Beach Cottage Love

Here's to a Beachy 2010!

2010-01-01T16:37:00.001-05:00

Have you missed me?

I started Beach Cottage Love with all good intentions last April, thinking I could keep a second little blog on the side. "Just for fun."

It didn't take long to realize how tough it is to maintain two blogs at once. I thought I could do it all, but--at least for now--I can't. I need to focus on my main blog in the new year instead of spreading myself so thin.

Thanks to everyone who has followed Beach Cottage Love over the past 8 months. Hope I'll see you over at my primary blog residence, Hooked on Houses, in 2010! ~Julia

(Photo via Coastal Living.)

A Small Cottage Bathroom Gets a Makeover

2009-11-17T10:53:00.000-05:00

This little cottage bathroom, featured in BHG, didn't always look this pretty and serene. Here's the "before:"

You can see it was a challenging space with the sloping ceilings and the washer and dryer plopped in the middle of the room. Now the laundry area is discreetly tucked away:

And look at all these shelves they added for storage:

P.S. If you love old Cary Grant movies as much as I do, then check out the post about Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House over at Hooked on Houses today.

Malibu Cape Cod

2009-11-11T10:39:00.002-05:00

A reader sent me the link to this "Malibu Cape Cod" that's on the market for an unspecified amount (never a good sign). Here are a few photos from the house tour.

This would be my dream bedroom, with doors that open to reveal a clear view of the ocean right at the foot of your bed!

You can see the entire slideshow of the house here. (Thanks to Adina for the link!)

P.S. If you haven't entered my $50 Sticviews Giveaway yet, there's still time!

Cabbage & Roses

2009-11-06T08:17:00.003-05:00

I spent the morning oohing and ahhing over the beautiful photos on the Cabbage and Roses website. I wish we had one of their stores here, but they're only in London. That's the beauty of the Internet, though--we can still enjoy it from afar!

P.S. I'm hosting a $50 gift-certificate giveaway at Hooked on Houses today. Stop by and leave a comment there to enter!

Seawatch: The Coastal Living Idea House

2009-10-26T17:13:00.006-04:00

Have you seen Seawatch, Coastal Living's 2009 Idea House? I think the exterior is beautiful. I really love some of the rooms, like the kitchen:

Others, like the master bedroom, are a little much for me:

I'm just not crazy about those colors together, even though I realize it's the trendy thing now. And that scary sun over the bed would have to go. (I love the bed itself, though!)

Head over to Coastal Living to take the tour. What did you think of it?

"What Lies Beneath:" A House on the Water in Vermont

2009-10-19T15:35:00.011-04:00

I love the house in the suspense-thriller What Lies Beneath. I even wrote an extensive post about it over at Hooked on Houses for my weekly Movie Monday feature. It's a beautiful home that was built specifically for the film on a lake in Vermont.

I love their living room with the built-in bookshelves and the windows overlooking the lake. Having Harrison Ford hanging around in the room doesn't hurt, either.

Who could forget the bathroom that the ghost liked to make special appearances in? Here Claire (Michelle Pfeiffer) and her friend try to get some answers from the "other side" with a Ouija Board:

The garden on the side of the house is lovely, but there are some troubled neighbors living on the other side of that fence. . .

A view of the house from the dock:

You can go here for more photos and all the details about it. Or visit my TV/Movie Houses page for links to all of the other posts I've done about famous houses.

P.S. Thanks for all of your well wishes for my grandmother. They mean a lot to me! She was finally released from the hospital over the weekend.

I'm Giving Away an iPod--Who Wants It?

2009-10-13T18:04:00.006-04:00

Hey, everybody! I've been having a hard time keeping up with this blog lately, and I apologize for the paucity of posts. But I did want to let you know that I'm giving away an iPod (iTouch, worth $199) over at Hooked on Houses this week. All you have to do is leave a comment on the giveaway post to enter.

If you follow me on Facebook, then you know that my grandmother had emergency surgery over the weekend (that's her with my son Jake and me, above). We nearly lost her. It's been a tough few days, but she's rallying now. I loaded a bunch of photos of her with her great-grandkids onto my iTouch and took it to show her yesterday. It really cheered her up to watch the slideshow on the screen.

The iTouch also came in handy while I spent so much time sitting around and waiting in the hospital because I could watch TV shows on it, listen to music, and browse the Internet. I've only had it for about a week, and I'm already wondering what I ever did without it. (Go here to enter the giveaway.)

Oh, and before I forget, I featured a beach cottage dining room makeover at Hooked on Houses that you might like, too.

Hope you're having a good week! ~Julia

Blue Bed

2009-10-07T09:51:00.003-04:00

When I spotted this bed at Coastal Living, and it made me want to paint mine blue. And a couple of night tables, too, while I'm at it. So pretty!

P.S. I'm featuring Sienna Miller's London house over at Hooked on Houses today.

A Bedroom with a View in the Hamptons

2009-09-25T10:38:00.007-04:00

The Wall Street Journal's real estate section has a slideshow today of luxury homes that are for sale in the Hamptons. This one has a $28-million price tag. Check out the view that money buys you for your bedroom!

You can see the entire slideshow of Hamptons homes here.

If you prefer cozy houses with old-world charm, then you've got to see this 1920s caretaker's cottage in Carmel that I'm featuring today at Hooked on Houses.

A Blue-and-White Striped Cabana Dresser

2009-09-22T13:45:00.006-04:00

I just discovered the online store White Berry Reinvented and fell in love with the collection of painted furniture it offers. Holly, who blogs at Life in the Fun Lane, is the creative woman behind it.

I think this Striped Cabana Dresser ($240) would be right at home in a beach cottage. Holly says she painted this dresser white but felt it still needed something more. One day it came to her: blue stripes! You can see the rest of her painted furniture here.

P.S. Have you joined me on Facebook yet? I love chatting with my readers over there. Come and join the conversation!

A Beachy Bathroom Makeover for Boys

2009-09-21T08:00:00.002-04:00

See this nondescript bathroom? Designer Kellie Cashon redecorated it with a nautical theme for her boys in their house on the Gulf. Here's how it looks now:

Isn't that fun? I love the little pirates grinning out at us. Kellie Cashon is the talented designer behind Cashon & Co. Interiors. You may remember her beautiful master bath makeover that I featured here.

You can see more of Kellie's work on her website, or check out her blog.

Love before and afters? I'm featuring the sets from the Sex and the City movie at Hooked on Houses today, and it includes Carrie's dramatic apartment makeover. Come tell us what you think about it!

Pretty in White

2009-09-16T09:45:00.002-04:00

Do you hear that sound? That's my heart pounding over this white kitchen. It belongs to a house in Dallas that was built in 1925 and is now on the market for $5 million.

