Pondered Primed Perfected: Cottage Style

Over the years my personal style has developed and matured into a definite Cottage Style. I don't know if it's the reminiscence of summer getaways to sunny Pacific beaches, or the natural ease and comfort that is an innate quality of Cottage Style.

Cottage Style can be a combination of many other decor styles.

What you are likely to find in a Cottage Style home are rooms with muted blues, greens and neutrals combined with lots of white. You might find chippy painted furniture or industrial pieces that have been re-purposed. Design elements can be whimsical and functional, like interesting collected items displayed alongside everyday dishes on open shelving in the kitchen.

My Cottage Style is:

Light, bright and cheerful.
Chippy and worn by default.
Put your feet up comfortable.
Unconcerned with a bit of clutter from everyday living.
A place where kids can play without worrying they'll ruin anything.

Cottage Style allows me to add my personality to my space without spending a lot of money. By taking acquired items and re-purposing them or giving them new life with a bit of paint or elbow grease.

Like this ladder back chair...

Found on the side of the road with a "FREE" sign when the neighbors were moving. Never one to pass up a good freebie, it came home with me.

After hanging out for a bit with no real purpose (only a year or so) it finally spoke to me and I knew what I needed to do to give it some cottage personality.

A couple coats of crisp white paint on all surfaces except the rush seat.

A bit of distressing with my sanding sponge.

Some green acrylic paint mixed with some Glazing liquid (1/1 ratio).

I taped off the bottom of each leg and painted them with the green paint/glaze mixture.

I also painted one of the bars on the chair back green. Just for fun! Once they'd dried completely, I gave the green sections another quick distressing with the sanding sponge.