I love a good house tour with friends.
Seriously.
There’s nothing like it. All the oohing and ahhing and turning to each other and telling each other….”Girl…..that would look perfect in your guest room.” And, “What do you think of the paint colors and the planked walls.” And discussing between ourselves that we always wanted to paint a floor a brilliant turquoise and that we were never really sure how it would look….but now that we have seen it we are totally inspired….and by the way….
….let’s have some sweet tea and fresh strawberries after the tour.
With extra chocolate for dipping.
And when I toured this cottage on Tybee Island…..
….I totally wish you could have been there.
Truly.
If you were there……I would have told you that there was something missing in my life….
…..and that something was a parrot picture.
Just like this one.
And you would have told me that you just saw one at the Goodwill in town for only $2.99…..
…..and you would race me to it.
And we would pledge our undying love for green zebra paired with green and blue tropical print and white slip covers.
And turquoise dressers.
*sigh*
And ceiling fans with actual fans.
And then I’d tell you that if I ever was lucky enough to have a beach cottage….it would have a pink front door…..
….with a pink flamingo on the screen.
And you’d tell me you’d help me paint it when you visited and help me walk the beach in search of rocks to hot glue on a mirror
…..and a giant clam shell to hold my keys.
Because we all know that what this world needs….
…..is a few more sea shells and pink flamingos.
And I’d tell you how much I love screened-in porches and how I always wanted to make a pallet swing and hang it from the rafters of my back porch and decorate it with indoor-outdoor in fabric in bright colors but I was worried that my swing would be used as a launching pad for a basketball games and water balloon fights….
….so I never made one.
And you would tell me that you thought that pallet swings were so over-rated anyway and why didn’t I just add a nice day bed and paint it turquoise instead.
And I would tell you…..
….that you were brilliant. 🙂
And then we would walk up the staircase and wonder about adding plank walls to a room and what kind of wood we should use and how would we attach them…..and then totally forget what we were talking about and stop mid-sentence
…..when we saw this room.
And we would stand there for a moment in silence….just taking in the sunshine streaming through the windows and the sun beams dancing across the beds.
And then…..you would tell me that you bought that pillow at Pottery Barn outlet when it went on clearance and that you wish you had a beach house to put it in.
And I would tell you that it would look perfect in your room with a trio of beds and white coverlets and faded quilts and striped rugs…..and who really needs a beach house anyway….
….when you live by a Pottery Barn outlet.
And we’d turn the corner and see this room.
And I would say, “Seriously.”
And you would sigh.
And the sea breezes would gently blow in through the open window and we would smell the ocean.
And then I’d ask if you would think I was silly if I found an old typewriter and put it into the gatehouse next to that old-fashioned phone.
And you would tell me retro was in and I was brilliant and typewriters were amazing and that we should stop by the yard sale we saw on the way over in case they had one…..
….and could we please stop for some sweet tea along the way?
And I would say of course….
….because house tours and sweet tea?
That’s exactly what friends are for. 🙂
PS This post was brought to you by a little Georgia sunshine and the Mermaid Cottages of Tybee Island.
Had so much fun being along on your tour. Felt like we spent a day together :)
just perfection... and being on the beach is a bonus. thanks for the tour.
I love this!!! Now I need to plan a trip to SAV! I still haven't explored all of downtown SAV. I think last time I was there we spent more time at the mall than anything else. :( That parrot pic is freaking awesome!
Faux lathing strips on the ceilings?! Seriously. No time for tea. I'm going to Home Depot.
Oh I love the beach! I hope to take some of these wonderful Ideas and place in our new farmhouse as it sits by a sea of green corn instead of water. Our new home is going to Preserve old memories...and some of our best memories as a family were on the beach. Thank you for sharing!
Loved this post! The photos are terrific anyway, but I loved the commentary. I swear I've had similar conversations myself!
And the funny thing is, Miz karianne......while "we" were lost in all that reverie I heard the natives whispering behind our backs....they were saying things like, "isn't that our Thistle? you know... you know...that cute redhead from Thistlewood Farm!" And her friend said, "OMG! I think you're right.....oooh, I absolutely adore every room in her house! Genius, that woman.... Seriously. And boy, if they stop for sweet tea.....I'm gonnaa be right there with them!" LOL.....
I love everything about this space, especially the color choices! Lots of pretty brights to contrast against the white walls. Could move in there tomorrow...
Beautiful photos Karianne! I totally miss Tybee. So great to see you for a few days ;-). Have a great week!
Girl, you are such a talented storyteller. You had me laughing at the first paragraph. Xoxo from the Midwest.
What a fun place! Love all the bright colours and quirky patterns.
Love the storytelling commentary. Maybe you should consider writing a novel.
What a spectacular tour.
Total awesomeness! I LOVE the pink door!!!~~Angela
You had me visiting Tybee Island after your last post...what a great place, did you stay there when you were away? Love all the colorful accents and the bright sunny rooms! Thanks for sharing, Tybee is on this Alberta girls list!!
I adore Savannah and Tybee island! I call that area 'THE MOTHERSHIP". What a darling house tour! LOVE the bedroom and the cottage feel. I felt like I was touring right along with you! xo
It felt like I was right there with you....great tour! When can we go again? ;)
As I was reading this it was as if I was that friend you were talking with! I'm inspired to get gingham slip covers for my old chairs and paint my front door. Maybe not pink, but colorful! You have a way with words, girlfriend!!
