Tag: 2008

  • September Blooms in the Pacific Northwest

    Fall Peony Foliage This month, I’m once again reminded of how maligned peonies are as a multi-season plant. Everyone loves peonies, but many dismiss them as a one-hit wonder. I couldn’t disagree more. Their green foliage provides a lovely counterpoint to other flowers through the summer, and their fall colors are drop-dead gorgeous. Case in…

  • How to Decorate a Boy’s Room With Thrifted Finds

    I’ve been talking quite a bit about thrifting, and I thought it would be fun to see how all this “stuff,” actually gets used. My son’s room has a vintage western theme, built within the basic cottage style of the rest of the house. So his room has the basic palette of cream and white,…

  • July Blooms in the Pacific Northwest

    Purple Clematis Vine Since the garden at Pear Tree Cottage appeared to be a blank slate when I bought it, there have been a few surprises. The biggest, and I mean that literally, is the clematis growing on the back fence, behind the pear tree that the cottage is named for. I had a hard…

  • June Blooms in the Pacific Northwest

    Paeonia Sara Bernhard Peony It’s my first summer at Pear Tree Cottage (what I’m calling my new home), and I’m still discovering what’s here in the garden. Despite it appearing to be a completely blank slate, there is still a fair amount of life here, despite the previous owners’ best efforts. Wandering through the garden…

  • May Blooms in the Pacific Northwest

    Pink Dogwood Blooms I’m still in my first year at my new-to-me-home, and the garden was nearly a blank slate when we moved in. So there’s not been much blooming. But I was prowling around today and was surprised to find several things blooming. Blooming Pink Dogwood Branches One of the things I was happiest…

  • Luxurious Vintage Glamour Master Bedroom Inspiration

    Luxurious Light Taupe Bedroom Cottage style is known for its light and airy quality, but cottage can also be luxurious, as in this bedroom designed by Jennifer from The Old Painted Cottage. Jennifer’s room uses an elegant, nearly monochromatic palette of taupes and creams, with just a hint of pink. Built around the soft taupe…

  • Fresh Vintage Living Room Inspiration

    Light Green Living Room Pale green walls are a classic choice for a cottage room. They can be nostalgic, edgy or everything in between. Paired with white, as in this airy room designed by Kim Niesz of Niesz Vintage Home, they are both fresh and charming. Light Green Living Room Kim’s room is built on…

  • Whether or Not to Choose Vintage Bath Fixtures

    Vintage 1930 Fixtures Isn’t that a gorgeous shade of green? You are looking at the most pristine 1930’s bathroom set I have ever seen, in the perfect shade of vintage green. I found the set at ReStore a couple of weeks, ago, $95 for the tub, toilet and sink, complete. Mint. Yes. Mint. I didn’t…

  • How to Make a Valentine’s Day “Be Mine” Bunting

    Paper banner garlands look charming everywhere, but this “Be Mine” banner is especially romantic for Valentine’s Day draped across my distressed china hutch. To make the banner, simply use the same letters and instructions that I created for the Halloween Boo Garland, but with pink instead of black. If you want to make one, you…