Tuesday, November 18, 2008

~ If I could, I would.... ~

If I could, I would... live here in this pretty cottage....
But it isn't for sale, ( or at least not that I know of, lol ) and it was once the beautiful shop of Niki Fretwell.
Just yesterday I received her beautiful new book in the mail...Living with Nostalgia...I know all of you have probably seen so many decorating books and books with Inspiring pictures, but I have never seen a book packed with so much beauty before! It truly is one of the most gorgeous books I've opened. My photos of just a smidgen of it, are not doing it proper justice! so if you'd like a better peek go here....Living with Nostalgia ... you can see a few more photos and also order it from there too. This is a rare Gem of a book and it has the most photographs I've ever seen in any book like it! Niki has a way with putting Vignettes together and photographing homes that is so natural and will make any cottage lover in awe.....!
.... and..... did I mention "ideas" too?! she has crafting ideas, and full explanations of how to get the perfect cottage look! and stories too... I could go on and on...excuse the flash mark, that's me, I'm aiming to better my photography skills, but as you can see, I'm not there yet :)
She features her home in it also and it's as sweet as Cottage can get! The other homes she features are purely stunning and exude this type of warmth I dream to achieve!
I am going to savor this book for sure. Last night I sat for hours , just absorbing every photo and word.
Thank you Niki for bringing us such Beauty...
You can visit Niki at Nostalgia at the Stone House ( her blog ) and also at her website , where she sells her "pretties"...... Thank you so much for all your comments, I read each and every one and try and respond to all of you. Isn't blogging so much fun?! I hope you all have a wonderful week!!

~ Hugs ~ Cynthia xo

52 comments:

Unknown said...

Hello Cynthia;wonderful,beatiful
Kiss
Derya-Turkey

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Oh, thank you for introducing me to this beautiful book and for the links. How enjoyable!

Niki Fretwell said...

Hi Cynthia,
What can I say???
Except 'Thank You' a million times. Your kind and generous blog post is truly lovely....I am so glad that you liked my book - I was a little nervous when I read that you were an interior designer! I haven't gone for the 'cool' minimal look that seems so trendy over here in the UK...I wanted to show real homes with soul. I am thrilled to bits that you like it.
Bless you for your kindness and for adding all of my links. (I shall add your link to my website's book review page - hope that's OK)
Warmest wishes,
Niki

Niki Fretwell said...

Haha! Meant to say - it seems so funny to click on your blog and see a photo of my house there!
We rarely get snow, so this was a photo I took several years ago...
(Can I say thank you again ;-))
Niki x

Janet said...

Cynthia,

Thank you for showing us this book; I had not heard of it before. If it is half as good as you say it will go immediately on my Christmas list.

Janet

Liz Harrell said...

Oh. My. Stars. I'm still stuck on that very first picture. That might be the MOST gorgeous place I've ever laid eyes on!

Niki Fretwell said...

Hi again Cynthia - to answer your question - yes, the photo at the top of your blog post IS my home! I opened my little shop on the side of it for a years trial, but at the time it took over my life, just when I was trying to bring up three teenager daughters! So we closed the shop and we use it now as our family kitchen/dining room! I miss my little shop and the customers, but not being tied to it!
The house is stone built from local stone, to fit in with the other properties in the village, but is actually one of the newer homes, being built in 1930. Some of my neighbours cottages date back to the 1600's!
Debbie's and Helen's cottages which feature in the book are older than mine - around the 1800's I think.

Warm wishes,
Niki

Anonymous said...

How inspiring! I luv all the red and want to add red so bad to my home but am so afraid I will put it together wrong! Any tips? I LUV the curtains in the pic, is that where you got the background for your blog! I luv it! I have neglected my blog so bad and need to get my butt in gear! Thanks for sharing this book and I am on the look out for it!

xoxo, Bekah...

Anonymous said...

