Old Sweetwater

Old Sweetwater

Monday, February 22, 2010

The Queen's Decor

















The Queen was on TV recently...the movie that is. Again I noticed the decor. Though the palace's decor regally "over the top," I've always adored the traditional English cottage look!
Some basic elements are wood floors, chintz, timeless well-worn furniture, free standing cabinets, lace curtains and dark rough beams....
None of us live in palaces (do we?), but we are happy with even a modest home that is warm, welcoming and cozy. Those three words describe the traditional English cottage look to me.
Is anyone living with English Cottage decor?  Photo from top: Better Homes and Gardens; antique chintz teapot; English Cabbage Rose; Staffordshire Porcelain Dogs (I have two); English Chintz and English Garden.






41 comments:

Sue said...

Love your pictures and English Style Decor. We have plenty of chintz, worn furniture, free stand pieces, Staffordshire dogs, some wood floors, English cottage gardens, and roses on everything from china to upholstery, so I guess I would say that we live with English Cottage decor. The cozy, accumulated over time, comfortable, welcoming feeling of an English Cottage suits our way of living.
I so enjoy all of your posts.
Hugs,
Sue

Marcy {pine creek cottage} said...

Love that first photo! I adore the whole cottage feel and look (no surprise!) - these feel like "home" to me.

Carolyn said...

I enjoy the English look also-especially in their gardens!

Carolyn

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

I love chintz and anything that is all English or French Country appeals to me. The room in the photo is so warm and inviting.
We can always dream.

hugs
Sissie

Anonymous said...

I loved that movie just for the interior design aspect.. along with the movie Gigi. Hubs will inquire sometimes as to why I rewatch a movie.. 'it's for the interior settings' I tell him.

Love the peonies!

Olivia

It's me said...

Nice nice i really love your blog !!
Again and again......

Hugs from Ria

Donna said...

I adore the English cottage look! Wish I could duplicate it more in my own home!

Anonymous said...

What's not to love? I am especially found of the gardens.

- Deborah

Becky Garrison said...

The queen, should she pay me a visit (HA!) probably wouldn't find my home to her standards, but what she would find is cozy, comfortable, and cherished! While I love English Cottage Style, I guess you would call our house American Cottage Style with a dab of country and a dash of quirky thrown in! When we moved into this house, my main goal was to make it a place where friends and family felt free to sit down, kick back, and comfortably enjoy themselves. I think that goal was accomplished.

Devon said...

Love the photos...I have always told my husband if we win the lottery then I am moving to England and buying thatched roof cottage,,,I just love the feel and style of them,,,have a blessed week..
Devon

Anonymous said...

The home in the first photo is beautiful. Very warm, cozy and inviting. I love the colors of it. I don't have any Staffordshire dogs, but I have the rest. Rosie

Pondside said...

That BH&G photo is one for the inspiration page.
I'm a big fan of chintz and have a small collection given to me by an old aunt. Nothing says 'cosy' like tea from a chintz pot on a rainy day.

KTW said...

I love the cottage look! Cabbage roses and comfy cushions...YUMMY! Someday my husband will agree with me and I'll actually be able to have at least ONE room done in that cozy fashion. Maybe. ;)

Farm Girl said...

I would say, that in the first picture, I would love to have a house look like that, then reality sets in, I have 4 teenagers at home, 5 grandchildren under 3 that visit, and too many dogs and cats. :) Thanks for stopping by Janeen, I love your pictures and they always make me smile. How are the getting bees coming on?

Janean said...

Farm Girl, thank you! Teen, grands, dogs, cats...isn't the English look a well-worn look? *wink* LOL!

The bees are still in our minds to do. We're still gathering information and a little extra $$$.

hugs all!

FILIGREE MOON said...

Oh, Janean, these images are fabulous. Especially the English Manor. That will do nicely. ~ Angela

Oklahoma Granny said...

English cottages are so lovely, warm and inviting.

Beverly@ My Sew Sweet Studio said...

