Mary's Cottage Refuge

After two weeks of training for my job at Pottery Barn I was totally exhausted. Thankfully, my friend Mary, who I have been friends with since before my first daughter was born, invited me for coffee Saturday morning. Mary's house is a haven for the weary, for sure. When I first met Mary thirty four years ago, I thought she was elegant, refined and the most talented homemaker, with an eye for beauty. That hasn't changed, she is all that and more. Mary never seems to age. She is an old soul with a young spirit. Mary and I understand each other, like old friends do. We have more than a friendship, we have a spiritual connection. When we haven't spoken for a long time, it is never awkward when we do. In fact, we are often thinking of each other at the very same time. When I have Mary on my mind and call her she usually says, "I was just thinking about you" , and the same goes for me. I've known Mary for such a long time that I can just be myself when we are together and Saturday was no exception. When I was with Mary Saturday I asked (well, maybe I told her, if truth be known) that I brought my camera and I wanted to get pictures of her home, which I have come to associate with comfort.

Below is a picture of Mary's front window and the entry into her comfort haven.


The picture below is what you see on your left when you enter her door.

I wish I had taken a full view of her living room, but I was focusing on the details. Instead of having the normal living room filled with sofas and overstuffed chairs, Mary decided to have an antique round table with wicker chairs and a settee with beautiful decorative pillows.

I didn't get a good picture of her dining room, which Mary made into a reading nook with two very comfortable overstuffed chairs and this lovely secretary which sits opposite of her reading nook. She hung a drapery rod over the doorway to her kitchen and hung and swagged the drapery panel you see to the right of the secretary above.

In Mary's bedroom she painted three of the walls the most fabulous shade of green and one wall the most stunning shade of orchid.

The real beauty of Mary's home is in the details, take for instance, this delightful pillow with the flower basket embroidered with ribbon, that sits a top her bed.

The little bedside table below is meaningful to me, because I gave Mary this lamp, that once belonged to my mother, who passed away in May, two years ago. It is so befitting of Mary's style. I know my mother would be so pleased that is now belongs to my dear friend.

Mary's bedroom is very large and accommodates a very grand armoire with room to spare.

I'm just sorry that some of my pictures are blurred, but you get the idea.

Below you can see Mary's highboy with that beautiful green on the walls as the backdrop.

I just love Mary's window treatment. There are little lavender crystal on the swag over the window that give the room an ethereal feel.

Mary's house is a ranch style house, probably built in the forties, but Mary has turned it into an English cottage. She was lucky enough to have the room to add a master bath, which you see below. I love the beadboard and the black and white tile, roomy enough to have a stool to sit on when you get out of the shower.

I love the etched mirrors and the little flower vase, in between, that hangs over the vanity.

The photo below is the family room which is directly behind the kitchen. It is a warm and inviting room, which adds a feeling of spaciousness to Mary's home.

In the picture above, notice the dining table in the right hand corner of the photo. I didn't get a good full on photo, but this room also hosts their dining area.

This darling little corner hutch is in the dining area and sits beside a pass through into the kitchen.

This beautiful antique piece sits beside the sliding glass door, in Mary's family room, that leads into Mary's garden. The swing below is what you see when you look out the sliding glass door from the family room.

Here's a view into Mary's kitchen which is painted a Martha Stewart vintage green.

Off the family room is the most luxurious guest bath. The photos really don't do it justice, because this rooms simply glows!

I love this kitchen. Mary has a lovely work space with a vintage feel. It's unfortunate that my photos don't do this room justice.

I love the pulls on the drawers and the green crystal knobs.

This cabinet hangs above the desk over the pass through, in the kitchen. This is the perfect place to display Mary's collection of depression glass and lovely china.

I hope you've enjoyed this tour of my dear friends home and refuge.

I also give a special thanks to my dear friends Nancy and Dee Anne for making my weekend such a pleasure!