A couple of years ago, when I first began my online journey, I stumbled upon Jennifer Grey's The Old Painted Cottage and was instantly smitten. She has a lovely online boutique selling the finest in shabby cottage furniture and unique treasures. She also has an amazing feature on her site called the Cottage of the Month, which I have always loved visiting each month.
You can imagine my surprise and delight, when over this past summer, she contacted me to see if I would be interested in being featured! My first thought was, "Are you serious? Can this be real?" But she was serious! Well much happened between the summer and early January, so much so that when she reminded me of the feature being for February, I was a little nervous! I still had all of my Christmas decor up (which, if you have seen my posts about, was no easy task taking down). But I am always up for a challenge and thought, "I can do this!" So that very day, I took down the tree and started packing up all of my holiday decor. Since my feature was for February, I knew it needed to be filled with love and romance...for those of you who know me...there is certainly no shortage of that here. My real fear was that I wouldn't be able to get it all done in time for her. So over the past few weeks, I have been working like a mad woman, rearranging and romancing our home. And then of course, breaking out the new camera to get lots of photos taken for Jennifer.
Well, I finally got it all done...but I missed the deadline for getting many of them to her. Thankfully Jennifer is such a gracious person, and gave me the extra time that I needed, even though it would require more work on her part. She was able to get the feature up fully yesterday, and you can now go over and enjoy all of her hard work! (And mine too ;). I just want to mention also that...if you are a fan of Jennifer's feature and enjoy visiting it every month like I do, be sure to send a big 'thank you' her way for all of the effort she puts into this for all of us! It is no easy task and takes several hours (even days in my case!) of work for her to put it all together so lovely...and she currently does it all for FREE! She is a true gem to do so. From the bottom of my heart...thank you Jennifer!
I ended up taking over 100 photos for her to choose from, which she of course had to pare down to about 1/3 of, so over the next few weeks, I will be opening them up in the private folder they are currently in on Flickr and posting some here, for all of you to enjoy! There are so many more that I would love to share with all of you.
You may notice in the feature some older photos...or if you have never seen my home before...some that don't seem to "fit" with the rest. Jennifer shared with me that she wanted to include some photos of our previous vignettes and our very first little love nest (a one bedroom apartment) to give inspiration to her viewers. I realized that I hadn't really shared much from this apartment on my blog previously, so the photographs below are from there. We had very little space in this apartment (I even used 1/3 of the living room/dining room space for my studio!):
We were so grateful when the next year, we were able to upgrade to a two bedroom townhouse in the next building over. Now, we have resided here for a little over a year...and it is amazing how even with almost double the space that this home now feels so small and cramped! The more space you get...the more "stuff" you get I suppose. So now I need my own house...a house with lots of rooms...and storage would be such a delight too! And a yard for Renoir. Sigh...someday ;) and hopefully soon!
I also wanted to mention quickly that over the last few weeks I have also received some lovely blog awards. I received the following one twice actually! First from Kerryanne of Shabby Art Boutique, then again from Ruth of The Beautiful Life. How lucky am I?
I was also thrilled to be given a "Beautiful Blog" award from Sandra of Shabby Rose Cottage:
I have decided to pass both of these awards on to everyone on my "Dear Friends" list! You are all so wonderful and encouraging to me...it would be torture to just pick a select few!
Have a beautiful week! Till next time...
Alice, I'm so happy for you to be featured on The Old Painted Cottage "Cottage of the Month". Your home is so lovely! You just fit right in there. Congratulations sweet girl. xo rachel
Posted by: Rachel Going | February 02, 2009 at 02:18 PM
Congratulations - certainly right where you belong - your home is amazing and you have such an eye for lovely details. I'm so excited for you and will zip over and visit Jennifer right now to check it out!!
Posted by: Jackie | February 02, 2009 at 02:28 PM
Congratulations. I am from Rochester too.
Posted by: Mary Lou | February 02, 2009 at 03:12 PM
Congratulations! I just looked at Jennifer's spread too. I knew your home was beautiful but these photos really cement it! So inspiring.
Karla
Posted by: Karla | February 02, 2009 at 03:50 PM
Congratulations! Everything is just beautiful!
Robin
Posted by: RobinfromCA | February 02, 2009 at 04:21 PM
How many ways can I say beautiful? beau, bella... simply not enough!
All your hard work and natural talent shows. Can't wait to see even more photos.
xo~Tracie
Posted by: Tracie~My Petite Maison | February 02, 2009 at 05:01 PM
Casa bella! Beautiful!!! Congratulations!
Tracy{tiedupmemories}
Posted by: Tracy guillaume | February 02, 2009 at 05:47 PM
My goodness, you have been busy! Your rooms are stunning and I'm heading over to see the rest right now. Congratulations!
Posted by: Jessica Canham | February 02, 2009 at 06:07 PM
Congratulations Alice and Joshua on being featured on The Cottage of the Month. Your house and photos are always delightful and your home looks so inviting.
Hugs,
Kerryanne
Posted by: Kerryanne English | February 02, 2009 at 07:11 PM
Congratulations Alice! You have a talent for decorating and making even an apartment feel like such a cozy home! I'll have to check out the other photos too! ~Lori
Posted by: Lori | February 02, 2009 at 07:27 PM
Congratulations on being featured! It is amazing how you have transformed an apartment into such a stunning, inviting and cozy home!
