Monday, May 2, 2011

Inside the Gardener's Cottage

Hello everyone,
   I hope you all had a lovely weekend. Can you believe that May has arrived already? I have been spending a lot of my days in the garden but on a damp day I couldn't resist getting our little Gardener's Cottage cleaned up for the season. As some of you know we had this little cottage built in our garden several years ago using recycled materials as much as we could. Last fall my husband and I put pine wainscoting on the walls and insulated it. We did get an undercoat of paint on but someday soon it needs a coat of paint.
Anyway, this is really a bit of a playhouse for me as our children have grown and no longer use it.
So this summer I thought I would decorate it with a pink and white theme-at least for now!
Almost everything in here was given to me or I bought it at Thrift shops or yard sales.
Pretty chintz teapot and cups for our afternoon tea.

I enjoy a cup of tea and being inspired by my Victoria magazines -both old and new,in the peace and quiet of my little retreat.

This is such a peaceful escape- I love to read in here or spend the night on a warm summer evening.

Last week I was in Summerside and I found my' treat of the week' at Coulson's Antiques. This beautiful old teapot was only $2.
I love adding the little details.
Pretty pink chintz plate from Homegoods.
This end of the cottage needs fluffing-it looks so much prettier when the french doors are open and the rose garden is in bloom but still too early yet.

Season's of our cottage.
This was last summer's look and I loved it too but it is fun to have a change. As my sweet Mama says "a change is as good as a rest"!
This was another look last Christmas as some of you may recall.

I still have some improvements to make but I will show them to you later.

When we have our garden tours in the summer my little Gardener's Cottage gets well photographed and often steals the show!

I am joining Cielo today for Show Off Your Cottage Monday at the house in the roses and Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday.

I am also joining Kathy at A Delightsome Life for the Victoria party and also Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage for Teatime Tuesday. Now , that is a lot of parties to visit and I know you will enjoy!

 Hope you enjoyed a peek into the Gardener's Cottage.

Thank you for visiting,

Carolyn.

68 comments:

theromanticrose said...

La tua casa è bellissima in ogni stanza,in ogni oggetto:romantica e sognante.Cordiali saluti,Rosetta

Crystal said...

It's soooo beautiful!! I love everything about it!! How dreamy!

Kim Gillian said...

Love it!! I want one!!
-Kim :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Carolyn, Your cottage is so beautiful!To stay there would be like a dream!!

Kathy

Anonymous said...

Hi Carolyn! OH, your little gardener's cottage is adorable! You have it looking like a dream!
Can't wait to see your flowers from your garden.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Pamela said...

Like a fairy tale Carolyn!!

Raffaella said...

I love to look your cottage and your garden...

Bella's Rose Cottage said...

Hi Caroyn,
I love to visit your pretty little cottage! We should all have a playhouse to escape to and dream:-)
Hugs,
Bella

gilda said...

I find your cottage spectacular romantic .... I like it! compliments....
Gilda

Maison de lin said...

Hello,

It's so beeautiful and verry romantic.

Jérôme

Shabby soul said...

Darling Carolyn what a delight!
A so sweet romantic corner!
Have a nice day
Silvia

Bente said...

What a beautiful cottage. I would like a small one in my garden. Wish,wish.

Have a fantastic week

Pamela Gordon said...

I love the change of decor colour to pinks and white! It looks so pretty and homey. Just beautiful! Pamela

Bernideen said...

I have never heard your Mom's saying - very cute! I loved the 4 seasons of the cottage!

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

LOVE!

That is such a wonderful space to play in!

Thanks for sharing!

Deanna

Mari said...

HI CAROLYN~WHAT A GORGEOUS COTTAGE YOU HAVE!!! I SOOOO WISH IT WAS MINE :)


XOX~MARI

Anonymous said...

so lovely ^_^

Shabbyprimdelights said...

OMG....I have just stumbled over your blog....and your 'playhouse' is just incredible. I have never seen anything so beautiful. You must be very proud of it. I think every woman deserves one of these although most of us are just not lucky enough. I look forward to seeing more of it. I am now one of your loyal followers and plan on spending a few hours scanning your gorgeous blog.
Michele xox

Ann@A Sentimental Life said...

You know I love your cottage, so much more elegant than mine, but my bedding is pink and white also with a white day bed. I need to get out there and clean it! So I can post some pictures. Yours is just gorgeous!

