This month, we venture into Kathleen's darling cottage home in Oregon, 11 miles south of Molella. Residing in her home for 3 years, Kathleen has actually lived on the property for 11 years. They stayed in a mobile home for 8 years until their new house was built. As Kathleen says "I did a lot of dreaming, as you can imagine. We wanted a new house to look old, and I think we accomplished it".

 

Ever since she bought the property, Kathleen has subscribed to many decorating magazines and has spent countless hours pouring over them. Her favorite decorating style is Cottage Style, "where you can mix anything and everything together" says Kathleen. Her home decor has a lived in look, taking old pieces, vintage items and architectural objects mixed with florals to create a time worn elegance.

 

Frequenting local flea markets, estate sales and garage sales with her family members who also enjoy junquing expeditions, Kathleen also enjoys the Monticello Antique Mall in Portland. She currently collects vintage fabrics, pottery, old floral oil paintings, frameless beveled frameless mirrors, architectural pieces, old hooked rugs, white wicker funeral baskets, white pitchers of all sizes, pink depression glass (many of hers are from her great grandmother), brown transferware, etc.

 

Kathleen loves the idea of taking something old and finding a new use for it, especially with old architectural pieces... Shutters flanked on either side of a window with a pediment or header on top. Taking old corbels and making a shelf out of them. Using balusters as candleholders, or making them into a lamp. Stacking two old benches to make a shelf to display items on. Using old hat boxes for display, but also for storage (the ones in her bathroom are perfect for keeping toilet paper in). In her Master bathroom, Kathleen inserted a sink into an old dresser. Very creative!

 

Kathleen sells on eBay, under user ID oldcottageroses. She also has a sale on her property every Summer, when she opens her home and gardens to be toured. -JG

 

(Photographs and article by Jennifer Grey, owner of The Old Painted Cottage)