a tutorial on how to create the faux boiserie with appliques

and a little Valentines table for two.

Okay-

Here's the review from last weeks party!

Villa Barnes shared this super charming idea for old shovels

It's Just Me shared this dresser transformation- such a great before and after!!

My Shabby Streamside Studio shared such beautiful images in her post about nailhead trim

Interestosity shared her damask printed fabric- that she made

Redoux shared this charming chalkboard creation

There is also a new linky party going on over at Redoux on Fridays~ stop on over and join in!

Feel free to grab a Featured button if you would like!

(the code is over at my BUTTONS page at the top of my blog)

Onto this weeks edition of Feathered Nest Friday!!

Welcome to new partygoers, welcome back and thank you to all my party animal friends

for taking the time to come over and share your wonderful

links each week!

PLEASE SHARE

decorating, flea finds, designs, transformations

crafts, table settings, etc.

ANYTHING related to feathering your nest!

**PLEASE BE A GRACIOUS FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY GUEST**

Make sure you post a button or a link back to the party on your post.

I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO BECOME A FRIEND/FOLLOWER

if you aren't already.

The Follow button is on my sidebar at the top

THANKS SO MUCH!

A Room Full of Sunshine~ Inspirations

2012-02-15T15:54:00.000-08:00

Bold and Beautiful.

(images via Google)

Cheerful and warm.

The color of sunshine.

Yellow is a bright and vibrant color.

(Why are there squirrels in this room?!?)

I have no idea... I didn't even see them until I enlarged the photo...I just liked the walls...

Okay... Moving right along...

Yellow is a color that brings warmth and smiles.

It can range from warm and golden to creamy soft pale to bright and bold.

I love yellow for it's warm and welcoming properties.

As an accent color on a piece of furniture or pillows or even blanketing a whole room.

I love a sunny kitchen with white cupboards and yellow paint- so gorgeous.

Or yellow cupboards maybe?

A bedroom bathed in golden rays...

or a bathroom enveloped in sunshine.

Yep, yellow is definitely a color I love...

I even painted my bedroom a beautiful yellow.

Though I have been thinking of changing it for a couple years now...

I haven't done it yet.

I love how warm it feels in this room even when it's cold outside.

What about you?

Have you thought about adding a little yellow?

Painting an entire room or maybe just adding a few accents?

Some of you had asked for Color Inspirations over here at French Country Cottage
which I think is a great idea.

I am always searching for inspiration for different colors or projects.

Yellow was one of the colors requested and

so these are just some of the rooms I found inspiring for different reasons.

I will also start a Pinterest Board with color inspirations that I will add to as I find them

if you would like to follow along.

FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE on PINTEREST

I'm working on a little painting project today~

it's not yellow but I am excited to see how it turns out!

See you Thursday afternoon for Feathered Nest Friday!!

A Quiet Table For Two

2012-02-14T14:23:00.000-08:00

I love little simple quiet table settings

especially set outside.

A little corner is a perfect spot for a wee table set under the trees.

With old fashioned lanterns tucked in the bare branches

and a candle to light the table.

A sweet delicate heart made of sugared berries brings a touch of romance and charm

A few chocolate treats for your sweets

and

maybe a couple little hugs and kisses too

;)

A gorgeous cottage bouquet of pretty hydrangeas, creamy white roses

and just a few delicate purple blooms completes the table

Simple. Charming. Sweet.

A perfect little spot for two to enjoy a few quiet moments.

Hope you are all having a fantastic sweethearts day!!

*If you have emailed me recently and I haven't responded- I apologize

My French Country Cottage gmail address is having issues and hasn't been loading.

I will get back to you when it is fixed!

Thank you for your patience!*

Antiques & Friends

2012-02-13T07:17:00.000-08:00

I spent the day shopping the Second Sunday Antique Faire yesterday
Sandy from The Olive and Rose and her friend Katy were looking for some new treasures for their stores

and I was tagging along for some fun.

It was freezing cold in the morning while we were there
so we bundled up, shopped a little
and laughed A LOT!

