This time of year I am in full-on Nesting Mode. I look around our cottage and thank my lucky stars that we have a roof over our head and a charming one, at that. So I’ve been taking some pictures of the cottage. First up?
The den.
This room – where I write, blog, read, and where Don and I watch the tube – is full of things that are well worn, used and vintage. The only item that was new when we purchased it is the sofa. It’s now nineteen years old and on its second slip cover. Oh, and the rug, which is now 14 years old and has attained ‘well worn’ status courtesy of the dogs that have shared our life.
The den is smallish, sunken and until very recently, was not my favorite room here at the cottage. Then, after almost 10 years of dreaming of built-in bookshelves, we took the bull by the horns and stained some wood, added some standards and brackets, and now? I don’t know why, but those darned shelves have made all the difference in the world in my perception of the space.
I really love it here now.
It’s full of stuff. Every bit of space is in use. But that’s the way life is here at the cottage, where livable space equals about 1000 square feet and the owners have a lot of things that they love.
Some scenes from the den (as is, nothing styled):
Everything has a story of course, because that’s how we roll around here.
A flower print in a beautiful scalloped wood frame found for $15 at auction.
A pair of vintage lamps found in a favorite antique shop last year. We fell in love with them.
A blue/green table found at auction for $10.
Collections: egg cups, McCoy pottery, china, Roseville pottery, mini pottery, and books.
Well loved art hanging on the walls: an original Maxfield Parrish print, an original Currier & Ives ‘God Bless Our Home’ print (found at auction), the beautiful Lost Lamb print in its equally beautiful vintage frame.
A spinet desk made out of cherry, a lovely china cabinet (one of the first things I purchased when I moved to San Diego), an antique music cabinet, a $5 television/media cabinet (found at auction) and a $10 coffee table.
My blogging chair, found in San Diego. It’s vintage and needs to be reupholstered but, in the meantime, is sporting an IKEA slipcover.
The beautiful cigarette box I found in Edinburgh over 20 years ago – one of my very favorite things.
You can see that we don’t spend a lot of money on things. We’re always on a budget. Since we’re also naturally drawn to used, worn, and vintage, it all seems to work out rather nicely!
It’s not perfect. But perfect is boring.
I believe in letting a room evolve over time. It’s taken us almost ten years to find what works in this space. But now, it’s my favorite retreat.
More ‘Scenes From’ this week.
Happy Sunday.
Claudia, So glad you are loving your den now. I see you have hung your new art piece. I just love the picture of you, Don and Scout, also the Lassie picture.. You need a photo of Riley too. Hope you are doing well today. Stay warm. xoxo,Susie
Riley and Winston are represented in the kitchen and in our bedroom. All of our dogs are in framed photos that are all over the house, Susie.
Thank you for sharing your den with us :) I really like your lamps and the shades on them. I have the worst time finding a lamp I like. I’m glad you still have the Necco jar out. It always reminds me of a snow globe . Hope you are having a nice relaxing weekend.
Deb
It’s very hard to find lamps, Debbie. I’m always on the lookout but I find very few I like. That’s why we jumped on these lamps.
Love this little peek into your den. Love all the pottery and art you have collected. It is warm and comfortable and interesting! Just like you and Don.
hugs,
Linda
Thanks, Linda! It’s very cozy in here. I’m glad it is because I’m staying in today. Freezing rain has closed a lot of our roads and Don had to cancel a singing gig this afternoon because it’s so dangerous out there.
My kind of room!
Thanks, Kathy!
When you post pics of your home Claudia there has never been one single decorating decision you make that I find fault with. Nothing says home like being surrounded by things you love. To many our home may seem too cluttered but to me it says Homey. Books are so important to me because of my love of reading so to not display some of my collection would be impossible. We frequent a few thrift stores in our area and just yesterday I found a beautiful old dish with a corn pattern on it for only $1.25 , it was very dirty but I have cleaned it and it will find a new home on our corner china cabinet. Like you, I love things that speak to me. Happy Sunday!
