Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / decorating / A Corner of the Cottage

A Corner of the Cottage

March 29, 2014 at 9:06 am by Claudia

Of course, not every corner is worth highlighting, but I’m starting a little series that will aim a spotlight on a smaller areas and niches in the cottage. Who knows? It may end up being a very short series! Here goes.

corners-den

First up: this little corner in the den.

What’s that piece of furniture? The cherry spinet desk was a local find. It used to be by the stairs and my little white freebie-street-find desk was in here. They’ve recently changed places. Because this corner has a lot going on already, we decided to close the desk up and use it as a table.

What’s on/in it? A hand-painted tole letter holder (it holds bills that need to be paid,) a vintage cigarette box that I got in Edinburgh, a framed print that I’m using as a tray and which holds my lenses and a stack of already made felt critters, a pot of impatiens that will eventually return to its original home on the porch, a bird nest I found on the property that is under a glass dome.

What’s on the wall? The Lost Lamb print in a beautiful vintage frame that I purchased from my blogging friend, Debra, is at the top. Underneath it is a vintage shadow-box type shelf that had a dark finish and mirrored back. I painted it and covered the mirror with scrapbook paper and now it holds my miniature pottery collection.

corners-den-basket

What else? On the floor is a stack of vintage books, books that we have read and truly love. Next to the books is a vintage wicker piece that could hold logs or magazines or a host of other things. Here at the cottage it holds some reading material and my tin of hand quilting supplies.

Any challenges? Yes. This little space is nestled between a window and a closet. So whatever we put there has to be able to exist in that space and also be fairly easy to move. The window cannot be blocked because it is the home of a window air conditioner in the summer months.

And there you are. I hope you like this little series!

Happy Saturday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: decorating 36 Comments

Comments

  1. Tana says

    March 29, 2014 at 10:27 am

    What a great idea. I am going to start painting my bills! LOL. Like how you think outside the box.
    Tana

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      March 29, 2014 at 10:38 am

      Whoops! Just went in and changed that.

      Reply
  2. LauraC says

    March 29, 2014 at 10:27 am

    My favorite is the bills that “need to be painted.” If only that’s all that they needed! ;)

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      March 29, 2014 at 10:39 am

      Oh don’t I wish! I just changed that little typo!

      Reply
      • LauraC says

        March 29, 2014 at 11:16 am

        At least you know that people read every word of your blogs! :)

        Reply
        • Claudia says

          March 29, 2014 at 3:06 pm

          xo

          Reply
  3. rebecca says

    March 29, 2014 at 10:47 am

    I think this corner is a precious one….and I share your delight in “cheerful clutter” per the previous post!

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      March 29, 2014 at 3:06 pm

      Thank you, Rebecca!

      Reply
  4. Carolyn Marie says

    March 29, 2014 at 10:50 am

    charming!

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      March 29, 2014 at 3:07 pm

      Thank you, Carolyn Marie!

      Reply
  5. Donnamae says

    March 29, 2014 at 11:37 am

    That’s one hard working corner…but well organized! Now let’s see…every room has at least three corners…that should hold us for awhile…oops, four corners! So, will you move the desk once the air conditioner has to go back? Happy Saturday to you! ;)

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      March 29, 2014 at 3:07 pm

      No, I don’t have to move it. It doesn’t really block the window. Happy Saturday!

      Reply
  6. Linda @ A La Carte says

    March 29, 2014 at 12:28 pm

    Cute little corner. Charming, collectibles and storage…perfect!

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      March 29, 2014 at 3:07 pm

      Thanks so much, Linda!

      Reply
  7. Janet in Rochester says

    March 29, 2014 at 12:40 pm

    What an inspired idea – putting the bird’s nest under glass! Did you already have that adorable cake [cupcake] plate and dome or did you find it in your travels? It’s a perfect fit! Next bird’s nest I find I’m keeping – just to do this! So cute.

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      March 29, 2014 at 3:08 pm

      I found that several years ago in my friend Heidi’s shop.

      Reply
  8. Betsy says

    March 29, 2014 at 12:56 pm

    I think my favorites parts of this post are the birds nest and the shadow box. Both are so sweet looking. You find such beautiful ways to display your treasures.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      March 29, 2014 at 3:08 pm

      Oh, thank you, Betsy!