We started the day off with Sandy and I laughing telling Katy about how we are crazy
and run around in circles when we shop.
Of course, I looked back at Sandy as we were walking across the street and talking
and I ran (yep, literally ) into Katy's cart after she stopped just ahead of me
and the cups of coffee in her cart went flying... oh my...
Katy's boots were covered in coffee (apologies Katy!!!)
It just wouldn't be a regular shopping day with Sandy if there wasn't something crazy going on!
;)
Well, here are some of the treasures we found that inspired a few photos...

These corbels were absolutely beautiful and HUGE!

The chippy finish on them was fantastic! We loved them!

Then we found this booth and these gorgeous old barn doors that were ...

priceless.

yep.
Priceless.

He had a couple pieces marked priceless~
loved it.
:)

These statues were tiny and so charming.

These were in Atelier de Campagne booth...

oh such a gorgeous booth!!

Business cards and a unique holder

and we also loved this little bottle collection

Another favorite booth was The Vintage Bricoleur...

This is such a gorgeous piece~ I loved it.

We found bits and baubles... old dog head hardware and knobs

Darling shabby treasures

and

chippy rusty little inspirations~

we loved the color on this little cubby and suitcase

I also met the lovely Gloria from Happy to Be while there~what a sweetie she is!
She was one of my very first blog friends and she has a special place over here
I didn't get a picture but am hoping that Gloria will share the ones she took!
hint hint ;)

We had tons of fun shopping and laughing and gathering up inspirations.

Can't wait for the next antiquing trip!

Also...

At The Vintage Bricoleurs new shop in Loomis-

they are having a special Bloggers meet up next month.

For new bloggers, seasoned bloggers,

anyone interested in blogging and meeting other bloggers

it's going to be fantastic.

I am going to be there talking about blogging too and

would love to meet any Northern California blog friends!

Find more info HERE

I am off on a field study with my daughters 8th grade class today-
I can't believe it's just a few more months before my baby baby is heading to high school.
sniff...sniff.

and tomorrow...aside from celebrating Valentines Day...
my Sweetheart and I are doing something special...
we are getting started on working on a bathroom makeover so stay tuned-;)
it's coming up in the next couple of weeks!

Hope you have a great Monday!
:)

Roses & Swags Tutorial

2012-02-11T14:10:00.000-08:00

Last week I shared the little Roses and Swags pediment piece

and also the faux boiserie that I used french armoire doors to create.

Here's a quick tutorial on how to get a similar look

Several years ago- I ordered a few moulding pieces from a company called Do It Yourself Chic

They make fantastic shabby molded swags and bows and all kinds of yummy pieces!!

I chose a couple of different pieces to try out... you might remember one that I used last year to make the architectural interest on that vintage headboard I placed behind my bed

(excuse the terrible iphone picture!)

I also ordered the small wreath pictured below

and the one that I used on the pediment piece is a dainty swag that comes in 3 pieces.

They are white in color and highly detailed.

~To make the pediment piece with the applique~

I started with a simple piece of scrap plywood that I had

and I took the swag and laid it out in the center of the board until I was happy with the placement

and attached it using regular glue and let it dry overnight with chalk paint cans on it to hold it down.

(Wood glue or White glue should work)

Note:

If the appliques are too stiff you can set them in the sun in a window to warm them a bit to

make them more pliable and bendable.

After they were dried, I used Country Grey Chalk paint and gave it a once over.

Country grey to me is more like a tan almost... not really a grey and I was wanting a bit more grey...

sooo...

the next coat that went on was Coco which is basically a brownish grayish color.

Finally, I dry brushed a bit of exterior white on it to lighten it in areas

(no tint- just right off the shelf at the hardware store)

and then used Annie Sloan Dark Wax to go over the entire piece

and also work the the dark wax into the nooks and crannies of the applique to accent it a bit more.

Here is how it turned out:

I mentioned before that when I was photographing the board a little thought popped into my head about

making a faux boiserie wall and using the architectural detail at the top.

I have an old French armoire that was disassembled and being stored

(it's one of those that comes apart in about 15 pieces)

I grabbed two of the doors from it and brought them inside to be transformed

When I started to paint the doors were pink with faux silver leaf detailing.

I covered it in a creamy layer of Country Grey chalk paint first and then took some of the Coco

and dark wax and brushed in places giving it a bit of a streaky aged looked.

