House Colors...Trying To Decide

This week I am pondering on house colors for my 100 year old farmhouse. We are starting to put up new siding, so I will be faced with CHOICES! So many choices of paint colors. Since my house is old, I wonder if I should go with a classic color combination or choose a more modern color scheme?

This week on Facebook I had some differing opinions, but very useful all the same. I would love to get more feedback. What do you think? What color should my new/old house be?

Here are some inspiration photos I am contemplating...

Leave me comments and let me know what you think!

My Cottage Farmhouse

Renovations have officially begun this week on our 100 year old farmhouse! We will be documenting the progress as we go, right here on The Cottage Chick blog.

Look for progressive photos and videos as we take you on this ambitious project. We will remodel, rejuvenate and revive this old historical house into a cozy cottage home.

Here is the master plan for the farmhouse...



1. New paint, siding and trim
2. Chimney removed and old furnace replaced with a heat pump.
3. New Roof
4. New 3 car garage
5. Kitchen expansion giving an additional 6 feet of space.
6. New entryway
7. New dining room
8. New breezeway which will accommodate a mudroom and laundry room,connecting the kitchen and garage.
9. New family room addition, complete with a fireplace and covered porch off the back side of the house.
10. Above the family room will be a new master bedroom and bathroom.
11. New family bathroom upstairs
12. New well and septic (boring, but necessary)

Ambitious dreams I know, but we are excited about the progress and hope you enjoy seeing the renovations as well! Come join us on this exciting journey.

Decorating With Plates

I love decorating with plates! Plates are easy to find, inexpensive decor and can add color and interest to many areas through out your home. Great places to find plates is at garage sales, flea markets, and goodwill. I also love TJ Maxx for great deals on plates, especially if you want a matching set. When you go on the hunt for plates, try to search complimentary colors that will display well together. Look for interesting shapes and edges to the plates to make for a fun eclectic mix.

You can add plates on shelves and in plate racks. Or for fun, think outside the box and try adding plates in new ways. Let's look at some great ideas here:

Try adding small saucers around doorways and window casings to add to the architectural details of a room.

Why not go for the gusto and make a collage of plates all over the wall?

How about over a fireplace mantel? Here notice how the blue and white stands out against the white paneled wall.

This pink room is so sweet and shows a great example of plates becoming part of the window treatment and window casing.



Love the rectangle shaped plates to this display, and the graduated sizes. You could also do this same thing with trays.



Love this circular pattern that was used to create an interesting focal point to a room.






Another great fireplace mantel idea. I love the arched plate display here! The plates become part of the entire look here.

Maybe you would like to start decorating with plates? Its cheap and easy and adds character to any room!