I live in a small 1950 era home. Both interior and exterior had been repainted when I bought it. Am not cottage, a mix of now and rustic. Have always been addicted to rugs, pillows, slipcovers, fabrics, I can change on a whim. There was a PB interior by PO when buying the house. It meant nothing to me. As I slowly repainted, I found that the interior of this house was entirely robin egg blue, even the doors and window trim, eluded my vision. How long this had been on the walls is of interest. It was only one paint layer down. And what the furnishings were with this color peaks my interest. I too changed all hardware, due to getting rid of slab doors. Regret not keeping the original old brass even though it was not ornate, but different from anything found now. There is nothing like our media now to steer our thoughts and likes. I take nothing from them anymore and know clearly that it did a great job on me in past. But we do have a great deal more to select from and find creativity through so many others for our own wants and likes. Yes, an old HGTV watcher until it started going off into uselessness and staged programs. It did bring some humor. Now I've been watching Nate Burkus. At first was enjoying a difference, but tired early on with his ongoing repeat of natural rugs and framing fabrics of same patterns for rooms. The only thing I get out of it is showing peoples loved homes which are totally different from the norm of pushing a specific style. I fast forward on most of the show now. Admission that I am influenced here. I'd love a white kitchen, but haven't gotten up the nerve to paint perfectly good cabinets. What I have seen looks wonderful, clean and with so much light. What I am not influenced by is beige and grays. Went there on walls. I'm done with the beige era and going to white shades. Apologies to those who have, but it reads contractor color to me. Definitely has it's place and works well in rooms seen. On the other hand I have brick red kitchen walls with natural stone....most likely influenced. Still love decorating blogs, this site, trying new things. The artist/engineer in me needs all. I volunteered at Restore for 4 years and it was amazing how many perfectly beautiful, expensive full kitchens showed up. Plus natural stone counters. Always curious what was being changed. Plus bunches of brass everything which is now back. Is dated also described as trends? Or what we are comfortable with? Taking care of what what we have, something will always need a bit of updating. And this is where I do allow myself to look at current rather than dated.

Thanks, Casey--that makes sense, actually. I can't figure out how to post more than one photo per post, so here is another photo. This one is of the interior--it's the main redone attic room. There is also another, smaller room up there with original details including the floor, door and the original windows (the rest were replaced). It's possible that part of it could have been maid's quarters, although the house seems sorta small for that. Who knows. There is also a full bath up there. The seller of the house won an award a few years ago for saving the house from destruction. Apparently it was in really rough shape. He was unable to save a lot of the period details due to the extensive damage, but he saved as much as he could, including some of the original hardwood, the original mantels and a few other things. On the one hand, I'm sad that more original features are not there, but on the other hand, he did a very nice job with his choices and he did bring back most of the original high ceilings and take it back from apartments to a single family home. His real estate agent lived on the street during the time this was done, and she said it was in really rough shape. Apparently the preservation society thought this was one that was beyond saving--and look at it now!

I absolutely LOVE your house and the direction you're going with your décor! I went from wanting my house to look like a little Mexican hacienda to wanting it to remind me of my holidays in England, and I've dealt with the rug issue myself. While tempting to select something very floral (or even kitsch), I would caution you to keep in mind that true English cottage style is more of a collected abundance of everyday items -- even if it's pared down. In other words, the individual elements shouldn't scream "Look at me! I'm English Country!" Think along the lines of a slightly faded Persian rug that looks like it must have been in the family for years. Too, I've seen sisal and other plain/natural rugs used in English cottages and that's a great look, especially when you desire an open airiness. Think timeworn pattern-upon-pattern, bring in a collection of throw pillows (there are some wonderful Union Jack pillows on Etsy), favorite framed prints on the wall - you know the look, I'm sure! Have fun creating your new space. And please share photos when you get things all done. I'd love to see how your adorable home turns out!

Drawing room at Kensington Palace. Lol. Actually, yes. Could taking from this and the room that speaks to Janicemarie end up very right? Funnily enough, this one strikes me as a bit looser and more easy-going, cheery as you say, and every bit as comfortable. I definitely prefer more elegant end tables than what's being called cottage these days, and this room shows elegance can work in a relaxed environment. A big difference is the elegantly light scale of the antiques versus the chunkiness of today's version of "cottage-style." You'd have to work with the other furniture to adjust the various weights and masses to work, but designers of nice rooms just do that all the time (and you'd avoid having a room full of heavy-looking masses). I imagine merging very different scales, as well as lightening up the room visually, is part of the function the lighter-scale chairs the two princes are sitting in are filling. Also that see-through "Plexiglass" table in the bottom right corner and the Chinese garden stool. Now, if you wanted to cut the difference you could bring in pieces of that more antique, elegant scale that have been painted to cover decades of damage and are thus now considered more "cottagey" in style. Btw, the two rooms have something else in common. Note in the drawing room how the bookcase blends into the wall and the upholstered furniture into the carpet. The strong dark contrasts are minor notes--just enough placed just where needed to provide contrast without making it a theme. Saypoint's picture has a bit more contrast but mostly is doing the same thing.