I'm not sure my family could live in an all-white house, but I love looking at them.

Joni Webb (one of my favorite bloggers!) posted these lovely photos on Cote de Texas--head over there to see the rest of the house.

I'm linking up to the Hooked on Fridays blog party because I'm hooked on this house!

Vanity Envy

2009-09-14T10:15:00.005-04:00

I've always wanted a pretty little vanity like this one from Cottage Living, but I've never had one. Have you? I'm usually putting my makeup on as I run out the door (or at stoplights on the way!). The idea of sitting down and having the leisure time to primp sounds appealing to me on this busy Monday morning.

P.S. Over at Hooked on Houses, you can see photos of Hugh Grant's house with the blue door from the movie Notting Hill--and see what color it's painted now!

Cozy Cottage Bedroom for Fall

2009-09-10T21:45:00.003-04:00

When I saw this cozy bedroom posted at Danish Dessert recently, it looked like the perfect spot to snuggle into on a crisp fall day. It also reminded me of one of my favorite movie houses (and bedrooms).

Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

It looks like it could've been inspired by Iris's bedroom in one of my favorite "house movies," The Holiday. Iron bed, painted nightstand, beamed ceilings. It has the same warm and welcoming vibe, don't you think? (If you loved Kate Winslet's cottage in The Holiday as much as I did, click here for more photos.)

I'm hooked on these cozy cottage bedrooms. Head to Hooked on Houses to see what everyone else is sharing--and to join the Treasure Hunt to win an Amazon gift certificate! I'm also joining the Beautiful Life party over at The Inspired Room.

Before & After: A Gulf House Master Bath

2009-09-09T08:35:00.002-04:00

When I saw this bathroom makeover from Kellie Cashon's house on the Gulf (Cashon & Co. Interiors), I thought it looked really fresh and pretty. Here's what it was like before:

Another shot of the after:

Thanks to Kellie Cashon for letting me share these photos with you. You can see more of her makeovers on her website, or check out Kellie's blog here. (Big thanks to Laurie of My Domicile Style for telling me about her!).

P.S. If you like looking at celebrity homes, then check out Suzanne Somers' sprawling Palm Springs estate over at Hooked on Houses today.

A Girl's Room That Is Sweet & Light

2009-09-06T20:15:00.001-04:00

I think this girl's room is just precious. Look at that little antique toddler's bed!

I also love this tiny fireplace--just the right size for a little person, and a little person's room.

This sweet room (via JJ Locations) belongs in a beautiful old Georgian home in London. You can see more photos from the house that I posted here.

Turquoise Love

2009-09-01T22:38:00.010-04:00

I love turquoise. In the spring and summer I fill my house with bright blues and yellows. It just makes me happy. (You could say I'm hooked, which is why I'm linking to Hooked on Fridays!)

So imagine my surprise and delight when Debbie of Ribbonwood Cottage sent me this wonderful old turquoise hand mixer! Why? Just because she knows I love this color.

Debbie wrote me a note saying, "I think blogging is all about giving...after you read someone's blog you begin to realize what they enjoy!"

Isn't that thoughtful? Thanks, Debbie! You made my day. I can't wait to find a special spot for it in my kitchen!

You can see more photos of my family room here. Do you have a color that makes you happy?

Noah's White House with the Blue Shutters

2009-08-31T15:00:00.001-04:00

Have you seen the movie The Notebook? Then you probably swooned over the house that Noah fixed up for his lost love Allie like the rest of us.

The real house used in the movie was Martin's Point Plantation on Wadmalaw Island (South Carolina). It was built in 1772. In this shot of the front porch you can see the water:

If you haven't seen the movie yet, here's a tip: be sure to have a box of tissues handy. Today I posted photos of Noah's house over at Hooked on Houses. Head over there if you want to see them! (You can see links to all of my movie posts here.)

A 13th-Century English Cottage

2009-08-27T21:50:00.004-04:00

I know this blog is called Beach Cottage Love, but the truth is that I love all cottages, everywhere! I've been to England a couple of times, and one of the highlights for me was seeing old cottages like this one, which is near Bath in Wiltshire.

The listing states that this 3-bedroom home, and most of the others in its village, date back to the 13th century. Doesn't it look cozy?

It sits on the bank of the River Avon, beside what is described as "the ancient bridge." Does that mean it's been around since the 13th century, too?

All of this history and charm comes with what seems like a very reasonable price tag: £395,000. I'm afraid it won't seem quite as good a deal if we convert that to U.S. dollars, however (so let's not bother).

Want to go in on it with me?

Today it's Hooked on Fridays, a blog party I host at Hooked on Houses to celebrate the things that make us happy. This old English cottage is what I'm hooked on. Head over there to see what everyone else is talking about!

A Charming Summer Cottage

2009-08-25T22:44:00.004-04:00

This sweet garden shed, which sits on the grounds of a distinguished Georgian home in England, was turned into a charming guest cottage.

I think this would be a lovely place to be a guest, don't you? Once I was there, I'm afraid the homeowners may never get me to leave.

I love this votive-candle chandelier:

This cottage is one of JJ Locations' listings of places that film companies can rent. What kind of movie can you picture being filmed here? Something romantic, I imagine! (To see photos of the main house, click here.)

Visit The Inspired Room to see what everyone else thinks is beautiful this week!

P.S. Stop by Hooked on Houses today to see photos of Julianne Moore's $12 million townhouse in NYC.

A Low Country Kitchen

2009-08-24T08:43:00.004-04:00

Veranda recently featured this kitchen from a guest house on Brays Island in South Carolina. It has beautiful water views. And I love this table. But the upholstered white benches gave me pause.

Does it seem odd to anyone else to have those there? Or am I the only one with visions of peanut butter and jelly smeared all over them? Even the skirts on them bother me. Just too fussy for a kitchen.

Maybe I've just been a mom too long. I can no longer just enjoy a pretty room without thinking about how practical it would be to use (and clean)!

P.S. It's Movie Monday over at Hooked on Houses, and I'm featuring pics of the bright and colorful NYC brownstone from Stuart Little. (Love movie houses? Click here.)

Hooked on Mrs. Howard

2009-08-20T21:45:00.002-04:00

I've always admired designer Phoebe Howard's rooms. They're soft and feminine, but clean and simple at the same time.

So I was happy to discover a blog called Mrs. Howard Personal Shopper that keeps us updated on what she's up to. This bedroom, for example, is featured in her new North Carolina showroom. I'm really liking those oversized botanical prints.

