Look at these gorgeous pictures on the Country Living website:

French Style Cottage

I love the seashell border in the bathroom - although I don't know how you would dust it?

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Thanks for the link--I've been looking around trying to find a color scheme for my bedroom.

Regarding dusting those shells, they could either vacuum or maybe use that air stuff you used for cleaning keyboards...????

Love that Dining Room. Just my colors and style. Love the bath too. I want to try and make one of those shell mirrors (when I have spare time )

Thanks so much, Bee for that link! Love all the pics - lots of really great inspiration there.

CottageFlourishings, when you make your shell mirror I recommend you use not only a glue gun as was stated on that site but also 2-part epoxy. I've made and sold many of those and for the heavier shells I found it necessary to use both glues - the glue gun glue holds instantly but the epoxy is stronger. Still plan to make one more "pièce de résistance" for me as soon as I've collected some more shells.

Oh, I'm so with you Joy Luck! Here is a mirror I made and which is now hanging in DD's downstairs bath. Mussel shells are what I could get at nearby beach but I have collected loads since then (not native to our Maine shores) I had asked someone on-line who does wonderful shell work and she suggested Gorilla glue. Can't remember what I used here but probably either glue gun or maybe Elmers? Love that link to French decor. Shell border could probably be vacuumed or maybe dusted with a feather duster.

Thanks for the info Joyluck. I have a special glue I use for adhering china mosaics. I'll try that first on a tiny mirror and see how it holds. If not, I'll try your epoxy idea. I know glu gund don't have staying power for this kind of project....especially in this humid climate!

Emily, I love your mussel shell mirror!

Here are two of mine I have in my home, wasn't into taking pics when I was making them to sell. I have a better idea now of how I want my next, and last one, to look but need more shells yet. I will have DH cut a plywood back for it in a more interesting shape. The first ones I made on regular picture frames, later had DH cut frame shapes from plywood, usually glued sisal rope to the edge. I used glue gun and epoxy because they are clear. Did a "donut" of glue gun and a glob of epoxy in the center of it. Have to know exactly where the shell should go as you don't get a second chance. If there was ever glue showing I had some beach sand handy to "throw" at it to cover it before it set.

Are these photos just on their web site or are they in an issue. If they are in an issue I NEED one NOW!!! Loved every picture even the sea shells.

Wanda

Wanda -
The photos on the website are usually in the magazine. I subsribe, but don't remember seeing those pictures in the May issue. I could just be crazy though! Or maybe they're in the June issue?

I'll look through my magazine at home over the weekend and see for sure if this home is in this month's issue.

BTW - love everyone's shell mirrors. Wish we had good beaches in Oklahoma!

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Joy Luck your mirrors are great. I'm glad to see the silver one as I too was thinking of doing that but wondered if it was sacrilegious LOL

I wonder if it's from the new BHG special French Country Decorating that's due out at the end of May? I thought I recognized the name, Lee Kirch, because I've been re-reading my BHG FC 2007 special issue and she shows another cottage she owned and has since sold. I see a lot her furniture from the old issue.

Can't wait for the new issue!

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BHG S/S 2007

Gosh thanks for that link. I did not know they had all that there. I thought a photo of the cover and maybe a little hint about something.
tomorrow I am going to explore.
Thaanks again.

Beautiful! This is one of my favorite styles.

I wonder what it is about toile that makes us love it so. It doesn't matter what color we like it no matter what. One time I saw some toile pattern on line or some show with monkey in the toile print. I wouldn't mind finding something like that just for fun.

I subscribe to Country Living but haven't seen this article in an issue yet. Does anyone know if the French Country cottage will be in the June issue?

This post had me searching for the article for quite a while. You definitely won't find it in future issues, lol . After much web crawling, I found a reference to the homeowner name's here, but I wasn't sure if it was the same article, but....sure enough I found the cover of that issue of CL 9/05here.....and then I thought I'd check my stacks & stacks of magazines in my library. Talk about feeling foolish,lol, there it was in amongst the few issues I have of CL!

It looks like that Zinio website is a magazine download site, never heard of it. Couldn't find any back issues of CL 9/05 on either eBay or Amazon.com, so hopefully you've saved your back issues of CL or it's a great excuse to go yard/tag saleing

Wow, Rocky - I'm impressed with your dogged determination! That's also a cool website where you can download the old magazine issues.

Thanks for sharing!

I agree, you're quite a sleuth, Rocky. Although I'm disappointed, at least I know not to expect to see that adorable cottage in my next issue. Oh, why did I get rid of all my old issues!!!!