There was no specific method to my madness

I just brushed it where I liked it and added extra wax in the detailed areas and corners.

I also painted the handles and used the wax on them to age them a bit more as well.

After everything was dried-

I sanded the edges and the detailed edging that is on each of the doors.

and placed the architectural piece on top of them- there are little pins that are

at the top of the doors that easily hold the board in place.

I didn't want it to be super distressed

I just took a bit of the paint off to reveal some of the faux silvering and pink.

That's it.

A little applique... a little chalk paint.. and a little elbow grease.

See you Thursday for Feathered Nest Friday!

Happy Saturday!!
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Feathered Nest Friday

2012-02-10T06:10:00.001-08:00

Welcome to Feathered Nest Friday!

I have been working on a project here this week but not in a fun way.

No I didn't get any rooms wrapped up and finished...
or any pieces of furniture revamped...

aye...
We have working on fixing a stubborn clogged kitchen sink drain pipe and replacing pipes
NOT FUN! The drain finally started working yesterday...
did you hear cheering?
Phew.

Here's what I did work on that was fun~

I made a architectural pediment and as I photographed it...

I was inspired to create a little

faux French Boiserie out of antique armoire doors and that pediment piece.

I'll share a tutorial coming soon on it.

I want to give a big shout out Thank You to my newest sponsors!!

Stop by and check out all the wonderful treasures they have to offer!!

Onto last weeks review!

Fox Hollow Cottage shared her fireplace transformation

Just Paint it White shared this creative driftwood lamp she made

Chateau Chic shared a little bling... you know I love bling!

Lilyfield Life shared this darling desk makeover

Our Thrifty Nest of 7 shared a beautiful board and batten makeover

Feel free to grab a Featured button if you would like!

(the code is over at my BUTTONS page at the top of my blog)

Onto this weeks edition of Feathered Nest Friday!!

Welcome to new partygoers, welcome back and thank you to all my party animal friends

for taking the time to come over and share your wonderful

links each week!

PLEASE SHARE

decorating, flea finds, designs, transformations

crafts, table settings, etc.

ANYTHING related to feathering your nest!

**PLEASE BE A GRACIOUS FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY GUEST**

Make sure you post a button or a link back to the party on your post.

I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO BECOME A FRIEND/FOLLOWER

if you aren't already.

The Follow button is on my sidebar at the top

THANKS SO MUCH!

A Little Faux French Boiserie

2012-02-08T15:25:00.002-08:00

Ohhh... I love wood walls and the character they bring to a home!

Bead board. Board and Batten. Grooved knotty pine like we have in our cottage...

Love them.

There is something about walls that have details in their structure-

it brings so much character and charm to a space.

My absolute favorite type of wall is called
Boiserie.

Those carved, appliqued, painted, detailed, gilded, oh my gosh over the top beautiful walls...

I LOVE them.

If you aren't familiar with Boiserie here are some examples:

(Images from Google)

From Wikipedia:

Boiserie (French pronunciation: [bwazʁi];

often used in the plural boiseries) is the term used to define ornate and intricately carved wood panelling.

Early examples of boiseries were unpainted, but later the raised mouldings were often painted or gilded.^{[citation needed]}

Boiseries were popular in seventeenth and eighteenth century French interior design and the Palace of Versailles has many fine examples.^{[citation needed]} The panels were not confined to just the walls of a room but were used to decorate doors, frames, cupboards and shelves also. Often pictures would be set into the boiseries, the carving framing the picture rather like a conventional frame.

So...

after I made that simple ribbons and bows accent the other day....

as I was photographing it on that little table...

an idea popped into my head.

An Inspired thought?

Maybe...

Or it might possibly simply be just another crazy wild woman project

I have a beautiful antique French wardrobe armoire that was out in the little cottage before my oldest son

moved out there.

I had originally painted it pink and cream with gilding... beautiful but needless to say

Ryan didn't really want that big old pink armoire in his 'man cave.'

So it was disassembled and moved and stored

As I was photographing that appliqued piece... I thought about beautiful Boiserie panels...

& doors as backdrops and decoration

& the doors on that French Armoire came to mind.

