Cottage Plans

I've been indulging myself in gathering together some house ideas. I guess it's not too early to be thinking about what we are looking for in a new home. We're still in the updating stage at the big house, but have made good progress on the inside, so it's possible that we would be ready to list our house by late Spring. So much still needs to be done, but while I'm busy cleaning out closets and sorting through kitchen stuff, I'm taking a little time to look for design ideas and inspiration for our new place.

This next house will be the house we retire in, so we're thinking long term. We already know we don't want an "upstairs", but would like a partially finished basement for storage and a large family area. I want to be able to do all our daily routine on the main level, but have a place in the basement where we can all go as a family when we get together to watch a movie, or the guys hang out.

And let's face it, we have lot's of stuff, so we need some storage. At some point when we're "settled" I'd like to open my Etsy Shop back up with some of my vintage goods. I have tons of dishes and fun stuff that need a home. I had hoped to start that last Fall but life had other plans.

My hubby's a collector too, so he needs his own area for guy stuff...lot's of guy stuff. AND we live in "Tornado Alley" sort of, so all of us like a little basement hideaway in bad weather.

Some of these plans show an upstairs, but I'm mainly looking for design elements. The peaked roof lines and use of decorative rock, brick, or shingles are what I'm interested in. Carriage House garage doors are another item on my list.

Living in this smaller lease house has shown us that we can be happy in less square footage if we have access to storage in a basement. I really am enjoying the fact that all I need can be focused in a smaller more compact space. The kitchen and great room are the center of the house with a split bedroom plan that enables hubby and I to each have an office on one side of the house with the master bedroom on the other.

We really want new construction, or almost new, without a lot of trees or large yard. We're just not into it anymore, and Hubbs isn't and has never been, a fan of yard and garden fun. I was always the one that mowed and did the flowers and shrubs. I enjoyed it, but that's just not happening now. Just give me a small yard with a fence, a patio, a tree, and I'll be good to go.

I'm not a fan of huge houses, with huge rooms. I can appreciate those lovely rooms, but I don't feel totally comfortable in them. I love a cozy space where you can curl up next to a fire and have a cup of tea. We're not big "entertaining" people so no need for large spaces for parties. The largest soiree I would want would be a "Girlfriend's Lunch", or a small dinner with family, that's about it.

One element of the English Cottage Design that I love is the timbered porches, posts, and gables. (see below). The multipaned windows with a transom or arch and shutters, always get my attention.

We're planning on building or buying "affordable and efficient". We're thinking around 2000 square feet give or take on the main level. I DO want a sunroom so I'm going to probably have to do some bargaining for that.

We want to be free of a mortgage so we can do some traveling at some point in life. Having a larger home with a lot of outside maintenance just doesn't thrill us any more. We'll leave that to the younger couples with some kiddos still at home.

So that's some of my inspiration for our new home. I have lot's of ideas for inside, but I've realized over the years, if a house has good bones you can add elements here and there to personalize it and make it your own.

All these homes can be found at their source on my Pinterest Board,

 Cottage Plans and Inspiration.

News on the home front... We have the granite counter tops in and new French Doors to the sunporch at the big house. We went to an open house on the street behind us and visited with a realtor that we were familiar with. He lives in our subdivision and has listed and sold many homes in our area. We're not ready to list, but feel like he will be our choice when the time is right. Things are rolling along, and the better weather will encourage us and help us get some outside work done.

I think the very top sketch with the gray rock and shingles is my favorite, but when it comes down to a choice, we always pray for God's leading and timing. So wherever and whatever we end up with, I know it will be where we are supposed to be. I'm just hoping God likes little English Cottages. te he.

 I'll be joining in with these great parties:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Inspiration Exchange at City Farmhouse
From My Front Porch to Yours
Share Your Cup at Mrs. Olson's
Grey Dey Thursday at Petite Michelle Louise
Fabulously Creative Friday at Jennifer Rizzo
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

If you haven't checked out the goods at The Marketplace
then just click here.

xoxo,

Today's Sponsor

Rosekraft

The Marketplace: Etsy and Boutique Showcase

Hey there you all, hope you had a great weekend! We have had some beautiful days late last week, and we're looking at 50's and low 60's all  this coming week, so we're ready to dance a little Spring Jig here in the lower Midwest. Valentine's Day has come and gone...can Easter and Spring be far behind? I'm on the lookout! Here are some wonderful items that were in the link-up last week. gotta love anything with birds and/or flowers!

