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Wednesday, November 29, 2017

The Painted Christmas Cottage

Welcome.  I am so happy that you stopped by. I generally share my garden and the inspirations for my paintings with you. This year I was so honored that Cottages and Bungalows magazine shared my home in their Easy Seaside Style issue and  have requests from some of their readers to  have a peek  inside my cottage to see how I decorate for Christmas with my art. So . . . . . I decided to re-post and update a previous Christmas home tour. My front door is always open for you to come in and sip a cup of tea while I share with you my painted cottage.

This year the wreath on the door has one of my little snowmen paintings on the wreath.




My Studio Assistant, Bentley is eagerly waiting for you at the front door.




Directly past the entrance is the dining room. I collect blue and white china and you will see it throughout my home.  It reminds me of my childhood summers spent at the family beach cottage at Wrightsville Beach, N.C - the charming cottage was filled with my Grandmother's mismatched blue and white china, old quilts, white wicker, and flowers - all the things that I love to paint.



The painted blue table is on of my favorites and displays a little Christmas painting of my red front door and Bentley. The mirror behind the table reflects the outdoors.

Bentley loves to "photo bomb" my photos!

I like to keep Christmas decoration simple using greens, berries and seas shells in keeping with my coastal cottage style of decorating. I collect vintage table cloths and have several lovely ones with reds that I save to use at Christmas time.
The living room is to the right of the dining room.  It is a large room filled with wonderful natural light and is hard to photograph due to the light. The next two photos photos were taken from the dining room looking into the living room.  I switch out the throw pillows according to the seasons and use the red and white check indoor/outdoor pillows for Christmas and Fourth of July.

The painting over the mantel was sold to one of the magazine readers and has been replaced by this painting.



The flag painting in the dining room recently sold and was replaced by this one.









Bentley in the dining room looking into the living room.



The mirror is opposite the fire place and I love the way it reflects my art.




Christmas ribbons are tied around shore birds for festive look.


 Decorations are natural and simple with sea shells, nests and greens.


I tuck my small whimsical painting in among seas shells and plants where I can find room for them!


I bought the blue cupboard at a garage sale -it was used for tool storage and had a vice bolted on top - it has wheels and I paid $25.00 for it and wheeled it down the street to my house!!

We have a living Christmas tree that lives in the garden during the year - it is especially meaningful this year as it survived our terrible drought in Southern California. We decorate the tree with flags and sea shells and keep decorations to a minimum.  A star fish tops the tree.



The staircase has a lovely landing with a tall window that lets in lots of light and is a great place to grow ferns and Christmas plants as well as  hang one of my large paintings of a California vineyard.










The landing is also one of Bentley's favorite places to hang out.  Simple green garlands with red berries and sea shells are wrapped around the banisters.




My office and bedrooms are upstairs.  The large Flower Shoppe painting hangs in my office that is a loft room over looking the living room and side garden. I like to mix old painted furniture with primitive wood antiques as the unpainted wood tends to anchor the room.






Another California vineyard painting of our beautiful central coast vineyards.

Our guests love staying in this room and always comment that they feel like they are in a beach cottage. It has another one of my large paintings of a local scene and porch overlooking our beautiful Newport Bay.

The painting over the bed was sold to another of the magazine readers and was replaced by this one.





Little Christmas paintings are left out for guests to take home.






Let's go back downstairs. The kitchen is to the right of the dining room. It is very sunny and has a large window, greenhouse window and French doors leading to the kitchen patio where I grow herbs and some vegetables in containers.

Two of my little Rooster paintings are on the wall. I have fun painting my personal art to match my decor!  Roosters rule in my kitchen thus the Rooster art! The blue chair is a favorite place to sit and read with a cup of tea as it gets the morning sun.




Herbs thrive in the kitchen window.

Bentley loves to hang out in the kitchen waiting for a taste of Christmas baking.





The jelly cupboard and plate rack  are beside the French doors overlooking the kitchen patio. 


This shot has another of my small Rooster paintings.


Thank you for stopping by my painted cottage.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for visiting my blog, leaving me lovely comments, e-mails and those following my blog.

Wishing you and your family a Merry and Blessed Christmas and a very Happy New Year.  I will see you again in January 2018.  Blessings,  Erin


            " When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding joy."  Matthew 2:10



23 comments:

Dixie @ Arranged Words said...

A wonderful home tour. It's all so "merry and bright." I love your paintings.
Have a wonderful, Merry Christmas! Best Wishes for a Happy New Year, too!

doodles n daydreams said...

