Maine Cottage Highlight

If I had a cottage...it would look like this one!  After you see these pictures, you are going to want one too!  Sorry!  I start to get this very strong feeling inside that I must go to a place like this.  It is almost like someone turns on a switch as the weather start to improve here.  There is a strong need to pack up and head to Maine!  We stayed at this beautiful cottage on a lake a few summers back.  The reason why we haven't returned is, I feel we need to vacation in other places so we get to experience more.  My husband  and I want to own a small place to get away too.  This was our ideal place. Because of that, and because we want to own a cottage, I took tons of pictures so as to remember what to do when we (if ever) get the chance to build one.  For anyone who is frustratingly stuck somewhere with still cold weather...enjoy this little slice of heaven via me!

Can you just gobble this place up?  Cottage quaint is emanating from this kitchen.  We really enjoyed eating and cooking here. I literally had a big smile on my face every time I was in here.  A girl can dream can't she?  I could sooo picture myself living here...

It is all in the details!  Every corner was pleasing to look at.  You just feel good looking at all of these little aspects.  I am getting all worked up again!  

Many days spent reading and napping here.  Can you stand it?  Just crazy lovely.  

Extremely comfy living room overlooking wrap around porch and lake...right at your footsteps.  You could hear the loons everyday.  So soothing....ahhh!

Superb fireplace was built from stones and rocks from the surrounding lake!  Great idea!  Never would have thought of it myself.  However, you learn something everyday and I will store that away for future building of my "dream" cottage!  Please!  Please!

Cute Lanai (I think that is what it is called) off of dinning room and living room.  Perfect summery spot to sit at night when good ol' bugs come out.

My mom fell in love with these arched windows.  They cranked all the way open so you felt like the inside was outside.  Get it?

Back side of house.  Great dock to dive off of and swim out to floating dock.  On my list!

Lots of kayaking in this amazing scenic lake.

Has anyone every heard of Christmas Cove?  Not Christmasy at all...look at this!  Gorgeous.  I have to have a home here one day.

Camden, Maine.  Little short trip to visit this quaint place.  This is top of Mount Beatie.  Look at these views.  Maine really is an amazing place.

I have more photo's but have to wrap up this rather large post.  My dog Maggie really enjoyed her vacation!  So, now you can see what I love about cottages and why I am getting that itch to go back.

Enjoy!

~jamilyn

*Images property of Living It At Home*

Encores Antiques Gustavian Style

Out "hunting" again for my home.  My travels brought me to Encores Antiques.  They have two locations in Acton and Littleton, Massachusetts.  One of my favs to visit now and then to see what has come in from  Europe.  They originally only specialized in Scandinavian furniture.  They have now expanded to carrying furniture from Switzerland, Austria, and many of their inventory from Ireland and England.  Their furniture is so unique and could add that special touch or charm to a modern home.  Everything they carry is livable and is not delicate museum quality.  Their antiques could definitely handle everyday living of a busy family.  As you will see in some of these photo's I took, they carry a Gustavian line with its pale wash of paint that could compliment any interior.  This line is very popular...of course...it is so very pretty!  It is a bit of a drive for me, but I really enjoy shopping here.  I have my eye on a couple of things...

There are many dressers.  Some are very large and so different from anything you see at the stores.  For the price, I feel you get better craftsmanship than what you would with the newer pieces.

I love their clocks, but have no place to put one.

A very large selection of antique mirrors that you won't see anywhere else!  I fell in love with this antique French mirror below.  I can see building a whole design for my hall bathroom downstairs around this mirror.  Oo-La-La!

This must be a panel that was taken from a home.  This would be wonderful on a very large wall.

Add a pop of color...Lovely ornament for your garden...I want it!

Cute faux bamboo painted chest.

For a large home.  

Isn't this pretty?

Chuck full of Gustavian style furniture!  Love it!

These chairs are darling!

I have been keeping my eye on this painting for a long time.  It is very old.  The Arch Angel.  I really need furniture though!

I hope you can visit this antique store.  Really worth it!  Still "hunting" and will post more results!

xoxojamilyn

(Photo's property of Living It At Home. Info from Wicked Local article by Betsy Levinson)0

Dash and Albert Throws

I {love} Dash and Albert and I am determined to find a place to put a rug or a throw.  I love how this Dash and Albert rug was placed in this room.  However, this post is actually about my new desire and that is to buy one of their throws.  I just discovered them when I was out and about and think they are so sweet, comfortable, stylish and perfect for this time of year.  You can also toss them in the wash!