White Birds Pillow Cover

Oliver and Rust

Junkin Queen Vintage Crochet and Lace Tote

Marionberry Cottage

Large Vintage Tole Tray

Delightful Curiosity

Small Vintage Biscuit Jar

Nostalgic Artifacts

Vintage Music Paper Wreath

The Penny and the Pearl

Vintage Decorative Boxes

The Zoe Bird

And say Hello to Today's Sponsor

20 North Ora

Thanks gals so much for joining in!

Party Link Guidelines:

This is a linky party that is for items that are FOR SALE only. You don't have to have a blog to link up. If you have a blog post about your items that's great too, but they need to be available to purchase. Please try to link to the individual item that you are selling if possible. Please be a follower of Common Ground and if you have a blog it would be so nice for you to grab the image below to share somewhere on your blog. (not mandatory). Remember the link is up all week, so please stop back by to check out new items being listed. Thanks so much for sharing all your great items with us!

Have a great week,

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

Visual Valentines

I love to go shopping, and part of the fun is checking out the store window displays, especially the holiday ones. Creativity and Visual Displays go hand in hand when it comes to merchandising, and what could be more of a challenge that taking a large empty space and transforming it into a shopping fantasy. It's been awhile since I've been shopping in St. Louis, but I was wondering what kind of Valentine fun I was missing. Anthropologie and Louis Vuitton are always ones you can count on to be out-of-the-box amazing. Here are a few images from some Valentine Inspired store window displays...

all images from my Pinterest board, Valentines

and here are a few images of Valentine fun from blogposts, past.

And just to round things out,

 I decided to go ahead and display my red transferware in my new old/cupboard.

Have a wonderful Valentine's Evening...

hug hug

kiss kiss,

Be Inspired #176

Hi Everyone and Welcome to 

Be Inspired

Do you have big plans for Valentine's Day?

How fun to have it land on a Friday, for all of you "date night" peeps. We eat out several times over the weekend, so I imagine we'll do our regular Friday Night, "Movie Night" with some take out Indian Food. Movie Night consists of a Netflix choice and after dinner a large gray cat camping out on my lap for the duration. Miss Wrigley prefers something quiet and romantic, as she hates car chases and loud explosions. However you spend your evening, just let it be with the ones you love!

OK, on to the party. 

Let's check out some of the wonderful links from last week:

The always amazingly creative, Julia, from Vintage With Laces

made this wonderful Junky LOVE Sign

Leave a love note for your sweetie, with these Mini Love Letters

from Kerryanne at Shabby Art Boutique

This Secretary ReDeux started out needing all kinds of help.

The perfect challenge for Karen from Redoux Interiors.

How wonderful are these Personalized Grain Sack Cards?

from Lori at Marvin's Daughters

I'm hoping she'll do special orders!

Laurie from Heaven's Walk found that her fabric stash was taking over her studio.

So she created this Vintage Blue Cabinet, which looks like a real vintage piece.

These are a great project; DIY Column Pedestals 

from Poppy at With a Dash of Color.

Need a special Valentine breakfast? 

Whip up a batch of these yummy Scones and Jam 

from Jeanette at Creating a Life

thanks gals for sharing the inspiration!

Party Guidelines

Please have an individual link back to Common Ground within your post. I'd love to feature you. This is just part of the Party Etiquette.

Please remember to turn off word verification. I've tried leaving comments that didn't go through. I'm sure others have tried also.

Please no direct links to Etsy or Advertising.

Link up to three of your current posts.

Take a minute to visit a few of the other links.

Please be a follower of Common Ground.

Thank you to all of you who come over each week to link up to the party, I may not get to leave a comment, but I try to visit each of your posts. You are a never ending source of inspiration to me and others, so just know how much I appreciate each one of you!

thanks so much for joining in

and making this party so much fun!

xoxo,

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

Today's Sponsor

French Bleu Vintage