Endless Possibilities

 

Welcome, 2014! Here's to a fresh new canvas; a brand new year to fill with fun new adventures, gratifying design, and an unwavering focus what matter most to you.

(image from Tumbler, credit unknown)

Ice Cream Party

Yup, the little guy is already TWO (!!) and we celebrated earlier this month with a party at the beach including a special guest: the Ice Cream Man! Ok, so it was really just his grandpa donning an ice cream man hat, bow-tie, and mustache but I think that made it even more special than having the actual ice cream man. Little guy's auntie volunteered use of her white Jeep so it was a really legit affair. It just seemed appropriate given his current fixation on the ice cream man (and mailman, etc. - really anyone in a truck) and constant humming of the ice cream truck melody.

My trusty food tents were back, this time covering the most delicious egg sandwiches from the local bagel shop. And of course we had yogurt-covered pretzels and jeally beans to hold the little ones over till it was time for ice cream. 

 Then we cranked the ice cream truck tunes and the kids flocked to the jeep.

 A homemade menu gave them something to think about. Decisions, decisions!

 It was a gorgeous day and so nice to be right down by the water.

Here the little guy and his grandma watch with great interest to see if the strapping lifegaurd (on summer break from Stanford if you must know) can fetch the balloons that were joyfully released into a tree branch moments earlier. (He did eventually nab them).

Happy Birthday, little one!!

Calm before the chaos

Have I mentioned I love this time of year? Especially now, before the frenzy of the holidays kicks in. The colors outside are beautiful, things just feel relaxed and peaceful, and we've got the giddy anticipation of Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the bend. I captured this moment the other day and it just makes me melt every time I see it.

We're also starting on a new project, which is always a lot of fun with ideas swirling as the final vision starts to come together. A renovation and addition to what was once an old fishing cabin (built in 1900!). We'll post more as we get underway.

Hope you enjoy these next couple of weeks! I'm thinking leisurely strolls, salted carmel lattes (yes I've got  my own recipe down, and thankfully Starbucks is always happy to oblige), and crisp fall air. Oh, and being able to complete pretty much any task or outing crowd-free :)

Modern Cottage birthday

Over the Labor Day weekend, the little guy turned one so we threw him a bash in the front yard. Fortunately lots of his friends were in town for the holiday so it was a great crowd up on the porch and spilling into the lawn. We kept things simple and pretty with the only real 'theme' being about those relaxing final days of summer...

The food was simple: Fresh squeezed lemonade, delicious turkey sandwiches made by a local shop,  fruit skewers, peanut butter sandwiches (no crusts, of course), and a quinoa salad with tomato and cucumber. Oh, and for dessert: cupcakes!

And we couldn't resist these when we noticed them in the beer aisle... the light blue label was perfect. Good thing they tasted good, too.

Party favors included adorable handmade paper pinwheels found on Etsy, balloons tied with cotton cording, and white beach balls. We figured the little ones would need something to entertain themselves during the party, and thought the beach balls would fit the venue perfectly. It was hilarious to watch the kiddos walk up the front steps, immediately catch sight of the balls scattered across the lawn, and make a beeline toward them to begin gleefully kicking them around the yard.

All in all it was a fantastic party and the little man had a blast!

(Lovely photography by Kristine)

Vintage summer



I am totally obsessed with the camera on my new phone and all the filters that come with it. Particularly the vintage filter. There actually three versions: vintage, vintage warm, and vintage cold. I'm in heaven. Which ever I use (I think my fave is the regular "vintage") produces really beautiful, artistic, and almost magical photos. This past Friday was the first day in many, many days (weeks? months?) we were able to take some time to hit the park with the little guy and just be (we also had him in swim lessons last month - the best!). Here's hoping you're enjoying many magical moments this summer!

Mom's day

Look at what our little man got his mama! A lemon cypress, her favorite. Dad is teaching him well :)

This was followed by lunch at one of my favorite restaurants, and then a picnic at the lake that afternoon. It was such a great day and the little guy had a blast. Can't wait to do it again.
   
Happy Mother's Day to all you mamas!

Farewell, October

October went by in the blink of an eye... can hardly believe it will soon be Thanksgiving and then Christmas! Where did the year go? Looking forward to the holidays with our new little man in the mix. I'm already guzzling hot cocoa daily :) Hope you enjoy the next few weeks ... that little bit of peace before the full swing of the holiday season.

(And yes, we found more of our fave white pumpkins this fall)

W + M

In Modern Cottage design there is an underlying element of authenticity that brings life and meaning to a collection of rooms to make a house a home. It may be a reflection of the people, relationships, or experiences that make everything truly worthwhile, or simply never fail to put a smile on your face, or which make you feel gratitude and peace. Appreciating and celebrating these influences,  including the incredible personalities of those family members who came before us - their impact on us, and their legacy - provides a sense of history, family and place which makes a house a home.

