Hearth Room – Karla's Cottage

How I Spent my Christmas Vacation

cottage, family, Hearth Room, holiday decor

By Karla Nathan / January 4, 2024

It’s that time again, I am set up for the First Friday weekend at Good Juju.

And I am ready for Valentine’s Day, with a booth full of hearts, roses, crowns, and cherubs.

Being in retail causes a twisty relationship with holidays.

In the midst of Christmas week, I was cutting out hearts.

You have to be a couple jumps ahead to sell holiday decor, so here I am, still chomping on candy canes and sipping cocoa while I create romantic crafts.

That’s okay. I love holidays and I very much enjoyed my Merry Valentine craft afternoons between Xmas movies with the grand fairies.

Not the whole week was as much fun as time with the grand fairies or with my craft supplies. We discovered a major, hidden water leak that had rotted out the whole back wall’s support system in the hearth room.

Luckily, my talented son was here to carpenter it all back to normal. In the meantime, we had three days of chaotic mess, door open (or off) in the cold, and expensive Home Depot runs while the guys worked their frozen little bottoms off to get things fixed.

The hens thought it was great fun to have an open door to wander in whenever they liked. And I zipped through taking down all of the Christmas decorations in record time to make space for the guys to work.

It was pretty bad. Did I mention the words, rotten, chaos, and expensive?
Yep, those sum it up.

But I also have to throw in “blessed”.

Because, while it was cold, it wasn’t horrible or icy, and the guys could work on the outside. And our boy was willing to extend his vacation to do the emergency repairs. Who knows how many months it would take to get this fixed if we waited on setting up a contractor?

But with Adam here- 3 days and DONE!

I was able to keep right on with my Valentine Christmastime crafting.

Inside the cabinets I just repainted

cottage, Hearth Room, Kitchen remodel

By Karla Nathan / May 17, 2023

While cleaning and repainting my kitchen cabinets, I did mini redoes on the displays inside.

Three of them have glass doors. The very top shelves were where I kept pretty things rarely used.
That stuff had been up there for…well, a bit.

It all needed a dusting even though it was behind glass. And I came across things I didn’t even remember owning. Those got pulled out and will go to my booth to sell. Because if they hadn’t been touched in a decade, why do I need them?

My pretties got a little bit of a shuffle, a wiping, then a thinning out.

Except for these. Oh, yes, they got a cleaning off, but that’s it, then they went right back on display with no changes.

This is a partial set from my mom’s dishes. When she died, the whole set went to my Sissy, who shared them with Bobbie Sue and I. We each got two place settings.

All of the cabinets still look plenty full, even with the pruning I did. And I have more inventory to haul into Good Juju. Although, rose pattern china doesn’t seem to be a big draw there. I try to balance my foofy pretties with some more rustic items for that venue.

I’m liking that sort of combo in my house too.

See what I mean? This is on my mantel. Since we added the hearth room with the dark floors and stone wall, I’m using a lot more natural type elements and darker colors. I’m still all about the Light and Bright with roses, but I like the cabiney-cottagey feel too.

Christmas decor blended into winter decorating

cottage, Goldendoodle Puppies, Hearth Room, redos

By Karla Nathan / January 8, 2021

It was time to take down my holiday decorations and trees. I didn’t do a lot (for me) this year, mostly trees, pinecones, and lots of lights.

The warm white lights had brought me a lot of joy this season. The first thing I did every single morning after letting the puppy out to potty was to flip all of the power strips on to get that cozy glow going. Molly wakes up way too early and everything is still pitch black and feels very wintery. She is desperate to go tinkle and doesn’t care if I am half awake, she is ready to go.

When she comes back in, I take a few moments to snuggle with her before making coffee and getting on with my day. Typically, I am not an early riser, but we enjoy our quiet mornings together with the lights sparkling in the darkened rooms.

January itself is too stark to go from a house full of festivity to none at all. So the lights above the windows are staying for a while.

Along with our hot tea and cocoa station. It got de-Christmassed, and we have rules about no cocoa parties unless they are near a Christmas tree.

But we have been known to still sip a cup of hot chocolate now and then…

The mercury glass stayed out too. It fit nicely with the holiday, but I think it will also be pretty for the rest of the winter. Anything that is reflective adds light to the dark months.

The Christmas trees had been decorated mostly in pinecones and twinkle lights in honor of a happy day that Ryan and I had together gathering pinecones last year.

