Infuse your cottage with soul

Meaningful ways to add charm and character to your home.

Is your home calling for an infusion of life? Prepare to fall in love with a very special sort of cottage—the kind brimming with soul, comfort and memories. Join us as we delve into Fifi O’Neill’s inspiring world of joyful and sentimental cottage homes in her new book, The Soulful Cottage: Creating a Charming and Personal Home. In this gorgeous collection of cottage spaces and their stories, the author takes us on an exploration of what truly makes a home and which décor choices can really lend themselves to achieving that feeling of home and comfort that we all so deeply crave. Ready to get personal? Let’s see just how much soul your cottage can offer!

This picturesque cottage sits up on the hills overlooking downtown Eureka Springs, Arkansas. The period architecture and woodsy surroundings bring to mind the little homes of fairytale books.

The Power of Heirlooms

Heirlooms are any kind of valuable objects that have stayed within a family for multiple generations or pieces that have withstood the test of time. What really makes an heirloom stand out amongst newer, more modern décor is its history, sentimental value and craftsmanship. For example, jewelry from an older generation may showcase rarer stones that aren’t seen today or vintage textiles may have been made using finer fabrics. Including family heirlooms thoughtfully into your décor helps build a certain story and personality, which truly is priceless.

A simple board outfitted with old doorknobs turns a plain wall into a handy place for bags, scarves and coats.

Find Your Authentic Style

One of the most endearing aspects of soulful interiors is how many different style options they can offer! Maybe you’re going for a classic Shabby Chic feel or more of a retro 1970s feel. Either way, the power of the soulful cottage lies within the personal and individual vibes that you alone can bring. It is defined by your passions, memories and the things that enrich your life. Color schemes, meaningful art, vintage furnishings… It’s all about how your décor choices uplift and support you. Trusting your true style is what will foster the perfect harmony between you and your space. Be intentional!

To emphasize the unique windows of the alcove, the trim was painted white while keeping the headboard and flooring in their original colors. Their patinaed finish makes a perfect backdrop for a farmhouse table, French Country chairs and rustic antiques. The window seat’s elegant floral and casual burlap pillows convey a relaxed approach to style.

Cheerful colors, bold patterns and fanciful accessories come together in this charming, whimsical interior. Though the look is uplifting and quirky, it’s not chaotic; there is a sense of harmony in the use of color and composition.

Against neutral walls, the gentle play of soft hues and deeper undertones from the colorful application of floral patterns cultivates a fresh and subtle vibe. The overall effect in this room is evocative of a cottage garden.

Whether furniture, lighting, architectural fragments or garden goods, salvaged remnants instantly layer a space with history and meaning. Their mismatched charm creates a look that is as full of character as it is personal.

A painting by Rebecca Ersfeld of a sheep and her lamb speaks of author Fifi O’Neill’s love for all animals. A mirror from her family home in Paris; a watercolor by a friend; a handmade heart; her kitty, Minou; and a vintage eiderdown are all priceless treasures.

The Soulful Cottage: Creating a Charming and Personal Home by Fifi O’Neill, published by CICO Books 2024.

Mastering the Art of Coming Home

How to fall in love with your living space.

We all love coming home after a trip or even just after a long day away. But can you turn that into a feeling? Try embracing your inner homebody to nurture an even deeper love for your home. By that we mean every little corner, pocket and nook of it. Create a space that makes you feel grateful every single day. Author Fifi O’Neill has compiled a short list of tips to start truly turning your house into a home. Follow them as best you can and see how your love for your home grows like a spring orchard.

Don’t display things just to be looked at. Rather than creating a strict and cold environment full of fanciful things you don’t want touched, try to find pieces that imbue comfort and warmth and beg to be looked at closer! This naturally surrounds your soul and existence at home with a feeling of forgiveness and softness. “The beautiful things in this house are meant to be touched—and meant to touch you.”
Let paint be your best friend. Painting is an inexpensive way to update or transform just about anything in your home. It may feel easy to just go for white walls, but instead try choosing colors that you really love, colors that evoke feeling and emotion. You’ll never get the chance to fall in love with a color unless you try living with it. Perhaps a blush pink to remind you of butterflies you got when you were young or a pale blue like the summer skies you’re so fond of. Use your imagination!
Use mementos to your advantage. Who doesn’t love some good, old-fashioned nostalgia? Let your home become a keeper of memories, a safe place for the ones closest to your heart. Maybe display all the pretty postage stamps you’ve collected from your travels or use your favorite hand-crocheted blanket from your sister as a throw in the living room so that everyone can enjoy it. You’ll catch yourself smiling by glimpsing these meaningful items out of the corner of your eye daily. Your home is a poem and your mementos are the rhyme.

To purchase The Soulful Cottage visit: https://amzn.to/4wv63iu