Posted by: Sheila R | February 02, 2009 at 08:34 PM
Alice!! Congratulation on the feature! Your home is absolutely beautiful, just as I knew it would be. You so deserve this sweetie!!!
xo,
Lesley
Posted by: Lesley | February 02, 2009 at 09:33 PM
Congrats - you must be so ecstatic! I've always enjoyed visiting the Cottage of the Month as well. I enjoyed the peek into your little cottage tremendously. You know just the perfect way to stage your house for photos. Just beauty-ess!
Posted by: Shana | February 03, 2009 at 07:50 AM
Nobody deserves this feature as much as you. In fact, when I heard that you were Cottage of the Month I couldn't believe that you hadn't already been there. Your style has always been so lovely! Like you. ;) Blessings... Polly
Posted by: Polly | February 03, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Gorgeous Alice - and well deserved. :)
Joy
xo
Posted by: moggit girls | February 03, 2009 at 10:56 AM
Alice, your home is absolutely one of the most Beautifully decorated I have ever seen!!! So much prettiness everywhere you look! I enjoyed visiting the Old Painted Cottage, your photos are amazing! Congratulations!!!
Milli
Posted by: milli wagoner | February 03, 2009 at 02:11 PM
Just wanted to tell you Congrats on making it into The Cottage of the Month! You have a beautiful home!!!
Posted by: Cami @ Creating Myself | February 03, 2009 at 02:48 PM
All of your photos are just beautiful. I love your style and your wonderful home. Thanks so much for sharing.
lorri
Posted by: Lorri | February 03, 2009 at 09:37 PM
Jennifer made a very smart choice!
Posted by: Karla Nathan | February 04, 2009 at 11:08 AM
hi alice ~
congrats on your lovely home being featured, it's so fabulous! oh and that couch, it haunts me! lucky you to have stumbled upon such a treasure!
warm regards ~
heidi
Posted by: Heidi | February 04, 2009 at 03:24 PM
Congrats on your awards. Your blog and your home are beautiful. I love The Old Painted Cottage. I especially enjoy seeing her featured cottages. Your holiday decor is also lovely.
Jennifer
www.cottageflair.com
Posted by: jennifer | February 04, 2009 at 03:25 PM
Absolutely stunning!
Posted by: Andrea | February 04, 2009 at 03:29 PM
I loved looking at your home on the Cottage of the Month. What an honor! I just love how you took off the cabinet doors in your kitchen. It is all so pretty. It makes me want to go nest!
Ginger
Posted by: Ginger | February 04, 2009 at 08:57 PM
Your home is simply beautiful!! I've seen the pictures at Jennifer's site and am in awe...! So much pretiness to look at I will have to go back to look at it some more...!! Congratulations!
Isabel
Posted by: Isabel ~ Maison Douce | February 04, 2009 at 09:56 PM
I loved looking at your home! You are very talented.
I can see why you got picked for Cottage of the Month.
Very inspiring. Congrats!
Posted by: Andrea | February 05, 2009 at 12:29 AM
wow!!! Congratulations!!!
Your home is sooooooo beautiful!!
I hope you don't mind me leaving a comment I'm only new to blogging and I get so much inspiration reading blogs and yours is just devine.
Thank you for sharing the beauty of you!!
God bless
Melly
Posted by: Melissa | February 05, 2009 at 02:27 AM
Congratulations Alice.. It is well deserved.. You are a true inspiration to many of us. Your home is to die for even if it is rented. It is always a pleasure to get your emails and run over to look at your wonderful treasures.. sheila
Posted by: Sheila | February 05, 2009 at 06:47 AM
Thank you for opening your house and sharing your photos. Polly and I looked through them the other day and enjoyed seeing all the pleasantries. It is quite beautiful...Mr. Blessings
Posted by: Steve Hood | February 05, 2009 at 01:20 PM
Alice, If I'm not mistaken I think I spotted your home on RMS. I immediately had you in my favorite photo files. Your place looks wonderful with all the beautiful details. I also rent, and try to do my best to make it look nice for me. But I don't want to spend to much on the rental home in its self, but with the fine treasures that I might find to create a wonderful space. Would you be so kind to tell me the color of your walls? I'm in the process of coloring walls and the color you have may just work for me, because of it being so neutral. Thanks for sharing your home!
Posted by: Sandra~RomantiqueInspirations~ | February 05, 2009 at 02:14 PM
Alice , your home is sooo beautiful and lovely! What an honor to be featured on Jennifer's site! You home is so deserving!!! Oh...I have every nook and cranny of my home filled with something! We love pretty things and want to fill it up! It just happens! :)XO, Jenn
Posted by: Jennfier | February 05, 2009 at 10:00 PM
Alice... your home is just STUNNING STUNNING!!! I am in awe of all of your pretties. Your new neutral palette still looks every bit as romantic... I love it all. Congrats on your feature! xoxo Heather
Posted by: Heather~Pretty Petals | February 05, 2009 at 11:13 PM
Congratulations Alice! Youu know how much I LOVE your home - and you photographed it as beautifully as you have decorated it. Truly an enchanting home... bravo!
xo,
Kim
P.S. Jennifer is a sweetheart - yes, we love her!
Posted by: Daisy Cottage | February 08, 2009 at 08:10 AM
Dreamy... I love how you combine all shades of white with a bit of color... gorgeous...
cielo
Posted by: cielo | February 09, 2009 at 11:31 AM