After plucking them out of the branches and packing the trees away, I decided to keep the pinecones out for a while. I stuffed newspapers into the matt white pottery and a few mercury glass candle holders, then topped that with the pinecones. Some rosebuds, dried from an arrangement that came after Ryan’s death were put under glass for a hint of faded color.

Swans from Lesa Daily’s A Snowbird’s Song class are on top of the kid’s game and book cabinet. I like their silhouettes in the mirror.

The hutch previously had lots of mini, battery operated LEDs on its shelves. I took them down, but kind of miss them. I might bring a strand back out.

The mantle didn’t get much of a changearoo. I took out the pink shiny brites and left the garland stuffed with hydrangeas and pinecones.

For now, these changes feel right. I have some natural elements from outdoors and mostly neutral, low-color tones with a hint of sparkle throughout. Plus warm throws and lots of extra pillows, for us and the dogs. It always hurts to put the Christmas clutter away, but streamlined, serene surroundings aren’t bad either. I’m spending so much time indoors, it is nice to have the calm decor around me, along with the warmth of the lights that I left in place.

An all natural fall wreath from gathered pieces

cottage, flowers, Hearth Room

By Karla Nathan / October 20, 2020

Years ago, when my son was working at the Renfest, he planted a magic wand tree in my yard for future projects. It’s about as tall as I am now, and since he is no longer making wands, I decided to harvest a few of its curly branches.

Aren’t they cool?

Great curves and twirls!

My husband went for a walk in the woods and clipped the other vines for me, then helped as I wound them up together and twisted them into a wreath.

Usually, I cover my bluebird and rose topiary painting for Christmas time, since the picture is so springy. This year, I thought I’d get an early start and give it a fall treatment with burlap and a wreath.

The frame of the painting is half of a Victorian door, and is so heavy, it has been bolted to the wall. The only way I can change up the look is to insert a piece of covered foam core board over the glass. I like having the option to change things up for the season, and this has worked out pretty good for me.

The heavy mirror is also bolted down, so I hang items over it, for now a bird print.

This year might have sucked for many, many reasons, but 2020 has had a couple bright spots.

One is that it has been the year of hydrangeas that I always dreamed of! I’ve gathered and dried armloads. Some got tucked into the vines of the wreath along with feathers from a wild turkey, shot by my friend, Karen Hillman (she also treated me to some of the juicy, turkey breast and it was just the best).

With all the puppy activity around here, it was relaxing to have a quick redo to work on. The wreath itself was simple as can be, just twisting and tucking, no wire or glue.

I might take the dried blooms and feathers out for Christmas and add ornaments when the time comes. This wreath will be very versatile since nothing is permanently attached.

And now that I think about it, that magic wand tree is going to be good to have around too. Maybe I should craft some witchy wands for Halloween.

Valentines on the Mantle

cottage, Hearth Room, Valentine's Day

By Karla Nathan / February 10, 2019

After spending so much time on spiffing up the studio for A Lovebird's Song, I kind of called it in for the rest of the house.

I added vintage candy boxes to white flower pots that were already on the mantle and hung a bit of lace with some old Valentines clipped to it.

The lace had hearts on it, and the cards were the 3-D, folding kind.

Those are so pretty, simply hanging them up made it all look special.

I did a bit more for the guest bathroom, it got some rosy curtains that used to hang in the studio at one point, and some new towels.

Well, I guess that isn't a whole lot, is it? But it was a refreshing change to get me out of a mid-winter, post Christmas, decor slump. A small change can do big things for a room when you are cooped up inside on cold days.

Hanging some salvaged trim

cottage, Hearth Room

By Karla Nathan / September 18, 2017

A friend gave me this carved wooden trim. She got it from an old church, and had it for 20 years without using it. When she visited me and saw the new hearth room, she thought the trim would be perfect in there and I think she was right!

My son tore down the trim the builder had put up when the room was done, then he hung the primed carved pieces (they'd started out gold).

I should have repainted the pieces completely, but I thought they might get messed up while being hung. They didn't, so I could've saved saved some trouble by doing it ahead of time. Oh well. The areas where the previous wood strips was had to be repainted anyway. And the painter who worked for the contractor when we built the room did a slightly crappy job of painting the old corbel, so while I had a ladder I wanted to redo that too.

Plus, the smoke detector had bothered me. It was white, but looked gray against the pure white color of the walls. So I used the opportunity to dry brush it to match.

