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!