Over the past two years, it has been great fun decorating our cozy new cottage. My goal is to keep it open, clutter free and low maintenance, so I have been mindful to not fill up every nook and cranny. That isn't always easy for a collector like me, so I contain most of the collection craziness in my studio. As for the rest of the house, I have tried to keep it as simple and serene as possible.
We're almost at the point where our home feels truly done, with just a couple of large, empty walls needing attention. Over the summer, John and I have been going to outdoor art festivals and galleries looking for something within our budget; not as easy task. However, within the last month, we finally found two affordable oil paintings.
We discovered the first one at a local estate sale. Measuring 22 by 28 inches, its large size is perfect for the wall in our dining room. And its price? A mere $15! It was unframed and very grimy. I gently cleaned away the years of schmutz to reveal a sweetly primitive landscape with a cottage vibe.
We took it to a framing store and selected a chunky wooden frame to complement its colors. I love the result, even though the frame cost several times as much as the painting.
Our estate sale find now has a new home in the dining room. And with the open concept, it can be enjoyed from our family room and kitchen, as well.
The above photo will give you a good idea of our home's open layout. Shot while standing in the corner directly in front the painting, you can see our family room, kitchen, and even the door to my studio in the distance.
Another empty wall that needed attention was in Jacob's room. Our son has just begun a job teaching second grade in another city, so his room looked rather forlorn after he packed up his things.
We got lucky once again and found this colorful landscape at Goodwill for $25. I was pleased that it already had a wooden frame.
Here it is on the wall in Jacob's room. I love its peaceful composition and rich colors. Just right for the room, don't you think?
The photo, below, shows the sloping ceilings, dormer window and knee-wall storage characteristic of Cape Cod houses. Cozy goodness.
Time to go; John is calling me in for dinner. Enjoy your evening and the rest of the week. Have a wonderful Labor Day holiday weekend, too!
Susan
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Beautiful Susan, all of it. You and John did well at remodeling yet keeping the character of the wonderful cottage it is. I love your
paintings, you really got a bargain and they are perfect for each spot.
I don't do well with "less is best". I really really try, but I have been collecting for 45 years so it's hard to do with less. I hope you enjoyed your holiday.
Posted by: Elsie | September 07, 2015 at 10:53 PM