While I love lots of color combinations, blue and white is probably my favorite. There is something clean and fresh about it that reminds me of summer. Right before Country Living came, Melinda and I quickly stitched up a little white canvas slipcover for the ottoman which will surely see lots of barefoot feet this season. You may notice the pre-WWII platters that I recently picked up at a yard sale for $1 each. As I was leaving the lady in charge shouted out to me, "The platters are good for steak and corn on the cob!" Gosh I love yard sales.
I really liked the way the room looked and thought CL would too. Turns out they had their own vision for the room which was fun to watch them put together. We will all have to wait and see what they came up with....but in the meantime, it's back to blue and white for summer living.
Have a beautiful holiday weekend and be well. x
Totally gorgeous Janet!! Pammie xxx
ReplyDeletethank you pammie. are you in st. remy? x
DeleteYes, now in St Remy. It's wonderful as always. Today was the market, fabulous. The strawberries, cherries and peonies are to die for. Yesterday we had a lovely lunch in one of my fave spots here, the Place Favier, A beautiful little square with four huge shady sycamore trees and an old fountain, surrounded on three sides by beautiful old buildings. There's a wonderful small café called Les Filles du Patissier and often a little music group plays there. Only a few steps away is Vicki Archer's charming little house, Le Petit Bijou where we stayed last year. Sadly it was already booked this year, but the Hotel sous les Figuiers is pretty and charming too. Very simple (doesn't have all the wonderful home comforts of LPB) but we have a little private terrace shaded by a fig tree where we can sit out and have a glass or two of wine and our food from the market. There's a fountain and birdsong. And the Canadian art group also staying here are plying guitar and singing traditional folk songs. Pammie xxx
Deleteoh i know the exact square you are talking about. we wandered there and had a glass of rose and a snack in the late afternoon. so so pretty. have fun pammie - you are living the life! x
DeleteBlue and white = so crisp and cool. Can't wait to see your CL feature!
ReplyDeletethank you julie. i can't either. x
DeleteI love how your dress matches the curtains.
ReplyDeleteSteak plates? I think not! thank goodness you rescued them before they got contaminated with dripping meat...yuk! xxx
thanks vix. i know! x
Deletecan't imagine how country living can improve upon this!!!
ReplyDeleteawww thanks anon! x
DeleteOh, how pretty your rooms are. I love blue and white for the summer too. I bring out ticking pillow covers, and this year I ordered a great Dash and Albert rug in blues. Enjoy your holiday weekend!
ReplyDeletethanks isabella. i love dash and albert rugs. their blue and whites are my favorite! x
DeleteIt's beautiful. Your cottage is similar palette as mine with the whites and wood. Blue is the only color that is barely present in my home. It always speaks of Summer seaside days to me. I love your cottage and am happy to have recently found you.
ReplyDeletethank you so much. i will pop over and see your cottage, it sounds lovely. x
DeleteHow lovely! I am mostly living in blue and white this spring. The colour of my life is added by jewelry, lipstick and the hummingbirds!
ReplyDeletei live in blue and white too! with a little red lipstick. :) x
DeleteLove your home. So glad you share it with your readers. Mouse
ReplyDeletethank you mouse. x
DeleteSo funny that CL had their own ideas! I can't imagine changing a thing! It will be interesting to see...
ReplyDeletethanks dannie.! x
DeleteI think it is odd that they change your room and then write an article as if it was your style. Of course we all know magazines do this, but why? Sure in some magazines, we are looking for design, but I personally like real homes with real homeowners stuff, even though they still use most of it. Case in point is your home. I love it and would want to see it in CL, as is.
ReplyDeleteRaz makes a really good point!!! x
DeleteDitto!
Deletethanks lovely. it is an interesting point. and one i will talk about after it's published. i will say that they did use 99% of my stuff - just in different ways. which was fascinating to watch and i have to say i learned an awful lot. i really really hope my style does still show through the photographs.
DeleteI'm with Tax above. Why would they choose your beautiful house if they didn't love your beautiful decor? And look at you, all toile, all the time.
ReplyDeleteI thought I was typing "Raz," :).
Deletethank you lisa! i think that they add things because it translates better in photographs? i'm not exactly sure though. x
DeleteBlue being my favorite color, of course I love the blue you've added. Looks wonderful!
ReplyDeletethank you jeannine. x
DeleteMy love of b&w knows no bounds and I've never been sick of it once. I'm going to work on a little blue and white craft project when/if I ever go home and it'll be blue and white gingham painted onto ceramic platters at a color me mine type place. I bought a plastic version and I love using it for graphic color but hate that it's plastic. your house looks so great ushering in summer!