Char said...

It's so beautiful, I am speechless, Char

Olga Poltava said...

What a wonderful place your little cottage is! So pretty!

Crystal Rose Cottage said...

I always enjoy seeing your garden cottage and this time I am loving the pink scheme! Soft and romantic!~Hugs, Patti

Anonymous said...

Carolyn, it't really gorgeous. I love it. I love the different season photo't too.

x

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

Honestly, Carolyn, I could just move right in! Remember when we were little girls? Wouldn't it have been fun to play house in there? Love it! Every time you make a change, I like it better than the last. Love the pinks! Thanks for sharing it with us and thanks for coming to my tea party. Have a lovely week and enjoy your time in the garden.

Blessings,
Sandi

Susan said...

Enjoyed the tour of your cotton candy and clouds guest room. So sweet and charming. Love, love, loved it. Susan

Georgianna said...

You've so inspired me over the last year with this cottage that we are considering building one – we talked about it but now it is getting serious! Thank you for the always beautiful inspiration, dear Carolyn! – g

THE VERANDA HOUSE said...

DEAR CAROLIN YOUR GARDEN COTTAGE IS SO ROMANTIC.IS LIKE YOUR PRIVATE DOLL HOUSE.I WILL BE DREAMING ABOUT YOR GARDEN COTTAGE ME IN THE BED WITH THE PINK BLANKET.SOME TEA IN THE MORNING WITH SOME OF YOUR SUGAR COOKIES ..JUST A MAGICAL DREAM...BLESSINGS...SANDRA

Pétales de fée said...

What a beautiful place! Everything is so calm and sweet, so fine! You associate the patterns and shades of pink and white with so much talent! We dream of living in such a place! I understand why your cabin gardener steals the show: it is absolutely charming!
kisses and good day to you!

yeşim said...

Blog is an excellent...
congratulations....

Kathy said...

Carolyn,
This is exquisite - what a wonderful thing for you and your husband to build and you've filled it with the beautiful things that would immediately make me think of you! What a glorious retreat!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful place with A Return to Loveliness,
Always a Delight,
Kathy

Gilda - Sweet Sweet Home said...

Hello I am new to you. Sorry if they are no longer passed to visiting with you, but I had so much work and then I went on vacation. What a nice turn on the PC and see the beautiful pictures of your cottage garden. I love how you have furnished. A big kiss Gilda

La Table De Nana said...

Everything is perfection.Always.

Linda said...

Oh Carolyn, it's all so beautiful!
I love all the different themes.
I would love to come and play.

Jonell w Harrison said...

I never tire of seeing those beautiful pictures of your cottage interior Carolyn..
I too have a little PLAYHOUSE in our back yard..it was built by the original owners for a child when they built the house in the 1930's..the big diff is..it has been turned into a FREEZER house..since our younger grands now live so far away..who knows maybe we'll CHANGE that one day and PLAY in it as you do your little cottage-mmm something to think about. now back to the pics and the beautiul music on your site.. Jonell> http://mershongeorgiagirl.blogspot.com [Down the Lane and [2] Like Gramma's House]

Passionate for White said...

I could look at these pics all day long....

Beverly said...

I am in love with your Gardeners Cottage. Would love to get lost there for a while. Loved your past versions too, but the pink just makes you want to settle in with a good book and a cup of tea.

maría cecilia said...

Everything is a dream, Carolyn, so delightful and beautiful!!
hugs

Phyllis said...

You are living my dream to have a place such as this! I am truly happy that someone with such talent and sense of design, creativity and love of all things beautiful is the person who gets to enjoy it daily. Life is good.

giovanna said...

bbellissimo tutto non ho parole.....sei fantastica!
ciao
giovanna

La Vie Quotidienne said...

What an enchanting spot...so magical. It is like a place in a fairy tale. Beautiful!

The French Hutch said...

hi Carolyn, Cottage is one of my favorite styles, I love your. All of your pink is so lovely on this post....Always look forward to your photographs.....Talking about you on my blog........

~Emily
The French Hutch

One Shabby Old House said...

Such a sweet cottage my friend. Or playhouse for a girls who never wish to grow up . lol I think you brought out the desire in all of us to have a sweet little playhouse of our own, only in your beautiful gardens.