Earlier this year, I wrote a post over at my Hooked on Houses blog featuring five bedrooms that Howard designed, all with different color schemes, and had readers vote on their favorite. I was a little surprised by which color won! You can see them for yourself--and see if you agree with how the majority voted--here.

Today I'm joining both Melissa's Beautiful Life party and Hooked on Fridays. Hop on over to see what everyone else is talking about today!

Christie Brinkley's Beach House

2009-08-19T07:00:00.002-04:00

Christie Brinkley, the ageless Uptown Girl herself, is selling her home on the beach in Bridgehampton for $30 million. I wrote a post about it over at Hooked on Houses today, but I thought you'd like to take a peek:

The house, known as "Tower Hill," was built in 1898. Despite its lofty price tag, I think it looks comfortable--not pretentious at all. Check out her beach-themed fireplace:

You can read more about Tower Hill and see the rest of the photos at Hooked on Houses. To see more famous beach houses, click here.

Take Me There

2009-08-17T09:15:00.000-04:00

It's Monday morning, and I'm sad that summer is ending this week. The kids go back to school in two days, and I'm dreading those 6:30 a.m. school bus pickups. Those afternoons filled with homework. I've got a list as long as my arm of things to do today to get ready for the school year, but I just want to crawl back into bed and pretend it isn't happening.

When I discovered Christine Reilly, a photographer who specializes in amazing ocean photography, I resonated with the title of this piece: Take Me There. Yes, please do. Take me here.

She also takes us under the water with her. In the mood for a swim?
Christine tells me, "Beaches, beach houses, and anything to do with the water is definitely something that is close to my heart." You can see more of her work at her Etsy shop and her website.

Anyone else got the end-of-summer blues?

P.S. I'm showing photos of Diane Lane's Italian villa from Under the Tuscan Sun over at Hooked on Houses today. It's one of my favorite movie houses.

An Old House with a Fresh New Look

2009-08-13T21:30:00.002-04:00

When I saw this house, which is listed on the JJ Locations website as a place production companies can rent to film in, I was surprised to learn that it's in Greater London. It may be an old, four-story Georgian home, but it has a fresh and light feeling to it.

The Swedish Gustavian furniture gives it a romantic look, despite all of the stark white, don't you think? This is beautiful to me, so I'm linking up to Melissa's Beautiful Life party.

I'm also joining Hooked on Fridays, the blog party that celebrates the things that make us happy. This house is what I'm hooked on today. Visit Hooked on Houses to see what everyone else is sharing!

The B&B from "Nights in Rodanthe"

2009-08-12T10:41:00.008-04:00

Did you see the Diane Lane-Richard Gere tearjerker Nights in Rodanthe, based on the Nicholas Sparks bestseller? On my other blog, I wrote a post about the house that was used for the Bed and Breakfast in the movie, and a reader who visited it this summer sent me this photo she took:

I was shocked to see how different it looks. This makes me wonder--were the blue shutters and the wraparound porches just special effects? What do you think?

Lisa, who sent me the photo, tells me that the house has been condemned because it is practically falling into the water now. People have been breaking into the house and stealing things because it was in the movie and they want a piece of it. How sad.

You can see more photos of the house in the post I wrote here, or check out a list of all of the movie houses I've featured on my Houses Onscreen page.

UPDATE 1/10: For the latest information about the house and the efforts to rescue it, visit Hooked on Houses.

Kate Hudson's Beach House in Malibu

2009-08-05T20:29:00.010-04:00

Guess what Goldie Hawn gave her daughter, actress Kate Hudson, as a wedding present back when she married Chris Robinson? A beach house in Malibu! Lucky girl. Here she is playing on the beach in front of her house with her son Ryder (via People).

According to Radar Online, Kate is renting it out this summer for $90,000 a month. *Cough.* I hope that includes cable.

It's right on the beach and looks like a great place to spend the summer.

The article says it's decorated in a "Balinese" style, but I'm not crazy enough about it to show you all the photos. I guess it's just not my thing. You can see the rest at Celebrity Digs HQ, though.

Want to see more famous beach houses? Click here to see all the celebrity vacation homes I've featured before, from Rachel Ashwell's to Billy Joel's.

P.S. I'm giving a tour of Julia Child's former home in Cambridge, Massachusetts, today over at Hooked on Houses.

Choose Joy

2009-08-03T18:29:00.006-04:00

I discovered the artwork of Canadian artist Eva Juliet when she was featured on the blog Confessions of a Design Junkie recently. I really love this "Choose Joy" print.

I also like her Art Culinary series, which features prints of things like Parsley and Rosemary.

Aren't they pretty? To see more, visit Eva Juliet's Etsy site here.

Yellow Kitchen Love

2009-07-30T20:20:00.000-04:00

How fun is that yellow oven? And how great is that kitchen island? When I spotted this photo (from Canadian House & Home), I fell in love. Yellow kitchen love.

What do you think of colored appliances like this one? Would you ever consider buying one? What color would you choose?

As a girl who grew up in a home with dated brown appliances, I'd be afraid to spend that much on a color that I might grow tired of in a few years. But I'll never say never. Right now this yellow is looking pretty good to me!

I'm linking this post to Hooked on Fridays, a blog party that celebrates the things that make us happy. This kitchen is what I'm hooked on this week. Visit Hooked on Houses to see what everyone else is talking about--or to join the party yourself!

David Hinchen's Houses

2009-07-28T20:49:00.005-04:00

I just discovered David Hinchen, an artist who paints architectural illustrations and fine art house portraits. Some of my favorite pieces are the ones he painted of houses by the sea. This one is called "The Dunes:"

In an e-mail to me, David told me a little about his work: "My paintings celebrate the visually absorbing shapes, colors, textures and eccentric details of the urban landscape. I've developed an original technique which is characterized by precise ink images with acrylic tones painted over each other, resembling semi-opaque layers."

This one is called "East End Porch," and I would love to be sitting on it right now:

You can see more of Hinchen's work and read more about him at his website. He also has an Etsy shop.

P.S. I've got photos of the old stone farmhouse from the movie "Marley & Me" posted on my other blog today if you want to see them!

A Yellow House on the Water in Brisbane

2009-07-27T10:45:00.012-04:00

I like looking through the real estate listings in other countries because you get to see houses that are a little bit different than we have here in the States. I found this beautiful yellow house that sits on the river in Brisbane, Australia, and fell hard for the "wraparound verandas."

I've always had a thing for yellow houses with white trim. When my husband and I bought our first house, it was gray. We painted it yellow and it really brought the house to life. We had a front porch, too, but nothing like this!

The verandas stretch all the way around the back of the house:

It sits on 12 riverfront acres and includes stables for horses. Oh, and there's a pool.