Your cottage is beautifully decorated and looks like a wonderful refuge and place of inspiration.
Merry Christmas.

Diana

Stacey said...

Erin, your decor looks amazing and Bentley is adorable. I just love all of your colors and cottagey touches.

Marilyn said...

Erin, your home is just so lovely. You really have gone all out with the Christmas decorating. Bentley looks adorable in these pictures. He looks so cute in his cottage by the sea. If I don't see you, have a beautiful holiday. My best wishes for a speedy recovery for your son.

Anonymous said...

The visit enchants me Erin. All is perfect.
Thank you for sharing your home and Christmas decoration. I wish you "Bonnes fêtes de fin d'année !"


Jeanie said...

I love your beautiful home -- the red, white and green is perfect together and Bentley is always perfect! I send many wishes for peace and healing to your family in the new year along with much joy this very moment and all those that follow.

Marguerite (Tina) Smith Hart said...

Everything looks fabulous Erin, I am feeling inspired to get something done for the holidays here in my home now! And thank Bentley for the gracious tour!
Tina xo

Art and Sand said...

Everything is completely PERFECT!

Happy Christmas!

I will wait to wish you a New Year in person. I believe that this will be our year of meeting up.

Junkchiccottage said...

Erin,
Everything is so beautiful. Love all the cottage colors so bright and cheerful. It must feel like you are on vacation everyday in your pretty cottage. Bentley looks adorable in the red and green neck collar for Christmas. Have a very Merry Christmas and much joy in the new year.
Kris

Jean Tuthill said...

Your cottage is so beautiful and is such an inspiration. I love your little paintings and I have one of your bicycles hanging here in my work room. I won it in one of your give a ways. I just love it! Have a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

Carole @ From My Carolina Home said...

Your place is just as charming inside as it is outside, thanks for the tour!

Sue Kosec said...

Well, it's no secret! Your home is absolutely the most welcoming I've ever seen. I could just walk right through that door and plop myself down in any room. Sooooo inviting! Thank you so much for sharing where you hang your hat.

Merry Christmas, Erin!
xo
SuZeQ

Susan Freeman said...

This is the most adorable cottage. Bright and cheerful and wonderful. It looks just like you! Love and Merry Christmas to you and dear Bentley.

Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

Marlynne said...

Oh what a delightful tour of your precious cottage! I love it all! Your white walls make your bright happy colors pop! I notice you use no frames on your painting Are the big ones canvas or wood, narrow or wide width? I paint too so always interested in looks I like. Blessings on you and yours during this happy CHRISTMAS SEASON. Marlynne Snare Folk Artist

A Joyful Cottage said...

Erin, I just love your cottage. I guess you already know that, but it's worth repeating. Your artwork is delightful and how fun that you can paint pieces that enhance your decor. I love that! Bentley is the best assistant anyone could have. What a sweetheart! Merry Christmas to you both. :) ~ Nancy

Sandra said...

Can you tell me which white paint (brand and color) you used on your walls and on your kitchen cupboards? I love the hole house. Especially the bright blue in your accents. I just bought a red checked sofa and chair at a yard sale and your colors would be perfect.

Gingham Gardens said...

Oh my, your cottage is just enchanted and I love it. I'm just a sucker for gingham.

Jean Tuthill said...

Your cottage is just so beautiful. I love all the color and the way you have placed it! Have a wonderful Christmas and a very happy, prosperous, and loving New Year! Hugs for Bentley, too!

Billie said...

Your home is warm and welcoming! I'm so in love with the brilliant pops of yellow in your lovely kitchen. Are you ok with the fires? I saw them last evening and was shocked by how fierce they appear. Merry Christmas!

susie @ persimmon moon cottage said...

Your cottage is so cheerful and pretty. I love the colors you have used on your walls and furnishings. It is so enjoyable to see your bright and beautiful paintings. Merry Christmas to you and Bentley!

Marcia said...

Beautiful and as inspirational as ever.
Merry Christmas to you and Bentley, and Happy New Year too!

Marcia said...

Can't get enough of those colors, Erin. Always so inspiring to me.
Many blessings to you and Bentley in 2018.

Maria Marta Truque said...

Erin, what a beautiful tour of your house, decorated for Christmas. It's September, 2020,and soon it will be Christmas again. This year, because of the Pandemic, we need to make our homes look and feel cozy and warm and inviting. Yours is just like that. Merry Christmas 2020. Take care. María Marta.