Need some curb appeal?

Wow, I cannot believe it’s been so long since my last post- sorry ya’ll but it’s been a dizzying past few weeks. My dear grandmama’s beloved dog passed away and my husband was treated for kidney stones; so needless to say I haven’t had much time to think about decor! But now that life is nearly back to normal and summer has officially hit Florida-  I’ve gone back to my old wheedling ways. And lately I’ve had curb appeal on my mind.

Generally when we hear the phrase: “curb appeal” we tend to think of a Real Estate ad but why should we beautify our homes only when they’re on the market? True curb appeal should be about enjoying the outside of our home as much as we do the inside.

Now, if you’ve been visiting my blog for awhile ya’ll will notice that I’m a frugal gal who can’t afford tries to find a bargain- I also like a quick fix since my mama did not bless me with the gift of patience! So, here are some easy and cheap ways to give your home a face lift.

PORCHES

If you’re one of the lucky ones who owns a home with a porch then you’ve got a leg up on the rest of us since your home already comes with a space designated for outdoor living and ambience. Porches are also the perfect place to give passerby’s a peek into your personal style and are fun to decorate for the holidays or to stage for a place to share a cup of coffee in the morning. So utilize your great space by investing in some weather resistant furniture (One word: WICKER!) and surround yourself with both hanging and potted flowers for an instant garden.

FOLIAGE

What house’s curb appeal would be complete without the right amount of greenery? Now, if you live in the south like little old me- then you know the importance of finding plants that are both heat and humidity resistant; but my advice to everyone (even you yankees!) is to invest in quality seeds or seedlings by heading to the garden center and finding plants that work best for your budget and style. Timed sprinklers and mulch can also help to cut down on maintenance.

FRONT DOOR

Although we’re not supposed to judge a book by it’s cover- when you have a fabulous front door then you’re sure to make a great impression and unlike plants or porches- anyone can open a can of paint for an instant update. And if you’re really looking for a statement then completely replacing an exterior (or even interior) door can really change the entire look of your home. Personally, I love the quirkiness of a true vintage (or vintage inspired) door and I think I may have a slight obsession with french doors.

WREATHS

Wreaths aren’t just for Christmas anymore and for those of us without a porch (a.k.a me!) adding a wreath can be an easy way to celebrate the seasons and dress up a blah space. If you’re not interested in traditional wreaths you can add a floral catcher like the one below or you can whip out the hot glue gun and create a sea shell, chalkboard or burlap creation. Etsy has some great one of kind wreaths and if you’re ready to DIY then head over to Pinterest for inspiration!

MAILBOXES

Your mailbox might not be the first thing you think of when you start sprucing up your curb appeal but if your mailbox is falling apart or downright boring then it might be the perfect place to begin. Case in point: There is a beautiful craftsman style home down the street from us that I absolutely love but the fact that their mailbox is bent at a 35 degree angle detracts from the gorgeousness of the house. A great mailbox can make even an old house look fresh. And don’t forget to plant some flowers at the base!

THE PICKET FENCE

Nothing makes a home look more classic and cozy than a white picket fence. Especially for smaller homes that lack space for a big statement- a fence can turn a condo or cookie cutter track home into an instant cottage. And if you’re still looking for that porch that the builder forgot to include then adding fencing along your stoop can create the illusion of one- just don’t forget to add a rocker and a pitcher of Sweet Tea!

Well, that’s all for tonight folks! I hope you got some great ideas for making your home look it’s best. I’m working on some ideas for a summer mantle so…

Ya’ll come back now!

Rachel

What kind of chic are YOU?

Hey Ya’ll,

Hooray it’s May! Did you ever hear the expression April showers bring May flowers? Well, whoever said that must have been raised north of the Mason Dixon line because May is monsoon season in the southeast which means rain…and rain… and well, you get the picture. But all this rain sort of makes you feel clean and renewed. And along with spring cleaning I feel like spring = redecorating! Now, my style is traditional shabby chic all the way which means white slipcovers, salvage architecture pieces like vintage windows and corbels and lots of floral accents. But on my pitiful streamlined budget I usually like to redecorate by moving items around the house first in order to create some fresh vignettes. But c’mon now, you know that won’t satisfy all of my redecorating lust and since I’m always on the look out for pieces to flip and sell in my little shop-  I hardly ever  usually end up finding a new little treat for myself.