They are subtly detailed. So simple but elegant.

hmmm...

I wondered...

I grabbed the 2 outer doors from the armoire and set them together

and set the appliqued piece on top.

The board actually fit perfectly atop the doors- strangely enough and so
I grabbed my paint brush and several different paints and painted away while dancing to Pink

Then I stood back to see how it turned out

sighed.

Ohhh...

A perfect frenchy backdrop for photographs

or for simply a leaning against a wall

or maybe even to bring a little french charm to

somewhere else I have in mind

;)

It's not as over the top knock your socks off gorgeous as real boiserie by far

but I think it turned out charming.

I'm kinda loving it.

See you Thursday for Feathered Nest Friday!

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Dainty Swags & bows

2012-02-06T08:15:00.000-08:00

A little something pretty

with delicate swags of dainty flowers

sweet bows

I love architectural salvage pieces.

In whole or just bits and pieces~ I love them.

It is something I always keep an eye out for while I am antiquing.

old glass doorknobs with intricate key plates

a simple beautiful door

shabby glass paned windows

and chunky corbels that once graced an old home.

Architectural pieces bring so much charm and character to a room.

But it isn't always so easy to find the salvage pieces you are looking for and

sometimes you have to look for quite awhile for the perfect piece for the perfect spot

then throw in being a little impatient... and well,

I just decided to make one of my own.

Ohh... I love how it turned out!

So simple but so charming at the same time and am loving the color and finish on it too~

the soft taupe gray reminds me of the original finish on the armoire in my bathroom

As I was photographing this vignette on this chippy old table

a completely random idea popped into my head

and I ran with it...

Soooo

while the boys were watching the super bowl...

I was listening to a little music on Pandora and working on turning this piece into something different~
which I will share with you soon!

(Did I say how much I am loving these roses? Okay... Just making sure :) )

Happy Monday everyone!

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Pinning away...

2012-02-05T19:00:00.000-08:00

I have been pinning away on Pinterest...A LOT.
I think I am what you might call a Pinterest Addict.
So much inspiration.
So many beautiful fantastic things I want to pin everyday...

If I haven't eaten in 3 days because I am too immersed in pinning- please send reinforcements.

Yes...
I believe there is a support group for those of us who need it...
Pinterestaholics Anonymous.
It seems once you start pinning- it's hard to pull yourself away from the pin button.
So... what are you supposed to do?
Well.
I say Pin Away!
lol!
Here's some of what I have been pinning recently:

Places I am dreaming of...

Ooooohh this house!

I am IN LOVE.

Perfect symmetry gorgeous architecture, beautiful gardens... Such a dream house!

I also have pinned Frenchy inspired finds like this chair

and rooms like this-
beautiful beams, chairs and tablecloth- ok- pretty much love the whole room!

or some color inspiration like the color on this gorgeous island

Loving the checkerboard floor in this space!

I'm loving all the inspirations I am finding over there and it is so easy to keep track of them.

One of my favorite boards to follow is my baby sister

Taylor's board of Quotes.

She actually has a couple boards of quotes-

one of which is pretty sassy like she is ;) and her other quote board

is filled with inspirational quotes.

I grab a quote from this board and share it over on Facebook several times a week.

(all photos via pinterest)

What about you? Have you been bitten by the pinterest bug yet?

If you would like to connect over there

here's where you can find me

French Country Cottage

and if you need an invite to join Pinterest~ just drop me and email and I'll send you one!

Also you probably noticed a couple of new followers gadgets on my sidebar.

Please note that I am using Google Friend Connect
and keeping it on my blog for as long as Google keeps it around
I appreciate you clicking the follow button there too.
I have added Networked Blogs and also the linky followers tool
as alternative ways to follow.
You can always subscribe to Email as well and follow my blog on Facebook.

Here's why bloggers are concerned:
Google is removing GFC from NON- BLOGGER blogs-

that means Wordpress and other platforms will be affected and lose the followers they have

and the ability to stay in touch with other blogs
While Blogger blogs will have the GFC button ~ there is speculation that at some point GFC
could also go away on blogger blogs

Bloggers are adding other options to their blogs and encouraging people to follow there as well
just in case.
Honestly it looks redundant to me over there-and it's already making me just a little crazy...
but I'm just trying to stay connected with everyone

Hope your weekend is going great!
See you soon for a little project!

