BEFORE:

TWO LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT OWNERS, A GUTTING, AND 14 DUMP TRUCKS WORTH OF FILL LATER:

Hello, Cottage Living, are you reading?  When I missed my flight on Sunday I really lucked out. My friends Sophie and Kent offered me shelter in the 1940’s cottage they have been lovingly modernizing for many months. Circa 200 years ago, their neighbors would have been Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe, as it is located between Monticello and Ash Lawn. It is truly one of the most beautiful spots around Charlottesville. It sits between the flood plain of Houchens Creek and beautiful woods, and when you look in out from the back, you can spy neighboring cows. Sophie and Kent are two of my pals from grad school. Kent has his Masters in Urban Planning and both of them have Masters in Landscape Architecture. Kent also has lots of experience in construction with a focus on green building, and Sophie is a kick-ass fiddler and gardener.

I wish I had some interior before pictures to show you, but unfortunately, they no longer exist. The space shown below used to be four dark, cramped rooms: A kitchen, a dining room, a bedroom and a bathroom.  S & K ripped the whole thing open and installed all new windows, which are all Low E, argon-filled sashes. The ceilings, once low and dark, were ripped out, and now they are 10′ high. The beams were restored from the original structure. The space is so peaceful and sunny that I felt like I was in one of the charming chapels that dot the landscape in the country around Charlottesville.

A very small addition that accommodates a new bathroom was added to the house’s original 840 square feet (it’s on the right side of the exterior “AFTER” photo). The floors are reclaimed heart pine, and all of the poplar siding and trim came from the Appalachian Sustainable Development mills in southwest Virginia, all of it harvested from certified-sustainable wood lots in the southern Appalachians.

I love that they used an antique dresser for storage in the bathroom:

Formerly an unused attic, Sophie and Kent opened up to the roofline and created an upstairs loft. Yours truly was not feeling confident about scaling the ladder after two margaritas, but I could see from below that it  added a lot of usable space to the house:

Here are a few more sweet nuggets:

There is a real nature study aesthetic all around the house:

While all of the walls are crisp and white, S & K’s careful editing of antiques, oriental rugs, artwork and objects add so much warmth to the modern space.

Curious about that lamp? The lovely and talented Christina Michas made the gorgeous shade for them as a wedding gift:

The house is still a work in progress, but I kind of dig these little traces of it:

To read more about the project, check out Strata Projects Design.

I feel so lucky to be part of this very supportive medium that informs, entertains, supports, and amuses us all. And people like you are the reason I keep going! Thanks so much Joni! And to all of you that come and read my little blog. I so appreciate you all.

Best-
Katie

We've been super busy preparing for the Modern Economy multi-designer sample sale coming up in less than two weeks in Portland, Oregon. If you live there or happening to be visiting, please come to the sale. (Prices will be marked down up to 75% off retail!) Here are the details:

Modern Economy Sample Sale
10:30am to 3pm
Saturday, July 19, 2008
The Cleaners at the Ace Hotel
403 SW 10th and Stark
Portland, OR

Also, here's an update on some of the new designers and stores that will be participating this sale.

Danish-designed patterns and designs for your wall from Ferm Living.

Clothpony's hip, adorable girl's clothing.

Olio United, a local Portland shop, will be bringing a variety of clothes and home accessories.

Gorgeous cards and notebooks from Nantaka Joy.

Tina Frey's home accesories and jewelry made of resin.

Well-designed, eco goods from Josh Jakus.

Nature-inspired notebooks from Jill Bliss.

Unique pottery for plants from Portland store, Life + Limb.

Emma Gardner's luxurious wool throws.

Plant and sea life-inspired wall art from Jefdesigns.

Shop, shop, shop? Save, save, save. Take advantage of some pre-holiday specials:

Shop auto today, November 21, only — in-store, over the phone, or online — and get 30% off your entire purchase (excludes custom orders). Use code “FF2008″ at checkout. We like: Missoni Ian bedding.

Today only, save 20% on orders over $150 at iomoi.com — use code “stockup”. We like: colorful, kooky address labels.

Take advantage of the Hood and Company three-day sale online — enter coupon code “N192108″ and save 25% on your order. And if you’re going to be in the downtown Catskill area, click “local pickup” to save on shipping charges. We like: Endurance measuring pans.

