This week's featured small space is a completely renovated 1860 stone cottage in Oxfordfordshire.
Welcome to the sixty-fourth post in the series "Living Large in Small Spaces".
The stone cottage owned by Caroline and Anthony Borgman was voted Best Cottage in Period Living Readers’ Awards 2010. Throughout the cottage the couple, who did much of the reno work themselves, has maintained the character of the original structure with its Cotswold stone.
An area in the entrance hall serves as the dining room. Space under the stairs is utilized for cabinetry.
Bespoke base kitchen cabinets were custom made, and painted and distressed by Caroline. Anthony built the wall cupboards.
Caroline, who works in the fashion industry, has created a warm, cozy, enchanting interior. Her choice of a mostly neutral color palette with subtle touches of color ensures the cottage is bright and cheerful.
The couple found antique pine doors to replace the more modern pine doors that had been installed by previous owners in the 1990's.
The tiny master bedroom is big on charm.
Their daughter's bedroom is little girl perfect.
I expect to see Peter Pan float through the window of this charming room.
I'm crazy about this bathroom and seriously want those towels.
I don't know about you, but I'm in love with this darling cottage. Do you feel inspired? Source: Period Living
Join me next Saturday for another post in the special series
Greetings Cottage Friends, It's a new year and I'm back from a blogging break. Much of the intermission was spent recuperating from a cold. There was an advantage to my being sick though. . .resting opened the door to quiet contemplation.
Time to reflect on 2015 -- a year primarily spent on the building of our new cottage. A dream brought to life. (Thank you for sharing the journey with me.) And what of 2016? It's been my custom the past few years to choose one word to focus on in the new year. Actually last year I chose two words: Simplify and Beauty (you can read the post here). They're both good words and I feel no need to select new ones.
Time is passing at an alarming rate and I want the remaining years I have to be simply beautiful.
"How did it get so late so soon? It's night before it's afternoon.
December is here before it's June.
My goodness how the time has flewn.
How did it get so late so soon?" ~ Dr. Seuss
Growing old isn't something I think much about, even though I'm clearly a senior citizen. Just in case there's any doubt, the government made sure I know I'm a Senior -- they sent me a Medicare card for my last birthday.
My mirror relentlessly affirms my age, too. Facial lines are deeper and there's a lot more silver in my hair. The good news is zits are a thing of the past and the Bible says, "Gray hair is a crown of glory. . ." (Proverbs 16:31). No botox for me (not even if I could afford it). I'm embracing the wrinkles and wearing the crown. I like the following quote from Elisabeth Elliott*:
Elisabeth Elliott December 21, 1926 – June 15, 2015
“George Macdonald said, 'If you knew what God knows about death you would clap your listless hands', but instead I find old people in North America just buying this whole youth obsession. I think growing older is a wonderful privilege. I want to learn to glorify God in every stage of my life.”
. . .growing older is a wonderful privilege.
“Well Honey, you just don’t let that rocking chair take over… you get up and go even if you don’t want to.” -- Connie Reeves**, Cowgirl
"I often wonder if God, in His sovereignty, allows the eyesight of the aged to cast a dim view of the here and now so that we may focus our spiritual eyes on the ever after."
~ Billy Graham, Nearing Home: Life, Faith, and Finishing Well
I want to learn to glorify God in every stage of my life.
When I was in my 20's I met an older woman at Hume Lake Camp in Northern California. She and her husband had retired from their respective careers and moved to the camp where they worked as caretakers. One morning she took a break and sat with me on a log. We drank coffee and talked. She was happy and content in her unglamorous work, and told me that every day she was reminded of God's glory by looking up at the pines around her. "Each tree points to its Maker," she said.
All these years later that precious lady's words have stayed with me. Every time I see a pine tree I'm reminded of what she said. . .
Each tree points to its Maker.
Glorifying God and worshipping Him doesn't only take place in a church service. It can happen while sweeping out cabins and changing bed linens, emptying trash cans and dusting window sills. I've been reading the online version of "The Practice of the Presence of God" by Brother Lawrence***:
It was observed, that in the greatest hurry of business in the kitchen, he still preserved his recollection and heavenly-mindedness. He was never hasty nor loitering, but did each thing in its season with an even uninterrupted composure and tranquillity of spirit.