It's listed as "price on application," which translates as, "If you have to ask, you can't afford it." Want to see more? The listing is here.

P.S. It's Movie Monday at Hooked on Houses--my favorite blog day of the week! I'm featuring the Grogan family's charming starter home from "Marley & Me."

Indian Key Chest

2009-07-23T21:56:00.007-04:00

I spotted this Indian Key Chest on the Cottage & Bungalow website and wish I had an extra $2,645 sitting around to buy it. So pretty--especially in the beach house setting.

I even like the description of the colors: "Shown in Butter Pecan with Blueberry Crisp accent." Yum. Sounds good enough to eat.

Today is Hooked on Fridays, a blog party I host on my other blog at the end of the week to celebrate the things that make us happy. Come join us!

An 1880s Farmhouse in the Hamptons: Classic in the Front, Contemporary in Back

2009-07-16T20:10:00.025-04:00

This 1880s farmhouse in the Hamptons may look like a traditional older home from the front, but walk around back and you'll discover something much more modern.

It has been completely renovated to be eco-friendly. And it has a decidedly split personality. There are some more traditional-looking rooms, like these:

And then you run across some much more contemporary spaces, like these:

It really made me do a double-take when I first saw these. It looked like they had combined the photos from two different listings. The house is listed with Corcoran for $8.95 million. You can see the rest of the photos and get more information about the listing here.

P.S. I'm featuring photos of the classic white house from the Brad Pitt-Angelina Jolie movie "Mr. & Mrs. Smith"over at Hooked on Houses today.

What's Blue & White & Red All Over? This Beachy Kitchen!

2009-07-15T09:02:00.006-04:00

I love a red and white kitchen. They always seem so happy. I have a white kitchen, and I bring out the red accents in the winter to warm things up (it's aqua and yellow now for summer). But I never really thought I'd like to see so much red in a beach house kitchen. Until now.

PK, a decorator who blogs at Room Remix, wrote a post last week about decorating with red and showed these two photos from Coastal Living. I love the red frame on the blackboard, the striped canisters, the "Beach" arrow sign--and the view.

P.S. I don't have a picture of my kitchen decorated for summer, but I did post my family room with the aquas and yellows if you want to see it: How I Furnished My Family Room on a Tight Budget.

The Sailboat Chair

2009-07-13T09:13:00.002-04:00

When I first spotted this piece of furniture on the Anthropologie website, I admit I was a little puzzled. It looked sort of sailboat-like, sort of hammock-like. It was sitting on a dock, near the water, but had legs like a chair. Hmmm. A furniture mystery! So I had to investigate.

They call it a suspension chair. To be precise, it is a $558.00 "design marvel crafted of chestnut-hued wood and a carefully strung cradle of taut jute." (Hand that copywriter a medal for Most Creative Description of a Strange Sailboat-Shaped-Chair-Hammock Thing.) Oh, and it costs an additional $75 to ship. *Cough*

I'd be tempted to get it except, well, I don't have a dock to set it on, and I'm not sure how well it would look on dry land (aka my living room). What do you think?

Summer Love

2009-07-09T21:40:00.002-04:00

I realized something today. Maybe I want to live near the beach so badly because I love the summertime, and it seems like coastal living would be a kind of endless summer.

I have friends and family who live in coastal towns, and I'm sure they'd be the first to set me straight on this. But let me have my dream. My dream of days filled with sunshine and sand, flip-flops and lemonade, lazy mornings and late nights. Everything just seems easier, lighter, and more fun this time of year.

I was in Target today and they had set up their Back to School section already. I wanted to cry! I'm not ready to face the idea of fall yet. I want to pretend it's never coming.

Come on--let's run away. Just follow those little footprints in the sand. Looks like endless summer ahead!

{Photos top & bottom via Coastal Living. Center photo mine, of my daughter Lily on the beach in Siesta Key.}

I'm linking this up to the Hooked on Fridays party I'm hosting over at my other blog today because I'm hooked on summer. I'm also adding this to Melissa's Beautiful Life party. Go see what everyone else is talking about today! :-)

Let the Sun Shine In

2009-07-07T11:14:00.006-04:00

I'm in a yellow kind of mood. I find myself ripping pictures out of magazines and catalogs like these that have pops of bright, sunshiny color.

I came "thisclose" to buying this yellow cabinet from IKEA recently. Looking at it now makes me think I might just have to go back and get it. Surely I can find someplace in my house for it?

And I love this chair from Anthropologie. Hmmm. Where, oh, where, could I use a yellow chair?

Do you have a certain color that's been calling to you lately?

I've read a couple of books about color theory that say that when you're craving a color, it represents something that's lacking in your life. Like light blue represents creativity (which is why I painted my home office light blue recently!). Purple means you have a longing for spirituality. And yellow, as I recall, stands for communication.

(Photo at the top from BHG.)

P.S. I'm giving a tour of the Queen Anne Victorian home used for "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" over at my other blog today. If you've ever been curious about what it actually looked like inside, take a look!

An Easy, Breezy 1850s Guest House

2009-07-02T10:00:00.002-04:00

When House Beautiful featured this 1850s guest house recently, I thought it looked like it could easily be found near the ocean. I was surprised to read that it's actually on a 180-acre farm in Round Top, Texas. It just has that easy, breezy charm of a cottage by the beach.

The unpretentious central hallway has a big wicker basket to stash your boots in. The wood floors were painted with a checkerboard pattern to make the small space look larger:

Who wouldn't have sweet dreams in a serene little bedroom like this?

The bathroom console was found at an antiques fair:

The living room:

Love the big porch swing--and the big porch!

A rustic gazebo on the property looks like a great place for family gatherings:

Check out House Beautiful for the rest of the beautiful photos of this guest house and read an interesting interview with its designer, Ginger Barber.

I'm linking this up to the Hooked on Fridays party I'm hosting over at my other blog today because I'm hooked on this guest house! Something else that makes me happy: my Grandma Hazel, who turns 93 today. I posted one of my favorite old photos of her on my Facebook page from the 1940s, if you want to see it. :-)

Aqua + White = Ahhhh in the Coastal Living Idea House

2009-06-29T22:15:00.002-04:00

I just love the look of last year's Coastal Living Idea House (2008). All that aqua and white looks so light and bright. I'm really digging this little built-in workspace:

They wanted to design a new home that had the charm and character of an old Maine cottage, so they hired the talented Portland-based designer Tracey Rapisardi. "This house is designed for easy living," she says.

Oh, if only my closet looked this lovely!

You can read all about the house and see the rest of the photos on the Coastal Living website.

P.S. I'm hosting a giveaway over at my other blog, so be sure to leave a comment there before Thursday to win a $50 gift certificate to Dali Decals.