Feathered Nest Friday

2012-02-03T17:10:00.000-08:00

It's Thursday afternoon

which means it is Feathered Nest Friday time!

I have been working on projects though not much I can share with you just yet!
You will have to stay tuned ;) here's what I did share this week:

I finally finished one of the double ruffled slipcovers that I have been working on for these chairs.

Love how it came out and have been crushing on those roses too!

Yum!!

I also shared some inspiring blue eye candy that just might be

inspiring a little project (or 5) over here

;)

I will be offering design consultations and accepting advertisements in the coming weeks too!
You can find more info in the tabs at the top of my blog!

Thanks Roeshel and Heather for sharing a new followers gadget that I have added on
my sidebar right over there >>>>>>
called Linky Followers.
This new gadget is an option to replace GFC in case it goes away all together
So I am trying it out- we'll see how it goes and would love for you to follow along there if you would like
and I will follow each of you as you follow along as well!
Just click on the Linky Followers tool to sign up for your own followers gadget for your blog!

Okay!!
Onto the Party!!

Can't wait to see what you have been up to!! What a turn out last week!!
I have had a few questions about how long Feathered Nest Friday is up each week~

The link goes up on Thursday afternoons- usually a little before 2:00 p.m. California time
and you can link up until Sunday afternoon around 4:00 p.m.

I do my best to visit as many links as time allows and greatly appreciate you visiting other blogs as well.

I love when I stop by a link and see other party goer's commenting - thank you!

Here are a few highlights from last weeks party:

A place to call Home shared this super charming & creative headboard

Remodelaholic shared their brand new built in's- they came out fantastic

The Green Dresser shared this darling striped beauty

Joy to Journey shared this adorable playhouse under the stairs

Petites Passions shared this beautiful fireplace mantel that her father built.

Feel free to grab a Featured button if you would like!

(the code is over at my BUTTONS page at the top of my blog)

Onto this weeks edition of Feathered Nest Friday!!

Welcome to new partygoers and welcome back

and thank you to all my party animal friends

for taking the time to come over and share your wonderful

links each week!

PLEASE SHARE

decorating, flea finds, designs, transformations

crafts, table settings, etc.

ANYTHING related to feathering your nest!

**PLEASE BE A GRACIOUS FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY GUEST**

Make sure you post a button or a link back to the party on your post.

I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO BECOME A FRIEND/FOLLOWER

if you aren't already.

The Follow button is on my sidebar at the top

THANKS SO MUCH!

Feeling Blue...Inspirations & winner

2012-02-01T14:55:00.000-08:00

(all images via google)

I have been 'feeling' blue lately

and am absolutely smitten by gorgeous shabby faded aqua

and silver gray blues

Mixed with pink and white~ yes please.

Add a little black in?

I love.

This kitchen and dining area... oh my.

I absolutely love them.

The shabby gray blue on the cupboards.

The creamy white counters

and the black accent...

sigh...

Pale blue greens are beautiful in bedrooms...

so serene and peaceful

What a fantastic living room too... wow.

Gorgeous.

This is a little darker blue than I love but I do love this vignette.

So pretty.

Of course probably one of my favorite shabby aqua blue inspirations is this china cupboard...

Oh I just adore it!!

Love that silvery grayish blue on these cupboards

this island.

Hmm...

thinking maybe I should paint my black island...

From eligible entries- random number generators winner in the gift card giveaway is

Cottage & Creek please email me within 2 days

Thanks so much to everyone who entered and stay tuned for another fantastic giveaway

& more with Lowes very soon!

See you tomorrow for Feathered Nest Friday!

Working on...

2012-01-31T08:47:00.000-08:00

I have a ton of projects that are in the works or on the schedule right now
and I am super excited to get them all done...
all at the same time!
lol!

Do you ever feel like that to- do list just becomes bigger the more projects you dream up or start tackling?
One project leads to another... and to another and before you know it~
1 becomes 3 or 5 projects all at the same time
and then spin your wheels trying to notch them all off?

