Inspiration | Southampton Cottage

Last week when I was at the library with Charlie, I picked up a stack of old House Beautiful magazines and stumbled on this charming Southampton cottage featured in the April 2014 issue (designed by Justine Cushing).  I have always loved Colefax and Fowler's Bowood chintz (it was a contender when we re-did our bedroom a few years ago).   The entire cottage is covered in this fabric along with what look like gray painted walls (actually source says they are Ben Moore Linen White),  layers of white linen on windows and pretty touches of blue and white throughout.  Throw in a beautiful collection of antiques, a little rattan here and there and you've got yourself a perfect little getaway.

It was great timing to find this gem since I'm in the midst of creating a decorating plan for Jimmy's office.  It has been on my house project to-do list for several years.  I think I've held back on finishing it because it needs new carpet and the thought of clearing out the 3 closets in there and temporarily relocating the furniture is just too tempting to put off and that's exactly what I've done.  The other issue is committing to textiles.  I have about 3, maybe 4, different scenarios for this space.  To wallpaper or not? Patterned fabric covered lampshades (a current obsession of mine.  more on that soon) or not?  Slipcovers for chairs? Roman shade fabric or bamboo?  Since it is the last room in our home for me to "finish" I can't help but consider so many options (Sister Parish top to bottom, Lee Jofa Althea paired with classic ticking, or now I'm reconsidering Bowood). Beautiful textiles are my weakness and often (almost always) my starting point when decorating for clients.  Since this will be it for me for some time when it comes to designing a fabric scheme from scratch for a room of my own, I'm savoring it.    Jimmy's office is connected to our master bedroom (which is all green, white and blue) but I work in it often as well.   I know it isn't very manly for an office to have florals, but it connects with our bedroom and it's a place I use in equal measure, so I think a little floral is ok.