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You are here: Home / Vignettes / Taking a break…

Taking a break…

October 22, 2020 by Kristine 3 Comments

Basket filled with pears from www.redshuttercottage.com

My most favorite thrift store basket filed with pottery barn pears.

Hello, and thank you for stopping by.

Red Shutter Cottage is taking a little break.  I am writing this in October 2020 and hope to be back in 2021 with new posts about cottage style, why I love thrift shopping, and my (very tiny) obsession with roosters!

A fall vingette on the dining table with autumn-colored branches and white pitchers. www.redshuttercottage.com

This dining table vignette appeared in my Fall Home Tour for 2019.

Together, Sailor and I are facing some big changes and new challenges.  I don’t mean to be secretive, but neither am I comfortable sharing them in such a public arena.

The combination of colors, finishes, textures and patterns create this inviting winter dining room vignette. www.redshuttercottage.com

The combination of colors, finishes, textures and patterns combine to create this inviting 2018 winter dining room vignette.

Most of these challenges (but not all) are truly wonderful and exciting, and we are both so grateful to have these opportunities opening up in our lives.

Pine cones, plaid and greenery decorate this Christmas 2018 mantel. www.redshuttercottage.com

I found this Christmas garland at Michael’s, convinced it had been designed for me specifically. I love this mixture of plaid, pine cones and trees.

I have been struggling with making the decision of whether or not to take a break from blogging for a few months now. Sailor and I discussed it, and without any prompting from me, he suggested I write this post.  That made me realize that this message and post is the right thing to do.

A rooster and hen set between a couple of pitchers on the shelf above the sink. www.redshuttercottage.com

This rooster and hen set traveled all the way from Sterns Wharf in Santa Barbara, CA. The colors just called out to me!

These ‘opportunities’ we are facing require immediate and full focus and attention, and will continue to do so until they are completed.  But when the dust has finally settled, Red Shutter Cottage will be back with new posts, ideas, experiences and inspiration.

A summer coffee table combining colors and element of summer. www.redshuttercottage.com

Shells, starfish, hydrangeas and a thrift shop basket come together in this 2018 Summer Coffee Table.

It hurts my heart to start this break at the beginning of my FAVORITE decorating seasons of the year, Fall Harvest and Christmas.   But, it is what it is.  In the meantime, I wanted to include in this post some links to older posts that you may find helpful or useful.  I am putting them in a category listing, to help make the search easier.

 

Easter/Spring

A Simple and Easy Easter Coffee Table

A Whimsical Spring Tablescape

Springtime Living Room 

A pair of ceramic bunnies, a bird cage and a white pitcher create a fresh Easter coffee table vignette. www.redshuttercottage.com

A pair of estate sale bunnies keeping company with a thrift shop bird cage filled with Easter eggs. The Laura Ashley white pitcher was a birthday gift…several decades ago. Classic and timeless.

 

This Easter dining table is a combination of a few Easter elements (bunnies, eggs, vases with bunnies and miniature bunny figurines) mixed in with items used for everyday dining. www.redshuttercottage.com.

This Easter dining table really only has a few “Easter” elements. A collection of ceramic bunnies, miniature bunny figurines, Easter eggs, and bunnies on the vases. Everything else, runner, tablecloth, napkins, tray, plates, silverware, glasses, is an everyday item. This approach ensures you’re only needing to store a few highlight seasonal items.

 

Summer

Hydrangeas in the Summer Living Room

4th of July on the Front Porch

A Bright & Easy Summer Living Room 

A 4th of July porch vignette. www.redshuttercottage.com

A 4th of July vignette made up of simple, classic elements. I did sew the banner using fabric scraps I found in my pile.

 

Fall Harvest

2019 Bright & Airy Fall Living Room

A Festive Fall on the Front Porch 

A Simple Fall Vignette 5 Ways 

A fall fireplace and mantel, complete with a wreath decorating a window frame, and a white pitcher of wheat. www.redshuttercottage.com

This fall mantel is from the 2019 Fall Home Tour. I found the window frame on the side of the road; Sailor helped bring it back to life. The unusual structure of this wreath really drew me in.

