Saturday, April 5, 2014

Making a Little Room Feel Bigerer!!!!!

When I first saw my little cottage, the house had been used as a rental property and was being sold furnished.
MORE STUFF FOR THE DUMPSTER!!!!!
The furniture arrangement had a little dining table against one wall and a sofa against the other with miscellaneous items strewn around the room.
It made the space feel cramped and small.
SO I DID IT DIFFERENT!!!!!
I decided that the best solution was to combine the purposes of chairs and tables, 
so they would do double duty, and create a larger feel.
(Oh yeah.....
I made the cover of the magazine.....
not tooting my own horn or nothin', but 
I rocked!!!!!)
 Where was I?????
Oh yeah, multipurposed stuff.....
I used the table in front of the sofa as both a coffee and dining table, so the wicker chairs function for both lounging  and dining.
I loved this old English piece that had been cut down, it was ginormous!
It made a very cozy eating area and was great for entertaining,.
Instead of placemats, I used shallow baskets that I found at Pier One when it was still a store with fun and unusual finds.
I had bamboo handled flatware that I bought when I first got out of collage.
I wanted it because I grew up with something similar, and I wanted to be just like my Mom!!!!!
The wine glasses were another Pier One purchase, and I loved them, they held a 
LOT OF WINE!!!!!
Over the sofa I hung an original water color that I bought from a local artist.
I mixed it with a couple of 1940's prints and some Haviland plates.
I found the brackets on line, they may have been from Ballard Design, I can't remember, this was 26 years ago.......
The vases I picked up for a song from a junky antique store, they had major chips on the rims, so I just placed them so the defects were in the back.....
The woven chairs I also found at Pier One.
I really trolled that store for this house.
I know this isn't a long post.....
and I only wrote two this week.....
but I've been finishing up things for my niece Miriam's baby shower and IT'S TODAY!!!!!
So I have to wash my hair and get ready for being a properly behaved aunt.
I have to find something to wear other than sweat pants.....
I don't do well in social situations where I'm supposed to behave myself.
My sister-in-law offered to poke me if I started misbehaving,
 but I told her if she did that I'd deck her.
Soooooo.....
On that note,
Latah, Gatah
Photobucket

20 comments:

FABBY'S LIVING said...

Beautiful magazine cover Betsy! You did a magnificent job decorating a small space and furniture for two purposes...I love this idea! Have fun and enjoy your niece's baby shower too!
FABBY

Anonymous said...

Betsy, have you tried scanning at a higher resolution yet?

Love this cottage and you STILL rock.

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Oh I love this idea, and congrats on the cover too. Great picture and great use of space. Hugs, Marty

Vikki said...

This is an amazing space. Love everything about it. You always think of the coolest things to use and the smartest way to decorate. You ROCKED then and you ROCK now. Vikki in VA

Gloria Richards said...

Oh I so agree with you on Pier One. I lived in California for quite a while and it was one of my favorite places to go and oogle all the goodies. Between there and Cost Plus I was one happy shopper as I brought home things that I had never seen anywhere else and never have since. They sure have killed the sense of wonder when walking in there and the prices bring tears to my eyes. Another place I liked for a while was Big Lot but now they have "stuff" with their name on it and the prices skyrocketed. Now I have trained the car to watch for yard sales and after this snowy, cold winter... I am ready! Love your cottage and definitely can picture myself there. Thank you for sharing, :)

Anonymous said...

I remember when it was World Bazaar before it was Pier 1. They had tons of baskets and Papasan chairs and it always smelled like patchouli.

Anonymous said...

Betsy - I always love your decorating honey but online 26 years ago? Now I don't pretend to be tech savvy but I don't think any of us were on line then. Where's the art piece now that you had over your couch? Love it!! I love this look still!

Anonymous said...

I still have this magazine and have wondered when you would blog about it....I love the cottage and can't tell you how many times I've looked at the article....brings back old memories.... Thanks for sharing the behind the scenes of decorating it ... I hope you had fun times there.... Thanks, Teresa

Anonymous said...

I loved these pictures in the book you wrote. It is great seeing it all together like this. The wall cabinets in the background are also spectacular.

But best of all, someone who admits they don't do well in social situations where they are expected to behave. Found myself in one of those today. Everyone looking at me, me knowing exactly what they expected me to say, and not doing it. Saying something else entirely (sigh, just can't help myself sometimes).

Have a wonderful time at your niece's party. Gail

Betsy Speert said...

Oops!
I meant, in a catelog, not online!
Just goes to show how we tend to forget how recent all this technology stuff us.....

Anonymous said...

just beautiful..and the cabinets are spectacular! gail

Marge said...

Re: Anonymous comment on seeing the photos in one of your books. Which book? I need to have that!!

Betsy Speert said...

The book is Great Color and Pattern Collections.
It's on my side bar.
If you click on the picture, it takes you to Amazon to buy it.😃

Unknown said...

It's worth repeating...YOU STILL ROCK! I'm certain you were a very well behaved auntie and had fun in spite of yourself.

Beth C. said...

I decorated my parents' master bedroom at their Cape place almost exclusively from Pier One around 20ish years ago. I think the store was in Barnstable, maybe? I'll never forget it though. On one of my trips leaving the store I had a fender bender backing out of the parking space, and of course it was my fault. Hope you didn't require poking at Miriam's. Best, Beth C.

Anonymous said...

Betsy, I have this magazine! I bought it at a library's used book sale and it is hardbound! I knew I recognized the pictures in your blog post and retrieved the book from my book shelf and there it was! Love your style and great pic of you in the article!

fixitfaerie said...

Just love the look of this cottage. Do you still own it. I want to spend the weekend. lol I'm old enough to know what you mean about Pier One. I liked it's quirkiness too. I find it hard to believe that you can be a well behaved Aunt. I'm certainly not. Have a fun day, and eat a lot of frosting.

Donnamae said...

That magazine was one of my favorites! No wonder your cottage looked familiar. Great room Betsy...and great finds from Pier 1...I miss the old store too! ;)

Joy said...

Still one of my favorite rooms!

Sunflowers With Smiles said...

I love this room!

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