ART PIC OF THE DAY - Click it for info...

ART PIC OF THE DAY - Click it for info...
ART PIC OF THE DAY - Click it for info...

Friday, January 25, 2013

DEFINITION...

So....WHAT IS ETHNIC COTTAGE DECOR?
Let's begin with some equations:
  • Ethnic Cottage Decor = Global + Shabby Chic
  • Ethnic Cottage Decor = Pier 1 + Pottery Barn
  • Ethnic Cottage Decor = World Market + Ballard Designs
  • Ethnic Cottage Decor = British Colonial + English Cottage
  • Ethnic Cottage Decor = Bohemian + Romantic Country
  • Ethnic Cottage Decor = International + Traditional
  • Ethnic Cottage Decor = Animals + Funky
  • Ethnic Cottage Decor = Elle Decor + Romantic Homes
  • Ethnic Cottage Decor = Cultural + Rustic Country
  • Ethnic Cottage Decor = Mediterranian + Vintage
  • Ethnic Cottage Decor = Chinoiserie + Paris Apt
  • Ethnic Cottage Decor = Safari Chic + Eclectic
  • And much, much more!

Add a LOT of IMAGINATION to all of the above!
So you see, it's the juxtaposition of interior elements of a global, cultural nature plus a warm, homey cottage atmosphere. It adds up to WOW!
In my own home I've had these reactions, almost verbatim:
  • This is the most comfortable, homiest home I've ever been in!
  • I love how everywhere you look there's something interesting to see.
  • Is that African or Indian?
  • I love this room and yet my husband would love it too.
  • You've got things I've never seen anywhere else!
The last is my favorite! Why would anyone want a "cookie cutter" home? Who wouldn't want their home to be personal and represent themselves?

For this blog explaining Ethnic Cottage Decor, I'm going to give you some samples of my own home as well as some excellent examples I've found recently on the internet. I like to attribute photos to the source whenever possible. If it's a photo from pinterest or somewhere that doesn't have attribution, I'll only use it if I'm so smitten I simply can't NOT use it! PLEASE feel free to let me know the source if you are sure of it!

I'll explain each photo below briefly...


This is my blog's main photo and it's a wall in my dining room. I did the wall one night when I was too excited to sleep because I was going on a trip to see my bff the next day! I took 4 old books and one vintage music sheet book, a can of spray glue, and went to town! I worked fast because I loved seeing it develop...it took only about 3 hours. I had a young man visit my home recently to fix my computer. I could see he was staring at something and I said, "What are you looking at?" He smiled and said, "That wall. It's rustic. I like it." Great praise from a techy who hadn't said 10 words to me! I certainly wasn't thinking rustic when I did the wall. I just considered it a neutral backdrop. So then I added books. BOOKS, MAPS & GLOBES always give character to any room and are a quick and inexpensive go-to for Ethnic Cottage decorating. I then added a shelf and some art, a pith hat, and an old butterfly net. Adding an oil painting I've had for years and small set of antlers a friend gave me and voila! Ethnic Cottage!
BTW, my friend uses almost all of any animal he kills, including making venison jerky. I do love taxidermy but I don't want anything that was killed for sport or fun.



I love this living room found on pinterest.com. It's got the warm elements of cottage: lovely color, oversized comfy furnishings, homey little touches. And yet it has the antlers, the pottery displayed prominently, the ikat style pillows and the eclectic art. The sum total is Ethnic Cottage!


Another part of the wall in my dining room. I realized I had accumulated many small vintage pictures over the years. Decided to hang them up according to size:


Below is a simplified example of Ethnic Cottage from pinterest.com. You can see the bed, the colors and the architecture have the cottage feel. Then they added the Asian art! Gives the room a whole different feel and causes the bedroom to become...Ethnic Cottage.



This is one of my favorites from interiordesignpro.org - no doubt because of the colors! I also love the use of antiques including the Queen Anne chairs, and the chandelier - elements of Cottage style. Then look at that kilim fabric on the sofa, the small Indian shisham tables and the shape of the mirror - all Ethnic, global style. Yum...this room has it all!


I have "played with" vintage suitcases for years. I have been COLLECTING since I was a child...hats, vintage jewelry, art, all the dogs and cats my parents would allow :-) My vintage luggage collection began when my Grandpa gave me his old suitcase filled with his much-used and beloved art supplies. What a treasure! ANYTHING SENTIMENTAL contributes to the Cottage part of Ethnic Cottage.



Below are more examples of Ethnic Cottage Decor. I'm sure you've got the idea...


From meredithatarrettdesigns.blogspot. Charming.


I'm a sucker for those pith helmets! Really, any hats! Note the Cottage furnishings. WICKER AND/OR RATTAN are always good contributions to the Ethnic Cottage style. By Pottery Barn.


More PB.


See this gorgeous Cottage comforter - also PB -                          
 and those old maps...love!!!


A great collection of fabrics and trims from Calico Corners.



You can never go wrong with CHINOISERIE FABRIC OR WALLPAPER. It has both the ethnic and the cottage feel!


From One Kings Lane

Global or animal TOILEs are also a good bet!





One of my faves. Sheila Bridges did her own interpretation of toile and calls it Harlem Toile. So clever and so beautiful!

MORE EXAMPLES OF ETHNIC COTTAGE DECOR:
zsazsabellagio
beautifullivingstyle.blogspot
curatedstyle.tumblr
Interior Alchemy by Rebecca Purcell - A treasure of a book!!!!
bohemianhomes.tumblr

Charlotte Moss

Lyford Cay


urbanchichipster.tumblr

splendidsass.blogspot

smokeandmirrorsny.blogspot


One last thing:
LESS IS NOT MORE
IN THIS STYLE OF DECOR!
You should ENJOY your home and your things.


“Have nothing in your house that you do not know
to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” William Morris


 “Imagination is more important
than knowledge”.
Albert Einstein



COMING SOON:   Ethic Cottage Decor and ART!