 

Thanksgiving / Halloween

Thanksgiving Planning List 

Thanksgiving Table Tutorial 

2018 Thanksgiving Mantel

A banner showing a black cat and two jack-o'-lanterns are the focus of a Fun Halloween Mantel. www.redshuttercottage.com

Bats, ghosts, and jack o’lanterns come together in this Halloween mantel.

 

 

A long view of our 2016 Thanksgiving table including the gravy pitcher and cranberry sauce. www.redshuttercottage.com

All the family silver pulled out for Thanksgiving 2016.  (Note the silver candlestick holders are the same as the ones used for the Halloween mantel above.)

Christmas

2018 Christmas Living Room

2017 Christmas Home Tour

2016 Christmas Home Tour

Tutorial-How To Decorate a Christmas Tote

How to Store Christmas Decorations

This wrought iron lamp post comes out every year for Christmas, including the year's 2018 Christmas Living Room. www.redshuttercottage.com

My mother brought out this wrought iron lamp post every year. It’s become part of my Christmas decorating, updated with some plaid ribbon, pine cones and greenery.

 

Winter Decorating

Early Winter Living Room 

2018 Winter Living Room

 

 

 

A front view of our sofa and coffee table as part of our 2018 Winter Living Room. www.redshuttercottage.com

Early Winter decorating calls for texture, rich colors, and a simple aesthetic. A soothing antidote to help usher in the new year.

Thrift Shopping

7 Tips for Successful Thrift Shopping

The Joy of Treasure Finds by Thrift Shopping

The Loveseat I Almost Didn’t Buy

 

This baker's rack is a lucky find from Craigs List. A great example of The Joy of Treasure Finds by Thrift Shopping. www.redshuttercottage.com

This beautiful wrought iron and wood baker’s rack is a lucky find from Craigs List.

Style & Design

5 Steps to a Beautiful Mantel 

How to Decorate Using 5 Classic Elements

How to Mix Up Your Decor Style

This room is an example of a Traditional style sitting room that includes topiaries, rosters, bowls of fruit, and mixed patterns. This is one of the images of a traditional room as described in How to Mix Up Your Decor Style. www.redshuttercottage.com

This room is an example of a Traditional style sitting room that includes topiaries, rosters, bowls of fruit, and mixed patterns. Source: Home-Furniture.net

Oh, and here are some of my favorite blogs that you might enjoy:

Miss Mustard Seed

Southern Curated

On Sutton Place

Retirementally Challenged

This Cottage Life

Saw, Nail and Paint

Belle Bleu Interiors

 

Here are my links to Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook.  My email address is: kristine@redshuttercottage.com

I prefer the phrase “See you around” as opposed to “good bye”.

And as always, my very best wishes to you and your family for health, peace and happiness.

 

From our home to yours

Kristine

 

Filed Under: Christmas, Early Winter, Easter, Fall, Fireplace, Halloween Decorating, Harvest Living Room, Kitchen, Living Room, Spring, Summer, Vignettes

Previous Post: « Springtime Living Room

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Comments

  1. Cathy says

    October 23, 2020 at 5:32 pm

    Thanks for the great collection of posts to keep us going until you return! We’ll miss you, but wish you well in all the future brings your way. Here’s to strength in the challenges and joy in the changes! Say “hi” to Sailor and be safe!

    Reply
  2. Nancy Cooper says

    October 23, 2020 at 9:31 pm

    Hugs!

    Reply
  3. Janis @ retirementallychallenged.com says

    October 24, 2020 at 2:23 pm

    You’ve got a lot going on so stepping back is the smart thing to do. You’ll be missed, but I’m confident that you’ll be back in no time with many more terrific ideas for making a beautiful home.

    Reply

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A springtime living room filled with greenery, blue & white china and bright and pretty accessories. www.redshuttercottage.com

Springtime Living Room

For this springtime living room, I just wanted pretty.  Pretty, mixed in with some balance, harmony, and a little comfort.  An inviting mixture and combination of textures, colors, finishes, and patterns. I am calling this a springtime living room, but really and truly, there is nothing specific or themed about it.   This look could work…

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