Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Visiting The Asher's Summer Cottage

Once in while you enter someone's home and you feel like you have been there before. So warm and inviting, you immediately feel relaxed and comfortable and think "Yes, I am finally home!" Many summers ago I was fortunate enough to meet some new friends from Canada who summer with us. They invited my family to a party at their home to celebrate Canada Day. That's when I first came upon The Asher's Summer Cottage. So sweet and perfectly nestled into its setting it took my breath my away. Sadly, the party was outdoors (as I was secretly dying to get in) but my new friend and I shared a love of decor and she graciously left her guests to give me a tour. She has again graciously let me inside her home so that I might share it with you.



You arrive via a wonderful antique brick pathway. Today I will share with you the family room and the kitchen. Please bear with my novice efforts at photography. The house is far more beautiful than my amateur photos can capture.



The kitchen is a lovely room flooded with sunshine. Casement windows and wide oak floors add to the cottage charm. Notice the marble topped antique bakers table, the custom built in banquette and floral embroidered pillows.





Opposite the dining table used to be a wall which closed in the spaces. They opened up the wall an repaired the two sided fireplace using antique bricks, which they washed in white. I love the slipcovered chairs and teal antique pantry cupboard.



The kitchen has such lovely aged surfaces. Custom cabinets are glazed and finished to resemble aged driftwood or wood bleached by the sun. All counters are covered with antique carrara marble. Edges are chipped and worn and the marble has a lovely patina. The center island cupboards are painted and distressed black and topped with a huge marble slab. Because antique carrara marble of this size is nearly impossible to come by, they were able to find a piece that was tea stained and aged to match the perimeter antique counters.




Here are close ups of the cabinet glaze and the antiqued aged marble.





The kitchen from the opposite side. Beautiful French Doors lead out to an antique brick patio.


Notice the lower baking counter to the right of the stove. A perfect baking area for our children, who were making cookies to sell at the Village Fair Bake Sale. Isn't this what kitchens are for?



Spectacular casement windows open to lovely gardens beyond.




The family room is filled with slipcovered sofas , painted tables and antique pine. An accent wall in painted a pale, robin's egg blue. This adds to the tranquil feeling in this space. A wall of french doors opens to a screened porch. Handmade pillows are fish prints done each year at the Fair by her son. Framed antique boat blueprints, linen roman shades and sisal rug complete the look.



A warm and wonderful space for a warm and wonderful family. Thank you for letting us take a peek inside!

16 comments:

  1. That is truley a beautiful kitchen! We're drooling!!
    Thanks for stopping by - AND for sharing such a yummy kitchen!
    Karla & Karrie

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  2. To the summer kitchen interiors and oliveaux - Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  3. i am truly in love with her beautiful kitchen, and those hardwood floors are gorgeous.i love cottages,this one looks very cozy. your friend has a very beautiful home.thank you for stopping by and visitng me. you have a very nice blog.

    charmaine

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  4. Hi,

    I glided in in your blogsite. Wonderful!

    Your friend's abode is so nice & cozy!

    Thanks for the tour.

    ENjoy ur w/end!

    Regards from the sunny Stockholm,
    //chie

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  5. Thank you for stopping by and visit me. your friend has such a beautiful kithen and the hole home is very cozy !!

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  6. Thanks to all for visiting and for all your wonderful comments!!!

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  7. Gina, this is such a wonderful home, a big thanks to you & your gracious friends for sharing with us. Elegance, style, warmth - all are words that come immediately to mind. Just beautiful!!
    Millie ^_^

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  8. What a beautiful & well thought out cottage. The brick fireplace is amazing - and the furniture fits it perfectly!

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  9. What a nice cottage kitchen. The marble topped island/counter is just so lovely, and I'm pretty sure it is so functional and easy to clean.
    The house looks so warm and lived-in. Nice post.

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  10. whoa~ I love this house!!!! seriously - that kitchen. Wow!!! can't wait to see the rest.

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  11. SUMMER HOUSE? I'd never leave it. Your friend was truly gracious to let us all traipse through. So perfect that the "BUT" monkey didn't come out...you know.....I like this, and I like that, "BUT...." Nope! Everything is perfect. That kitchen I could spend some real quality time in. I think Carerra marble with a farm sink is the perfect counter top, especially when played off the subway tiles on the wall. The outward opening casements are just the ticket. As someone who likes to bake, that dropped counter is great for adults too. Nothing like marble to make pate briseé on! I also like the fireplace and the slipcovers. This is a place I think I'd want to live full time! Thanks for sharing.

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  12. Wow - the kitchen is DIVINE! So beautiful!!
    x
    Anna

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  13. I love those windows in the kitchen. I wish I had some like these. They are beautiful. I have a thing for windows and doors. Daisy~

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  14. Love it, Can I ask you is that marble polished? or honed? love love it!

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