Fresh Vintage Home: Faith & Joy Cottage

Although not an "official" name for my

dear friends beautiful
HOME,

(located on Whidbey Island)

This cozy cottage is
a loving reflection of both
Faith and Joy.

A few years ago,
after a season of heart breaking life events,

my dear friends started looking

for a new place to call home.

Knowing a house is just a building
and not capable of filling

the loss they felt in their hearts,

they prayed for God to lead them to

a HOME.

Somewhere to grow, live, love and heal as a family.

Shannon and I looked at many homes

together while her husband was at work.

Some houses were REALLY bad..
and we found ourselves

humming 'The Brady Bunch' theme song...

surrounded by total flashbacks of groovy decor.

We laughed hysterically and often
during the process... So much so...

that her real estate agent started asking if I could come along

for the entertainment.

(Really! He DID!)

ANYHOW...

One day she invited me along to look at this house.

It took our breath away the moment we pulled into the long grassy/dirt

driveway.

Rear of house. Wood under tarp.

As we walked through the house

we squeezed hands and jumped up and down

like 4th grade girls at recess.

"Would God really give us THIS house"
she asked.

"YES!!!"

of course He would,
I answered.

This was the dining room, but we switched the dining and living room
over the weekend. Pictures don't do justice
to the warmth in the room!

Dining Room with fireplace and HUGE mantel.

The ceilings are at least 10 feet high!

This is a family home!

An old house that had been fully and lovingly restored

by another family that

had to move due to a job change.

Looking down the center hallway from the living/dining area.
The office is on the right and kitchen to the left.
There is an adorable half bath on the left,
and the most charming phone station in the hallway!

Office sitting area behind french doors. Tin ceiling, lovely bay window,
and space for 2 desks (not shown)!

Phone nook. See the phonebook storage under the phone?
The woodwork, and details all over make
my heart pitter patter!

This was hard to capture. But the original beaded board is
washed in a blue paint. The old door is fashionably
chippy with a glass doorknob!

The Kitchen is where we nearly
passed out with excitement.
See, my precious friend is an AMAZING baker.
She makes THE most moist, rich
chocolate cake from scratch. AND her
filled cupcakes are Joyful
(heart)

Sorry about the glare! Do you see the old windows built into
the wall between the kitchen and breakfast nook?
This room is filled with sunshine all day long.
The door to the left goes into the dining room near the fireplace.

That amazing island is a table we found while out hitting garage
sales one day. It totally belongs in here! She has a little
stool under it that is perfect for her daughter or son
to help in the kitchen.
I forgot to get a picture of the breakfast area.
Just to the left of the black table is a breakfast "station"
It has a coffee pot, beverages, instant hot faucet and sink.
All decked out with antique kitchen cabinets. LOVE!
I cant believe I forgot...its my favorite!

looking outside from the tv/family room

One of TWO staircases to the upstairs. Don't you love the
rope railing and the picture wall?

Lets head around the staircase into the Master Bedroom!

I am in love with the color in here!

The vanity is made from a antique sewing table!
She painted it the same as the bedroom walls...
But the real star is the TUB.

SEE for yourself!!!!!

This thing is like 8 ft long! One time I stayed at their house while
they were gone and I had the luxury of using
this baby.
I felt some jealousy while soaking here...
gotta admit it!!!

Let's head up those stairs, shall we?

The entire upstairs is dedicated to the kids!
Craft "bar" with stools looking over the fields and deer.
(and a cozy guest room with my name on it)
ok, not literally, dang it

They are budding artists!

...and mommy's to sweet baby dolls....
(I totally missed her room! It is very sweet with spots of
purple. She is a ballerina, artist, and aspiring princess.

...and race car drivers...he was racing hotwheels...
but I missed the body??
Sorry buddy! This little guy has football on the
brain! His daddy is a coach and teacher. They were throwing
passes down the loooong hallway while I was there.

More Art! The art is clipped on a wire that is strung on the wall.
The windows are actually old windows that "look out" into the stairwell.
this allows daylight in during the day, and
the lighted fixtures to glow in at night. Smart, huh?!!

Extra bed in the hallway wall!
This is where I got the idea for the one in my house.
So stinking cute, and great use of space!

This room is soooo cute, but my skills to capture it stink!
Her son has a bed in his wall too, and a window seat
that looks over the fields behind the house.

Well, lets head back downstairs...
the OTHER staircase.
It takes us back to the front of the house
by the kitchen/dining room.