But to make sure my house has continuity I try to focus my wish list on a specific theme. Since summer weather starts in April here I usually start to add some beach flair into my shabby abode. But let’s forget about my wish list and while I’m serving up some virtual sweet tea and coca cola cake (my favorite!) you can think about what kind of chic you’re looking for. Not sure? Well, then follow me.

Shabby Chic may be the Chic (pronounced sheek for the newcomers out there) that started it all. But there are quite a few off-shoots to satisfy an array of decorating styles. And what they all have in common is casual sophistication paired with vintage accents.

So let’s began with the Chic that’s closest to shabby:

COTTAGE CHIC

Cottage Chic is defined by a more is more motto giving the illusion of a collection that has grown and evolved over the years. Popular in decorating small spaces where you want your collections to evoke a timeless homey quality- Cottage Chic employs all the same elements as Shabby Chic but with more colorful textiles (usually pink, cream and a complimentary color such as a robin’s egg blue or light green). It is believed to have derived from the quaint cottages styled in Britain and Ireland where humble homeowners wanted to give a style reminiscent of the grand estates.

Now if you’re thinking nope, less is more for me then there’s also a Chic for you. Doo doo de doo! (Or is it Dun dun da da?) There’s also…

SWEDISH Chic

Swedish Chic (or Modern Chic as it is sometimes called) is defined by minimalist lines and clean open spaces. Think Ikea meets a farmhouse in Germany. This style may have the distressed or shabby quality to some of it’s accents but the focus is really on a spartan palette of white mixed with quality natural woods. Swedish Chic can employ funky elements such as antlers or industrial accents, often mixed with geometric prints such as stripes. Popular textiles are cork and reclaimed pine.

Still haven’t quite found a chic that’s totally you yet? Well, if you are thinking about adding some of that original Shabby Chic but don’t know where you’d put it- how about heading outside to…

GARDEN Chic

Garden chic is all about using your outdoor space as an extension of your overall living space. If you’re like me and have a real honest to goodness cottage sized home (You mean the kitchen shouldn’t be the same size as the bathroom?) then you might be looking for some more square footage- and prettying up your patio or porch might just might give you that entertaining area you’ve been fantasizing of.  (I also especially love giving discarded or broken furniture a second life this way.)

You mean you still haven’t found your chic niche? Well, if you’re looking for less frill and romance and more gender neutral styling then the next Chic might be the one for you!

AMERICANA Chic

Americana Chic is all about the ol’ red, white and blue and taking Shabby Chic to Main Street USA.  This is also a great style for rooms that you want to transition from  lacey and feminine to more husband/boyfriend/kid friendly. And if you aren’t ready to commit to these colors for everyday use then you can always get inspired to stock up on a few pieces for Independence, Memorial or President’s Day.

Now, I love to mix a little bit of this and that (and that over there) into my style but this next Chic is one I really love to incorporate into my own decor since I’m just a beach baby at heart  (just don’t ask me to put on a bathing suit!).

BEACH Chic

Now Beach Chic may seem easy peasy- just set out a few sea shells and a couple of mermaid signs, right? Nope! It’s actually one of the hardest styles to get right because it can look way too cutesy very fast. To keep your theme looking coastal instead of kitschy try to think outside of the sea star box and incorporate nautical accents (boat knots, vintage model ships, real coral and sand in a hurricane glass) on top of a neutral color palette with only one or two pops of color.

Now if you’re all about uber sophistication a’la The Hamptons or London’s Hampstead then these next two Chic’s will knock your socks off!

EURO Chic and EQUESTRIAN Chic

I’m linking these two styles together because they both hearken back to the days of Country Estates.

Euro Chic and Equestrian Chic remind me of the black and white Hitchcock movies (Think Rebecca or North by Northwest) where the rich heir or heiress used to keep their secret uranium stashes hidden behind old cricket trophies. Highlighted by dark rich tones such as natural leather, suede and plaid layered tartans; these styles are perfect for dens, family rooms, libraries and those of you with actual vacation homes (I wish!).  And one major upside is that these styles are often as popular with men as with women. (So tell your hubby his mancave can be masculine and classy!)

Last but not least is the simplest Chic of them all!

