Living Large In Small Spaces - Christmas Decorating

Now that we've enjoyed a lovely Thanksgiving celebration with friends, my thoughts are turning to Christmas.

Isn't this a beautiful room?


Source: Susie Watson Designs

Welcome to the fifty-ninth post in the series
"Living Large in Small Spaces".


As I consider how to dress up our own small cottage for Christmas, these are some photos that have inspired me. They may inspire you, too. Even if your space is larger.

There's a lot packed into Courtney and Matt Brown's apartment living room, yet it doesn't look cluttered. 


12th & White Home & Antiques

I like the Christmas tree on the white wicker trunk and the wreath hanging on the old door.

12th & White Home & Antiques


I love the simplicity of Maria's unadorned Christmas tree in the pale blue feed bucket.


Source: Dreamy Whites



Just a few pine cones and miniature lights dress this minimalist tree. Three candles and a gorgeous basket add warmth.





When floor space is at a premium, hang a Christmas tree. Framed by the windows and the candles' amber glow, this is a stunning look.


Source: Digs Digs - 30 Creative Decor Ideas For Small Spaces



Sasha's chalkboard makes a big statement over her tiny trees.


Source: Lemonade Makin' Mama - Hall Decking With Heart


Bedrooms are fair game for holiday decor too. Accessorizing with red and touches of evergreen creates instant Christmas.


Source: Rusty Hinge - 2013 Holiday House Walk

For a completely different color palette, a beach cottage Christmas bedroom designed by Tracey Rapisardi.


sleepy time
Tracey Rapisardi Style - Christmas Cottage On A Seaside Cove

I love the little vintage tree on the bedside table. Oh, that enamelware pail!


christmas tree
Tracey Rapisardi Style - Christmas Cottage On A Seaside Cove


If you're lucky enough to have a footboard, hang a wreath on it.


Source: Dig Digs - 32 Adorable Christmas Bedroom Decor Ideas


Source: Dig Digs - 32 Adorable Christmas Bedroom Decor Ideas

If one wreath is good, several are even better.



In the Andereggs' sun-washed bedroom, a gracious iron bed is dressed with crinkled linens -- Margo's preference. The center pillow is handcrafted from vintage fabrics; on the wall, a 1905 certificate memorializes the marriage of Sever and Vernie.
Source: Country Living - Christmas Cottage

I think it's safe to say small homes have windows.  If you're good at following instructions, this site (click on the caption) will give you the details for making this window sill garland.


1
Source:  Easy Craft Ideas - Window Christmas Garland 


I don't think it would be hard to re-create this delightful scene. One birch branch+craft birds+spanish moss+twine for hanging and glue. Pine topiaries in terracotta pots with a few snowflakes and you're good to go. (I'd leave this up all winter.)


Christmas-Cheer-with-a-View-Decorating-Your-Holiday-Windows_26
Source: Stylish Eve - Christmas Cheer With A View, Decorating Your Holiday Windows

If that's too much work, how about this. Super easy. LED star string lights. No little figurines in your stash? Use your imagination. I could see a row of little white or terracotta pots with red geraniums on the sill. Charming.


Christmas-Cheer-with-a-View-Decorating-Your-Holiday-Windows_03
Source: Stylish Eve - Christmas Cheer With A View, Decorating Your Holiday Windows
Or how about vintage post cards?


Amid a snowy white setting of antique needlework and opulent agapanthus, holiday postcards from the early 20th century bear good wishes, revealing tender glimpses into bygone holidays. The cards, addressed to beloved sisters and friends, are propped in old frogs, which Margo collects. Crocheted runners soften the view through the kitchen window. Margo likes to layer the vintage textiles, displaying several at a time.
Source: Country Living - Christmas Cottage


Vintage Christmas aprons. So cute in this red and white kitchen.

Source: BHG


Finally, I've got a major crush on this bathroom. Oh, those towels!


Source: 52 Flea - More from Evi's Holiday Home


Well, I'm ready to jump in and get Christmas decorating started. How about you?

Join me next Saturday for another post in the special series

 Living Large in Small Spaces

See more home tours in the 
Living Large In Small Spaces Series here.


From the comments I've received, many
people have been encouraged by the homes and lives 
shared in this series.
If you live in a small space I'd 
love to feature your story, too.



Send me an email and let's collaborate.
(See the "Contact Me" page for my email address.)

Too Soon Snow

The garden shed is silent.




Miss Pine is wearing white.




Quilt blocks are lining up in rows.



The fire is burning bright.