If a room is decorated with things you love and that have a story to them, you can’t lose!
Your den is just as comfortable as a favorite pair of slippers that you can hardly wait to slip into after a long day. It’s obviously a happy place. By the way, what is the wooden object on the wall between the bookshelf and the window?
A wooden organ pipe that we got years ago in Canada. (I think I hung it upside down – have to fix that!)
Thanks for asking Sandra..I was wondering what that was too..
So cozy..It has “you” written all over it..lot’s of collectables and memories..That’s special..
Thank you so much, Missy.
Such a charming room to sit and write in – perhaps the next great mystery novel will originate from this very room.
We always do a thorough cleaning before we decorate for the holidays, but the new year seems to be when we take stock and reorganize. I usually take advantage of the January sales to restock the linen closet. I worked in a dental surgery many years ago, so one thing I do know is how to organize towels!
Can you come over and organize my towels, Barbara?
Anytime. I like ironing too.
Oh boy!
Love when you take us through the cottage! I look forward to every room you share. In the past it was that chance sighting of your buffet and clock which stopped me in my tracks as we have the same exact pieces. Such fun! I was just saying yesterday that I wish when a few of our older relatives passed 20 or 30 years ago that I had been more conscious at the time and asked for a few things when they were offered. Busy raising kids, working, doing community things, it just seemed like a bother. Now I think of those things all the time and wish……..
Many times when I go to a thrift store and find something such as a needlework picture someone lovingly completed, I wonder who in the world would have donated it. And then I think back to my 20-30 year old self.
Oh, I know what you mean! There were things that were my grandmother’s that I appreciated – sort of – but didn’t think to ask for. So when she got rid of a lot of stuff to move into my parents’ house, and I was my busy 20-something year old self, I lost out. I could just kick myself!
Really nice to see what you see as you share with us every day! Love your leaf bookmark!!
This is exactly what I see as I sit here and blog, Kathy! Thanks.
I love how you have created your home, Claudia, piece by piece and treasure by treasure, from things you’ve just loved and had to have. It shows the history of your life, what you like, what’s important to you. So much more interesting than these “uber-designed” spaces you see all over TV now. Enjoy your day!
I’d much rather see a home that’s full of collected treasures and comfy furniture than something that looks ‘uber-designed’ as you so aptly put it. Or looks like every other home out there, full of trends and not much else.
Always love the “as is” tours…they speak to me. I’m curious about the cigarette box you mentioned….is that the turquoise box in the last picture? It’s so pretty! And I do see a lot of familiar items, some McCoy for instance, that I know my mom had at one time. I don’t know what she did with them. I do remember her asking me if I was interested in them…and I said no….because I didn’t know any better, I guess! Because you have so many familiar things in your home…it feels virtually comfy to me…I feel at home! ;)
Yes, it’s that box. The inside is made of wood, the outside is copper which has changed into that turquoise patina over time. I really, really love it!
Could not help but be amused about the juxtaposition of vintage well-loved pieces versus the modern tech tools of smart phone, tablet, cordless phone and TV remote control! You manage to meld both in a lovely charming fashion. So neat (am I showing my age?) to be able to have one’s eyes fall on a beautiful keepsake everywhere one turns.
Without those techy things, this blog (and my other blog) wouldn’t exist, I fear! The camera (which you can’t see) is up on the bookshelves. I like that juxtaposition, too, Wendy. We co-exist: the techy, the vintage and me.
Nah, you’re not showing your age, you’re just showing an appreciation of things that hold meaning!
I never tire of seeing your home Claudia..since we seem to like the same type of things it is a pleasure to me to look at them..
Thank you so much, Nancy!
Love your den and everything in it. . . . .but mostly the lovely family who live there and make the house (cottage) a home!