Hi Cynthia! This looks like a book I would love! I must order it; thanks for the link!! I adore stone houses and dream of having one someday; since I'm doing my family room over with red accents I know I'll enjoy looking at this! Wish I had it right now with a cup of coffee!!lol Have a great rest of week! Sincerely, Jeannette

A Thrifty Mrs said...

Great post, I am looking forward to my husband buying me this book for my birthday!

Michele said...

Cynthia,
Thank you for sharing the book, I will have to add it to my Christmas list. Love your blog and have marked it as a favorite.

Rhondi said...

Hi Cynthia
Thanks for your sweet words. I't's people like you who make blogging fun and rewarding. What a beautiful book. I got lots of ideas just looking at the pictures you showed us.
I'm glad that I met you this year!
Hugs, Rhondi

cottage farm villa said...

Cynthia, Wonderful post! I LOVE that little cottage and I am right there with ya! SWEET! Thank you for sharing this lovely book with all of us in blogland...you have a generous heart. ~cheryl

Rhondi said...

Me again! I forgot to answer your question about the tea set. It's Dainty Blue by Shelley. You can sometimes find it on ebay, or antiques shops or Replacement China.

Suzann said...

Well, I will be adding this book to my wish list for sure. Oh someday when I'm done my house will feel like a home. But getting there...UGH.
Have a wonderful Wednesday.

Sue said...

Hi, I know exactly what you mean about the book....it's gorgeous. I sit in my shop reading and absorbing a few pages a day in between customers. It makes me sorry to have sold so much of my vintage pieces in the shop..!!

By the way ...love your blog.

Sue xx

Anonymous said...

Cyn, that book is absolutely stunning, love it so much!
Oh and to live in that dream cottage, I'm on my way over
to check her out. But before I go....Thank you so much
for your sweet comment, not only are you a lovely friend you
are also one smart cookie ; ) hehe....
XOXO, Jannet

Unknown said...

Oh Great! Now I need that book! Thanks!

I'm heading over to her blog now.

I can't help myself....

~Liz~

Glitter & Bliss said...

I want to live there too. I wish we could be neighbors. I think we would have a lot ot fun!!! I can't wait to see pics of your letter "C".

Tracy said...

Cynthia, thanks for sharing this beautiful book with us.
I think your cottage is gorgeous. Maybe you should do a book too. I think it would do great!
Tracy

ROSE VINE COTTAGE said...

Hi Cyn,
Now you have me excited, I never thought about a book! I will look into it, any suggestions? I am going to go order this one right now, I love it. Thanks for all of your sweet and encouraging words you always leave me, I soooo wish we lived closer to each other! Oh the fun we could have shopping and decorating!
Hugs~Kelly

Melissa said...

I love books like these. I can spend hours just looking at the pictures.

Thank you for sharing about this book.

Melissa

Michelle said...

Oh I MUST buy this book! Dang and I said I would be better about not spending money. Oh well, this will go in my "life's too short to worry about money" category. I think when I buy the book I will pour myself a cup of tea and cozy up with my cats and and savor the beautiful pictures. :)

Elyse said...

hi cynthia! what a wonderful book. thanks for sharing. i especially love the pics of the red/white polka dot ware. one of my favorite ways to begin a day is with a warm muffin, a cup of coffee, and a new decor magazine or book. enjoy! xo

Happy@Home said...

Thanks for telling us about that beautiful book. It looks right up my alley. I love nothing better than a book full of gorgeous home pictures.

Hugs,
Kim

Amy said...

This book looks amazing! Thank you for showing the lovely pics. Don't you just love romantic decorating? Amy

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Hi Cynthia,
That book looks just wonderful! I have been trying to be good about buying more decorating books, but I just might have to make an exception for this one! I am heading over to her blog and website now. Thanks!
Hugs,
Penny

Nancy Rosalina said...

Hi Cynthia, This looks like a great book. Thanks for sharing the info. Nancy

{oc cottage} said...

Thx for intorducing us to Nikki!!!

M ^..^

Unknown said...

Hi Cynthia!

