Monday, July 26, 2004

After a walk in a nearby quaint neighborhood and pouring over the Cottage Living website, I was completly inspired. After trying Cottage Dreams builder, I realized that what I really needed was shutters and window boxes.

I fired up photoshop, dug up a picture of my house and went to work. After adding these elements, I think it really does look better! Check out the before and after! I printed out the sheet and left it on the counter for Aaron. I see a trip to Home Depot in the near future.

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19 comments:

  1. PixieJuly 26, 2004 at 11:32 PM

    That looks really good! I've been thinking my house needs window boxes too.

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  2. LTRJuly 27, 2004 at 12:12 AM

    You guys up north have the cutest houses! I like the shutters and flowerboxes - it gives it a nice polished look.

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  3. disneymikeJuly 27, 2004 at 12:12 AM

    Boy, the before picture looks almost plain now.

    I'm surprised how much difference a few changes can make. The house looks much more inviting and "cottage-like" after your computer refurbishment.

    BTW, nice Photoshop work, Jenny!

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  4. TinaJuly 27, 2004 at 2:26 AM

    It looks great!

    I've got to chime in and say that I would love to own an actual cottage house!

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  5. vintage lilacJuly 27, 2004 at 7:47 AM

    tres cute! We drove through our future neighborhood last night and got a lot of inspiration from what other people are doing. You're getting me much more excited about moving into my little cottage!

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  6. KateJuly 27, 2004 at 8:20 AM

    That's so funny, because my husband just took our shutters *off* via Photoshop (www.tikaro.com) and changed the paint. Your house does look cute with the addition, but I think I like ours better without. What did people do before Photoshop?

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  7. AnonymousJuly 27, 2004 at 8:59 AM

    The shutters & window boxes look great! I agree that you should add them. My husband and I have a 1920s bungalow, and next summer (when we have the money), we are changing our shutters. Right now we have the normal, slatted shutters, but you can also buy more decorative ones -- someone in our neighborhood has ones with a diamond shape cut out of the middle, and they look especially cottage-y and very fairy tale. It's totally what we're going to look for next year when shutter shopping. So you should do some research on all of your options! -- Steph

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  8. absquatulateJuly 27, 2004 at 9:14 AM

    As if you need a testimonial for the power of window boxes and shutters, but I thought this to be a particularly powerful one:

    http://www.jenville.com/hometour/exterior_frameset.html

    I was blown away by the transformation!

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  9. JessicaJuly 27, 2004 at 9:25 AM

    ohh la la...curb appeal!

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  10. justJENNJuly 27, 2004 at 12:54 PM

    Good lord you guyshave big houses out there. And I bet they're cheap too! We live by the beach in L.A. and houses that size are going for 1.5 million. I'm not kidding...

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  11. HellbombJuly 27, 2004 at 1:03 PM

    Your after looks adorable! One suggestion to make it more cottagey, would it be possible to add a lattice-type trellace on both sides of the porch and connect it to the overhead roof area? You could plant something climby and blossomy to finish the effect.

    Viva la cottages!

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  12. AnonymousJuly 27, 2004 at 1:06 PM

    It's curb appeal! nice! :)
    -mikage99

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  13. AnonymousJuly 27, 2004 at 3:59 PM

    The shutters look great but I would nix the window boxes because on hot summer days (maybe next year) they have to be watered constantly. May I suggest you pull out the old evergreens in front and plant a cottage garden -- hollyhocks, ivy, climbing vines, etc in a irregular shape along the front of your house.

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  14. PixieJuly 27, 2004 at 7:10 PM

    I was gonna suggest planting hydrangeas where the evergreens are! :)

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  15. LeslieJuly 27, 2004 at 7:46 PM

    What a great idea! Instant Gratification via Photoshop! Your house looks great! :)

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  16. shannonJuly 27, 2004 at 9:14 PM

    Every house can use windowboxes!

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  17. AnonymousJuly 28, 2004 at 1:04 PM

    why is blogger now asking for blogger sign in to post a comment? i don't like that.

    I think porches are very cottage-like. This is probably more work than you're thinking but taking out your front stoop and enlarging it into a front porch (at least even with your sun room) in wood painted white might make it seem more homey -ooops! - I mean cottagey.

    elizabeth
    http://runonsentences.typepad.com

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  18. RachelJuly 28, 2004 at 10:10 PM

    you should get the shutters with the squirrel shaped cut out on them.

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  19. mzJuly 31, 2004 at 3:27 PM

    nice...i think you might consider taking the awning down. it would really make your house look more open and inviting.

    i LOVE window boxes...nice touch!

    cheers,
    mzundercover

    my blog: http://in-stitches.blogspot.com
    my business: http://www.warmspirit.org/eboni

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