Urban cottage

Perfect for the Saturday afternoon meander, Urban Cottage Antiques and collectables (1819 Granville Street), is a favourite Halifax haunt for thrifters. What sets this eclectic antique shop apart is that it takes consignment and has a unique pricing strategy.

Make sure you check the price tag...you’ll see the price it is today....and if the piece doesn't get snatched up, what the price will be the following week.

Since the price decreases each week, you have to decide if you want to buy it then, or take your chances and hope it’s still available later.

'Urban Cottage' is a little overwhelming when you initially pop in, but take a few deep breaths and you'll start to become acclimatized to what some would refer to as 'old junk' and others would call 'antique collectables.'

It's not really an antique shop - more of a second-hand / vintage furniture and collectibles store, jam-packed with a strange mish-mash of vintage, crazy kitsch and hard-to-find everythings.

From large furniture pieces to figurines to...uh...well, any item that an interior designer would use in very small doses to add something interesting into the decor or stage a house.

Basically, I see it as an interior design shop for people who don't want a single piece to be found anywhere else.

As you can imagine, stock changes quickly, so it’s worthy of more frequent repeat visits.

Enjoy!

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For more about rouge, visit www.littlered.ca or check out past blogs at www.justalittlerouge/blogspot.com

cottage must-haves

I know it’s probably a little late…you’ve probably already got your cottage all set up for the summer and you’re well in enjoying it.

But, I have friends that just sold their lovely little cottage…and bought another lovely little cottage just down the road from the old one. So, after three years of making the other one awesome, they are starting over again…this time on a better piece of land.

I read a couple of good little articles about cottage style recently (thanks again, styleathome.com), and I wanted to share some thoughts.

The cottage is a cottage, not your home, so it should be treated a bit differently. But that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t get the attention. Just the opposite, actually.

It’s the place you go to relax. It’s the place you entertain. It’s the place great family memories are made.

It’s the place you can have a more relaxed style, more whimsy, more fun. But that does indeed mean that lots of thought should be put into setting it up and organizing it just so.

My tips? It should be all about the basics. Then, build and evolve your cottage style as you go.



Here are a few cottage must-haves to start:

1.BBq – invest in a good one. It’s worth it.

2.Hammock – so important to have a quiet place to read, nap or just enjoy the scenery.

3.Adirondack chairs – comfy, sturdy and long lasting. Who doesn’t love them?

4.Fire pit – nothing better than gathering around the fire after the sun goes down to tell stories, play music and roast things (marshmallows, wieners, s’mores…and the list goes on!)

5.Cooler – drag it over to wherever the group has gathered…it means less trips in and out of the cottage and it give the feel of easy luxury when everything is so close at hand.

6.Storage – hide all the rainy day games in one neat and tidy spot. If it doubles as extra seating, a coffee table, end table, foot stool, then all the better!

7.Music – take the party to the beach, the dock, or playing inside, music is a must-have.

8.Beverage dispenser – mix up a large batch of lemonade, iced tea or even water to enjoy all day long. Make the self-serve part easy and it will ensure good hydration in the hot summer sun.

9.Dinnerware – try melamine. They are perfect for outdoor dining and they come in so many bright and bold graphics they give lots of pops of color to the table and scream summer living!

10.Beach towels – laying out on the deck or dock, taking a swim, or enjoying a quick cottage shower, you’ll need lots of these! If you’ve got kids, try color-coding them so everyone knows who’s towels are who’s. Hang some fresh ones in the room for guests, too!

Hope you enjoy the cottage…there’s at least a month left to go!




For more about rouge, visit www.littlered.ca or check out past blogs at www.justalittlerouge/blogspot.com

aaaaah...cottage time

Please excuse the late posting…rouge was out of town adding a bit of flare to a favorite cottage.

Actually, that’s a bit of a fib. Unless eating off the bbq, wine & jenga, testing the new swimming dock and napping in the hammock count as re-design!

I did actually help spruce up said cottage not so long ago, though. A coat of paint in the entire place to freshen it up – we used light and airy colors like soft pastels (light blues, light greens and light creams) – made the biggest difference. Goodbye old wood paneling, hello to “what looks like new” fresh and cosy bead board!

We pulled up all the old carpeting and painted the floors a dark chocolate brown. I can’t even describe the difference this made in getting rid the musty smell. We added dollar store rag rug in each room for added comfort and a pop of color.

But that was a lot of work. Here are a few simple tips that are great for making your cottage feel more welcoming.

In keeping with what a cottage is supposed to be (not too fancy, laid-back, relaxed, fun), the key is learning to use what’s around you. There are lots of things that can be used in different ways to add a little something extra to your space.

And it all works, because it’s using items or elements that are in the cottage’s natural environment.

Here are a couple of examples:

• Sadly, there were a number of trees that had to be cut down. Although all of this will be great for the wood stove, we used a number of the stumps to help define the path from the parking area down to the front door. What a difference!

• We used a couple as side tables…perfect for placing your drink, book, hat, sunscreen on while lounging on the sunny deck. These work as a footstool too!

• We also used one inside as a bedside table for a bed that was low to the ground.

• We transplanted a lovely hosta (that somehow survived the bulldozer) in an old red bucket we found under the cottage. This adds a pop of color by the front door.

• Every time I visit, I stop along the way to pick bunches of wild flowers to put in the cottage. I never show up empty-handed and it’s wonderful to enjoy them for the weekend! Use anything you can find, if you don’t have any vases…water pitchers work the best, but bowls, buckets, and jars work great too.

• We used an old wooden salad bowl that was left over from the old owners and filled it with pine cones. The kids love finding new ones to add to it each time they visit!

• Also found under the cottage and left behind by the previous owners was a vintage croquet set. We used it as an art piece…and it’s one of my favorite items in the cottage because it makes me think about the history of the place and makes me imagine a much simpler time. I love the wood, the rust and the stripes on the balls.

Keep it simple, keep it clean and you can’t go wrong. Choose items that have some meaning to you…or even just items you love. Bring in a few elements from the outside and use your creativity to use everyday items in a new way.

In no time, you’ll have a wonderful cottage that you’ll never want to leave!

Special thanks to the BBG’s for inviting me to play again and again.

xx rouge.


For more about rouge, visit www.littlered.ca or check out past blogs at www.justalittlerouge/blogspot.com