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Creating Cottage Style Decorating in Your Home

Bring the beach back with you - creating cottage style in your home
(ARA) - Nothing's harder to face than packing up your belongings after a week at a cozy beach house and heading back home to the real world. Sure, it's hard to leave paradise behind, but who says you have to? Why not just transform your own living space to a beach-inspired haven that lets you get away from it all, even if you aren't on vacation? It's easy and inexpensive to do.

With some clever use of all those shells, beach glass and driftwood you've picked up during your travels, as well as scenic vacation photos and a little paint, you can transform your home into the ultimate beach cottage, creating an inviting, relaxing haven away from the real world outside your front door.

First, clear out the clutter. Cottage style is clean, bright and fuss-free because, if you think about it, beaches are simple, wide-open spaces - that's where cottage design gets its inspiration. The beach experience is stress-free. Clutter equals stress, and you want to create an atmosphere that's serene and fresh. A massive purging of extraneous clutter will give you a blank palette on which you can apply the true essence of the seashore.

Paint is one of the easiest, most cost-effective ways to completely change the look of a living space, helping make your beach decor a reality. Just be sure you choose the right colors, so you can be happy with your revamped rooms for years to come.

"Cottage style is all about taking cues from nature, so think sand, clear skies, sea glass and sparkling water when selecting the ultimate beach-inspired palette," suggests Mary Ward, Dutch Boy Paints' senior product manager. "To create a cottage-ready scheme use pale blues, aquamarines, periwinkles, sea-tinged greens, sandy tans and bright whites reminiscent of ocean foam and fluffy, cottony clouds. All of these colors, in any combination, can work to create a picture of rest and relaxation that's reminiscent of a day at the beach."

Serenity rules in walls painted in soft pastels or sandy neutrals with ultra-white trim. It's clean. It's clutter free. It's fresh and airy. It says beach house, even if you are miles away from the one of your dreams.

You also can easily add a bit of beach chic to your furniture, further creating a feel of a distant getaway. Slipcovers give any room that easy-living feel that is so important to cottage style. Cover upholstered pieces in slip-on, easy-to-wash covers made from light canvas, cotton duck or sailcloth. Paint dark furniture white to add a year-round summery glow to the space, or invest in a few inexpensive, fun wicker pieces to lighten up tired rooms.

Don't stop here. Keep digging for ideas and inspiration using the vast array of decorating books and websites. One new site, Dutch Boy's Restore My Decor! offers DIY tips and inspiration from professional designers, such as TV design personality Danielle Hirsch, as well as homeowners, all of whom can help you find more ways to add cottage appeal to any restored room in your home.

For example, consider incorporating these other ideas for adding beach-worthy serenity to your living space:

* Window treatments - Less is more. Think wooden blinds, plantation shutters or airy sheers.

* Floor coverings - Natural or painted wood floors with throw rugs are the hallmarks of cottage style. Think basic. Think organic. Think sisal and textures. Or paint your own canvas throw rug with sea-inspired motifs, such as shells and starfish.

* Lighting - Think soothing versus overly bright or dimly lit. Recessed lighting works like magic in any room. If you want to go for a more quirky look and make lighting a focal point, display inexpensive figural lamps in the shape of lighthouses or anchors. Or perhaps find one made from driftwood or shells.

* Souvenirs - Make use of those shells, sand, beach glass and driftwood you collected during your week away in paradise. Fill decorative bowls and jars with sand and shells. Display beach glass in vases of fresh flowers. Paint driftwood with beach-inspired images and hang it on the wall as art.

* Artwork - Make use of those vacation pictures, especially the ones you took of gorgeous ocean sunsets, lighthouses and sailboats. Use existing snapshots and enlarge some of your favorites, framing all to create a collage that not only says beach living, but also reminds you of a great time your family spent together at the seashore. Why buy artwork when you can make use of something that brings back such great memories?

"It all comes down to thinking light and breezy in everything you do decor-wise," Ward says. "Use your imagination to create a true feeling of openness that beaches offer. Beach-inspired cottage style is casual, comfortable and fun - and reminds you of vacation, even if you're miles away from the nearest beach."

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Fall in Love with a Country Quilt

To me, quilts just depict an air of country.   Country quilts can warm a room with their rich colors, intricate patterns and beautiful quilted threads.   The country and primitive quilt styles and colors are some of my favorites.    There is just something about throwing a quilt on a bed, couch or a table that has an instant warming effect in a room.

Quilted bedding comes in so many different choices these days.   There are quilts for primitive decors as well as traditional quilted looks.    Country quilts in earthy dark colors fit well in a lodge or cabin decor, yet I love quilts with a cottage decor flair…in blues, whites or yellows.     The new Serenity quilted collection from Victorian Heart is simply gorgeous in shades of soft denim blue and creamy white.   A perfect selection for summer in its 100% cotton fabrics.

Soft blue and creamy white of the Serenity quilted throw by Victorian Heart

Quilted throws are fun and so versatile.    A small quilted throw can be displayed as wall-hangings over a fireplace mantle or up on a large cathedral ceiling wall.   It doesn’t take a huge wall, just a nice open space where you can show it off.    Throws also make great tablecloths.  Throw them over a kitchen table, outdoor picnic table or patio table on the deck.   Hey, they are even great to take on a picnic.  What is better than packing up a quilted throw, a wicker basket of fresh food and heading to a shady field for a bit of nature enrichment.