Since I saw one in person and was able to pick it up and touch it...I am hooked!  Price is reasonable too!

Happy "Spring like" weekend!  It is going to absolutely gorgeous here in MA.  I am thinking of doing some antiquing up in York, Maine this weekend.  About an hour and a half from were I live.  

Can't wait!

xoxojamilyn

*Images from Dash and Albert and Living Room via Linen and Velvet blog*

After & Before, with still more to do...

After pictures are so much better to start with!  Don't you think?  Here is my dining room in the "after" with more work to do....  Dining room chairs from ebay have to be reupholstered for one thing.  My dog Maggie is watching me as I fret over my chairs!  {The things in the background are from Halloween...not my other creepy pets!}

 

 Windows are bare, but kind of like it that way.  We may need a bigger table but it is hard to give up this antique Belgian oak table.  Two leaves open it up to seat many.  I am not even sure if I want to keep this color.  When we first moved in {and we hardly had any furniture} we need to paint and I had to pick something.  Oh my, it was so hard to do!  There are WAY to many color choices out there.  Paint color:  Desert Tan by Benjamin Moore.

I love collecting silver and I enjoy making my little arrangements here and there.  My new favorite finds are hotel silver.  I am definitely a collector now!

I have a little built in corner hutch that I painted the interior La Paloma Gray by Benjamin Moore.  I just am crazy about gray and had to find a place for it in the dinning room.

This chandelier is antique inspired with hand cut crystal.  It was not that expensive and I am really happy with it.

This antique English sideboard we found up in Essex.  The painting is from Ireland by Knuttle.  This artist has actually become quite popular now.

I am looking for a mirror to go above the sideboard and hang the painting somewhere else.  Some mirrors that have caught my eye.... I have others and will do a post on all of them!  Which one of these do you think could work?

So here are the before pictures.  So much better to put them in the end.  Nothing that great to look at.  This room has good bones and probably more potential than I am able to pull off for it.  

I am tryin' though!

I was all mixed up about paint colors.  Someone actually recommended this dark red below.  It looked too much like blood to me!  It probably would have been very dramatic but too typical for me.  It seems red is a very popular color for dining rooms in New England.

Hope you enjoyed the tour and if anyone has any ideas or suggestions I would welcome them!

Have a great day~

xoxojamilyn

*Images property of Living It At Home*

What I Am Watching

This weekend, I am catching up on one of my favorite things to do.  That is to watch period piece (check out post) drama!  Currently it is all about Lark Rise To Candleford.  It is a BBC series that is now playing in England.  Here you can only see it on DVD.  I absolutely adore this series!  I highly recommend it.  I am up to season two now and looking forward already to season 3.  I have found them at Amazon.com.  Maybe this looks a little corny but trust me it is not.  You will get "happily" lost in these rich characters and the drama that ensues for each one of them.  I am truly enjoying it.  Nice to take a break at the end of a long day and get taken to another time period with great stories and talented acting. 

I hope you check it out.

Synopsis from Amazon (if you are interested).

The BBC's costume drama juggernaut struck gold once more when it decided to tackle the work of Flora Thompson. And in adapting her books in the form of the television production Lark Rise to Candleford, it has brought another compelling piece of drama to the screen.

Lark Rise to Candleford is set at the end of the 19th century, and it follows the story of two communities in the midst of a developing Oxfordshire. One is a fast-growing market town, the other a sleepier, quieter place that's holding more onto the past. Centered on Laura, the eldest daughter in the Timmins house, as she leaves the quieter life for work in the market town, the stage is then set for a quality drama series.

There's a lot to enjoy in the 10 episodes. The cast, for instance, is simply terrific, with Julia Sawalha, Dawn French, and Olivia Hallinan rightly taking plaudits. And the journey of their characters, along with those of the strong supporting cast, is simply wonderful television. Mixing in humor, drama and the production values we seem to take for granted from the BBC, Lark Rise to Candleford is really quite a treat. And what's more, it's proof positive that when it comes to television period drama, there really isn't anyone doing it better. Super stuff. --Jon Foster

Happy weekend and hope it is a restful one!

xoxojamilyn

*Images and info from amazon.com*