Looks better doesn't it? It felt good to have a ladder that reached the peak of the 15' ceiling, because that smoke detector had bugged me for a year.

And I LOVE my new trim.

Thanks Margie!!

And thanks, Adam, for hanging it.

Close ups of the gallery wall

cottage, family, Hearth Room, photography

By Karla Nathan / November 2, 2016

When the new room was finished, I decided I wanted some of my favorite family pictures hung in it. This one is from our big getaway to Siesta Key a couple of years ago. I printed it at 8×10, but wanted it to be more prominent to show off the darling, but so fleeting, proof of sisterly love.

So, I framed it in an oval, vintage frame and attached that to the center of an ornate clock frame that I had. I'd taken out the clock and painted over the brass frame, then painted the oval frame to match.

Recently, I read one of those posts that pop up here and there, you know, those lists of the Top Ten this or thats, often about decor or fashion? This one was about decorating trends that make your home look dated. And one of the things listed was having displays of family photos. Their point was that a bunch of pictures was grandmotherly.

Hmmm.

Well, as often as I get sucked into reading all of those lists, they aren't something I believe in our care much about. They are slightly addictive to me, just like the TV show, Naked and Afraid. I'd NEVER be a survivalist, but I am glued to that series and can't turn away when the bugs start crawling on the starving people who can't build a fire. I follow those lists just like I follow that show. They are hardly ever ideas that I use, but I sure am hooked on reading them.

I do like it when I see a photo from my own home pop up in one of the lists, though! (hopefully on a positive list)

Like here or here.

So, not caring if my gallery wall made my home look dated according to a very important top ten list on the internet, I went ahead with collaging and framing some of my loved ones.

This one is not flattering at all to a single member of the group, but I still think it is a great pic. A photo doesn't have to be perfect. This one is full of emotions and that beats perfect any day.

Ryan seems to think I have an over abundance of grand fairy shots. He could be right.

Here is how they all look, puzzle pieced together on the wall. The glass block window is the backsplash behind my kitchen stove on the other side of the wall. This used to be the cottage's exterior, and I liked that window, so we kept it with the remodel.

The fabric is the silk from the circus apparatus that hangs from the ceiling, and we need a pulley, so it can be fitted into the corner without it swagging as it is now.

All of those photos might be a little busy with so much going on right now, the top of the buffet is full of Halloween decor. Normally, it is more demur. At Christmas, it will be fantastically, over the top, so for that, I'll probably take the family pictures down and replace them with a stained glass window or some mirrors.

Until I get a pulley for the rope on the silks, this is how we hang them up after use. Who needs a ladder when you have circus kids? I wonder if she can reach the ceiling fan blades to give them a dusting while she is up there too?

An Autumn dinner party and some views of the new room

celebrations, cottage, Hearth Room, Kitchen remodel

By Karla Nathan / October 21, 2016

While I was setting the table for a dinner party my husband was throwing for co-worker friends, I thought I should get some pictures of our new space while the area was cleaned up. (You know how fleeting that window of time can be with a houseful of kiddos!).

This is from the new room, looking into the kitchen.

From the new front door in the hearth room looking through the space into the living room.

And from the kitchen into the living room.

From the kitchen into the new room, with a view of the mantel.

I can't wait to have a Christmas tree set up in there! I'll be counting down till the holidays just like the grand fairies do.

This one is taken from the stairs.

And here are the stairs. They are covered in rose pattern wallpaper, that I glazed over to blend in better. The bold, rose pattern stood out too much before. Now, it is subtle and muted.

The ceiling is 15', and my son put in the pine floors, with my husband's help. In front of the fireplace and both new doors, is a pebble mosaic that I did. Ryan hung all of the shelves and curtain rods.

It is nice that we all had hands on in creating something for the space, even though the big job of it was done by a contractor and his crew. It feels good to have a part in doing some hands on work ourselves.

I had planned on putting curtains on the doors, but Honey voted against that. She prefers being outdoors for most of the day, but likes to keep an eye on what we are up to. Recently, she learned how to open the door knob, so she comes in whenever she feels like it.

Now, if she'd just learn to SHUT the door behind her. You'd think she'd been raised in a barn.

This is from the living room looking into the kitchen. I still can't believe how wonderfully open it is, and also, how well the new floor matches the original 90 plus year old floors once all were sanded down and re-stained. I beat up the new floors with crow bars and hammers to help the aging process a bit.

