I Feel Sproost!

I'll admit it. Before the fire, I was in a rut that a lot of parents fall into. My furnishings and decorative elements had been all wicker and light-hearted in the 80's in my single days, and had evolved in the 90's into wipe-clean, round-cornered, easily washable pieces, and all the accessories were 6 feet up or higher. My coffee table centerpiece was a box of crayons. Technicolor bins stashed toys, and at one point, there was a full size plastic playhouse where the TV is now. In the living room. It was the focal point.

Huzzah!

Granted, I'd brought in candles and some accents, and I'd recently splurged on a denim slipcovered sectional (when our old slipcovered grouping finally fell apart. As in Sammy went through the couch.), but my style hadn't been defined.

Now, I'm aware that not many people would look at having to haul all of your smoke damaged stuff out of a burned hull of a house as an opportunity, but let me tell you, it was. Flame as catalyst. Archetypal Phoenix rising from the ashes. Reglue, rescrew, redo and renew.

People, what we have here is pure possibility.

I thought it might be fun to see how my style is defined. I've never seen tropical-shabby-beach-eclectic-cottage-hodgepodge-good-God-did-she-paint-it-that-color-on-purpose??? listed as a category anywhere, so I took a quiz. Wanna play along?

Sproost!

Go ahead, it's cool, I'll wait.

Geez, that took you a while, huh? Did you like the results? Were you surprised by your answer?

I wasn't surprised, but it's nice to have a legitimate name for my style! I'm:

Cottage Chic

"Who says that cottages can't be modern and chic? Who says that they have to be floral and cheesy? Not you! You love the carefree spirit that the cottage interior inspires, but you are also serious about your appreciation for modern art and hip treasures. You love old and new alike, and love to highlight them all to expose the uniqueness of each. What better way to show off these treasures than with a light background?"

I'm thinking of getting a tattoo that says that. A tramp stamp perhaps?

My inspiration photos are as follows...

I never actually marked any of the examples as "Love," but my "Likes" made up 

a pattern that scored me thusly:

50%  Cottage Chic

33% Contemporary

17% Rustic Revival

I'm a decorating mutt. Woof. 

And that's just way too much white. I'm spilling cabernet on it in my mind as we speak.

Some things were on the money though.

Materials

You have a great sense of humor when it comes to design and even like to make fun of the style itself. Which means that you will throw in a toy boat or a vintage life preserver to keep the mood of the place just like the color: light! The fabrics are natural (cottons and linens) and are light in touch. Much of the furniture is wood or wood framed (the lighter the better, think driftwood!) and as long as it's used sparingly or with modern lines, you even throw in a wicker piece here and there.

Colors

Your true inspiration (whether you know it or not) is the sea... the colors found at your favorite beach: white and light beige of the sand, a variety of blues for the ocean and sky, and greens and pale grays of the sea glass... but the key is white! Your space should feel light and airy and give off the mood one has when at the beach: laid back! The key with Cottage Chic is balance; in one corner there could be a rustic wood table that looks like it could have been found rather than made, but it is offset with a modern vase while another corner is adorned with a modern Lucite piece.

Space Planning

The furniture is comfortable and the layout is cozy. The more it encourages intimate gatherings the better! Just watch out for the red wine spills on the new white sofa! (I guess this isn't just an issue with me, huh?) The color throughout is light and airy - and though you love to accessorize with fun colors (the sky's the limit with a white background), the main color seen and felt throughout the house is white or very light versions of colors so that they feel almost white.

Am I reading this right, or did the author just tell me to go and do whatever I want to?

Don't mind if I do!

Thursday Thrills

Okay, I need to warm up for the big party weekend! Come join me at some of my favorite hang outs.

Oh, and a little favor: my buddy Sarah over at the Pumpkin Patch is just getting her blog back up and running after a personal hiatus. It's her 10th wedding anniversary as well. 

Pop by and say hi!

 

The Year in Pictures: Life in Rehab 2010

We were peripherally aware that our behavior last year was about six miles south of normal.
Where ever that is.
In the interest of improving the content on this site and perhaps becoming more like the polished, popular blogs, we carefully went through the previous 12 month's posts and analyzed what we'd done.
 

We...well...we picked our dogs up and passed them back and forth just to prove we could.

 

We showed where my fear of Girl Scouts comes from.

 

We demonstrated how my housekeeping skills have always been stick-to-the-floor fantastic.

 

Savannah has severe allergic reactions to giant glitter skulls and blows up like a guppy.

I react more like Katie Perry. Hide the toddlers.

 

We spread mass hysteria and fear all Halloween season with our convincing
special effects and make up tricks.

 

Papparazzi. Who says you have to be famous to hate them?

 

But we did teach you to dream big. Nothing is impossible.

 

Including resisting this face.

A lot of people enjoyed our "Growing Your Own Cat" Tutorial.
Thank you for not calling PETA.

Although we raised some suspicions as far as our treatment of animals.

There was no real evidence that THIS was not accidental.

 

And this is not, I repeat NOT made of real cats.

 

Our philosophy on how to handle life's little bumps, like a major house fire, was immortalized by Tara at...um...well... Tara Being Tara.

We've demonstrated that safety gear is stylish. Ignore what other people say.
Pointing and laughing is a compliment in some parts of the world.

 

Dancing in tight places is in vogue.

My taste in lamps is beyond question. You should all mimic my style to the letter.

A well stocked pantry has to start with the essentials.
And make sure they are stored properly.

Never dress your children alike when on vacation, nor teach them your home address.
You will get them back.

Although it could be years later.
Mine don't hold a grudge if there's ice cream involved.

These, however, are the guys that will return them.

Living beings often make dandy decorations with enough hot glue.

 

Encourage your children to express their own style when dressing for school.

 

The making of household armaments is an essential skill.
Duct tape is amazingly versatile.

 

Accept constructive criticism when it comes to your cooking.

 

Flambe' all FAILS...

 

...and eat the evidence.

Bring offerings to the Feline Overlords on a regular basis.
Be humble.

Make sure Mom has access to lots of pictures from when you're younger
that will not chase women away.

 

Be proud of your work.

 

Come up with excellent disguises.

Learn how not to be seen.

And learn what to hide from.
And when.

 

Basically, we're really, really, really sorry.
But I doubt 2011 is going to be very different.

Not that that bothers me much...
(Back away slowly...)