Cottage Charm for a Welcoming Guest Bedroom

"Safe Haven", "Bed and Breakfast", and "Retreat" are just some of the sweet words that guests have used over the years to describe their overnight stay at our house.  

My best friend, Terri (my BFF since our Junior High days), can't understand what keeps me from opening an all-out cottage-style Bed and Breakfast.  

That may be an option in the future, but for now I'm satisfied with simply hosting visitors whenever given the opportunity to share some Southern charm and hospitality.  

If time and resources allow, I love having fresh flowers to greet them in their room.  Here are snippets of recent scenes from our upstairs bedroom...Enjoy!   

Peonies symbolize honor and compassion; Making them a perfect choice for adding cottage charm to a guess bedroom.

Soft pink hand embroidered monograms from days gone by add
timeless romance to this vignette.

Vintage Satin Storage Bag
with a beautifully embroidered rose bouquet.

How do you add cottage charm to your guess rooms?

Blessings!

Shabby Chic Cottage Style for the Bedroom

What could be prettier than brightly colored floral bouquets to greet you every morning?
Answer: Nothing...That's why I brought this bedding ensemble home with me.

Flowers that never fade.

Dreamed up by one of the most artistic and talented designers ever,
 Rachel Ashwell.
The Simply Shabby Chic line found at your local Target store
 is now offering this refreshing
Sunbleached Floral Pattern in the bedding section.

The crisp white background is the perfectly suited canvas for
the bright cheery bouquets that just pop out and grab your heart!  

Hubby even thought it was perfect...Fresh flowers that never wilt.

Here, I have added a lovely vintage linen sheet to the mix adding a homespun quality to the room.

And finally for the cherry on top, Antique European shams with monograms to complete the Shabby Chic Cottage style for a romantic country cottage bedroom.

 Share your thoughts below...

DIY Lavender Potpourri

While simply adding fragrant cuttings to your wreaths will give them a soft scent, another way to embellish your wreath with for a stronger fragrance is by attaching tiny sachets of potpourri.

And making your own potpourris can be a lot of fun!

If you've never made potpourri, you may think it would be too complicated to mess with.  Well, I'll let you in on a little secret...It's as simple as can be!

Today, I am sharing a modern Lavender Potpourri recipe (no orris root needed!) that you can make in no time at all, and you probably have one of the ingredients hidden in your pantry.

          Lavender Potpourri ~

          This is an Oh-So-Simple recipe...
          perfect for filling little sachets.               

          1/2 pound Dried Lavender Flowers

                   
          Dried Orange Peel from 1 Orange ~
          "Ooh, I haven't had a juicy orange, lately!"

          1/8 ounce of Oil of Lavender

          Grind together 3 TBSP of Lavender Flower
          with the Dried Orange Peel & place in a bowl.
     
         Add Oil of Lavender to the bowl and combine.*

                         
 Now, mix in the rest of your Lavender Flowers.   Make a sweet little fabric sachet to be filled with this lovely mixture.

That's it...Simple, so simple.

These fragrant sachets can be tied to your wreath, put by your bedside, maybe...tucked in a pocket pillow for any room you choose or shared as a sweet not-so-traditional "Thank You" gift!

*Be careful not to get full strength essential oil on your skin.  

Fresh White Bridal Wreath

Cottage Garden Snippets ~

So many pretty spring blooms...Today I slowed down to enjoy the beauty of this Bridal Wreath bush.
I wish all these amazing bouquets could stay with us year round.

I love the charming white clusters hanging from each swagging branch.
So romantic...Each swag could instantly be gathered and formed into a brides wreath.
Oh, how appropriately this beauty was named!

   "Perhaps, all we really need is right in front of us...".

Romantic Country Cottage Inspiration

"If I were allowed only one decorating element for my home, 

it would be a charming wreath to adorn my cottage..."

Pam ~

Because home is where you hang your wreath.

Found:  Simple Wreath Ideas, Vintage Finds,
Painted Furniture, Lace and Linens
and Gathered Flowers;
A potpourri of elements for inspiring a romantic country cottage style.

 Style:  Romantic Country Cottage 

At The Cottage Wreath, not only will you enjoy cottage styled inspiration,
but articles laced with snippets of whimsy, unbelievable shopping stories and
 shabby photos all to be shared from a homemakers heart.

So, grab a hammer and a nail and find a spot for...

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