This party was also in celebration of finishing the room. That very day, the last of the construction items were crossed off the list. What a good feeling.

You know what will be an even better feeling? The first day we light a fire in that new hearth and cozy up by the flames to read a good book. I'm a Spring/Summer person myself, but this redo could be the impetus to switch me into becoming an Autumn gal.

The final details are done

Hearth Room

By Karla Nathan / October 5, 2016

I am FINISHED!!!!!!!!!

The builder was done with our new space a while ago, but I still had landscaping, my sons and husband built a fence, and the mosaics on the floor needed to be completed. I'd gotten behind on my end, but just yesterday, all of the last items were checked off the list. I'd still had all of the supplies for the floor piled up and laid out on tables, plus a couple of boxes of odds and ends that needed to be returned were by the door, so even though the room was mostly done, it had been messy. All of that clutter was carried out to the garage.

The room is tidied up and feels homey.

This is what took so long. I purchased river rock floor tiles, and pulled all of the stones apart to rearrange into a floral motif mosaic.

Once laid out on the floor, I started gluing them down with mastic, but soon switched to silicone, it was easier to use.

By each door, I just used rocks in a random pattern. I wanted the fireplace to be the main event.

Honey kept me company while I worked.

The fairy is made of rocks I'd found in the river at the camp ground where my son's family was hosting their event. She'd pretty sentimental to me.

The flowers were quick and easy, but it took me two weeks and shopping in about 10 stores as well as searxhing online to find the right background stones for contrast with the river rock.

Those jelly beans aren't exactly what I was looking for, but the style was okay. I'd hoped for larger rocks to make the process of adding them one at a time go faster. Instead, I had about 2-1/2 days of adhering these little beans by hand as my back cramped up and I began to wonder what on earth I'd been thinking of to start a project like this. It was harder than I thought it would be, and I am not a mosaic artist.

Then, my son came to visit and brought me a bagful of labradorites, and some other crystals. That cheered me up and revved up my resolve to finish the monotonous bean job.

My good friend, and professional mosaic artist, Shanna, offered to help with the grouting. I hate grouting.but she made it look easy.

We chose charcoal for the grout color and it was exactly right to blend in with the itsy bitsy, back achingly applied, little beans.

The dark color sure made the gems stand out too.

The grout also caught in the imperfections of the stones and darkened them, but in a good way.

When I first came up with the idea of a mosaic in front of the fireplace, I wanted it to look like an antique rug, but have a rustic feel. Then, I thought it could use a bit of sparkle, and when my boy showed up with the glittering gems, I was thrilled. The look is even better than what I'd planned.

Now, I'm ready to kick back and enjoy the room, with some good friends who are coming to visit for a long weekend. All of the loose ends got tied up just in time.

Some things are meant to be

cottage, Hearth Room, junk

By Karla Nathan / September 24, 2016

I'd been hoping to add some old trim to the new room, to age it up a bit. There were quite a few options I'd seen, but I kinda knew what I had in mind and didn't want to rush a purchase just to have something on the wall, I was willing to wait for ideal, not just okay.

Beth was setting up a booth at Sandy's annual show in Lee's Summit, and I went to help her. I was standing in her spot and said, that I'd bet this show was a good place to look around for trim. As I said it, I saw these pieces directly across the aisle in a booth by some Good JuJu ladies. I ran right over and snagged them before the show even opened. (if you are ever invited to help a friend set up a space in an antique show, jump on the opportunity for some pre-show shopping! Better yet, volunteer your services so you know you won't miss out)

Normally, I'm not driving my husband's truck. The show was over an hour away, it wouldn't have been easy to run home to get the truck, but luckily I'd taken it that day to pick up some chicken feed. The trim is very light weight and was too long for me to shut the tail gate. It was lucky that I had that chicken feed back there to use as an anchor to keep the trim from blowing away on my way home.

This is probably the only time I'd ever gone to the feed store on my own, my husband always picks up the bags, so yes, this was a very lucky happenstance to have both the truck and the heavy bags of grain in the back of it so I could take these perfect strips of tin home with me.

See what I mean??!! Perfect for the spot. Rustic and old, but with a pretty design. Ryan and I used tin snips to cut them to fit and then hung them on screws. We didn't have a drill bit for metal, so we simply put screws in the wood wall and hung these onto them. Someday, I'll get the right drill bit and put them up better.

For now, I'm happy with them as they are, and I doubt if they will fall down.