Rose-Covered Cottage in Nantucket

2009-06-22T13:45:00.001-04:00

I spotted this little Nantucket cottage on Florida Sue's blog recently. It's owned by designer Jeffrey Bilhuber and was featured in Architectural Digest a few years ago, so I looked up the interior photos. Here are some of them:

My favorite room may be the enclosed back porch:

You can see the rest of the photos at Architectural Digest, including "before" pictures that show what an amazing transformation this little cottage went through.

P.S. If you like the white-picket-fence look, then check out the traditional white house from the "Father of the Bride" movies that I'm featuring on my other blog today.

Billy Joel's Beach House in the Hamptons

2009-06-18T17:21:00.022-04:00

Billy Joel & Katie Lee on their wedding day in 2004.

Boy, have I been swamped with work projects lately. I haven't been doing a very good job of keeping up both of my blogs this month -- and I'm way behind on my blog reading and e-mail replying. Add to that the fact that my kids are home from school for the summer, and things are just plain crazy around here. I apologize.

I thought I'd try to make it up to you by showing you some photos of the house Billy Joel and his wife Katie Lee share in the Hamptons. Today when I heard the news that they are separating, it reminded me of a post I wrote about this house on my other blog last year when they purchased it. Take a look.

I like how comfortable and unpretentious it looks. I could use a vacation in a place like this right about now. . .

The beach house was reportedly $18.75 million. I'm guessing these views made it worth it.

To see more photos and learn more about both the house and the Joels, go to Hooked on Houses. And cross your fingers for me that I'll somehow manage to meet all of the deadlines that are looming. Thanks! :-)

A House with a View on Rosemary Beach

2009-06-15T09:15:00.000-04:00

As I was searching the beachfront real estate listings in the Destin, Florida area, I came across this house on the Gulf (Rosemary Beach, near the house with the famous red kitchen I showed you recently). Not only does it have an amazing view of the water, but look at this lovely little courtyard:

The porch and the view may be my favorite part of the house--and what makes it worth $4.95 million, I imagine:

You can get more information about this beach house and see more photos here.

Black, White & Beachy

2009-06-11T08:50:00.002-04:00

Country Living featured this Long Island cottage recently that caught my eye. Homeowner Donna Francis says she wanted to "keep it simple" in her cottage, so she went with black, white, and silver when decorating her home.

I thought this black and white bedroom was really striking:

To read more about this house and see the rest of the photos, visit the Country Living website.

This black and white bedroom is what I'm hooked on this week. To find out what everyone else is talking about, check out the Hooked on Fridays party in full swing on my other blog!

Saltbox in the Bahamas

2009-06-09T13:00:00.000-04:00

Check out this charming little saltbox in the Bahamas. The interiors were designed by Tom Scheerer.

This white bedroom and bath upstairs look like heaven to me. Ahhhh... How could you not have sweet dreams in here?

Did you notice their ingenious solution for bedside lighting since the bed isn't near a wall for an outlet?

Visit Tom Scheerer's website to see the rest of the photos from this saltbox in the Bahamas.

Yellow Dutch Door Love

2009-06-04T22:10:00.000-04:00

Photo credit: Coastal Living

This photo from Coastal Living magazine has convinced me that my life won't be complete until I've had a yellow Dutch door just like this one. Oh, and I want it to open onto a porch overlooking the water the way this one does, too. Why not dream big?

For now, at least I have a white table in my dining room and I can put Ball jars with flowers in them like they did. That's a start, I guess.

I wonder if I can convince my husband to paint our front door yellow and saw it in half?

This yellow Dutch door is what I'm hooked on today. To see what everyone else is hooked on, check out the Hooked on Fridays party in full swing on my other blog!

This House in Nantucket Is Not Afraid of the Dark

2009-06-03T08:15:00.001-04:00

I really gravitate more toward light and airy rooms, especially when it comes to houses near the beach. But then I saw this bedroom in a house in Nantucket with dark brown walls that still managed to be light and feminine, and I was surprised by how much I liked it!

The same house has this navy-blue dining room, so the owners are clearly not afraid of dark colors. Here's the room from a different angle that shows the fireplace:

What do you think? Do you like it? Could you live with rooms this dark? To see the rest, visit designer Tom Scheerer's website. This house is part of his portfolio.

P.S. Check out Nicolas Cage's Garden District Mansion in New Orleans on my other blog today.

Sarah Jessica Parker & Matthew Broderick's Home in the Hamptons

2009-05-31T18:30:00.003-04:00

Elle Decor published photos of Sarah Jessica Parker's house in Bridgehampton that she shares with husband Matthew Broderick and son James Wilke a couple years ago. I featured some of them on my other blog last month but thought you might enjoy them, too. Here are a couple that I didn't post before. Take a look!

For more photos and information, click here to see my original post about it at Hooked on Houses. If you're a fan of Matthew Broderick's 1986 movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," then check out my Movie Monday post today! One of the houses from the movie is on the market, and I found the real estate photos.

Sara Tetley's Coastal-Inspired Watercolors

2009-05-28T20:30:00.007-04:00

I just discovered the coastal-inspired artwork of Sara Tetley, and I think it's beautiful! So I'm adding this to the "Beautiful Life" party over at The Inspired Room today.

This one is called "Collections from the Sea:"

Thanks to Sara for letting me share some of her art with you. In an e-mail, she told me a little about herself: "I’m an architect who loves the coast and coastal interiors. I have a small place in Beaufort, SC. Each time I am in Beaufort or nearby Georgia, I paint watercolors of vintage coastal cottages."

Aren't they charming? To see more of her work, visit her Etsy shop!

Today it's another Hooked on Fridays blog party over at Hooked on Houses. That means we're all sharing something that makes us happy this week. Head over there to check out the entries from all the other bloggers who are participating, too!

Some Beach House Lighting for Lampapalooza

2009-05-28T08:20:00.000-04:00

The Nester is having a "Lampapalooza" blog party today, and everyone is showing, well, lamps and lighting! Here are a few examples of pretty beach house lighting that caught my eye this week:

These two turquoise lamps from a room in Southern Accents really "pop," don't they? I think they pull the whole room together. Here's another pretty blue lamp in a bedroom featured on HGTV.com. Really like the beachy blues in this room, and how the lampshade kind of coordinates with the bedding:

Speaking of a lampshade that goes with the bedding--check out this cheery yellow and aqua bedroom from James Solomon's portfolio (which I originally found at House of Turquoise):

Head over to Nester's to see the lamps and lighting everyone else is showing today for Lampapalooza (do you know how many times I had to check to see if I was spelling that right?).

