| The whole point of cottage style living is | | | | enjoy. Even if you only have one or two items in |
| unpretentious enjoyment of home, friends and life. | | | | a category that gives you pleasure, such as |
| Unlike the big manor houses for which cottages | | | | antique wicker baskets or wide-brimmed summer |
| originally housed servants, cottages not only are | | | | hats, put them out to enjoy. What you collect |
| absent of dining rooms where 24 people can | | | | matters less than how you display it: Even three |
| enjoy a regal 12-course meal, they rarely have | | | | small antique bottles will appear charming on your |
| dining rooms at all! In short, cottage style is about | | | | kitchen windowsill when each bottle holds a single |
| the way most of us live today, not about wanting | | | | flower; a hat collection displayed on a wrought |
| to live the way the very rich lived yesterday! | | | | iron wall rack near the door lets you enjoy |
| Since cottage style derives from servants' | | | | viewing your chapeaux even when you're not |
| cottages, which were usually furnished with pieces | | | | wearing them. Removing doors from upper |
| cast off from the manor house, cottage chic | | | | kitchen cabinets allows you to easily showcase |
| unabashedly turns discards into desirable objects | | | | pottery and china in a very charming manner. - |
| by reclaiming and re-presenting them in a new | | | | Focus on comfort: When buying upholstered |
| context. This is good news for those of us on a | | | | furniture, look for pieces that appear |
| budget, and who among us isn't? Flea markets, | | | | "overstuffed" and inviting. Ignore inappropriate |
| garage sales and thrift stores are Mecca for | | | | upholstery and finishes. A little white paint and a |
| cottage style decorators, who train themselves | | | | slipcover will change them instantly! - Use |
| to view the merchandise they find there in light of | | | | accessories: Pillows covered in floral prints, vintage |
| what it can be, not what it was. An old painted | | | | tablecloths and pillowcases, brightly colored Fiesta |
| bench can become a stylish cottage coffee table, | | | | ware dishes and old china pitchers used as vases |
| an old mahogany corner cabinet can keep soap, | | | | are just a few of the things that make a cottage |
| towels and other bath necessities at hand, a piano | | | | feel homey. Again, don't worry about using things |
| stool with a wrought iron base can serve as a | | | | that match; a floral throw pillow can coexist |
| small end table, a largish piece of wrought iron can | | | | happily with a checked or striped one, and |
| be affixed to the wall behind the bed to serve as | | | | mismatched dining chairs look fine together when |
| a headboard. Turning pieces from different eras | | | | painted the same color. Remember... in cottage |
| and styles into a harmonious decorating whole by | | | | style, anything goes! If you are lucky enough to |
| simply appreciating them is the heart of cottage | | | | have a weekend retreat or summer getaway |
| style. Here are a few ways you can achieve a | | | | cottage, keep the interior décor light, |
| chic cottage look using decorating rather than | | | | comfortable and whimsical. After all, the reason |
| renovating: - Think white: White paint can cover a | | | | you purchased a cottage in the first place was to |
| multitude of architectural sins. A too-small kitchen | | | | retreat from the stresses of everyday city life. |
| with dark, dated wood cabinets feels more | | | | Your cottage should never be a mirror of your |
| spacious the moment the walls and cupboards are | | | | home in the city. The country is a place to let |
| painted white. Inexpensive white slipcovers on | | | | your personality shine through in your decorating. |
| furniture with stained or damaged upholstery unify | | | | Jessica Ackerman writes articles for Wall |
| different styles and brighten the living room. Even | | | | Décor and Home Accents-visit it to check |
| white sheets can be artfully draped over sofas | | | | out their unique selection of classic large iron wall |
| and chairs to achieve the cottage slip covered | | | | décor and explore decorative candle |
| effect. - Showcase collections: Go through your | | | | sconces. |
| belongings and select the ones you most love and | | | | |