No not really, but I could if it looked like your pictures. Love all the pillows. Have always loved the look of an English Garden too.

Sharon said...

I love the warm and inviting room on your post. I am trying for the cottage look and what is nice is that any thing you like is just right for the look. Thanks for the visit.

voiceofpendergrass said...

It just so happens I do live in an English Cottage designed by my husband. He did a lot of research to get details as right as we could afford to do. We dearly love the warmth this cottage brings.

Janean said...

i've seen pendergrass's lovely, very cottage and agree it is truly English inside and out....and very FAB!

Pretty Zesty said...

gorgeous garden!

Stacey said...

In my imagination and dreams I live in that first picture. What a beauty!

Dianna said...

Thank you for stopping by this morning! I wanted to answer your question about wondering if the cinnamon rolls were as soft after they were baked as they looked. The answer is yes...even after they've cooled. I tell you what, Janean, why don't we pretend that we are sitting in that beautiful English cottage in picture one, I'll run out to the kitchen and pop a few cinnamon rolls in the microwave to have with our tea, and we'll have a great chat! :)

Rita said...

I don't have the English cottage decor, but think it is beautiful. We may not live in a palace, but we can feel like it is a palace if we are very happy with our spaces! I choose to! Your place is as beautiful as a palace too!

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

Love your pictures! I also love English Cottage style decor. I so enjoy your blog and I'm signing up as a follower! I am having tea tomorrow; why not drop by for a cup? Have a lovely day.

Blessings,
Sandi

Bernie said...

I love the cosy look and feel of an English home and garden. You know Ireland and Scotland are quite similar....only wish I could accompolish the look but I do have lace curtains in both bathrooms, and a lovely garden......:-) Hugs

Stephanie @ La Dolce Vita said...

Hi, Janean - Thanks for stopping by today. I put up some more flowers, with more to come tomorrow. Sadly, it isn't my greenhouse. I wish it were. http://www.plantingfields.org/ is the site if you want to take a look at the place I took the photos.
Best,
Stephanie

black eyed susans kitchen said...

I am also a big fan of the English cottage decor, and loved that last picture. There is just something very inviting and comfortable about it....and don't get me started on English gardens...we have been working on ours for years and it still does not stack up.
♥, Susan

Karen said...

My decor is more electic, or should I say the common hodge-podge. But it's things I love, so that counts, right?

Unknown said...

The photos are really neat, especially the first one. I think the cottage look is so welcoming.

Have a great day!

Nancy

Debby@Just Breathe said...

I love the look in that first picture. I have been collecting pictures like that. We have only been in this house 3 years and only had so much to choose from. I am happy with it but I keep thinking that someday I will have that look!

~ Regan said...

Those are great pictures! OH, how I long for 'real' flowers!!! I am getting tired of shovelling snow now, ready for a change of weather!

Come check out my blog sometime, I'm having a Mercury-ish giveaway!

Lisa said...

Oh yes I do love this too!! Aren't movies fun with great houses!!
Hugs, Lisa

Anonymous said...

I love that Kitchen -- how welcoming!
I want to live in that last photo.

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

Oh girl I love the English look of decorating it always looks so together without really doing a thing...I tried once to do an english kitchen but it looked more country to me ha ha!! Love Chintz now and I do have a few pieces of it...Thanks for coming by my friend...Hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

Eggs In My Pocket said...

The photos are so pretty. I love the English Cottage look as well........the English Cottage gardens are also beautiful. blessings,Kathleen

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Oh me too! LOVE the traditional English cottage look! Mmmmmm.......

But what movie are you referring to, by "The Queen"?

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

Thanks for visiting. I love the English cottage look also...and I love daisies...they were in my wedding! Have a great week!

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

I want that breakfast room from BH&G! Love it. laurie

Sharon said...

Your English style is so inviting and warm, wish I could sit with you and chat about your beautiful home. I guess in a way I am right now.....
What a wonderful world where we can share so many good ideas.
Sharon K