sfgirlbybay » cottage

the shutterbugs: lönngren/widell.

victoria — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 12:00:48 +0000

i absolutely covet the interiors shot by stolkholm-based photographer amelia lönngren widell. cozy cottages that are eclectic without being cluttered or overly-fussy. even her more ornate styled shots like the one up top have me drooling — they’re just so european and cosmopolitan. i do love the scandinavian aesthetic! here’s a look at some inspiring interiors from lönngren/widell.

new to covet.

victoria — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 13:00:32 +0000

the new online issue of Covet Garden is taking you into the charming home of publisher Vicki and her daughters Lily and Piper, a perfect urban playground for adults and kids alike. Vicki and the girls take their design philosophy from William Morris, who said, “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” i love that, and i love this home tour. for more from covet garden, you can also drop by their blog.

happiness hideout.

victoria — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 13:00:21 +0000

how’s this for a sweet little secret hideout? i’d love to while away my days in this very Scandinavian-looking, whitewashed guest cottage from light locations. it may be intended for a photography location, but i’d like to lay around here, leisurely reading, napping, or painting! wouldn’t a place like this with all that natural light inspire you to get out the paints and brushes and go at it? i think so!

• all photos via light locations.

unexpected guests: wendy withers and gavin lester.

victoria — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 18:00:10 +0000

i think y’all are going to love this unexpected guest. i got an email from wendy withers, a blogger who has worked with some friends of mine in the advertising world as an art producer/photo editor for many years, but recently took a break to have babies (or, the smalls, as she affectionately calls them). wendy is kindly sharing the oh-so-charming, and very hidden cape cod home in los angeles she shares with her husband gavin lester, a creative director and artist, the smalls, and the furry smalls, their pair of pugs.

i just love these inspiring images of their home in the mar vista neighborhood, near venice, which was remodeled by architect hope alexander. and multi-talented gavin designed the ‘yours sincerely’ art in the bedroom as well as the ‘a really nice view’ neon – smashing, huh? let’s sneak past the garden gate and check it out…

What are a few of your favorite things to do in your neighborhood?
walk, eat, ride, shop, and look at the los angeles city skyline from our neighborhood hill, and then look at the ocean from our other neighborhood hill.

What are your go-to online shops?
1st dibs, topsy design and ebay (of course).

What’s your favorite flea market, or secondhand find?
jewelry. i heart my estate and vintage costume jewelry collection.

What five things can’t you live without?
my four smalls (furry and human kind), chocolate, converse all-stars, kitchen time and facials.

If you could go shopping with anyone in the world, who would it be?
elizabeth taylor circa richard burton!

What bores you to death?
hearing myself complain.

what would you attempt to do, if you knew you could not fail?
save the world or sing on broadway.

the lovely april palmer did the landscaping (which looks really beautiful when the blooms arrive for the warmer months).

•photos by claire cottrell and image locations.

best of: down by the seashore.

victoria — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 14:00:10 +0000

via idathue.

i think all the rain this weekend in san francisco has got me seeking sunshine. and, after spending some glorious days in the warm weather down in palm springs, i was ready for a little more, but this time in the guise of some time down by the seashore. who doesn’t relish some time away alone, tucked in cozily at a beach cottage? here’s an idea of what i’d like my beach cottage to look like – comfy, with a fresh, clean vintage-modern twist.

via //fine little day//.

via Trisha Brink Design.

via dottie angel.

via green wellies.

via catmil.

via ouno design.

via _cassia_.

via bliss.

via //fine little day//.

via sunshinesyrie.

via skona hem.

via james merrell.

via tovemichelle12.

via jodymeza.

via hidden in france.

wanted.

victoria — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 13:00:02 +0000

this week on wanted, i appear to be in the mood for a little romance! i’ve rustled up some feminine finds, and could see decorating a little guest cottage with some of these — a little fantasy world to escape to. to read, to nap, to just ‘be’ whomever you’d like to be!

1. how do i get my hot little hands on an illustration by luis dourado (via design for mankind)? so fantastic! 2. this message d’amour whimsical bedside lamp could offer up some sweet dreams. 3. love this very cozy vintage quilt from trampoline.