Love that cottage - such a happy place! It reminds me how much I love color...and how much I want a beach house! Thanks for the tour! -Shelley
I loved this post! If I were along, I would tell you that even though I don't live on Tybee Island, I do live on Wilmington Island, so I can go to Tybee every week day during the summer (weekends are too crowded!) and meet you there. And we can sit (or lay) in our beach chairs, read our books, watch the people go by, look at the ships coming and going, drink our Cokes, watch the sea gulls flying around looking for a crumb someone left or threw to them, and then we could walk to Fannies and get a home-made pizza, and then go to Seaside Sisters and find some really good stuff to take home....................and I could go on and on. Thanks for making me think about all the reasons I love Tybee...........(or, we just call it "the beach.")
Karieanne, your photos are gorgeous! I could almost feel the sunshine and cool breezes. Is there anything that you cannot do and do well?
Never before have pictures of rooms brought back such precious memories & sweet laughter. :-) Love the pictures & loved seeing you during the Tybee trip! Party on, my friend…with sweet tea in hand. <3 Heidi
I am so loving all of the great beach cottage tours!...I am sure all of your heads were spinning with ideas to take home with you!....
When I was growing up my aunt had a small 3 room cottage is South Hampton Long Island. It was a magical place. Not fancy just fun .One large sleeping room with 2 sets of bunks couches that folded out , day beds and all our beach found treasures. Clay backs after spending a day digging clams, sun burned after spending all day at the beach , sand in everything we owned . It was wonderful
You must come for the tour of the Tybee cottages and I'll meet you there. I went on the tour two years ago and was fortunate enough to meet the decorator Jane Coslick. She soooooo talented.
What a fabulous tour! :-) ~Sarah
Sigh... This is making me long for St. Augustine. I'm only a couple hours away from it but it's just not warm enough yet. Maybe I should redo my bedroom like this house so I could have it all year long too. ~Cheryl https://snaps-of-ginger.blogspot.com/
You could so be my new BFF except for I don't like tea. But, we would chat and I would tell you what it does to me and you we would laugh and you would be sure never to serve me tea. LOVED the post! I have already been on the Mermaid Cottages website looking at the videos with the background music ....and dreaming of being at Tybee.
Loved the tour. Thanks. I love white. My husband thinks there should be a white paint named after me. Yes, and I often mix my whites. Colors are fine, but give me something white, and I'm a happy camper!
Love this cottage! What is its name? My family would love to stay there sometime. We go to Tybee almost every summer.
Well told..Loved the tour..Thanks for taking me along...
"And we’d turn the corner and see this room. And I would say, “Seriously.” And you would sigh." Ahhhhhhh . . . . . I'm sighing right NOW! :) What a perfect, perfect house tour. I will be packing my imaginary bags now . . .
What a gorgeous, fun & relaxing home! I love the clean, white background and bright colors. xo- Tanya
Thanks, KariAnne - you just took me back to many such 'tours' enjoyed by me and my dear, inseparable buddy of many, many years who is now departed and missed so much every day of my life! I loved being back there with her again, even if only in my mind . . .
Thank you so very much Kari Anne for your post today! It brought me much needed happiness and warmth on this dreary snowy Monday in Montana. I think I'll have a cup of ("warm") tea in your honor!
What a beautiful place. Love all the colors, reflects a happy house. Wonderful photos, thanks for sharing.
Sounds like fun. Let's go!
I love all of it, including that pink refrigerator! But...and this may seem strange...I want that typewriter! I have this Walter Mitty idea of being a newspaper woman trying to meet deadlines. Well, I sort of do that with my little blog. ha! A girl can dream. Sheila www.mykentuckyliv.com
Oh yea, I can smell those ocean breezes now. I'm just gonna sit back and relax. Ahhhh. Love it! =)
Could we have wine instead? What fun! Great light and brilliant design. Cheers!
Perfection! Loved the tour :) Debbie
Oh what fun decorations!! That's what beach cottages are for -- to have fun with color and style and whimsy. You could put anything in there and it would be absolutely perfect. Love the South and I can't wait to get back to Saint Simons Island. The place is magical!!
Very sweet house! I love the ticking look of the bedskirt in the master. I was also thinking about strawberries and chocolate the entire time I was browsing this post, haha. My Girl Scout cookies arrived today though...I'm in trouble, just sayin'.
This looks like a super fun place to go and visit. Love that pink front door and that pink refrigerator on the porch. Awesome. Kris
This is the first time I've ever seen an old refrigerator on a porch that I thought was classy!!! That pink refrigerator just made me giggle. Now I think I need to find an old working refrigerator, paint it turquoise, and put it on my covered porch. How classy would that look with my turquoise and lime green decor? We could keep drinks in it all summer long.
Your writings always put a smile on my face and happiness in my soul! Lovely cottage!
.......and I'd tell you that this post was the best post of the day in my inbox because you know just how much I love beach cottages and dreaming of warmer weather.......Thank you......
KariAnne: Thank you for the amazing tour. You are such an inspiration!
I LOVE the pink door! And I love a beach house tour on another cold day in Central PA :) Thanks!
I was just in Savannah for the first time last week. Fell in LOVE! Thank you for a reminder of how much fun my girlfriends and I used to have going on home tours. I like the gingham slip overs and the room with 3 beds! Gave up my lake house so I wouldn't have to do stairs anymore, but want to decorate this ranch so it feels like you expect a lake out back. Thanks for lots of ideas.
Was that beach house at Tybee Island one of Mary Kay Andrew's cottages? Sure looks familiar!