The Garden Cottage Reveal!

Thank you dear friends for sticking by me during this eternal project.  I so appreciate your encouraging words, but I have to admit it feels funny to be done with a project that has consumed me for three months.

Above is the front view of our garden cottage.  To the left is the side view.  It shows how six different windows come together to fill this part of the side wall, there are another four windows behind the rose bush. 

The planter shelves on either side of the door were a last minute brainchild.  I bought the corbels at a time when I was thinking the garden structure would be a gazebo.  I love them and have used some to support shelves in my house.  You may have noted two of them at roof level in the first photo.  I decided at the last minute that window boxes would be charming, but then thought that shelves could support planters, and I could use more of my corbels, so here they are!

 This is the view on the opposite wall when you first walk in the cottage.

To the right is the same view with the back windows open (for ventilation) and with the loft ladder in its down position.

Here we are looking up into the loft from the floor.

And this is the loft from the top of the ladder.

 Add a comfy wicker chair to curl up and read a good book!

And a little table and chairs to enjoy your breakfast, with a good friend, or a good book!

 

The chandelier is awaiting shades ....

In the picture to the left you can see the loft ladder in its up position on the left upper corner.

Each of the window side walls have one window that is hinged and drops to the outside to allow for a cooling breeze.  The picture above shows the window in its open position.

In staying with my literary theme for the cottage (and garden) I brought in a volume of Jane Austen's books and one of her biographies as well.

This antique yard long picture shows cameo shots of several famous American authors ... I mean, I love so many British authors, that it only fair that the Americans get equal time, right?

I even have this statue of a fairy engrossed in a good book, to add charm and set the mood.

 

 It will be a multiple use space for sleepovers, garden parties, snuggling with a good book on a rainy afternoon, evenings chatting with friends, and even the growing of seedlings in the early spring with the help of an electric fireplace that will be placed on a thermostat to keep temps above freezing ... I can almost taste those home grown tomatoes right now.

 

Thanks again for sharing the creation of my cottage.