Rose Cottage Ltd

While doing some Spring cleaning I found a stack of Architectural Digest and The English Home magazines from last year. I’d planned on going through them for design ideas and had procrastinated long enough. Tackling the job last night actually gave me some new energy regarding home and garden renovation and design. Both magazines are highly recommended reading (and viewing!)

Here are a few (more recent) books available that may prompt new ideas for your “cottage” for 2011.

This magnificent guide to cottage style salutes both traditional takes and fresh twists on this enduring look, and highlights those elements that truly make a room cottage style.

The sheer number of variations on this laid-back approach is simply amazing, ranging from a California bungalow furnished in flea market finds to a New York apartment that seems straight out of the English countryside.

Here’s a great book for situations where “beach” and “cottage” styles meet.

This treasure trove of decorating inspiration showcases coastal homes from the shores of New England down to Key West and the Caribbean. It explores the unique design of seaside homes along the rugged coastline of the Pacific Northwest down to the sunny beaches of Southern California, letting readers experience how the architectural vernacular of a region influences the design of its homes.

And one of my favorite design styles…the English cottage!

“Perfect English Cottage” explores 18 inspirational homes that celebrate the best of cottage style in the English countryside.

The book looks at the decorating and design solutions that make the cottages as attractive inside as out, as well as practical and comfortable to live in.

Each section ends with a “Get The Look” page with ideas for recreating the style in your own home.

These are all very inexpensive ways to help you get out of a decorating rut – something that happens to everyone from time to time. I found new paint color combo ideas I really wanted all along – just needed a visual boost to identify what they were. We can’t all be professional designers, be we sure can look like one!

BBC Programs offer great shows – and also some great design ideas. Look for favorites or find something new!

More on finding new garden design ideas soon…