VINTAGE Chic

If you’re still not sure you want to commit to a certain style or are simply just beginning your vintage collection then Vintage Chic will be an easy style to keep your home feeling pulled together. Simply group like minded vintage items in small vignettes such as on mantles, side tables or on hutches and shelves. Groupings usually look most elegant in odd numbers (I stick with three) but the smaller the size the larger the grouping is the best rule of thumb.

Some of the cheapest and easiest collections to begin are old photographs, cameras, linens and china. Don’t be fooled by trendy antique malls that sell these items for a pretty penny- whether you’re a novice or a seasoned collector- your best bargains will come from thrift stores like Salvation Army or Goodwill and garage sales. (And don’t forget you can mix in some modern pieces for a quick decor fix!)  Vintage Chic is like adding icing to a cake- a little goes a long way but some of us like alot!

So, whether you’re romantic and traditional or funky and minimal I hope you found your Chic! As for me, the rain has started again and I just have to finish the last few minutes of Sabrina (Can I come back as Audrey Hepburn in my next life- please!)  before I snuggle off to bed…

Check back soon for my next post- which will cover a little thing called curb appeal.

Ya’ll come back now,

Rachel

Top 5 Decor Sites

Hey Folks!

It’s definitely feeling like summer here in the sunshine state- and although I’m loving that my little garden is blooming-I definitely do not like the sweat dew that accompanies April. Thus the life of a Floridian, I suppose…

But back to the important stuff. Cue the music… Yup, it’s the post I was talking about! The one where I share my top five favorite decorating sites that inspire me to make my little cottage- cottage chic.

1) The Old Painted Cottage

This is my absolute favorite website for decorating inspiration! Jennifer owns this site that is both a blog and an online store. Every month her accompanying blog, Cottage of the Month, features a brand new home that showcases truly elegant and magazine perfect “cottages”. Each home has different collections and themes, from primitive to shabby chic to nautical to classic modern. If you haven’t visited this site yet- GO NOW!

2) The Graphics Fairy

A few years ago, this was the best kept secret on the web but since this site is so fantastic it’s pretty famous now. Karen owns this site which offers over 3500 free- yes, FREE graphics- to use in your craft, art and design projects. Karen really has amazing style and uses the highest quality ephemera (vintage paper memorabilia). She also offers tips on DIY projects that are perfect to sell, keep or give as gifts. I especially love the French Typography since a small part of me wishes I was Paris chic!

3) Rachel Ashwell

Now, this one may seem like a no-brainer since Rachel Ashwell coined the Shabby Chic brand back in the late 80s but I love her blog because her passion behind her fabulous hotel THE PRAIRIE just permeates her online adventures as she searches for vintage treasures.  And although as a bargain hunter I think she charges too much for her couture furniture- I do get inspiration as a furniture painter on how to fix up my own Goodwill and Salvation Army finds.

4) Paint Me White

Paint Me White is a smaller website that showcases Australian furniture painter Sandy and her shop on the Gold Coast in Brisbane (at the Woolloongabba Antique Center if you’re in the area 🙂 I love this site not only because it lets me know what’s hot in another part of the world but because it  inspires me to be more simple in my decorating since Sandy’s pictures of her own house are so beautifully minimal.

5) Country Sampler

Now, this one technically is a magazine but I had to include it because Country Sampler actually offers advertisements on where to buy their showcased pieces. I also have gotten some amazing inspiration from their vignette features because it pushes me out of my shabby/cottage comfort zone. And sometimes our style gets stale so we need to incorporate something different now and then.

Whew!

So, now that I shared all my secret places to visit for inspiration- please share some of yours!

If you’ve been following my posts then you know that I recently moved into a brick and mortar shop inside an antique mall. Something I’m super excited and scared to death about. But aside from doing my signs and flipping my trash to treasure furniture pieces- I’m always on the look out for stuff for my own house. Some of the pieces I am always on the look out for is book shelves or kitchen hutches since they offer great storage and display value. I picked up one such piece last fall for five dollars and had no idea how to use it at the time- (but how could I pass up five dollars, right?) Well, after my amazing boss and owner of the antique mall gifted me some vintage kitchenware I knew just where to put it!

I just couldn’t resist adding that piece of vintage gingham behind this open shelving to create the illusion of a back.