Sheila said...

Your cottage is just lovely... so delicate and refined! My sister collects Victorian items and she would love to have a cottage like yours.
It would be a lovely place to read on summer's nights!

Jacqueline~Cabin and Cottage said...

I certainly did enjoy the cottage tour! What a wonderful new teapot! And what a buy! I love seeing your cottage in all it's incarnations!

Tablescapes By Diane said...

Hi lovely lady. Your photos are so beautiful and Romantta ~~~I love your Beautiful Blog sweet lady. I will come back for more from you.!!!Im your newest follower on your Blog. I hope you have a Great Day.
Diane

suzanne said...

You are such a talent..What a gift!!!

Cindy said...

Very, very beautiful!!! And SO romantic!
Hugs, Cindy

Anonymous said...

I'm never tired to look at your beautiful photos and they make me dream.

Bonne journée Carolyn !

Elzie said...

I just love your little cottage house. It spreads a lot of romance.
Hope you have a nice day.
Love Elzie

CIELO said...

Carolyn... I'd be your gardener if you let me live in that cottage! And I'd do it all for free too! ;) Soooo enchanting! Thanks for sharing your special place with SOYCM! Have a lovely day.

Cielo

Karin said...

Beautiful cottage and decoration :-)

poppilinnstudios said...

Your cottage is an absolute dream! I love your decorating style. And, the photos are beautiful!

Lounging with a Latte said...

How beautiful to have a little cottage that you can re-decorate regularly. You do such a brilliant job. It must be so much fun!
We've been contemplating an overseas holiday in the distance future and Canada is very high on the list. Your Island is at the very top of my list!!

lisa said...

Congrats! All the pictures are just so wonderful! Love your style!

house and lot for sale philippines

Anita said...

can you please tell me where you found the beautiful bed skirt that you have in your cottage?

Anita
djcrisp@pacbell.net

Carolyn said...

Hi Anita,
The lace bedskirt came from a local thrift shop but the pink flowered one I made from an old pair of curtains that also came from a thrift shop.

Thank you for visiting me and for all the nice comments.

Carolyn

Katy Noelle said...

Carolyn, you absolutely amaze me! You must have boundless energy, for one. Two, beauty just seems to stream through you. I have to confess that I clean more than I "frouff". (You must know what that word means. It's not because I don't love to decorate, etc. I think that it may have something to do with still renovating and those three little needy boys. What I'm saying is, I so enjoy coming here and remembering those dreams of making my home one of those very special places (which, of course, it is...even when it's messy...but, you know what I mean. =])

We have a little adorable "shed". It's like a tiny cottage but, it's function on the farm used to be "the milk house". Tom had the idea to turn it into a garden shed (we'll get there - new roof in two weeks.) When I blogged about it, a year ago, Edith Hope introduced me to the word "bothy". Although, it won't be as polished and poised as this adorable room - the hope of a little spot - outside of the house - a shelter - comfy - pretty (albeit, rustic)....well, sigh. =]

I've gone on long enough!!!

Love, Katy Noelle xo

http://jackieinsurrey.blogspot.co.uk/ said...

Hi Carolyn

The cottage is delightful so romantic and dreamy. Just right for our Royal newly weds when they visit you at the end of June beginning July!! Kate and Wills would love it all I am sure.

Best wishes, Jackie in Surrey, UK.x

sweetbay said...

Such a lovely and romantic-looking escape!!...

Gail said...

I like seeing the seasonal changes, both inside and out.

Tatiana said...

can i live there please? i will look after the garden.. promise.. :)

Maria Matter said...

so lovely Carolyn!

scrolling down through your blog just makes me smile!

Have a beautiful weekend!
hugs

Anonymous said...

Just wonderful!

Dayle ~ A Collection of Days said...

Pure delight. I think I could live in that cottage quite happily ... and I love gardening.

piccolaceleste said...

ciao cosa vedono i miei occhi meravigliosa!!!!baci lu..

mei said...

so cute!! where is this house?

x Adoyz x said...

Awesome, it can be my inspiration

www.delighthomegarden.com

Suzanne Carrier said...

Hi,

Just stopping by from Pinterest. I have been searching for over one year for the perfect coverlet and shams. Would you mind sharing where you found your pink and cream one? Many thanks. And your cottage is breathtaking.