So I am starting on this this morning...

Yep.

That would be a very bare and lonely looking open cupboard in my kitchen.

as well, working on a tutorial for those double ruffled slipcovers,

and a little something in the guest cottage

and a redesign in my daughters room

and..

Okay... I better get off here and back to work!

On a side note~

some new things coming in the Interior Styling and Advertisement areas~

please refer to my Styling and Advertise pages if you are interested!

Happy Tuesday!

Creamy Roses & Ruffles

2012-01-30T15:35:00.001-08:00

Sharing a little something
that's creamy white
with flirty ruffly rows all around

So perfectly...

delightfully ...

deliciously

shabby french.

These darling Frenchy chairs are reproductions and are upholstered

in not so fabulous (or fitting) ikat fabric

After staring at them for awhile & dreaming up my vision of their new upholstery

getting all excited about recovering the seats

and then a bit cranky realizing my staple gun was jammed...

I decided on a little flirty double ruffle slip for now.
(yes, I am impatient... so I set the staple gun aside and pulled out the sewing machine)

I traced the seat. Cut my fabric pieces
and then sewed them together

oh. me. oh. my.

such delicious ruffly goodness!

Two ruffles are twice as nice

twice as shabby romantic.

I made drop cloth ruffled slips for my dining chairs not long ago
but these are a bit different with two layers of ruffles
and they are not made out of drop cloths this time.

I'm loving how this little slipcover turned out

and am working on several more for my other chairs & a couple other creations

and also enjoying photographing these gorgeous blooms too...

The palest of pink with lacy green edging and soft creamy coloring...

it was instant love when I found them at the grocery store.

A little frenchy chair and pale pretties...

yep...

I'm loving them.

Joining
White Wednesday
Evolution of Style
Simply Klassic Home
1929 charmer
From my front porch to yours
Met Monday
Tuesdays Treasures
Diy by design
No minimalist here
Wow us Wednesdays
Air your laundry
You are talking too much
Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays
Tabletop Tuesday
Delectable Home
Primp
Vintage Inspiration Friday
Stuff and Nonsense
2805
Charm of Home
Pinterest link party
Cedar Hill Ranch

Thoughts...

2012-01-29T13:43:00.000-08:00

(images via pinterest)

Feathered Nest Friday

2012-01-27T07:02:00.000-08:00

It's Feathered Nest Friday time!!!

Here's what I shared this week:

I organized one of my armoires with galvanized bins and buckets

click HERE to view the post

I also shared just how simple it is to make the easy little chalkboard luggage tags
that I used for the buckets

click HERE if you missed it and want to take a peek

I also announced a fantastic
$100 Lowes gift card giveaway.

Did you enter yet?

Go HERE to go to the post to enter to win!

Such an amazing amount of beautiful links at last weeks party!!

Here are just a few that stood out for me:

Salvaged Whimsy shared these gorgeous wreaths-
I LOVE the pink one!

Recaptured Charm
shared how she wallpapered this armoire to create a different look.

Picked and Painted shared this beautiful dresser- love the color.

Knick of Time shared this charming ladies room

I Gotta Create shared this amazing tinfoil rose

Feel free to grab a Featured button if you would like!

(the code is over at my BUTTONS page at the top of my blog)

Onto this weeks edition of Feathered Nest Friday!!

Welcome to new partygoers and welcome back

and thank you to all my party animal friends

for taking the time to come over and share your wonderful

links each week!

PLEASE SHARE

decorating, flea finds, designs, transformations

crafts, table settings, etc.

ANYTHING related to feathering your nest!

**PLEASE BE A GRACIOUS FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY GUEST**

Make sure you post a button or a link back to the party on your post.

I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO BECOME A FRIEND/FOLLOWER

if you aren't already.

The Follow button is on my sidebar at the top

THANKS SO MUCH!

Don't forget to ENTER TO WIN THE
$100.00 LOWES GIFT CARD

AFTER LINKING UP.

Go HERE to enter.

WINNER ANNOUNCED NEXT WEEK!!

Chalkboard Tags

2012-01-25T17:15:00.000-08:00

Several of you asked about where I found the little chalkboard tags on the galvanized buckets
I shared in my armoire organization post

They are so simple and easy to make.