My front porch gourds are sad, it's true.




"Too early," I hear them say.

Our calendar agrees with them



"Please wait a few more days."

Although it's technically still fall, here at A Joyful Cottage winter has arrived. News tells us it's that way around most of the country. 

For me the time to quilt and enjoy other activities inside our cozy cottage has arrived.

Coffee or tea anyone?




Wishing all of you a safe, warm and happy Thanksgiving.




Living Large In Small Spaces - Rosehill Cottage

Is this cottage familiar to you?






Welcome to the fifty-eighth post in the series
"Living Large in Small Spaces".


If you answered "yes" to the posed question, then you may know that this is Rosehill, Iris' cottage in the 2006 movie The Holiday. Although it's been shared on other blogs, I decided to feature it after Connie of Gosherd Valley Cottage sent me an email with an interior photo of Rosehill and asked if I "knew" it.

Actually, the lead photo isn't the exterior of an actual cottage. It's a shell constructed in Surrey, England for the movie. The interior cottage shots were filmed on a Hollywood sound stage. But this post isn't about the movie, or its production. We're here to see the delightful Rosehill Cottage (real, or not). Can I get an "amen"?

Alrighty then. . .let's have a look. 

image

Rosehill's entryway is situated between the kitchen and the living room.


Jon Hutman the production designer on this project created the quintessential English country cottage. Cozy and comfy.


I love the vintage drum repurposed into a table between the two chairs. (Old drum + glass cut to fit the top = instant fabulousness.)

This is the photo Connie sent me.


Stone walls, beamed ceilings and exposed timber headers over the windows are classic English cottage architectural elements.


The dreamy eat-in kitchen has painted cabinets and a fireplace (one of three in the cottage).  





I think I once owned a kitchen cart like the one in this scene. To the left of the cart (out of the camera's range) is a door that leads to the library. 

rosehillcottage4.jpg


And here it is. The Library.
I don't even know what to say. . .BIG LIKE.





The bedroom is perfection. Well, of course it is, because when one is designing a set one can make it. . .perfect.




Small bathroom? Perhaps, but authentic for a true cottage, and you can't deny its charm. (I know somewhere there's a commode. But then, again, it's a stage set. . .so probably not.) 





The fact that the movie is almost 10 years old yet the decor doesn't appear dated attests to the timelessness of cottage design.





So there you have it. Rosehill Cottage.
A cottage that's not really a cottage. 

But who cares if it's only make believe?


Join me next Saturday for another post in the special series

 Living Large in Small Spaces

See more home tours in the 
Living Large In Small Spaces Series here.


From the comments I've received, many
people have been encouraged by the homes and lives 
shared in this series.
If you live in a small space I'd 
love to feature your story, too.


Send me an email and let's collaborate.
(See the "Contact Me" page for my email address.)

Photo Shoot and Sewing

Holy flying trash cans! An astonishing wind accompanied the rainstorm last night. I was happy to be nestled all snug in our bed and very thankful for a well-built cottage.



"Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night."
Blogging has taken a bit of a back seat (no pun intended) the last two weeks, and I blame this man. . .


Steve Roundy, Photographer

Okay,  "blame" is too strong a word. 

Five weeks ago a writer with Angie's List newsroom contacted me about featuring our cottage in their "new nationally facing interactive publication called Angie’s List Weekly." After a few emails back and forth she interviewed me over the phone and arranged for Steve to come for a photo shoot.

Two Saturdays ago Steve photographed the cottage exterior, and last Saturday he photographed the interior (which I really appreciated, because I needed that extra week to get things ready). 

Incredibly, I still had some flowers in my garden to cut and arrange for the shoot.




While Steve worked, I managed to take a few shots of my own.



I learned a lot about photography just by watching him.



Professional photographers have all sorts of nifty tools and filters to handle touchy lighting situations.



Steve loved our cottage (and Dennis' studio) and we loved sharing it with him.



Everyone had a good time.



Our cottage will be featured in February. In the meantime Steve is going to send us a CD with all the photos he took. I can hardly wait to see them.

Having someone come to photograph your home is great motivation for completing projects like making a cushion and pillow covers for the settee.





I have a stool I wanted to makeover and use in this room, but I didn't have time to work on it before the photo shoot. Earlier this week I sewed a slipcover for it.






Now the stool sits in the sitting room where it can serve as a footrest or a little table. I love it!


Although I still have work to do in this room, I feel I've made pretty good progress thanks to the push from Angie's List and Steve.

Do you ever need a little push to get things done around your home?