Designer Meg Prendergast makes rooms come to life by adding color, texture and just the right accessories. This guest cottage is currently an afterthought because any unused furniture or decoration has made its way out here. There is no color or comfort in sight so Caroline Wischmann uses Meg Prendergast's designs as a guide to give the space a homey, seaside feel (even though it's nowhere near the ocean!):- The cottage needs to be more inviting with durable fabrics. The warm colors of the wood cabinets and terra cotta floor are a good foundation and the cheery yellow on the walls is definitely a Meg Prendergast color so they remain the same.
- To begin, the bland rug on the wall is replaced with a mural of women by the shore.
- The existing leather couch with a Western throw blanket doesn't fit a Nantucket cottage theme so it's removed along with the rest of the furniture. The foundation piece is a lovely floral rug with beautiful blues, golds and roses that set the tone for the room.
- A comfortable couch covered in ocean blue denim is contrasted with pillows in a muted floral pattern. Accent chairs upholstered in a yellow and white check that plays off the walls are placed next to the fireplace. Prendergast usually adds smaller chairs like these to contrast larger upholstered pieces.
- Pine tables with simple lines add to the inviting feel of the room, as does a boat-shaped coffee table similar to one Prendergast used on Nantucket.
- Wischmann wants lots of light to come into the cottage so just a decorative swag is placed on the window instead of full drapes. The fireplace is then made into a focal point of the room by putting a finished flower arrangement inside.
- Finally, to give the landlocked space more of a seaside feel, nautical accent pieces are brought in including artwork, a barometer and a ship model.
dinghy coffee table (American Traders)
blue denim Bennett sofa (21-7883-6), blue peony pillows, yellow plaid Mercedes chair (20-7305-1), Spring Meadow rug (04-1940H), white Country sofa table (17-9410), Farmhouse Pine sofa table (23-8210), Country candle stand, white lamp (09-7138), wooden ship, bed tray (45-6004), bucket of lilacs, candle sticks (435900B), Country end table (17-8423), grandmother clock (41-4507), pots of primrose (444620) (Ethan Allen)
8x10 floral area rug (Norman Carpet One)
nautical oil painting and prints (Frame Station Gallery)
pressure rods, plate stands, napkins (Linens 'n Things)
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