Welcome to Cindy's charming cottage home.

 

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Welcome to Cindy's cottage style home, in West Hills, CA. Cindy and her husband Doug, along with their four children and the family cat have resided in their home for 18 years, during which time they have done extensive remodeling on their home over the years.

Cindy's love for the color pink began when she was pregnant with her 5 year old. Everyone, including Cindy, was convinced she was having a girl, so she shopped exclusively for pink and white items. Even when she gave birth to her last son, her love for pink and white continued. Cindy realized she couldn't decorate her son's nursery in Shabby Chic style, however the rest of her house was fair game!

Cindy refers to her decorating style as shabby, cottage chic. She prefers vintage pieces that are chippy and worn over newer pieces. She like florals, stripes and polka dots, but also likes simple, plain and comfortable. She adores roses and fleur de lis, not to mention vintage rhinestones on just about anything.

Cindy enjoys perusing decorating books and magazines, however she finds that stores such as Shabby Chic in Malibu and Posies in Camarillo provide great inspiration and motivation. Cindy enjoys repurposing vintage pieces by painting them a shabby pink or white. Old wood windows become photo frames or message boards, record holders become mail sorters and pipe stands become desk organizers. She also likes to use bed linens as fabric for her tote bags, as well as cushion/pillow slip covers.

During the colder months, Cindy's favorite room in her house is her front living room. It offers a cozy fireplace and is the most completely decorated Shabby Chic style room in the house. She enjoys decorating the mantel with lit candles and relaxing in front of the fireplace with a cup of coffee and decorating magazines. However, in the summer, you're more likely to find Cindy on the small upper deck outside her master bedroom. There she enjoys gardening and listening to her tranquil water fountain.

Currently, Cindy enjoys collecting vintage glass percolator tops. However, she's always on the lookout for vintage rhinestone jewelry, table cloths, salt and pepper shakers, butter dishes, glass luncheon plates and matching cups. Cindy enjoys shopping at the Agoura Antique Shops, in Agoura, CA, where there are a trio of great antique stores all next door to one another, and Cindy's favorite is Very Vintage, where she has a booth. You can find Cindy at cutepinkstuff.com, as well as on eBay and Etsy too! -JG

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