Claudia, we attended a production of ‘Venus in Fur’ last evening – at the local Raleigh Little Theatre – we’ve had season tickets for 35 years! I thought of you the entire time as the female part (there are just two actors) did such an amazing job speaking in three voices/accents – the vivacious, trite, cursing New Yorker, the upper-class European, and the Marlene Dietrich-type German! If you know the play you will understand I was somewhat uncomfortable for 18 y.o Jasmin next to me as to me – she’s still my little granddaughter – especially the bad language and sexual overtones (it is advertised for ‘Mature Audiences’). Needless to say she didn’t seem upset and we enjoyed a good old natter about it all afterward. They were to stage ‘Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson’ this Spring but have just canceled it – deemed it might be offensive to certain people!
Love seeing your cottage as always – more please!
Hugs – Mary
Thank you for your kind words, Mary.
Yes, I’m familiar with Venus in Fur and it’s being done a lot nowadays. I’m glad you liked it and that it sparked a conversation with Jasmine. (I think kids nowadays are much more blasé about the things we tend to think are offensive.)
I haven’t seen Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, but from what I’ve heard, it might not be your cup of tea. Or mine, either! xo
I can completely understand why it took well loved and collected books to make this room your favorite- even after so much time. It looks so cozy and the family all comes together there! The snuggling and the petting — the den, could be called the cuddle room in my opinion!
The treasures set around are pleasing to the eye too!
I must have a thing for vintage lighting- because those lamps and shades are dreamy!
It IS the cuddle room! Between petting our little girl and Don and I sitting next to each other on the sofa every night – it’s made for cuddles!
Your den is a lived in,, well loved cozy spot! Of course, I drool over your McCoy pieces!
Judy
And I drool over yours, my friend!xoxo
You can just tell that everything in there has meaning to you and is loved by you. That makes for such happiness in a space…being surrounded by things that make your heart smile. Thank you for sharing with us
You are most welcome, Diane!
You give me courage to share my home in pictures. Everything of ours has a story. I took pictures of our funky fence and patio yesterday but the patio shots t’aint purty as my darling is creating around the brick grill and cover he made. I will try to share something else with you this week
Whenever you can, I’d love to see them, Patricia.
I always love it when you show us pictures of your home. Your den is just perfect — charming and warm and welcoming. The den is evidence of the wonderful family who lives in it. It has plenty of personality. I cannot imagine living in a sterile, everything-in-its-place house nor would I want to. Give me the treasures and keepsakes and happy memories! Hope my home is half as charming as yours.
I feel the same way, Dottie. And I bet your home is very charming!
Hey, Claudia, thanks for letting us into your very lovely home! These days, it seems everyone is so wrapped up with being so proective of their surroundings and such, and you invite us to come and visit, and more importantly, be friends. I’m so happy to have found a “friend” like you and Mockingbird Hill Cottage
Thank you so much for your kind words, Nancy!
oh Claudia, I just love seeing the wonderful print of the collie and the little lost lamb! your home is wonderful and comfortable. wish our house had a “den”; that word just sounds like a warm, cozy place to curl up and relax.
I have you to thank for that print, Debra! I think of you every time I look at it. I just saw it on another decorating site yesterday – I think it was on Design Sponge. Someone’s home in Arizona.
Claudia,
I always loved your living room /kitchen open concept. I have a wall that separates my living room from kitchen and have always thought of ripping it down but, the layout is just awkward. My mantle clock is similar to yours and just broke about I1/2 yrs ago. Funny my Hubby and I purchased ours together at a flea in PA. We have similar style and frugality.. Most my furniture is second hand, flea market. I’m not into fads but, I’m so hooked on neutrals right now it’s almost ridiculous. Love, love paintings and your hymn board is eye catching and perfect for your space. We have hardwood floors too.. no more pets, miss my dog to pieces. I’m on the hunt for a lamp now. It’s tricky been all over. Thanks for sharing! One day we will have to thrift together pal.
xo Liz
I didn’t like it at all when we first moved in. Sometimes I still don’t like it. But it does have its perks! The light is one of them.
Yes to thrifting one day, Liz!