Vintage goodies

We are always on the lookout for interesting, useful, or beautiful vintage items to add a little cottage flavor to our design. This tiny mint tin does the trick on modern silver tray atop a bedside table.

Hunting for house numbers

We need to get new house numbers up (we removed the existing ones which were plastic...need I say more?). So, nothing has quite struck our fancy yet. Maybe for the next few weeks, we could get by with pumpkin numbers. I've always loved this idea since I first saw it in Cottage Living (oh, how I miss you!) years ago. The second image is from Sunset.

Modern Cottage pumpkins

How perfect are these amazing, creamy-white pumpkins to finish off a Modern Cottage porch for fall? I knew they would look fabulous, but I think they actually exceeded my expectations once I saw them nesting on our front porch. The contrast is perfect! We have always loved white pumpkins but they don't seem to be widely available...so this year we ventured out to a pumpkin patch where they had small quantities of several unique varieties. Loving their petite size and curvy stems. Scout is all about the pumpkins, too -- clearly :) Such a good porch dog.

Super finds

Every once in a while, we come across something so unique, so perfectly "us", so Modern Cottage, that it makes our hearts all a flutter. When you come across such pieces, don't hesitate too long: if it's love at first sight, make it yours. In our case, this kind of reaction is often caused by vintage or one-of-a-kind pieces (although they can be new pieces that we suspect will blow out within hours of hitting stores and sites). Case in point: this salvaged antique cabinet in galvanized steel, originally used in a paint shop. It was coated in layers of paint, but once meticulously stripped, turned into this handsome beast. The seller also had the steel legs fabricated which make it a hundred times more functional. I find myself gazing upon it with adoration so often, I thought it deserved its own post :)

This little piggy

I have an affinity for pigs. I'm not exactly sure why, although it may have come about a few years back when I rediscovered the shiny metal piggy bank from my youth (it now sits contentedly in our office). As with most things Modern Cottage, I prefer the simple and unadorned variety ... that goes for white ceramics, too (yet another minor obsession). So it was with great joy that I happened upon these magnificent ceramic pigs from Etsy artist Fruit Fly Pie. The planter-style is in our kitchen, and I've been trying to rustle up a reason why I also must have the piggy bank version. They are made from vintage 60's molds. Don't they look it? I love everything about them, especially the ears.

Flower magic

Fresh flowers can be so transformative. We enjoyed them quite often at our old house (bunches of white tulips, mostly) yet I think because we've got so many design tweaks still on our list at our new house, we haven't arrived at the point where we're consciously thinking of those finishing touches. We bought these leafy beauties for use in a photo shoot and (bonus!) brought them home afterwards. Most of the stems went in a pitcher in the kitchen and I cut one short for this little bud vase on the coffee table. It really struck us how much they lifted our moods and their (very Modern Cottage) greenish-white flowers made the kitchen and living room feel quite homey and much more "us" than we thought it could pre-redesign. Flower magic, I say! I highly recommend treating yourself to some fresh flowers for a little boost.

A warm October welcome

Can you believe it's already time for pumpkins? We're looking forward to cool afternoon walks and all the amazing changing foliage. And what is it about classic pickup trucks in the most pleasing shades of turquoise? This one looks like the perfect vehicle to bump around in while on holiday in some spectacularly tiny and endearing town where time moves just a bit slower.

A girl can dream, can't she? :)

(Photo by Francesco Lagnese via Real Simple)