ReplyDeletethanks stephen. i'm not crafty at all so will love to see what you come up with. love gingham! x
DeleteI love that you put your blue and white ginger jars in the living room and the addition of the fern! Also your "new" platters on the living room wall. I so love your simple beautiful style!
ReplyDeletethanks priscilla. those are just fern fronds put in a vase. but i love them too. x
DeleteI am surprised that Country Living would even think of changing your beautiful decor...
ReplyDeleteI love how you renovated and have decorated your home.
Blue and white is classic and those two new plates are a great find!
thanks leslie!
DeleteI am surprised that Country Living would even think of changing your beautiful decor...
ReplyDeleteI love how you renovated and have decorated your home.
Blue and white is classic and those two new plates are a great find!
Hi darl, who is the painting of in the living room? Is it you? Love the platters! Love all the framed portraits of your boys too.
ReplyDeleteCan you believe 2 years since we tripped the light fantastic in England? Me either! luff you x
she is my maternal grandmother. :) i cannot believe how time flies! x
DeleteLove blue and white. Especially in summer. Your new platters are a perfect addition. I always enjoy photo's of your living room. I am sure your home will translate to a lovely article in Country Living. I really can hardly wait to see it in print. Happy Memorial Day!
ReplyDeletethank you kathy. i think it'll translate well too. i really hope so! x
DeleteJanet, I love your classic, timeless style. Your cottage will still be beautiful and fresh 10 years from now. We think alike- when we get a condo in WA we're going with b/w decor which I've been wanting to do for years. Thanks for the beautiful update. Allegra
ReplyDeletehello allegra. i agree, blue and white is timeless and i think it works well year round. it'll be beautiful i'm sure. x
DeleteYour home is simply perfection. I never tire of your classic, timeless, elegant style. It always appears to be such a calm peaceful home.
ReplyDeleteWow- those platters were $1 a piece- what a great find!!!
Love the toile in your bedroom, particularly the matching duvet and dress! Now imagine you were in that gorgeous bed in your dress- would you husband be able to find you?? By the way, love the dress- where did you find that beauty?
thanks anon. the dress is from eshati. an online company that allows you to semi custom fit their dresses. check them out. their quality is excellent and prices are good too. x
Deletesorry i mispelled it. here is the link
Deletehttp://www.eshakti.com/search/blue%20and%20white
Thanks so much! I found the eshakti website and ordered 2 dresses. What a wonderful company!!
DeleteYou are my style twin and spirit animal.
ReplyDeleteaww i LOVE that edie! x
DeleteLove the addition of the ottoman slipcover and the platters. I, too, will be interested to see what Country Living did to your place but am prepared to be disappointed simply because it won't be Janet. I saw a magazine shoot of another blogger's home and did not like the changes they made for the very same reason - it just wasn't them.
ReplyDeleteoh gosh melodee i hope you are not disappointed. it may be fun to see my style with my things arranged a little differently. you will spot lots of things i've used over the years in different ways. i really hope so! x
DeleteWhen you use blue and white as a seasonal palette, do you change the curtain on your bathroom door? As I recall, it's red and white.....
ReplyDeletehi gloria. no i really don't although it is an easy change if i want to. when we first moved in i did change it up but now i just leave the red toile up. x
DeleteJanet,
ReplyDeleteI love your cottage, and I hope enough of you shine through in your Country Living feature.... I know it must, why would it be anything less or more then your amazing style. Yes, those garage sale, tag sales, thrift sales can be the life of a piece that sets the right mood for our new descorating piece.
Everything is amazing, and yes I think it's time I add back in some blacks.
Xoxo
Dore
Beautiful holiday weekend to you.
Xx
thank you dear dore! xo
DeleteThat lady's comment about the steak and corn on the beautiful plates put a smile on my face. Your room looks peaceful and ready for summer!
ReplyDeletethank you so much. i laughed too! x
DeleteSame to you, Janet; any plans for the desert? Joshua Tree calling you?
ReplyDeleteI've gotta stay out of Goodwill. Ours isn't even a great one but I've been bitten with the bug of that one special thing waiting to be discovered, by me. I'm trying to buy, if I buy, small things, to keep the expense down and also because I don't have a lot of room for anything more, but I found a beautiful blue plate recently from Bavaria for $1. I had the computer translate the markings (words) on the back and it turns out it's actually an Austrian alpine scene at Christmas; a similar one was available on eBay for $35. I just bought it because I liked it; it was cheery.
It's torturous having to wait to see your CL feature!
hi vicki. i'm actually up in utah taking care of my father in law who is ill. it's v peaceful and quiet here. love the story of your plate. isn't it fun finding treasures like that? haha, i can't wait either! x
DeleteOh, Utah seems far away. Best to you...caring for our parents when they are older and ailing is complicated, with distance making it even more complicated. I'm glad you have peace and quiet amid a worrisome situation. We blog readers don't often know what's going on behind the scenes with our fave blog owners.