Oh, and I've got a post on my other blog I'm entering in the party, too--an example of what not to light an old French cottage with (click right here to see that).

Pretty Beach Cottage in Pink

2009-05-26T19:15:00.002-04:00

Welcome to Françoise O'Neill's little pink cottage, which she made into a sweet little haven for herself. She turned the enclosed front porch into a cozy home office:

And decorated her living room with thrift-store finds:

But my personal favorite is her white and pink kitchen:

To see the rest of the photos and read more about O'Neill's little pink cottage, visit Coastal Living.

P.S. If you love screened porches, check out the one I'm featuring over at Hooked on Houses today.

An Easy, Breezy East Hampton Cottage

2009-05-24T23:15:00.003-04:00

Here's where I wish I was hanging out over the Memorial Day weekend. I'm in desperate need of a vacation right now, so this cottage near the beach in East Hampton, New York, really appeals to me.

Linda at Lime in the Coconut got me hooked on designer Tom Scheerer's work, and I spent a lot of time oohing and ahhing over his portfolio yesterday (when I should've been working).

I like how relaxed and unpretentious this home appears. Like it's ready for me to move right in. First thing I'd do? Take a nap in this bed:

You can see the rest of the photos of this cottage on Tom Scheerer's website.

P.S. I hope all of my readers in the States are having a nice three-day weekend. As I was whining--er, explaining--on my Facebook page yesterday, I'm working all weekend to meet a project deadline. But I did manage to take some time off Sunday to go to a baseball game with my family, which was fun, and Monday we'll have lunch at my parents' place. What are you doing with your holiday?

A Bright Beach Bungalow

2009-05-21T21:10:00.002-04:00

Sculptor Elena Columbo lives in this turn-of-the-century cottage with water views in Long Island, New York. I love all the bright colors she used--especially on the floors!

She keeps her linens in this antique cabinet:

From her back porch, she has a view of Shelter Island, across the bay:

Go to Martha Stewart's website for more information about Colombo's bungalow and to see the rest of the photos. (Thanks to Maya of Completely Coastal for posting about it first!)

This beautiful bungalow is what I'm hooked on this week, so I'm adding it to Melissa's Beautiful Life and the Hooked on Fridays party over at my other blog. Be sure to click over there to see all the fun stuff everyone else is showing us today!

"Sea Worthy:" a 1950s Beach Cottage

2009-05-19T08:50:00.001-04:00

This 1950s beach cottage was part of a Decorator Showcase in Kennebunkport, Maine.

Cottage Home Designs decorated this cottage, called "Sea Worthy." You can see the rest of the photos on their website or rent the cottage here.

P.S. I'm on a 1950s kick today--I'm showing a 1950s kitchen on my other blog, Hooked on Houses. It has very little in common with this one, though!

Nautical Nursery

2009-05-18T08:29:00.001-04:00

I snapped this photo of a nautical-themed nursery at a home show last year that I thought was really cute.

The house was named "Sophia's Harbor" and sat on a winding canal, so the designer gave all of the rooms a beachy look. To see the rest of the photos I took of Sophia's Harbor, click here.

P.S. If you love a good bungalow, take the tour of Diane Lane's in the movie "Must Love Dogs" at Hooked on Houses today.

Hooked on Russell & Mackenna's Beachy Buffets

2009-05-14T22:01:00.014-04:00

I've always loved painted furniture, so I was excited to discover Russell & Mackenna's fresh and beachy painted furniture when I wrote this post about the owners' home recently.

At Russell & Mackenna, you pick the piece of furniture you want and then tell them what color to paint it. The little girl in me would love to fill my house with one of everything from their catalog--and with each piece painted a different bright and happy color.

Check out the Russell & Mackenna website to see more. They have a lot more than just buffets! And if you missed my post about the husband and wife team behind it, then you have to see their house.

I'm adding this post to Hooked on Fridays, a blog party I throw on my other blog each week to celebrate the things that make us happy. Head over to see Brooke's beautiful beach house--the other thing I'm hooked on today!

Victorian Summer Cottage: Dining on the Porch

2009-05-13T08:45:00.001-04:00

This Victorian Summer Cottage on York Beach was built in 1876 and overlooks the Atlantic ocean. The owners of Cottage Home, a furniture and design shop in Maine, decorated the restored wrap-around porch to create areas for relaxing and casual dining.

I like how they set the table with these fish-shaped dishes and polka-dot napkins. It's so fresh and fun.

I'm adding this post to Susan's Tablescape Thursday party over at Between Naps on the Porch. It's always a lot of fun, so check it out!

To see the rest of the photos from this Victorian summer home, go to Cottage Home's website.

Today on my other blog: How to Add Some "Wow!" with Woodwork and a peek inside John and Elizabeth Edwards' Dream Home.

The Beach House with the Famous Red Kitchen

2009-05-12T07:00:00.002-04:00

Recognize this red kitchen? I bet you do. Not only has it appeared in several magazines--it has been posted on just about every design blog on the Internet (including Hooked on Houses!). Here it is from Southern Accents:

I'd like to know two things: 1) Why do the "red lacquer" cabinets look more like hot pink in the magazine shot? And 2) If there are professional magazine photos of this house, why didn't the Real Estate agent use them? The pics on the MLS listing are kind of pitiful, actually, for a house that has been photographed so beautifully in the past. Here are a few of the other rooms from this house on Rosemary Beach (Florida):

This beach house is on the Gulf and has a water view, which you can see in the MLS listing. It's on the market for $4.5 million. So if you ever wished you could have that bold red kitchen, now's your chance!

My earlier post featuring this kitchen: Paint a Colorful Life.

Happiness Is...

2009-05-10T22:00:00.000-04:00

I spotted this print from Annechovie on The Preppy Apron and loved it. It's one of my favorite sayings, and something I have to remind myself of whenever I'm drooling over other peoples' beach houses!

I also believe in the power of kindness. It's amazing how one nice comment or thoughtful gesture can carry me through the day. Happiness is having kind and generous readers like you who respond to my posts, add my link to your blogrolls, and choose to "follow me." Have I said thank you lately? :-)

(You can find these prints and more at Annechovie's Etsy Shop.)

P.S. I hope you had a beautiful Mother's Day weekend! I have a treat for you over at my other blog today--photos from the movie Chocolat. Oh, and don't forget to enter my giveaway before midnight tonight!

Hooked on "Amazing Grace"

2009-05-07T22:50:00.002-04:00

It's Hooked on Fridays, a blog party I host at Hooked on Houses each week to celebrate the things we love. Today I'm hooked on this renovated beach house on Tybee Island called "Amazing Grace."

