Last year we updated our Kitchen/Hearth Room/Dining Room by adding millwork + new paint. We replaced the sofa & chairs with custom pieces ordered from CR Laine. This year, I'm continuing to tweak with a new custom rush daybed/ottoman inspired by Annie's snug from This Oak House (below).
I am always analyzing photos of homes and trying to discern why I'm drawn to them. A common thread, I've discovered, is natural woven textures - a basket, rush seat, mixed woods in natural tones. Our Cape Cod style house is very cottage-y, so this mixed in layer of casual (primitive even?) woven seagrass, jute, rattan, willow and woods feels appropriate. And it was missing a bit in our home.
This season I'm systematically adding a touch of natural texture to each room. I'm starting with this Rush-Seat Ottoman in the Hearth Room, and have some other projects planned for the rest of the house that I'll share over the next week.
Rush-Seat Ottoman
I coudn't find any sources for a similar rush-seat ottoman, so I found a local woodshop and have asked them to make it for me. It should be ready in about a month. In the meantime, I've ordered a cushion to be made in our Oak Ticking Stripe. I have asked them about the possibility of creating a kit for me to sell (easy assembly) since this concept doesn't seem to exist anywhere except the custom world. Stay tuned!
I love a tone-on-tone approach, but this room needed a little dynamic. The linen shades we had made years ago are too "blah" with the new warmer paint. I'm replacing them with my favorite inexpensive (amazon) bamboo shades. I have used these at The School House (photos above) and in our old shop. They are fully customizable and available in many colors - I have used Color 12 in the past.
New Hydrangea Botanical Paintings
I'm working on new Hydrangea Botanicals with oil pastels that I've not done before. I'm hoping to replicate a preserved herbarium look - wish me luck.
On the sofa, I'm using our Silver Sage Linen Pillows + our Lauren Block Print. The colors are the perfect transition into fall and I think they'll look great with the brown stripe block print ottoman.
I had some AI fun creating some images with the new ottoman and shades. I found it so helpful to be able to put everything together.