Quilted Throw, Albemarle, from Victorian Heart

Victorian Heart quilts have some of my favorite patchwork quilts.  They have really outdone themselves this spring with their fresh bedding designs.   This primitive style Americana Quilt in its muted tan, navy and burgundy hues is sure to spark up your American style decor.    Called Patriotic Patch, this design comes in a throw and quilted bedding in king, queen and twin sizes.

Show your American spirit in primitive fashion with the Patriotic Patch Quilted Throw

Quilts are always in style and adding them to your home decor is simple, inexpensive and easy.   Whether it is a cottage, country, traditional or primitive style quilt, the range of choices is endless.   Richly colored patchwork designs will fill your home with a cozy warmth that only a quilt can achieve.

Visit our shop at www.pinehillcollections.com to see more of the Victorian Heart Quilts.    Quilted Throws by Park Designs are also there for your shopping pleasure.   Fall in love with a country quilt today!

French Door Curtain Panels by Park Designs

Make A Statement with Style! 

Fully lined door curtain panels easily fit any french door, full window door or patio doors. 

Park Design's door panel curtains for french doors are the perfect solution for any country home decor.  Covering french doors is not the easiest task, but our new french door curtain panels make it so easy.  They are especially designed to fit perfectly on each door panel.  They have a sewn in 2 inch casings at the top and bottom of each panel for a rod and are fully lined for added light protection from the sun.   They are made from 100% cotton fabrics which makes them so easy to maintain.  We do however, recommend dry cleaning to retain the quality of these curtains.   The country plaids, checks and stripes are a lovely compliment  to any country home.   Enjoy!

Country Kitchen Curtains and Pine Hill Expands Country Curtain Product Line

Pine Hill Collections, an online country home décor store, has now expanded their country style curtain line to offer customers a more diverse selection for window decorating.  With a more extensive curtain selection, customers have more choices of curtain themes, fabrics and styles than ever before. 

Country kitchen curtains from Park Designs in plaids, stripes and checks are now available in a variety of styles to fit any window.  Valances, swags, tiers and curtain panels continue to be popular choices for bedroom, bathroom or sunroom windows.   Specialty style curtains such as french door or patio door curtain panels provide more options for those hard to fit windows.  Single round valances provide options for smaller windows or can be adapted for larger windows.    The fishtail curtain swag line has grown to be a big part of the country curtain choices at Pine Hill.   Gathered swags are a new addition for a distinctive look in primitive décor settings with checks and stripes being predominant.  Layered and lined valances are a popular choice for many homes, offering a simple option with a professional decorator look. 

Part of the line expansion also includes country lace curtains from the Heritage Lace Company to offer more options in lace window treatments.   Lace curtain styles include valances, swags, lace panels and tiers in a wide variety of patterns.   Lace curtains have been expanded to include themed curtains such as lighthouse, beach, lodge and traditional home styles.  

Additional expansions in the coordinating kitchen table linens and runners in both lace and fabric patterns have been added to make a complete home decorating setting.   Kitchen placemats, napkins and table runners along with tablecloths and kitchen towels are a major portion of this expansion.   More curtain themes such as apples, roosters, Americana and lodge style can now be found at the Pine Hill Collections country store. 

The expanded country style curtain selection at Pine Hill Collections offer customers many window decorating options at very affordable pricing.  Country home decorating continues to be a popular choice for adding warmth and beauty to any home.  

Quilted Bedding, Throws, Crib Sets and Quilted Bags

Pine Hill Collections announces an expansion of its home decorating products for more home options for customers. Quilted products from Victorian Heart for country and primitive decorating have now grown to a full selection at Pine Hill.   

The Victorian Heart quilted product line includes a diverse selection of quilts, quilted throws, quilted crib sets, quilted handbags and kitchen tabletop linens.   Quilted bedding additions include a full range of sizes in luxury king, king, queen, and twin quilts as well as quilted throws in florals, primitives, plaids and country checks.  Quilted bedding sets are also available with coordinating throw pillows, shams and quilted pillows for a complete bedroom ensemble.  

For kitchen table decorating, coordinating quilted tabletop runners, tablecloths and placemats in primitive and country patterns offer more options for seasonal and everyday decorating.  Quilted tabletop patterns include primitive decorating options in rooster prints, cottage decorating, primitive stars and country plaids.  

For a personal touch, quilted handbags from Victorian Heart have been expanded to include over 20 patterns of purses, totes, backpacks, diaper bags and shoulder bags in quilted fabrics.   The Bella Taylor quilted handbags offer a complete gift line to the Pine Hill inventory choices. 

Primitive Gathered Swags are Truly Unique Window Treatment

Primitive Curtains just got a new look! Gathered swags by Park Designs are a unique window treatment for any country or primitive home decor. With the soft gathering they will silhouette your windows to create a warm feel. They are fully lined to protect the fabric from the sunlight. Available in 36" long and 63" long to accommodate any size window. Layer the 36" long over the
matching tiers for a complete effect.   

Made from 100% cotton fabrics that will hold up to years of use.  

Shown in the Apple Jack pattern with country red and cream checks, these will surely warm your home. The Willow Ticking is great for a primitive feel in the black and cream ticking fabric. 
Create the home you always wanted with a gathered swag at affordable prices.