It's so beautiful, I'm adding this to Melissa's Beautiful Life party today, too.

The Wilson family enclosed part of the screen porch to create this master retreat:

"Amazing Grace" was transformed by designer Jane Coslick and featured in a recent issue of Coastal Living. To see the before and after photos of this beach house transformation and take the rest of the tour, click here.

Be sure to stop by Hooked on Houses and check out what everyone else is hooked on today. I'm hosting a giveaway over there, too--enter to win a house portrait painted by the artist Fifi Flowers. I featured Fifi's paintings of a pink beach house here if you missed it!

Le Lavandin in Provence

2009-05-06T00:01:00.000-04:00

My blog friend AnNicole (Our Suburban Cottage) just told me about Le Lavandin, this picturesque Bed & Breakfast in Provence, and I think I'm in love. What a beautiful place to spend a holiday!

Even though the B&B isn't on the water, I think the rooms have a light, beachy feel to them. Don't you?

There are workshops held there, too, if you want to learn more about things like cooking and creative writing. If painting is your thing, the surrounding olive groves and lavender fields would be a perfect place to get inspired!

There's a terrace off every room. Ahhhh. I would be taking my afternoon naps right here:

Excuse me while I book my plane ticket to Provence. See you when I get back (from my fantasy)!

To see more photos of Le Lavandin and to read about the workshops they have scheduled, check out their website.

My mind has been on France a lot lately. I spent an afternoon searching through French real estate online and wrote about this 150-year old stone cottage yesterday on my other blog.

I'll Take the Top Bunk

2009-05-05T08:23:00.001-04:00

You don't see this color scheme much in beach houses--let alone in children's rooms--but I think it's fun and whimsical with the red palm-tree wallpaper and pale blue bunkbeds, don't you? (Room designed by Sarah Richardson Designs.)

"Something's Gotta Give:" My Dream House in the Hamptons

2009-05-04T10:32:00.018-04:00

Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson were great, too, but the real star of the 2003 romantic comedy "Something's Gotta Give" was this beautiful beach house in the Hamptons.

Set photos via Architectural Digest.

If you love this house as much as I do, check out my post about it today over at Hooked on Houses. There are tons of photos from every room of the house for you to drool over. :-)

Just Add Water

2009-04-29T23:00:00.002-04:00

I loved this article in the Washington Post about a couple that doesn't live anywhere near the ocean, but created a "beach house" for themselves anyway. Lauren and Kevin Russell, the talented couple behind the furniture company Russell & Mackenna, gave their Severna Park, Maryland a fun and fresh beach vibe.

Thanks to Jeanette for sending me the link to this article! Click here to read more and see the slideshow of their home.

{This beach house-without-a-beach has me hooked! Hop over to the Hooked on Fridays party I'm throwing at my other blog to see what's making everyone else happy this week!}

HGTV Green Home in Port Lucie, Florida

2009-04-28T21:13:00.004-04:00

Have you checked out HGTV's Green Home 2009 yet? It's in Port Lucie, Florida, this year. I have to say I wasn't crazy about it, but there were some things I really liked. The back porch, for example. I'd be taking naps out there all the time! "Where's Mom?" "Check the back porch. She probably fell asleep on that little bed again."

I like the color of the master bedroom, but doesn't it look a little small for two?

For more photos from the Green Home and see how people are voting in a poll I'm taking about it, click here. Register to win the sweepstakes from HGTV. Or check out last year's Green Home '08, which I personally loved.

P.S. Thanks for all of the nice birthday wishes you left for me on my Facebook page and on my other blog today! They made me smile. :-)

A Cottage Gets Some Colorful Curb Appeal

2009-04-26T21:26:00.001-04:00

The house on Tybee Island looked like this when designer Jane Coslick got to it. Then she worked her magic and transformed it into a fun beach cottage that has to be the cutest on its block:

I never would've seen the potential in the house that she did. Thanks to Posey, who left a comment tipping me off to Jane's website. Now my dream is not just to own a cottage by the beach, but to have it decorated by Jane Coslick!

If you love colorful cottages, check out the paintings that artist Fifi Flowers did of a pink one that Jane designed. You may also like the cute yellow country house from the movie "Baby Boom"-- I'm featuring it on my other blog for Movie Monday.

{Today I'm joining Metamorphosis Monday over at Between Naps on the Porch. Go see all the other before & afters people are sharing today!}

Hooked on This Blue Sideboard

2009-04-22T22:35:00.010-04:00

This is exactly the kind of sideboard I've been searching for to use in my dining room. I'm trying to get a beachy vibe in the room and this would be perfect! I found it at Wisteria and couldn't stop staring at it. So I posted it here so you could stare at it, too.

Unfortunately for me, it's $499, and another $100 gets tacked on for shipping. There are a few more important things I'll need to use that $600 for besides a pretty sideboard table, but hey, a girl can dream, right?

*Sigh.*

I thought it would be fun to join my own Hooked on Fridays blog party--something I host at the end of each week to celebrate the things that make us happy. Hop on over to my other blog to see what everyone else is hooked on today!

Egg and Nest Prints in a Home Office

2009-04-22T08:07:00.007-04:00

Doesn't this look like a nice place to work?

The Nester is hosting a blog party today and everyone is showing off their feather and egg prints. I don't have any myself, but I love them, and today I spotted some in this home office designed by Sarah Richardson. See them back there? Here's a closer look:

Well, they're egg and nest prints, at least (no feathers). Sarah says this home office is used by a husband and wife team, so she wanted to make it a space equally feminine and masculine. I'm afraid I'd want this room all to myself, though. My husband would have to make other arrangements. ;-)

You can see my home office (much humbler than this one) here. Be sure to check out Nester's party and see how everyone used their feather and egg prints in their own homes!

A Pretty Blue Townhouse

2009-04-21T19:53:00.015-04:00

I love the new developments that make an effort to create some of the charm of older neighborhoods. This row of townhomes, for instance, is part of the Beacon Hill neighborhood being built in Cincinnati, Ohio. I was checking out their Longfellow model online and was surprised to see they decorated it in soft blues and yellows--not the dark and more traditional colors I was expecting. It gives it a light and airy almost beachy vibe. If I lived here, I think I could easily pretend there was a water view outside these windows!

I thought it was interesting how they lined the tops of the kitchen cabinets with apothecary jars. I've never seen anyone do this before. Not sure I like it, but it does add some color:

Do you like it? It makes me want to paint one of my rooms this pretty shade of blue. To see the rest of the rooms from this home and other models available, go to the Beacon Hill Townehomes website.

P.S. Today I'm featuring a kitchen makeover over at Hooked on Houses that I think you'll like. Check it out if you get a chance!

