Little garden friend

 Adorbs.

(at West Elm)

Stripey tray love...

I've been so good this post-holiday about refraining from shopping online sales (I always love a great bargain in those clearance sections of my favorite websites after Christmas :) ... however I let down my guard for just a second (almost literally - in between baby and work duties!) to see what was new at West Elm and came across this pretty and fresh striped tray. One of my good friends (who happens to be a longtime professional stylist) used something similar in a photo shoot once as a desk accessory and I thought it was so beautiful and unexpected... so when I saw this it spoke to me. Well-suited for the bath of course, as they intend, but I think it could be beautiful almost anywhere you need something to act as art or to corral smaller objects. And, it is on sale. Need I say more?  Looking forward to your arrival, pretty striped tray!

Modern gravy boat

We don't have a gravy boat but I've always wanted one...I think because I adore Thanksgiving and having a piece dedicated to that once-a-year gravy just seems so festive and fancy.  This one from West Elm is a cheerful little guy. In fact I think this whole collection of serveware is great. Clean and modern but with a softness to the lines. Here's to good food and a relaxing long weekend. Happy Thanksgiving!
   
P.S. I am trying these adorable pumpkin cheesecakes this year.......

Having a moment...

The horse affection continues...Words cannot express how much I love these plates. I wish they were sold individually- I'd get one of each and use them as wall art!

And the winners are...



While we love our vintage Shiny Brites and the like, there are usually a few new ornaments and accessories that catch our eye each season, ones that we feel would fit right in with Modern Cottage holiday design. Here, our top five eight :)

1. Above, platinum glitter twig, earthy and glam at the same time -- (I kind of love this one, too. It has a little mod/grandma thing going on).

2. Last year I spent hours online searching (to no avail) for modern-day white ceramic trees like these from ZGallerie. (They've apparently already sold out online but may be available in stores).

3. Cutest zinc tags. Love.

4. Handmade burlap ornaments. Simple yet brilliant.

5. These musical objects are a glossy-white take on an old-fashioned favorite.

6. We love the natural look of these scalloped trees, they're a great way to achieve some textural balance in your holiday decor.

7. Mercury glass birds. Need I say more?

8. Incredible handmade paper star urchin. And real statement piece. Can you imagine a tree-full of these?

So, why not fix yourself a cup of hot chocolate and crank up the Johnny Mathis? Happy decorating!

Good gifting

The Christmas Season is officially upon us! We're feeling jolly and festive coming out of the long weekend... we have our lights up outside, decorations inside, and even found the perfect tree at our favorite lot (more on all of that later). For now, we are are excited to bring you great gift ideas with true Modern Cottage appeal. Here are some of our favorites this season...

1. Gorgeous pottery by Jill Rosenwald. This is the utensil holder.

2. Alister, the most amazing handmade elephant in classic menswear fabric. (Also available: Eli).

3. Personalized leather bookmarks, a perfect stocking stuffer (We recommend giving it with this book).

4. This wreath will look fabulous year-round!

5. Our favorite typewriter-font coasters. You may remember seeing them here.

6. Hands down the BEST dog bed cover design we've ever seen. Love the raw simplicity of it. Scout has already put in a word with Santa on this one.

7. A friendly paper mache bird to keep you company perched on a desk or shelf (Can you have too many birds? :).

These are just a few of the items we're loving at the moment. We've got lots more gift ideas and decorating tips in store, so we hope you'll stay tuned in. Happy Holidays!

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.

Fun with color

While Modern Cottage style generally embraces soft, understated colors for use on walls and larger scale upholstered pieces, it also relies on pops of vibrant color here and there to add freshness, fun, and energy to a space. These jolts of color can take many forms, from brightly-hued plants and produce to interesting artwork and accessories (like these great antique books in a charming color grouping). To keep the Modern Cottage crispness and simplicity, choose just a few favorite colors and repeat them throughout your home.

Sweet little birdies

I'm seeing birds everywhere these days! No complaints here - we've enjoyed having the wire trio in our entryway for a few years now. There's just something sweet and welcoming about them. A few other favorites: a hand-formed trio with tiny eyes, a set of earthy, wooden sparrows, and a very organic, a bit more modern family of birds in glossy white. Set on a shelf or ledge, they are sure to bring a smile (and a feeling of spring) into your Modern Cottage.