Well, that’s it for now folks! I’ve got Project Runway on the DVR and a glass of Baileys waiting for me. Please leave some comments so I know you’re out there!

Ya’ll come back now,

Rachel

Out with the Old, In with the New

Hi ya’ll out there in blog land!

Once again, I am sneaking in a post before bedtime as I’ve been super busy the past couple days. Today, my five year old son Gable lost his first tooth! This, of course, makes me extremely aware that he is growing up and makes me happy and sad at the same time. Mamahood sure is hard sometimes! One second I’m telling him to stop singing the Spongebob song for the jillionth time and the next I’m reminding myself that in 10.5 years he will be driving.

And then I sing along.

Now, before I cry  let me show you the piece I recently sold.

 

Isn’t this secretary desk oh-so-shabby-chic?

It was one of the first pieces I bought when I started getting into vintage style in my very early twenties and I have to admit I was pretty attached to it. But I reminded myself that our little cottage is exactly that- little! So, I decided it was time for someone else to enjoy it. And when a young college student came in looking for her first piece of furniture for her new apartment I knew this was the piece for her. What can I say? I’m the antique matchmaker.

 

For now I’ve filled that lonely corner of my living room with a china cabinet I’ve been thinking of re-doing. (But I’m sure I’ll probably use this as an excuse to buy something else- which is kind of silly since I’m supposed to be downsizing! But ya’ll won’t tell my husband that, right?)

 

Now, since it’s past one- I’ll guess I’ll have to hit the hay.

Sorry for this short post but believe me I’m working on a really good long post filled with links to my favorite inspirational decor sites on the web so be sure to check in tomorrow.

Ya’ll come back now,

Rachel

Visit Southern Hill Cottage at 1218 West Broad St 2nd floor Groveland Florida 34753

Southern Hill Cottage
1218 West Broad St 2nd floor, Groveland, FL. (407) 494-5867
in Classic Treasures

Southernhillcottage.com

I’m a southern girl at heart although God decided Southern California was my starting point I finally found my way back to the deep South. I love anything chippy, shabby or downright old! If it’s not crackly it don’t belong in my southern cottage.

BLOG at https://thegablecottage.wordpress.com/

Southern Hill Cottage BLOG at Fancy Flea LakeLand – Southernhillcottage.comm

April 6th and 7th in Lakeland, FL- Fancy Flea is a collection of vendors and artisans joining on the streets of downtown Lakeland to help buyers find the perfect cottage, shabby or vintage one of a kind!

http://www.fancyflealakeland.com/

From EEK to Chic!

Hey Ya’ll!

I know I just posted about my new shop location but I just couldn’t put down my ol’ laptop without showing a peek about my latest EEK to Chic finds.  I just love finding a neglected item and making it beautiful again.

If ya’ll have read my previous posts then you know that I never spend over $20 for any one item. Well, one of my favorite picking spots is a little thrift store on the outskirts of Groveland, Florida simply called Thrift.

This is what I picked recently:

BEFORE

Price: $5.00

AFTER

This lamp was pretty cute before but I couldn’t resist adding some “Paris” stenciling and some creamy white paint. I love how it turned out!

Next is this 1940s sewing table- unfortunately the sewing machine was missing but folded up this table would make a great desk!

BEFORE

Price: $15.00

After:

I love coupling it with this chippy chair- aren’t they a perfect pair?

And finally- I found one of my “dream wants”- one of those pieces that I’ve been oh-so-wanting for so long that I could never find in my price range. My hubby was driving- la la la LA… and suddenly I turned my head and saw it in front of an old junk shop. I usually don’t use that term (because I love junk!) but in this case the store actually was actually called Junk Shop.

Ta Da! A vintage Radio Flyer! From the tin body and inflatable wheels, I’m guessing this baby is from the 50s.

I can’t wait until Christmas to put some vintage dollies and teddy bears in here and stage it under the tree. Yes, I’m one of those people- the kind that think about decorating for Christmas way too soon.

And I hope you are too.

Before I sign off- I just want to thank you for reading my blog. Someone is there, right? Just kidding. Now back to doing a little adoption research before I go to bed. But more about that later. (I told you I was full of surprises!)

Ya’ll come back now,

Rachel

Kismet

Hey Ya’ll,

Wow. Sorry I haven’t been around for a few days- but so much has been happening it’s hard to know where to start.  