4. i know i’d feel warm and cozy tucked into anthropologie’s cirrus duvet and bedding. 5. and i think this elli popp petal pond + dotty wallpaper could look pretty smashing behind the bed. 6. perhaps some pretty silver roses flanking the bedside, from emily chalmers’ caravan.

7. i think i’ll create an air of privacy, with anthropologie’s swatch book curtains on the windows. 8. and i think painting the room in a subtle combination of this paint palette from martha stewart would be oh-so calm and dreamy. 9. and one last touch — urban outfitter’s midcenturies tables would look quite darling as nightstands.

ulrica wihlborg – part two!

victoria — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:00:25 +0000

we’re not always as lucky to have a visit with swedish style, but this week, i feel like i’m have a swedish decor fest! and we get to glimpse more work from los angeles-based photographer ulrica wihlborg, this time of a small house in a little coastal town in the south of Sweden (her native homeland) that she and her family have recently purchased. ulrica hasn’t yet started decorating it, but once she does, she’ll be sharing more photos with us.

in the meantime, a look at just the surroundings near her new home are enough to satisfy my wanderlust and get me dreaming about a trip to sweden. during one of her walks in ulrica’s new town this summer, she stumbled upon this beautiful cafe, right on the ocean called Villa Utsikten (pictured above) Translated, it means ‘Villa with a View’.

ulrica shared a common Swedish tradition of ‘fika’ with us, “basically what we’d do all day if we could. we take a little time out with friends or to ourselves and sit down with a cup of coffee and a little pastry, often a cinnamon roll called “kanelbulle” or some such. It’s a lovely tradition because it encourages you to take a breather during the day and just sit and be in the moment.”

So you can imagine there are a lot of ‘fika’ places around, and Villa Utsikten is just one of those places. “The lovely thing about this place is that really does the name justice. You sit on these old colorful chairs randomly placed everywhere on the cliffs, which is pretty charming, and look out at this stunning view of the ocean and the archipelago surrounding this coastal town of Karlshamn.”

“It was just such a lovely place to stumble upon. I sat down, bought myself a cup of coffee and just looked at the view and felt really happy and at peace with life. So the next day I brought my camera and took a few photos, which I was hoping you’d like.” Oh, i like! how about you? looks pretty peaceful and pristine, doesn’t it. i’m ready for a fika. thank you so much for sharing, ulrica!

a room with a view.

victoria — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 17:34:09 +0000

tucked away in the isle of wight, is this dreamy little cottage, complete with a veranda with view of the sea. ahhhh, can you imagine running away to hide out in this little place? after the hectic week i’ve had, i’m on my way there in my head as fast as my imagination can take me! discovered via light locations, this tiny summerhouse is secluded in a lush little setting beside a pond, with lilypads even! i’m off to dream — see you all tomorrow!

a month by the lake.

victoria — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 17:30:50 +0000

via sacredlotus.

sometimes i dream about a month by a lake. in a cabin, or some rustic old lodge. kind of like dirty dancing, but maybe with a little less dancing. just picnicking, and canoeing and hiking through the woods. drinking sweet tea on really warm evenings, and watching fireflies in the summer sky. i grew up in southern california, and have no firsthand knowledge of this whatsoever. it’s all in my head. but this is what i imagine it to be like. did you have a summer camp? what was it like?

via piewacket.

via doctors inn.

via digsdigs.

via joey harrison.

campfire folding chair via mouse trap vintage; vintage wicker picnic basket via hindsvik; butterfly specimen print via ethanollie; and ceramic deer planter via le petite flea.

via houzz.

via shawnp.

barkcloth via retrovation; cozy pillow via enhabiten; collecting pine cones via my whimsy; and Adirondack camper via old tin cans.

diy lanterns, via jasfitz.

via Jördis!

via sfgirlbybay.

hudson bay blanket via ebay; pocket knife via DJReigel; plaid thermos via junk yard finds; and striped camp stool via cnstark.

via gwen elliott.

via cubeme.

via sfgirlbybay.