This Valentine's Day we express our profound gratitude and admiration for my grandparents, Wayne and Millie. Reading a recently discovered letter between the two from 1949 (and these hilarious clippings my grandma had sentimentally saved from their high school paper) reminds us that while times change, true love is a constant.

However you choose to bring authenticity into your Modern Cottage (maybe in a simple photo collection or other special memorabilia) you will undoubtedly bring soul and spirit into your home.

(I love the first clipping, "Hold your breath! Anything can happen." Turns out that was a lifetime together resulting in five kids, fifteen grand kids, and (so far) fifteen great-grand kids. Thanks, W + M for starting the family tree off right :) We miss you a ton.

Happy New Year!

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season :) Best wishes for a fresh, new, spectacular year in 2011! What will you do in the new year? (Taking in some beautiful scenery like the view from this bluff overlooking the San Juans is sure to be good for the soul).

A welcome respite

We love this bit of time between Christmas and New Year's Day. It's generally peaceful and quiet being that so many people are still on holiday time, and it gives us a chance to do a bit of organizing and planning to feel "caught up" going into the new year. It's also a good time to reflect on the past year and consider where we'd like to go in 2011. We adore Christmastime and certainly will be sad to see it go, but the promise of a fresh new year is also quite exciting. What experiences or travels (or design plans :) are topping your list for 2011?

(image from Cottage Living)

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a beautiful dusting of snow yesterday to make this Thanksgiving holiday feel even more authentic, complete with masses of sledding kids (and many parents getting to be big kids again). We also have one happy snow-dog on our hands (as evidenced by the huge grin and sideways tongue). He literally bounced all the way down the hill, with a few impressive leaps and twists along the way. Here's hoping you have an equally good time this Thanksgiving!

Hello, holidays!

It's almost holiday time!! I know not everyone is in full holiday swing, but I am seeing the most important signs: Starbucks is serving peppermint lattes in cheerful holiday cups, and stores like Home Depot and Target have stocked giant holiday sections. What got me most excited however was when I was flipping through radio stations in the car two nights ago and realized that the station that plays "All Christmas, all the time" during December had already started this year, early! I know it sounds cheesy but I am a huge fan of Christmas music, ever since I was a little girl and my mom and I would listen to a tattered old Johnny Mathis Christmas cassette tape over and over again as we belted out the tunes in unison. (Fortunately, my husband is very tolerant of my Christmas music addiction, as well as my singing). Anyhoo, we hope you'll stay tuned in to our blog because in anticipation of the upcoming holidays, we will be featuring some fresh Modern Cottage decorating ideas, gift ideas, and more!

A Modern Cottage moment...

I love how a camera lens can capture a distinct, specific view in the midst of all the things around us constantly beckoning for our attention; and one which gives you a completely different perspective than you might otherwise realize without it.

We're really loving our wrap-around porch - turns out it's the perfect spot for our trusty chaise loungers. The tulips in an old paint can make it even more inviting. To me, this image is a "zone" of reflection and relaxation.

Here's hoping we'll have a few opportunities before the rush and excitement of the holiday season to put ourselves in this picture and simply gaze up at the trees, breathe in the fresh fall air, or doze off for a time and dream of wonderful things.

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)

Autumn's arrival...

It is officially autumn! Here's to crisp air, crunchy leaves, scarves, and hot cocoa.

Modern Cottage wedding

The Modern Cottage aesthetic can be revealed in so many unexpected places. For example, we were out walking recently on a beautiful Saturday afternoon when we came up on a historical building in our downtown area. Originally built in 1922, the building has wonderful lines and is wrapped in crisp, white beveled siding. Task-minded bodies were moving about the outdoor patio and grounds in preparation for an evening wedding ceremony. And at the patio, just outside the French doors, two people were hanging giant moss covered letters – the initials of the bride and groom we presumed – which contrasted so simply and beautifully with the classic white structure in the background. As we took in the scene it seemed to hit us at the same time since we turned to each other with wide eyes. I’m not sure which of us said out loud what each of us was thinking: “Modern Cottage wedding!!”. We didn’t stick around to confirm our declaration, but they were certainly off to a great start. Isn’t it a beautiful building? And you can get the fabulous moss letters on (of course!) Etsy.

Ahh, Summer...

You may have wondered, what exactly is the Modern Cottage way of life? It's about enjoying the simple things…remembering what is most important and living accordingly. It’s an impromptu game of badminton on a huge back lawn with sunlight filtering through the trees (and a combination kid/dog cheering squad – the kids are keeping score as well, you'll notice). It’s also about beauty and function and the best things in life: laughing out loud with family and friends, eating delicious food, exploring new and interesting places, and always returning to a fabulous ‘home base’ where you are surrounded by colors, objects, textiles, and design which genuinely make you feel at peace, at home, at ease, or more simply: happy. What better environment in which to share all those ordinary, day-to-day moments which add up to a well-lived life? Hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July holiday.