inside our cottage this week

 Hi everyone!

We are making progress. Spring feels like it is on its way with the warm sunny days we have been having this week in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina. Of course nightly fires are still cozy and warm. Since we are always short of actual newspapers, trader joe's bags suffice as fire starters.

Good old reliable alstroemeria is bringing some pink into the house for Valentine's.

I placed a candleholder rather awkwardly behind the angled television to give us something to look at from the breakfast table. 

I may not have mentioned it before but the French walnut breakfast table was part of designer Charles Faudree's estate that was sold through Sally Johannesson's Dovetail Antiques in Cashiers when Charles passed away in 2013. I think she said it actually had been used in his sister Francie's home.  Charles had a home here in the mountains.

We had the legs extended. It has two wonderful big drawers. Charles was a close friend of Sally and her mother. Everyone raves about what a humble and lovely man he was!

I am growing my last group of narcissus for the season. They have been so wonderful this winter.

I added some magnolia pods I found under a magnificent magnolia tree in Athens, Georgia to the little acorns from our yard.

And some eucalyptus from Trader Joe's in Atlanta when we were visiting friends and family last week for the big jar on the top of the dresser.

A pretty sunrise a few days ago from the house.

We have had this pillow for years. It seems perfect in the mountains. It is hand knit, I found it at Christine Foley's shop in The Fairmont in San Francisco when she used to sell lots of hand knit pillows and throws. It suits the dining bench.

That's it for now. We are itching to get started gardening. I have ordered seeds pods and trays and will attempt to get some seeds started in a sunny guest room window. Will try herbs first and then annuals for a cutting garden that I will have to start in April which feels like a long wait.

Bye for now...

 We enjoyed a beautiful warm winter hike on Saturday at Glen Falls.

Thanks for visiting!

Cindy

Cashiers Designer Showhouse 2014

Can you imagine sitting on your porch with your morning cup of coffee or tea and enjoying this view?  The setting of the Cashiers Historical Society Showhouse 2014 is just spectacular!

The porches and outside living areas were my favorite parts of the house. I loved the delicate window box plantings on the front porch.

The front porch faces the wooded front yard and a perennial bed with a rock sculpture wearing a hat. 

A side entry on the porch led to a flower arranging space/mudroom. Love the moss covered planter with ferns placed on an antique bench. 

Cashiers blogger Lissy Parker featured this shot of the area on her blog....

Brown and chartreuse fabrics and lots of ferns looked great.

The long bench on the right is a South Carolina joggling board. I was surprised to see it used here as they are more common in the coastal Low Country of South Carolina.

The backyard views are just gorgeous and stunning!

 The first floor master bedroom has a beautiful view and private porch with a rustic twig fence that is so commonly used here. Sorry the light was not better.

The main porch was decorated to be pretty and feminine. Designer Lynn Monday used blue & white chinoiserie  as her inspiration. She has recently authored a beautiful book on southern mountain style, you can purchase it here.

The faux bois tableware looks perfect in the mountains. I think it is by Ross Sveback, I have seen it in local  stores.

And finally on the way out, the pond with wooden canoe and great stone dining table. These  two photos also by Lissy Parker.

To get tickets, visit the Cashiers Historical Society site here.

Thanks for visiting!

Cindy

mountain porches

 design by Francie Hargrove

Highlands and its sister town, Cashiers, are both known for their beautiful mountain homes. Of course, most have covered decks or porches to capture the pretty views.

The screened porch below was a big selling point for us in the small ranch home we are buying. These are photos of the porch on the day we bid on the house. Plants and a rug will be added once we move in

along with a bit of furniture rearrangement, this feels a bit tight

The demijohn bottle, set of stationary chairs and round side table are going with the sellers.  But we are able to purchase the rocking chairs, sofa and dining set. I will be sure to post photos of sunny days on the porch soon, this day was quite dreary.

Here are some favorite mountain porch inspirations I have pinned...

a  Cashiers porch designed by Kathleen Rivers and featured in  House Beautiful. The striped rug!

this beauty was featured in House Beautiful

a Cashiers porch done by Phoebe Howard

A beautiful porch bar, done for the Cashiers Showhouse a few years ago. Checked fabrics look great in the mountains.

 design by Francie Hargrove

A log home in Highlands.... this home was actually owned by the same couple we are purchasing our home from. They had two homes in Highlands (one for family and friends) and are downsizing to a condominium.. The house was featured in Traditional Home.  Read more here. This is the same set of  porch furniture we are purchasing from them.

Kathleen Rivers designed this dining porch space that was featured in Garden & Gun. Fantastic view of Whiteside Mountain from this one.

Garden & Gun

A porch with black woodwork, painted wicker and awesome stone fireplace by Charleston designer Amelia Handegun.

I will be sure to regularly post some photos of our porch as we get settled. It will be the focal point of the house in the summer and fall.

Thanks for visiting!

Cindy