New Cottage Cupboard!

Posted by Mr Wong at 5:15 PM 0

Hello Everyone,

    I hope you enjoyed your weekend and are ready for a whole new month! I would like to be able to slow time down a bit as summer is going by too fast for me.

   A few weeks ago my husband built me a new corner cupboard in our little garden cottage mostly from scraps of wood that we already had.The top of the cupboard I had bought awhile ago and it adds a little decorative detail. We plan to add a door with chicken wire to it someday.Now, if you visit me often you know that I love china and often pick up pieces at yard sales or thrift shops so it is great to have another place to display them.

Cheap but pretty!

these are some of my favorites.

While you are here take a peek around the rest of the cottage.

Cottage at Christmas one year.

Last years Christmas Cottage.

Here you can see the corner before the cupboard was built.

I forgot to show you the pink version-if you are interested click here.

The outside of the garden cottage for those who have not seen it before.

Well,now you have seen not only my new cupboard but I have dragged you around the cottage again!

Today,I am joining Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday and also the house in the roses for show off your Cottage Monday.

Thank you for visiting me,

Carolyn

A Stroll Through Town

Posted by Mr Wong at 9:31 AM 0

Hello Everyone,

      I can't believe that July is over already and summer is half gone. We have had a lot of cooler damp days, so unless August,  and early September is  hot, it has been a short summer. However, as a gardener I won't complain because everything has done so well and the blooms have lasted longer too. I haven't had to water even the windowboxes and planters much this year. So, like they say behind every cloud there is a silver lining!

  Anyway, today I thought you might enjoy a stroll through town-Charlottetown that is which is our Capital city here on Prince Edward Island-it boasts a population of 33,000 Not big by most standards but that is part of the charm.

  Any of these photos are in walking distance of each other and make for a pleasant stroll. Every year we have thousands of visitors that come to the Charlottetown Harbor by cruiseship so this is some of the sights they could walk by and a lot more that I haven't shared yet.

You can sit for awhile and enjoy the sights and the sounds of the evening. when I was here there was a small band playing just below by the restaurants that are in the above photo.

We have lots of beautiful churches and many are open for tours.

Look up!

Great George Street

Beautiful Architecture.

You can tour the gardens at Fanningbank at any time-aren't they beautiful?

Fanningbank

You might enjoy watching the sailboats go by in the harbor.

Linda! -is that you walking down the street -not yet but soon. Have I mentioned that my blogging friend Linda(Beautiful Ideas blog) from NFLD is coming to visit our fair Isle this week and she is coming to visit me! I am really looking forward to it.

There are lots of beautiful homes to see!

Some summer shops down at the harbor for you o snoop around in.

A lovely park down by the harbor. There is a nice boardwalk around the waterfront that many Islanders enjoy as well as visitors.

The beautiful old stone church where my husband and I got married.

And now that the sun is starting to set at the end of the boardwalk our little stroll is coming to an end.

Thank you for coming along!

Carolyn

Posted by Mr Wong at 8:27 AM 0

I love the quote below ...

“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful”. William Morris

But why not combine the two, both Useful and Beautiful?

I needed a kitchen timer.

Rather than get a utilitarian, run of the mill timer, I found this rooster timer at Sur La Table, while in Naples, Florida last week.

It might not be beautiful, but it is adorable, that counts, right?

Welcome Home,

Penny

Sunday Showhouse, and you're invited!!

Posted by Mr Wong at 4:02 AM 0

Good morning, I feel like summers lazy, slower paced days are slipping away, and I am not liking that. The official event that tells me summers sweet days won't last forever is when I start to see back to school supplies.....ugh! With the time, like an hour glass slowly fading away...I am suddenly craving more than ever a seriously relaxing getaway. As we are in the home stretch of building our house, that is highly unlikely (best I can hope for is a few days at the beach) so I am taking a virtual fantasy trip today....all the homes today are incredibly grand, the first house being in the Bahamas has me longing for a lazy, "do as I please" weekend, going there would suit me just fine, then we move onto two equally grand homes in their own right, and again with spaces so over the top.....a weekend there would be heaven. Come take a look.....
CA'LIZA BAHAMAS, I have always loved this home. This magnificent Island colonial home is named after the owners daughter, Eliza. This is just the epitome of understated Island sophistication. Just a glorious home with a soothing and pale palette to promise the most welcoming and relaxed ambiance. The open shutter windows to allow the island breezes are in every room with a large loggia off of the back facing the ocean. Does it get any dreamier than this? I think not!

Love the exterior, very tall but not imposing, of course the shutters add so much

Now this is what I call a loggia!

I love the tranquility of this space, I can see this being a cozy spot to indulge in a great book

What a view, will have my afternoon cocktail here, thank you!

Soft and tonal, neutral dining room

Love the kitchen too....

How about this bedroom? So chic....

NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA Then we travel to the west coast and to gorgeous Newport Beach, perched high on the hill to take full advantage of the majestic water views, this rather opulent home is quite impressive. Though the interior furnishings do not reflect my personal style, and think they are overdone,  I am still wowed by this house and the exteriors and grounds/views are beyond incredible. With a few improvements and furniture changes here and there, this is and could be ones ultimate dream home. I would however want to live outside, I am just mesmerized by that setting.

You know with an entrance like this...something fabulos lies beyond!

Love an interior courtyard

Would want to do a redo here

Not a huge fan of red dining rooms, just my personal opinion

This is a cozy family room, I like the grays and soft tones

The kitchen looks really pretty and open, with big open doors and windows to the outside

A bathroom fit for a queen and as I typed this sure enough..there is a tiara over there!

Love the way this loggia is done.....overlooking the pool

Breathtaking don't you think?

Oh the meals we would enjoy here.......this is where I would spend all my time

Quite spectacular.....perched way high up on the hill it takes full advanatage of the water views

Gorgeous!

Something about a house at dusk with all the lights on...its magical!

This is too much! I would go cross eyed, not sure if I should stare at the water view or the TV! (But I suppose I could get used to it, haha)

Oh and did I mention there is a dock and landing for your yacht? You do have one, don't you?

LAKE FOREST, ILLINOIS. This older elegant estate home is an understated manor that has been lovingly restored and maintained. What I love here, is whether or not its your taste,that they stayed true to the integrity of the home when they undertook the renovation and followed through with equally appropriate decor. I think it happens to be quite beautiful and certainly very grand. The formal gardens are dreamy and overall this is a very special and stately home. Step inside!

Beautiful elegant and stately living room (love the wall color, a sand color)

Love this fabulous wide gallery/hallway off the main foyer

Updated fresh English style kitchen perfect for big get togethers!

Formal, wood paneled library for your reading pleasure

Don't you love this hallway? I do!

Increidble formal Parterre gardens are a perfect setting for afternoon coffee

A beautiful pond filled with looks like Carp fish grace the beautiful gardens

Three incredible homes...any of which I would be thrilled to live in. I do love the first one for its light, airy but so sophisticated Island feel...then that second ones views and grounds are just out of this world not to mention that the entrance isn't too shabby either, and last the understated elegance of the last one cannot be discounted, it is quietly fabulous. Do you have a favorite? Love to know! Have a great Sunday!