WallCandy Arts is offering a discount on their wide collection of wall stickers. Enter code “blogsupport20″ to get 20% off any WallCandy purchase. We like: RoCoco chalkboard sticker and Small Paul Spots.

Finally, get free shipping on your favorite Marimekko purchases totaling $150 or more, now through December 25 at Always Mod. Enter promotion code “shipx3k” at checkout. Get the full details here. We like: new Marimekko tins!

It was one of those days in Marrakech, the kind where you really couldn't believe it was already November.  And so they set off for Moroccan adventures of the rustic kind.  There were 11 adults and 11 children and 1 dog. (They tried to round up another 10 dogs for a perfect math equation but, sadly, they ran out of time.) 

They picked a spot not far away but far enough away that it felt far away (do you follow?). 

Oh loveliness....

They hung their bags in the outdoor closet.

 And they set up a  very fancy grill.

They broke out picnic baskets....

And set plates on the blogging girl's vintage Berber blankets (those Berbers.........such excellent picnic-ers).

There were delicious things to eat.

And cooked surprises to share...

With bellies full, they then went in search of adventure, around the lake and into the thickets....

They were richly rewarded for their efforts.

They wrapped their treasures carefully....as one must with precious things.

 And only one little boy fell in the lake.  All in all, quite a success....

Then they packed up and drove off ...........

into the Moroccan sunset (well, of course....)

Oh eeek! In the Spring of last year Somerset Life Editor Staci Dumoski contacted me. And after email to'ing and fro'ing ......months later........

Blog friends Cory Amaro, Kristin Robinson, and Maddie are also featured in this issue.  Do check these lovely blogging ladies out.

*********************************************

Thanks for all the great entries into the Great My Marrakesh Give Away.  Stay tuned next week for the announcement of the winner!

PS  Travelers to Marrakech from the US willing to bring a package for me (nothing illegal, I promise!!!), please do write at maryam@mtds.com.  I would be so grateful.

i’m always looking for cute desk accessories so when i saw these jump cork-backed wooden clips at susy jack’s etsy shop i was in heaven. great color, great price and a little bit whimsical. what else could you ask for? click here for more info and to buy ($10 each).

Posted by Lena

I just got back from a quick trip to Portland, Maine. I was there to work, but spent a big portion of the time eating!

Dining in, dining out... both simple food and sophisticated... it was all so delicious.

Here are some snapshots of my meals in Portland, and a list of restaurants I highly recommend.

FORE STREET
Fantastic local, seasonal food in a beautiful old building.
288 Fore Street

BRESCA
A sweet, intimate restaurant with great Italian dishes, also made with fresh, local ingredients.
111 Middle Street

BLUE SPOON
The perfect place to get a really delicious soup and salad for lunch.
89 Congress St

FLAT BREAD COMPANY
Wood fired pizza with toppings like organic vegetables, homemade maple fennel sausage, and goat cheese.
72 Commercial Street

SARA'S TEA SHOP
This sweet little tea shop doesn't have a website, but the loose teas are wonderful and the homemade scones are to die for.
195 Congress street

Posted by Bluelines

While the biggest music release of the season will be Coldplay's Viva La Vida, it's not exactly the kind of album that will prompt non-stop dancing and fun at your summer party.

For that, you will want something that moves and sways. Chuck Brown is a perfect good-time starter.

Known as the "Godfather of Go-Go" (a musical mix of funk, R&B, and hip-hop), Chuck is over 70 and still pumping out exuberant, swaggering songs.

You won't regret picking up a classic like "Do You Know What Time It Is" along with extra ice and bug candles.

What gets your party started?

Topo Azul, handmade designde patterns - is an organic approach to the art of painted wallpaper. A style that plays with lo-fi but in the end is revealed as a high quality product with a fresh and contemporary sensibility. This handmade pattern was created from the concept of freedom of lines. Heterogeneous forms are unified by using the same color. it reminds of the beauty that exists in the chaos and the randomness.

Artist Ana Montiel has designed TOPO AZUL as well as our other wallpaper collections. Since her early beginnings, she was fascinated while drawing different shapes (vs. patterns) and forms, not knowing that her fixation at the time would evolve into beautiful patterns for Pattern Tales®.