Michelle Kelly
I've spent every summer of my life visiting the Rideau Lakes cottage that my parents built in 1972. I grew up watching my mom fill the place with antiques, mostly purchased from auction sales all over eastern Ontario. I suppose it's her taste that first nurtured mine: If it's old, I probably like it. My ideal cottage weekend involves waking up early on Saturday and hurrying to our local flea market to find a new treasure. It's usually something vintage, of no great purpose other than it makes me happy to look upon it (and I have the milk-glass collection, a sweet set of 1960s hankies, and the most-awesome two-tiered 70s chip bowl ever to prove it). As an editor at Cottage Life magazine, I've seen hundreds of cottages covering a whole range of styles. And while my own tastes lie on the more traditional (and often quirkier) side, I'm equally impressed by the sophisticated modern aesthetic that has drifted ashore in cottage country. I admire the daring break from the traditional cottage-as-lodge look (bear rugs and hunter green plaid anyone?) to something cleaner and more open, and very often more environmentally friendly. Cottage style—whether it be the design of the building or the decor that fills it—”is hugely varied. I love it all. I've never been one to follow trends in design and decor; I just like what I like, and I try to make sure that everything in my personal space is something I love. This is especially true at the cottage, the place that has given me my most precious memories, and where even the smallest, most utilitarian object can hold so much meaning (sort of like that chip bowl). -Michelle Kelly
Recent Articles and Blog Posts
Wrap it up!
It's probably the craft geek in me, but I think I might enjoy wrapping up gifts even more than unwrapping them. There is so much room for creativity in gift wrapping, especially if you use found objects from around your home or...
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Make your own advent calendar
I've been rushing about for the last few days after missing almost a week of productivity due to a nasty chest cold. Sorry I've been a bit silent, but stick with me: I'm back on with some new, juicy posts starting tomorrow. (See?...
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Gifts for cottagers: The Native Trees of Canada
As you know, I'm tree obsessed, so no surprise that I was so intrigued when I came across a copy of Leanne Shapton's beautiful new book of paintings, The Native Trees of Canada ($19.95, Drawn & Quarterly, 2010). Shapton's book...
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Easy upcycling ideas for your tabletop
Sometimes I think I should have been a kindergarten teacher. Why? Two reasons: empty egg cartons and empty paper towel or toilet paper rolls. I can't seem to put either in the blue box without thinking first of the wee...
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DIY lighting and a FREE giveaway!
Good weekends all? Rich and I took a much-needed break from setting up house (a process that never seems to end) in favour of some R&R. Well, that's sort of true; he spent some time moving furniture, while I spent some time...
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DIY tree trunk projects
Rich and I and my brother Tom were at the cottage last weekend to close up. Such a sad time of year. Hard because, no matter how long we've tried to deny it, summer (and even Indian summer, for that matter) is well and truly over....
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Unique fireplace design
Cottagers sure do love them their fireplaces. And it's easy to understand why: What's better than arriving at the lake during colder weather and firing up a few logs. Add a glass of red wine and some good company and you've pretty...
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Conifers poster by lovely design
Years ago now, I researched and wrote a story for the magazine about the white pine. Since then, I, like many of you no doubt, have had a love affair with that majestic, iconic conifer. I lost myself in my research a bit, spending...
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How to reuse TV trays
TV trays (the ones that sat atop fold-up metal stands) are exactly the kind of thing that end up rammed into some overstuffed cottage storage space and forgotten, aren't they? If I looked hard enough, I'm almost certain that I'd...
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Quiltsryche by Boo Davis
I've written about quilts before on the blog, and it seems that, like me, many of you have an affection for the colourful blankets and collect them at your cottage. Then you know that they aren't just blankets, but rather a very...
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