Those of you familiar with Bealtaine Cottage online and the many hundreds who have visited will be interested to see the results of what a little paint can do in terms of brightening up a home.
Yes, I’ve been busy over recent days, stood on a step-ladder, paintbrush in one hand and paint tin in the other, alongside dusters to remove the heaps of cobwebs…eek!
There’s a certain old world loveliness to “Duck Egg Blue,” as the paint is referred to, more often than not!
The colour is reminiscent of the eighteenth century and the novels of Jane Austen…a favourite author of mine. 
There’s a simplicity about the soft pastel shades which bring out the best in an old cottage.
Decorating a cottage is fairly simple too, as the walls and general layout are quite forgiving…in other words, anything goes as long as it’s a good mix of styles and time periods, for a cottage is a harbourer of both!
The wooden chest of drawers in the corner is relatively new-style, but provides a practical function of storing clothes not in seasonal use…and what better position, than by the chimney wall, where dampness is never an issue!
It’s a fuss-free environment indeed! Decorating an old cottage works well when one projects personality and quirkiness into the general style…in my case it’s always a case of what frugality allows for, so an eclectic style is as much practical as it is creative.
A reflection of what the great William Morris once said…”Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”...that allows me free reign really!
Cosy. Practical. Colourful. That’s what works for me.
The colours will also be a good backdrop to Samhain and Yule decorations…as many of the pumpkins are seasoned indoors and the window ledges are needed for storage too.
And as for the paint…well, it does go a long way…
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Lovely! Can imagine sitting fireside, a cup of tea, and spinning away!
I’m in Belfast at present and am missing Bealtaine dreadfully!
Ha…..and here I am in my hometown , just 15 miles inland from Belfast , Maine!
lovely blend of colours
Hi I have just found your blog, I love it, I have subscribed to the other blog and look forward spending time reading all, I am in Queensland Australia also on 3 acres, but mine looks nothing like yours, we are on sandstone and have lots of gum trees, I am hoping to get some good ideas on how to improve the land here, My cottage or a Queenslander as we call them is 100 years old and I love it, also love your decorating right up my alley!
Welcome to Bealtaine Cottage, Lynne. We are at opposite ends of the seasonal spectrum, so it should be interesting comparing notes. Australia, of course, is the home of Permaculture, so I’m familiar with some of the climate differences.
Blessings X
Colette
Wow, you have been busy.
Such lovely colours. You have an inviting home. So cosy. Well done. I hope to one day get across the water to see Bealtaine for myself. It’s so inspiring as are you. Blessings x Lesley
Thanks so much Lesley and blessings to you…you will be welcomed too! XXX
I love the freshness of Duck Egg Blue and I see that you have been rearranging! It all looks lovely. x
Scaling back a little and clearing the decks…a little bit!
I do love some pastel colors 🙂 I used to decorate in dark colors and found cottage decorating style and fell in love. I also found in using lighter colors my moods are better in the winter. Which is why my living room is painted a nice sunny pale yellow!
I love Yellow and used it a lot in the kitchen. Colours are great for lifting moods and creating atmosphere.