It started with a package of large luggage tags I found at Staples awhile back

I love big old chunky luggage tags- they are great for so many things.
tagging vintage items for sale, personalized gift tags or simple banners.

I used them for this 'Believe' banner recently.

I wanted something that I could change easily and the chunky tags were perfect.
It would be simple to make these out of a piece of tin or wood or even use chipboard tags
but I had these on hand already and thought I would put them to use

So...
I took out my trusty Purdy paintbrush & coated several tags with chalkboard paint

One even coat was all it took to cover them.

As the paint dries dry, they will start to curl a bit but

you should be able to just pick them up and curl them right back to flat easily.

Then I simply wrote what I wanted on the labels and tied them to the buckets

I love the idea of using them at a vintage shop and writing the price on them
and reusing them easily when it sells.

A quick random post~ it's a busy week over here
so several larger projects have been on the back burner for a bit.
but am hoping to get a little chalk painted treasure post up soon :)

Happy Wednesday!
See you tomorrow for Feathered Nest Friday!!

Did you enter for a chance to win a $100 Lowes gift card yet?

Click HERE to go to the post to enter!

sharing at
Stuff and Nonsense
2805
Charm of Home
Funky Junk Interiors
No Minimalist Here

Buckets & Bins & a Giveaway

2012-01-23T18:08:00.000-08:00

Lots of rain and wind here this weekend and a crazy outage where the main fiber optic cable

that serves the area was damaged and cut in half during one of the storms.
No cellphones.
No internet.
Very few landlines that worked.
It was kind of insane but with no internet and blogging for a bit
I had some extra time to delve into some magazines and books for inspirations
for upcoming projects as well as work on getting some organizing done.
(apologies for the dark rainy day photos!)

I have been in organizing and de-clutter mode lately
Sorting through closets & making separate piles for
donations, for selling and for keeping.

One of the areas that needed some organization is the office.

I store a lot of project stuff & treasures in that room
Bolts of fabric, sewing supplies, paints, hardware for around the house, various treasures,etc.

One of my favorite places for storage is inside antique armoires.

I love the muted original old chalky color, details, and size of this one.

Since this armoire was originally intended for clothing~

we put several shelves inside the large 2 door area to be able to use it for storage

and went to my favorite hardware store :) Lowes to find the perfect storage containers

to put all the random bits and pieces in.

There are so many fantastic closet and organizing ideas at Lowes in their closet section-

Shelving units, baskets, drawers on rollers, etc.

I wanted something fun, something vintage inspired-ish, something that would

be easy to get into and find what I was looking for...

Yes...it's true...
I have a thing for galvanized bins and buckets.

They are charming and practical at the same time especially for hardware and crafts
so I was super excited to find a section of galvanized buckets and bins in various sizes.

I picked up several of these 12 quart sized buckets first- they are fantastic and just $6.57 each.

I loved that they had nice sized handles on them

which makes it easy to pick them up and take them
(and all the stuff you need for your project)

with you to wherever you are working.

I added a couple of chalk painted tags for labeling them -

super easy to find just what I need now

I also picked up 2 of these oval 5.5 gallon sized bins ($13.58 each)

I love the longer length for storing some of those bigger items.
and they fit perfectly on the shelves.

Then I found my favorite bin...

& I knew what it would be used for...
or so I thought ;)

I have several bolts and large folded pieces of fabric that I like to keep out for

inspiration or for easy access for a quick project.
This huge tub is perfect for stacking and storing the fabric in
and makes it easy to find what I am looking for.

But,

it's also a perfect size to use for laundry and sorting clothes-

which I am loving the idea of using it for.

Add a name tag for each person and voila- a heavy duty laundry basket!

It would also be great for storing wood for the fire or to use as a party tub for cold drinks on occasion.

I loved the price at Lowes too- $18.98

I've seen this same brand and size bin at other hardware stores for twice that.

The other thing I did to organize my armoire involved a little cork board.
Remember those cork squares that I used with my Thanksgiving table?

Using that same style cork, I lined the inside of one of the armoire doors

It's perfect for storing inspirations & magazine clippings

and keeping it clutter free when the door is closed.