Fifi's Pink Cottage on the Beach

2009-04-20T21:47:00.002-04:00

I love these paintings of a pink and yellow cottage on the beach by the artist Fifi Flowers. They're so bright and cheerful.

I wrote a post about Fifi Flowers' artwork here if you want to learn more about it. Or go straight to her popular blog or Etsy store.

Beach Chairs

2009-04-20T07:42:00.001-04:00

I spotted these "Beach" chairs on the porch of a house for sale in Seaside, Florida. How fun are these? If the chairs were mine, I think I'd paint them yellow. Or a nice turquoise blue. How about you?

To see the gallery of photos these chairs came from, click here.

Classically Coastal Bath

2009-04-17T07:42:00.008-04:00

Coastal Living is one of my favorite magazines when it comes to beach-house dreaming. Have you seen their online blogs? I enjoy reading Daily Catch, which featured this "Classically Coastal" bathroom recently.

I'm not sure how practical these mirrors are over the sinks, but I thought they looked interesting. And who wouldn't love lying in this tub?

To see more beachy baths like this one, visit Daily Catch and see what they're talking about today.

P.S. My blog friend Susan Lang is giving away a copy of her book Designing Your Dream Home. I read it and loved it! Leave a comment on her site to enter.

Kelly Bensimon's Hamptons House

2009-04-16T10:40:00.002-04:00

I have a confession to make. I watch "Real Housewives" on Bravo TV. All of them. I have seen every season of "The Real Housewives of the O.C."--even the most recent one, which was pretty much insufferable from beginning to end. I cringed all the way through the ridiculous girl fights between NeNe and Kim on "The Real Housewives of Atlanta." And lately I've been watching Jill, Bethenny, Kelly, Ramona, Alex, and The Countess duke it out on "The Real Housewives of NYC:"

I don't know why these shows stay on my DVR schedule. I don't understand why I continue to watch, even as the women on them make me want to throw something at my TV screen.

Well, one reason is probably the real estate. I love seeing where these women live. Check out Season 2 newcomer Kelly Bensimon's Hamptons house, which we've seen on the show and is now on the market for $10.9 million:

(Click on the photo to enlarge.)

For more information, check out this post by the Real Estalker.

In other "Real Housewives" real estate gossip, the Countess is splitting from her Count after discovering his long-term affair, and they're selling their Hamptons home for $9.5. If I can track it down, I'll be sure to let you know.

Click here to take a peek into more celebrity real estate over at my other blog.

Beach House for Sale: Ivy Cottage

2009-04-14T21:22:00.006-04:00

This little green cottage in Seaside, Florida, is on the market for $1,099,000--which is considered "a surprisingly low price" for the neighborhood.

The 1,480 square-foot cottage has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and lots of potential if you have an extra million lying around to spend on it. To see the real estate listing and the rest of the photos, click here.

A Fridge Fit for a Beach House

2009-04-14T15:50:00.004-04:00

When I spotted this retro-looking Big Chill fridge, I knew it was just the thing for my (future) beach house. And then I saw this one:

Decisions, decisions.

(Rachael Ray has one of these on the set of her daytime talk show. You can read all about it here.)

Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic Beach House

2009-04-03T10:26:00.006-04:00

Shabby Chic creator Rachel Ashwell recently moved from a house with over 4,000 square feet into a beach house less than half the size. She told Oprah that it made her realize she isn't "a big house person."

"Less is so much more. In the case of this room, the sofa, a couple of chairs...no clutter," says Rachel. "I really find it easy to decorate with pastels starting with a platform of white on the walls, the sofa, whatever, and then layering in your color."

Rachel says there are few things no home should be without: "Candles not too far burnt down, yummy flower arrangements, a chandelier, and lovely china."

{Photo source: Oprah.com}

Nantucket-Style Home in Indianapolis

2009-04-03T10:17:00.009-04:00

This home was featured at the Indianapolis Home-a-Rama that I went to recently, but despite the Midwestern location, it had a nice beachy vibe. The 6 bedroom, 8,000 square foot showhome built by Executive Homes had a stained-cedar shake exterior with stone and white trim. Builders Pete Gray and Jeff Keck worked with designer Michele Boggs of MB Designs to create "the essence of Nantucket living." Here are some of the photos I took of it:

A cozy sitting room off the master bedroom:

The kitchen:

Barrel-vaulted ceiling in the hearth room off the kitchen:

Designer Michele Boggs says that the home's Nantucket style and abundance of windows inspired her "to decorate in a simple palette of green, white, and brown, bringing the outside in."

To take the full tour of this home, go to Hooked on Houses, where you can also see the other four homes featured in the Indianapolis Homearama.

Hemingway's House in Key West

2009-04-02T14:31:00.006-04:00

As an English major in college, I studied Ernest Hemingway. I admit I wasn't all that interested in his novels--I was more into writers like Jane Austen and George Eliot, to be honest. But I think if I had seen the house Hemingway lived and wrote in during the most prolific time of his career--with those gorgeous yellow shutters!--I might have paid a little more attention in my Modern Lit class.

According to the Hemingway Home website:

Legend has it that Hemingway owned the home from 1931 until his passing in 1961. The Spanish Colonial style home was constructed of native rock hewn from the grounds and boasts the first pool built in Key West. The pool, built in the late 1930's, cost $20,000. This price prompted Hemingway to take a penny from his pocket and press it into the wet cement of the surrounding patio and announce jokingly, "Here, take the last penny I've got!" That penny is still there.

Ernest Hemingway with one of his cats, whose descendants still roam the grounds of the property today:

According to the Hemingway Home website:

The story goes that Hemingway made the acquaintance of a sea captain who owned an unusual six-toed tomcat. Upon his departure from Key West, the captain presented the cat to Hemingway. Today many of the numerous cats that inhabit the grounds still possess the unusual six toes.

To see more photos from Hemingway's home in Key West, check out Carl Miller's gallery.

Beach Kitchen Love

2009-04-02T13:33:00.003-04:00

I love everything about this kitchen from Southern Accents, from the pale blue tile to the yellow lemons on the marble counter. A kitchen like this might even inspire me to cook now and then!

Welcome to My Beach Cottage Fantasy

2009-04-02T12:14:00.006-04:00

Welcome to my beachy cottage fantasy! You may already know me from my main site, Hooked on Houses. My dream is to someday live in a cottage by the beach--but in the meantime, I'm going to live vicariously through Beach Cottage Love. If I find a beautiful home near the water somewhere in the world, then I'll be featuring it here. I hope you'll come along and dream big (and beachy) with me!

{To see the gallery of porch photos that this one came from, click here.}