      Reply
  9. Denise says

    March 29, 2014 at 1:50 pm

    What a great idea for a series! I love how the whole corner comes together.

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      March 29, 2014 at 3:09 pm

      Thank you, Denise!

      Reply
  10. Chris k in Wisconsin says

    March 29, 2014 at 4:20 pm

    I love looking in corners and most especially at your bits and bobs. :-) Yep, 4 corners to every room, so I think we have a “series” here!!
    My corners are no where near as exciting. Thanks for the peek!

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      March 30, 2014 at 7:12 am

      There are corners here in the house that will definitely NOT be photo-worthy!

      Reply
  11. Melanie says

    March 29, 2014 at 4:36 pm

    What a charming little corner! What do you do if you need to get in the closet though? I think I’ve told you that I have the same shadow box (two of them, actually). I *will* get around to painting them and papering over the mirror part this spring when the weather is warm enough to paint outside! How did you paint the wood part without getting paint on the mirror?

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      March 30, 2014 at 7:13 am

      I just move the desk a little. The stuff on that side of the closet doesn’t need to be accessed very often.
      As for the shadow box, I just used painter’s tape on the glass.

      Reply
  12. Nancy Blue Moon says

    March 29, 2014 at 6:50 pm

    A corner tour of the cottage is a great Idea Claudia..I like your vintage wicker holder..I have an old wicker magazine holder that the previous owner spray painted a pretty shade of aqua..I think you would probably like it too..

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      March 30, 2014 at 7:14 am

      If it’s aqua, you know I’d like it!

      Reply
  13. Judy Clark says

    March 29, 2014 at 7:06 pm

    Cute, charming, cozy little corner full of sweet, special souveniers(sp?) from your travels! I love the little cabinet with the miniature vintage pottery pieces – of course!!

    Have a great week-end. I’ve been under the weather with a cold and haven’t accomplished much this week. Next week will be warm and better. Weather is gorgeous here. Hope your snow is beginning to melt.

    Judy

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      March 30, 2014 at 7:14 am

      So sorry to hear you’ve been under the weather, Judy. Weather isn’t gorgeous here yet – it rained and rained and rained yesterday – but it IS getting warmer! Snow is almost all gone!

      Reply
  14. gayle says

    March 29, 2014 at 10:24 pm

    I have no charming corners…sad face. This is a fun idea!

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      March 30, 2014 at 7:15 am

      Thanks, Gayle!

      Reply
  15. Mary says

    March 29, 2014 at 11:30 pm

    Claudia, this corner looks very cheerful – especially love your spinet desk and the miniature pottery in the shadow-box frame.

    Happy weekend – what’s left of it. We just had a tornado watch with large hail expected so moved our cars from the driveway with big trees around, to underneath a safe parking deck and sat there for an hour! Fortunately it bypassed us but apparently some close by areas had damage.

    Mary x

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      March 30, 2014 at 7:16 am

      Oh my, Mary. Glad to hear you are both safe. That must be very frightening! I hope you can relax today after your scare.

      Reply
  16. Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow says

    March 30, 2014 at 7:34 am

    Amazing that you’ve nurtured those impatiens all winter and kept them alive :)

    Reply
  17. Carol Ann Hood says

    March 30, 2014 at 11:21 am

    Something that I just thought when I read the comment about painting your bills: there are several errors I always make when I’m typing, I cannot type anyone’s name that is Carol without typing Ann afterwards, I usually notice that; I constantly type “VA” where I’m from. Afte all ita only been 17 since we moved here. LOL
    Carol Ann

    Reply
  18. Lucy says

    March 30, 2014 at 5:43 pm

    Love your corner and look forward to seeing many more. Also I love, love your floors.

    Reply
  19. Haworth says

    April 1, 2014 at 3:52 pm

    So very pretty, Claudia! (And that sunny window does a heart good!) I love the mix of wood and paint and the way you gather together the things you love that reflect your life and places you’ve been. Every home should be this way. It’s why some homes feel comfortable when you walk inside. (Oh! and piles of books on the floor….. gosh that looks very familier to me. hahaha!)

    Reply
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Welcome!

Welcome!

I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

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