Dun dun da da! I now have an official brick and mortar location for Southern Hill Cottage! Which brings me to this little thing called kismet. In my favorite book, Anne of Avonlea,  Anne talks alot about kismet and providence- two old fashioned words that basically mean fate. Do you believe in fate? I always thought I did. But lately I’ve been having a hard time wondering if the hard things in life are meant to be or just unlucky accidents. But then something happened that… well, just had to be kismet.

About ten miles away from our house, just as you start to get into the farm country of dirt roads and Spanish Oaks, is a huge Victorian mansion that I’ve been in love with since the moment I saw it (three years and three months- but who’s counting?) It’s pretty much my dream house. And the fact that it’s been vacant for the last forty years and is reportedly haunted just adds to it’s allure.

And as I pass it to drive my son to the park or with my hubby to the movies- a little voice inside me has always said, “Someday you’re gonna be able to drive up to that house and just walk in.” Which is ridiculous since the house is three times the price we could ever afford. But nonetheless the voice persisted.

And then, two days ago, while perusing craigslist for some flea market finds- I saw an ad. ANTIQUE VENDORS WANTED- INQUIRE AT 1118 Broad St. And there it was, next to the ad, the picture of THE HOUSE. My dream house. Known locally as The Edge House.

Fast forward one phone call and two hours and I was driving up to my dream house and… the door was open. The inside of the house was even better than I expected- shiny hardwood floors led the way to a vintage kitchen complete with a pot belly stove, creamy shingled wood walls showcased built in brick fireplaces and gingerbread woodwork was overhead clawfoot tubs . And don’t even get me started on the wrap around verandas! Needless to say, I made a deal with the owner on the spot. And now I have an official permanent shop in the house that I knew I would somehow be a part of. Kismet? I’m starting to think so.

Ya’ll come back now,

Rachel

Welcome to My House!

Welcome to a mini tour of Southern Hill Cottage! It’s not only the name of my blog and local antiques booth but what I call my little house here in Clermont, Florida. Since my last post focused on vignettes- I’m going to show a few peeks of my own style.

So take a look and feel free to leave me a comment- I’m back to prepping my items to sell and dreaming about how to construct an “instant garden”- but more about that later…

Ya’ll come back now,

Rachel

And finally a pic of me…. so you know who ya’ll are conversin’ with—as my grandmama would say

Re-purposing and Vignettes

Hi again! It’s a beautiful day here in central Florida with no humidity (yay!) and even a little bit of beach breeze sneaking up from the Gulf Coast. If ya’ll read my last couple posts you’re probably wondering what the heck I bought at my tour of Renningers Twin Markets in nearby Mount Dora, FL.  Well… here she is!

Huh? You say- Is that a shelf or a table? Well, that brings me to my latest post- using props in unusual ways.  If you’re like me- you might be on the search for the perfect book case to fit a tight space or that dream china cabinet to display your collection of Willow-ware. But when you’re on a tight budget sometimes you have to be inventive.

Enter the term “re-purposing”

Some stylists use the words up cycling and re-purposing interchangeably. But they are actually two different things. Up cycling is taking one thing and turning it into something else (a.k.a Aunt Martha’s favorite garden urn gets a coat of paint and a glass top and become a bistro table) but re-purposing is all about how you USE something without altering the actual object.

What I was looking for was a small hutch to house some of my latest finds- but when I saw this little night stand I decided it was just small enough to do the job.

 

Like it?

I hope you do- because I’m kind of in love with it.

(Oh, and that’s our beloved little dog, Lily- she always finds a way to sneak into a pic!)

Tomorrow, I’ll be heading over to another of my favorite places to pick. The Century Cottage in Dundee/Lake Hamilton, Florida where Miss Nancy and her handsome co-owner Mr Dane have put together a truly one of a kind space in an honest to goodness vintage cottage. There’s also a cute as a button BBQ shack across the street ~complete with red gingham curtains!~ that kind of screams good ol’ southern eats.

 

But for now I’m back to prepping my own finds for selling. So far, I’ve been selling in various make shift locations via swap meets and antique fairs (and my best customers even drop by my house just to see what I’m up to- thanks guys!) But what I’m super excited about is getting my own permanent shop this summer. More details to come!

 

 

Ya’ll come back now,

 

Rachel