I am excited about my new storage containers and organized armoire

but here is something that you can get excited about.

Lowes is generously offering a fantastic giveaway to one lucky

French Country Cottage reader!

How does a

$100 Lowes gift card

sound?

Whoo whoo!!

To be entered to win- here's all you have to do.

1. Be a follower of French Country Cottage -

(the Google Friend Connect button is on my sidebar

at the top of my blog)

leave a comment on this post!

For extra entries-

2. 'Like' the Lowes Creative Ideas page on FB and leave a comment on this post

3. Share the giveaway on your blog, fb or twitter and leave a comment on this post

The winner will be picked by Random Number Generator next week

Good luck!!

I have always loved shopping at Lowes and finding the next inspiring element

for fixing up our home or the next project while my husband loads up on lumber

though, yes, I do like to shop for lumber! ;)

There are a ton of ideas for projects at the Lowes Creative Ideas website

& on their Facebook page and they also offer a free magazine you can sign up for as well.

I was compensated for this post as a member of the
Lowes Creative Ideas Network of Creators and Influencers but the designs and opinions are my own.

Sharing at

Savvy Southern Style
Diy by design
Primp
Open House Thursday
Chatty Chics
Inspiration Friday
Vintage Inspiration Friday
My Romantic Home
Farmhouse Friday
Saturday Night Special

Feathered Nest Friday

2012-01-20T04:20:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Feathered Nest Friday!!

It's been a busy week at French Country Cottage~
I am working on organizing and a re-do in my 'office' space
Here's what I shared this week:

Mr. French Country Cottage and I fixed up my little vintage table

that had it's top broken last winter and it's now my new desk

Here's the link to the table post HERE

and the tabletop tutorial post HERE

Vintage Inspired Plank Tabletop Tutorial

2012-01-19T07:33:00.000-08:00

I have had several questions asking for a tutorial on how we made

the wood plank tabletop for my vintage table that I shared
the other day.
If you missed it- the post is HERE

This table had glass on it originally that ended up being broken...
a casualty of the snow and pergola incident...

I wasn't sure just how I was going to fix it-

get new glass for it or come up with something else.

Well, we went with something else.

This was such an easy project and took maybe an hour start to finish.

The paint drying was probably what took the longest!

Here's how we did it:

We always seem to have random wood leftover from projects so instead

of running to the hardware store and grabbing wood for a top

I thought it might be fun to make a tabletop out of random widths of wood

for a bit of a rustic charm.

We gathered a bunch of different pieces that were old project leftovers, or extras, etc.

Rough sawn exterior trim,

furring strips, several different widths of 1x pine

and even a piece of old grooved knotty pine that was

on one of the walls in our house.

We choose pieces for various reasons

and their texture or the character

I wanted the boards to run the width- not the length and so we

cut all the boards to the width of the table-

This table is 31" wide (we added a little for overhang on each side.)

Stacking one next to the other

the boards were adjusted and tinkered with until the randomness made sense.

Taking 3 ~ 1x2's cut to the length of the table-

each tabletop board was secured to the 1x2 to hold it in place

(from underneath or from up top and then you can flip your tabletop

so that the strips are underneath)

*Make sure the screws are not too long- you don't want them to pop up through the top.*

Once the tabletop was built and secured-

it was time for a little paint!

I chose my good old basic white semi-gloss paint and

watered a bit of it down so that it was more of a thick whitewash.

I gave the top 2 light coats with the white and then did a dry brushing with

a little french linen chalk paint.

Since I was looking for an aged look to the boards

the next step was sanding.

Using a coarse grit sandpaper-

I sanded the edges of each of the boards to round them

and then sanded the tops to take off some of the paint.

I concentrated on sanding more heavily on the knot holes or grooves in the boards

and in between them the most.

So that's about it!!

Super easy and quick- that's my kind of afternoon project!!

I love the random edges showing

&
how each board is different in texture, finish, and distressing...

but all together
they create a beautiful rustic tabletop for an old vintage table.

Sharing at
Romantic Homes

Funky Junk Interiors

It's so Very Cheri

See you this afternoon for Feathered Nest Friday!!