this yellow house

 

Hello dear friends.  Today I'm sharing photos of a house I decorated during the pandemic.  I originally was not going to post because the owners are v private people.  But they just gave me the go-ahead and so 3 years later here we are.  I apologize for the copies of the photos from my iphone but over the years some were deleted and this is all I've got.  Also, I don't have all the befores but hopefully you will get the gist.  There are no photos of the new gorgeous kitchen because it has not been styled. 

A few facts about the house...it was built in 1902 and is a true gem of Redlands.  It was in the same family for many decades and even a Barnaby Jones episode was shot here in the 1970s!  The new owners took great care with its restoration.  This was no small project at 6000 sq ft, 6 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms.  All the major systems of the house were replaced with staggering attention to detail.   Then the house had to be decorated.  That process will continue for many years but what you see here is the first layer.  Enjoy!

This is the garden room to the left of the entry.  The photos don't do it justice.  The yellow wallpaper is probably from the 1940's.  I should inject here that the owners don't like a lot of clutter which is music to my ears.

This is a before of the entry.  

The woodwork throughout the entire home is exquisite.

A before of the dining room...

What a difference!  Ralph Lauren Marlowe wallpaper in Prussian Blue.

 

This is a little powder room across the hall from the dining room.  How charming is that sink?!

This is the family room to the right of the entry.  

Here are a few photos of the bathrooms.  All eight were entirely remodeled using lots of period correct details.

This is the only photo I have of the primary bedroom.  In person it is so fabulous!

This is the primary bedroom fireplace.  The house has 4.  

Isn't it gorgeous?!  It's one of those houses that you don't know where to sit because there are so many beautiful choices.  There is soo much more to the house but I thought you may enjoy this glimpse.  

Take care and stay cool...x

nowhere i'd rather be

 

I am convinced that I was always meant to be here.  This house is me and I am it.  And you guys know how much I love routines and how they keep me grounded, this house does that for me.  I move by the rhythms of the light now.  

No matter where I sit inside I see beautiful green views from every single window.  I don't see other structures or homes.  I just recently noticed this.

When the sun is just about to set it casts this beautiful golden glow on everything green outside and it is dead set magical.  That's my cue to close the drapes throughout the house and move to the bedroom to start my night routine of a wicked hot bath and my beautiful sheets.  I read til I drift off knowing there is nowhere I'd rather be. x

the new man in my life

 

This is as close as I'll get to having another man in my life.  I'm so not kidding. He's perfect in every way.  He just sits there and looks gorgeous all day.  Asks nothing of me and he is always looking at me with dreamy eyes and a wry smile.

Seriously though, how would I ever date a man?  It's been 4 years and I've never even seen someone I'd be interested in let alone them in me.  The whole thing seems impossible.  So I'll just stick with this guy.  What should his name be.  He's 19th c French.  Help me out.  x

summer prep

 

Good morning ladies and gents.  Today I'd like to talk a little about summer and how I prepare for it in this little old cottage that until recently had zero insulation.

Last summer I had the house painted Benjamin Moore Simply White, insulation installed in the attic, a new roof put on and a couple of awnings installed.  This was a huge undertaking for me.  The home repair industry is rife with unscrupulous people but I was patient and found amazing people to help me.

I could not be happier with the results.  The interior of the house is so much cooler.  Just changing the exterior from dark to light made a huge difference.  The attic being insulated helped so much in the winter too.  

 

I'm so glad all the work is over and done with and the house is prepared for another hot summer heading our way.  I'd also like to take a moment to thank dear reader Rachel and her husband Carl who helped me get this blog up and going again.  The blog is now 100% ad-free which thrills me.  So watch this space because I do intend to write here more often.  Thank you for the love and patience you've shown me over the last 4 years.  I'm crossing my fingers that I'm back. x

All the Cottages & Bungalows Photos

This photo shoot was quite different from the Country Living photo shoot back in 2015.  Actually it couldn't be more different.  The first big difference is there was no stylist.  So what you see is exactly how my house looks all the time, prob not quite as clean tho.  😊 Not a single prop was brought in.  I think this photo is so beautiful.

The second difference is that it was shot in one day vs five days with Country Living.  What a relief.  The photographer Bret Gum was v kind and just went to work and got it done.  I so appreciated that.

Oh my goodness another favorite.

I never shoot my kitchen from this angle and I quite like it.  You really see the age of the table.

And I just love my pantry.  This is how it looks, simple and fresh.

Gosh I love my little porch too.

I can't express just how much you all mean to me.  I never once thought one day this little house would be shared with thousands of people throughout the world.  Thank you guys so much for each and every comment you've ever left here.  Some days I just pick an old page and read your comments and am floored by your kindness.  I cry reading them.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  xo janet