Whata beautiful post! I too would love to live in that cottage. That book looks fabulous! Perfect to curl up with a cup of tea under a warm blanket! Thank you so much for telling us about it!

Hugs,
Amy

Anonymous said...

Oh boy your blog is going to have us all making a dash to the book store! They will probably have to do another run on the books as they will sell out for all of us frantically getting one of these in our hands so we can devour it ourselves!!!

Thanks for sharing!

blessings

mary

Angie said...

I love a good decorating book and this one looks like a must have!

Elzie said...

Oh, I hope this book will come here in Sweden too. Looks great.
Hope you have a nice day.
Love Elzie

Debra Howard said...

What a wonderful gorgeous blog. Almost as good as being there in person. Blessings Debra Howard

Michelle said...

Cynthia,

I know I already commented on this post but I wanted to let you know I had something for you at my place. Stop on by when you have the chance. :)

Michelle

Anonymous said...

I just love books like that. They are so fun to look at over and over again. I am definitely adding this one to my x-mas list. Thank you for sharing the beautiful photos with us, they are so pretty! Almost like I had the book in my hands.
Thank you so much for sharing.
Have a wonderful day.

Anonymous said...

Thanks! You're the best.....now I will go figure out how to make a blog list with pictures...lol.

Xoxo, Jannet

The Little Miss said...

if I could I would live in that little cottage too! how cozy

liggy girl said...

My friend Kimberly from http://home-is-where-the-heart-is.blogspot.com/ directed me to your blog. We talked for a long time about how cute it is and so sweet. We also picked out different things and said did you see this or that. I pointed out the brambly hedge plate:) I was just telling her about brambly hedge:) Keep up the touching work! :)

xoxo

Maryjane-The Beehive Cottage said...

Hello Cynthia!

This book is going on my Christmas List...humm, I don't think I can wait that long! LOL! Thank you for featuring such a wonderful lady Niki and her beautiful book! Oh how I love coming to your blog!

Hugs,
Maryjane

Anonymous said...

Hi Cynthia,
I love love love decorating books and I think I will be adding this one to my collection. I actually just ordered Kitty Bartholomew's book from a few years ago the other day on Amazon. I love her style and miss seeing her on television. Your home radiates warmth and should be in a book....I think you should write one of your own.

Hugs,
LeAnn:)

Stacey said...

Cynthia, your house looks like it could be in this book. Now I just might have to go searching for that one. Maybe on my Santa list!

a quiet life said...

its a treat to come here and see many pretty and different things then in my life. you are jam packed with pleasure~

The Painted Garden said...

Hi Cynthia,

Thank you for sharing the fabulous decorating book - I love red and use a lot of it in my painintgs and my home and was thrilled to see so many photos with red. I am going to order this for my ealy Christmas present. P.S. You cottage looks like it is right out of the pages of the book.
XO Erin

Miss Janice said...

Well, your photos certainly tempted me and if you don't mind, I'm going to visit with her now. Thank you so much for sharing your find with all of us... Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I will be moving and will be back at my computer in about a week.

Anonymous said...

That looks like a beautiful book, Cynthia! You did a great job taking the pictures. Thanks so much for the compliments on the storage baskets and my sap bench coffee table... Donna

Cindy said...

Looks like a great book! I will have to keep my eyes open for it! I love the red/white polka dots! Sweet! And so glad to have found your blog too! : D I love it.

c

Reneé DeLano said...

I love that stone cottage!!! OMG!! love it!! that book looks amazing I need to order it! I will check her blog too! Thanks for posting ; ) xo Renee

Deb said...

Niki's home is so charming & her book looks wonderful. Thanks for a peek inside.
Deb
posted-from-home

Brenda Pruitt said...

Oooh! I took a peek and I REALLY like that book! I may just have to have it too!
Brenda

Brenda Pruitt said...

Oh, and I turn off my flash. Never use it. It is much better to light up a room with lamps rather than use the flash. Learned this and never went back!
Brenda

Anonymous said...

Squeal! LOVE those red poka dot dishes! :>