Blue Cottage Decor: Our Porch and Yard
I finally get to show you the outside of our Blue Cottage!
We’ve lived here now for a year, and in the fall I finally found the time to get pictures taken of the outside of our house.
My friend Kelly came over and took the most wonderful photos.
I’m so glad we got them done when everything was still green — by now we’ve had the first snow storm and the whole house is decorated for Christmas.
But before I show you that, I wanted to show you these pictures.
This is what it looked like before — we now have a pretty paved driveway instead of those three stone slabs and little stones.
I bought that cute bird feeder at the Country Living Fair, remember?
Our front door needs a paint job. What color would you paint it? I’m thinking about a barn red or maybe a dark blue. Or should I keep it white?
I already bought white stain for the porch railing, but I’ll have to wait until the spring to tackle that project. The porch is going to look so much nicer in white instead of the brown wood color.
I want the porch to feel like an extension of our home, so I decorated it like another room. I used mostly cottage decor I bought at yard sales and thrift stores. The Farmer’s Market sign is from HomeGoods.
All of these furniture and decor items are from yard sales and thrift stores, except for the Pier 1 rug.
While we were shooting the pictures, a praying mantis appeared and hung out with us for an hour. I read that they come visit you to remind you to be more still and mindful — definitely a nice reminder we can all use in these hectic times.
The shelf was a free find Don brought home, the coffee table was given to us and also works as a bench for extra seating, and the little red bench is a flea market find.
I bought those heavy rod iron panels in Los Angeles and moved them many times, until I finally unpacked them for this house. They add a nice touch to our porch.
We didn’t get any picture of the side of the house or the back, but this is a picture of my little container garden on the side of the house.
We grew tomatoes, green peppers, and carrots. I’m planning to have a raised bed garden next year!
Now that the driveway is finally done, we can work on the yard, and I’m looking forward to the spring to tackle more outdoor projects.
Come on back soon to see how I decorated our house and porch for Christmas this year.
What do you think of our Blue Cottage?
{Pictures by Kelly Schwark}
Ahmada says
Oooo, yes, I am in love with that first photo. makes me think your pelmet box idea with foam core might work for the arutrhectcial detail framing the top of the closet(??). I have a bunch of basement closets with doors that don’t fit correctly. Maybe I could take out the doors, use them for a diy headboard, and do something like this?? The only problem is the closet interior has to look great constantly which sounds great, but impractical for me…
Mary Helen says
Hi Dagmar, Just discovered your site. What an adorable cottage. Blue is my
favorite color; I love all things blue. Our house is white rock with blue trim and mostly blue decor inside. I don’t blog and have never commented on any site before, although there are many beautiful homes and decor that I’ve enjoyed. Yours, however, just caught my heart. Thank you for sharing.
Dagmar Bleasdale says
Dear Mary Helen, you just made my day with your comment- thank you so much!
Cyndee says
Oh, I love this! It is so nice! Can’t wait to see more!! Thank you for linking up to Idea Box!
Danielle says
Love the cottage! It looks super cozy. Thanks for linking up with us at Idea Box! :)
Naturally Nicole says
What a quaint, cozy cottage. Love your farm chic style!
Trish says
Your house is beautiful. I vote red for the door.
Dagmar Bleasdale says
Thanks for your vote!
Mila says
I love it! It’s super cute and cozy -like a house from a fairytale :)
I hope you will share your home with our Link Up – Idea box:
http://milaslittlethings.com/2015/04/idea-box-thursday-link-party-6.html
xx
Mila
En estado de Rachel says
That envy have a cottage like this!!!
Saludos!
Jen H says
I am obsessed with that Farmer’s Market sign. Adorable house by the way!!
Dagmar Bleasdale says
Hi Jen, that sign is from HomeGoods!
michelle says
it’s beautiful! do a bright red – between a barn and colonial red
Dominique says
What an adorable front porch!!!!
Dagmar Bleasdale says
Thanks, Dominique!
Fabiola Garcia says
My dream house, a blue cottage. Love all your finding and how you repurposed them. Linkin from A Dish of Daily Life.
Dagmar Bleasdale says
Thanks for your comment, Fabiola!
Lysa @ Welcome To My Circus says
Your Blue Cottage Porch is just perfect in every way… It is so homey and welcoming I just love, love, love it and now want one of my own…lol ;-) Thank you so much for linking up with us on the Oh My Heartsie Girls Wordless Wednesday.
Wishing you an amazing Christmas week.
xx
Lysa ~ Co-Host OMHGWW
CD Loken says
Your cottage is lovely! I can’t wait to see it all decorated up for Christmas!! Thank you so much for sharing at the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop!
Dagmar Bleasdale says
Hi CD, thank you for your comment! I posted my Christmas tour – I hope you’ll enjoy it!
Kate says
Your blue cottage is gorgeous! I really want a house with a porch like that and what you see on a lot of houses in America. I love the blue and white, so don’t think I’d paint it another colour. Beautiful pictures, you must be proud of your house x
Dagmar Bleasdale says
Hi Kate, thank you for your kind comment! We do love our little Blue Cottage.