Deletethank you vicki. you are sweet. my life is a far cry from the pictures on my blog. this blog is my happy place and just a part of my life...not the whole thing:) the distance is the worst. and it is a worrisome situation. thank you for your concern:) x
DeleteLove white & blue - I accent it with yellow & pink in summer, greens & browns in fall and red in winter
ReplyDeleteHope you have a lovely long weekend
Mireille
sounds soooo lovely mireille! x
DeleteLove this! Your home is looking better than ever if that is possible. I can't wait to see it in CL, cannot wait!
ReplyDeleteI spot the dress! It's so pretty!
Hope you're having a super holiday weekend. xo
i know, "our" dress! thank you and hope you are well. x
DeleteLOVELY.................as if YOU did not know what TO DO with those platters!!!!!!
ReplyDeletehaha, that was so funny. i can't believe they'd been using them as bbq plates! x
DeleteI have completely changed my style to a modern clean line look, but I still love this simple cottage design as well, and I LOVE your home Janet!
ReplyDeletethank you sweet emily. i'm drawn to that modern clean look too, i bet it looks lovely! x
DeleteI adore your cottage and your style. I too love yard sales. The treasures, the thrill of finding just that one special piece! Happy weekend to you Janet!!
ReplyDeletethank you jennifer! x
DeleteYour cottage is lovely. How lucky to have found those blue and white platters for such a great price. They look great on the wall.
ReplyDeletethank you susie! x
DeleteCongrats on the CL shoot, Janet! How fun and very well deserved! Can't wait to see it. :)
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend. xo
thanks karen. x
DeleteLove it, it feels so calm and fresh. Blue, white and light gray are my absolute favs in interiors right now. I am looking forward to see your place in CL!!!
ReplyDeletei'm loving gray with the blue and white too. have you seen furlow gatewoods book...amazing!
DeleteAbsolutely beautiful, as usual.
ReplyDeletethank you lovely. x
DeleteYour living room looks lovely Janet! Great deal on those platters! Love the lady's comment about using them for steak. ;)
ReplyDeleteI did very well last weekend at two sales...one was a yard sale, the other an estate sale. I came home with quite a bit of loot. (some to sell on eBay) My biggest score was a gold sunburst mirror that I almost completely overlooked. Thank goodness my husband spotted it and I didn't waste any time snatching it up because I have wanted one for a long time. It was only $15 and when I got it home noticed that it had a sticker on the back from Nordstrom. It now has a new home in my entryway.
The dress is so pretty...when do we get a fashion show?
Linda
xo
linda i need a starburst mirror here up in utah! and what a steal...from nordstrom no less. you are good! xo
DeleteGood for steak and corn on the cob? How funny!
ReplyDeleteI love the all the blue. It looks beautiful and very fresh :)
i know...how funny. thank you! x
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteJust love that blue and white, pretty much corker for home and wardrobe too. So fresh and pretty, your home is so charming specially with the slipcovers
ReplyDeleteJanet, I have a blue and white house too. It started with some dishes that were my great-grandmother's. People are always sending me photos from Pinterest with blue and white cups and saucers. I love it still! Your house looks amazing! A friend of mine had a home that was going to be photographed for an upscale shelter magazine and she got really angry when the stylists brought in their "stuff" and wouldn't continue with the shoot. They tried to explain to her that what is seen in real life doesn't often translate on the page but she would have none of it and took it as an insult. Later, she agreed to have another home photographed and gave in to the "stuff" - she was older and wiser about media, etc. Anyway, I'm sure you were incredibly gracious and easy-going because that seems to be your nature which is lovely! Again, your house is so beautiful. Oh, I live in a 975 square foot home and the smallness not only makes me feel safe but is also easier to clean! Donna at A Lovely Inconsequence.
ReplyDeleteJanet's house is beautiful and inspiring in a way that makes you think that even if you have a small home and not a lot of money you could have a lovely home too. long ago I stopped subscribing or even bothering to look at shelter magazines because they were irrelevant to the way I, or anyone I knew, actually lived. once I did read a magazine which was supposed to simplify one's life. what it really advocated was replacing what you owned with new and more expensive products. that said, I will be sure to check out CL when your home appears.
ReplyDeleteDarby
I've learned from an acquaintance, who helps with magazine photo shoots, that what you see in magazine photos is not really how the people, whose homes are featured, style or live in their homes. My younger sister quit buying decor mags because she said all they did was make her feel dissatisfied with her own home. I think she's on to something plus magazines are dying out, never-the-less I will check out your cottage when it is featured in CL, happy though that I have viewed your blog for several years and know how your prefer to live and style your charming sanctuary.
ReplyDelete