“The time of business,” said he, “does not with me differ from the time of prayer. In the noise and clutter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquillity as if I were upon my knees at the Blessed Supper.”
I possess God in as great tranquillity as if I were upon my knees at the Blessed Supper.
"I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast.
And when I run I feel His pleasure."
~ Eric Lidell, 1924 Olympic Gold Medalist, and Missionary
I recently purchased a twining loom and have completed my first rag rug.
I quite enjoy twining. The rhythm of my fingers as they weave the weft back and forth over the warp is soothing, calming. Creating under the watchful eye of The Master, I sense His presence.
I feel His pleasure.
My heart exalts Him in response.
"You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16:11
Cooking, cleaning, running, weaving, blogging --
whatever we find to do
we can offer it up to God as an act of worship.
"The end we ought to propose to ourselves is to become, in this life, the most perfect worshippers of God we can possibly be, and as we hope to be through all eternity."
~ Brother Lawrence
To be the most perfect worshipper of God I can possibly be.
This, my dear Cottage Friends, is my goal for not only 2016, but for the rest of my days on earth.
I long to finish well.
This beautiful praise song by Selah is one of my all-time favorites.
I hope you'll take a few minutes to play it.
*Elisabeth Elliott was a missionary to the Auca Indians and best-selling author. From 1988 to 2001, Elisabeth could be heard on a daily radio program, Gateway to Joy. **Connie Douglas Reeves was the oldest member of the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, and one of the first women to study law at a Texas law school. She died at the age of 101, 12 days after she was thrown from her horse, Dr. Pepper.
***Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection (c. 1614 – 12 February 1691) served as a lay brother in a Carmelite monastery in Paris. Christians commonly remember him for the intimacy he expressed concerning his relationship to God as recorded in a book compiled after his death, the classic Christian text, The Practice of the Presence of God.
The new year has arrived and I'm back with a Belgian guesthouse that has knocked my socks off.
Welcome to the sixty-third post in the series
"Living Large in Small Spaces".
This gem of a townhouse is in the center of Bruges, the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. Although the apartment was recently restored, the old world charm has not been at all diminished thanks to expert interior designer Natalie Haegeman.
Charming and cozy, the living room possesses its original oak floors and wood-burning fireplace.
The eat-in kitchen stole my heart. This could be found in a Cotswold cottage.
Subdued colors and soft lighting make the master bedroom, on the second floor, very serene.
The master bathroom is dreamy. I could feel quite pampered here.
I love the attic bedroom under the eaves; plank walls and ceiling, open beams. So charming.
The second bath vanity is delightful.
A private terrace is accessed from the apartment. Just a little space to rest and enjoy a cuppa.
For outdoor scenery, it's the neighborhood that beckons. . .
I'm of Belgian descent on my mother's side. Are you familiar with the country of Belgium? Source: Trip Advisor
Join me next Saturday for another post in the special series
I confess that I really love discovering cottages in other parts of the world to share with you. It's not always easy to find one with interior photos, so when I came across this one in Poland I nearly jumped through my computer screen. (Okay, not really. But I did feel a little giddy.) The charmometer jumped way up on this one. Look at those stained glass windows and the scallop molding. Plank walls and ceiling -- yes, please.
From what I could gather about this cottage, it is a weekend and holiday getaway for the owners and their children. It was in pretty rough shape when they found it and they have been slowly restoring it.
The banner over the sofa reads "Gość w dom - Bóg w dom"
English translation: Guest coming into house - God coming into house. A guest is a blessing for the household.
Though color is used sparingly in the decor, its impact against the neutral backdrop is generous.
Dark woods contrast beautifully against the white.
This cottage has a comfortable, collected look that I love.
Blue and white with touches of yellow is a classic combination. Timeless.
Enchanting touches everywhere.
The outdoor living is just as charming.
Zielona Chatka translated: Green Cottage
Could this be my new favorite small space living large? It's at least in my Top 10. How about you? Source: Decoholic
Join me next Saturday for another post in the special series
