Cottage Decorating: The Cat Bungalow

(Note: All original artwork copyright protected © by Kay Thomas).

All you cat lovers out there can relate to the total obsession that overtakes those who catch the 'cat bug'. But you haven't met my sister. An avid cat 'worshiper' and visual artist, she's given a new name to the term 'cat lover'. The rooms in her 1920's Bungalow style home are filled with feline works of art, specially made by my sister. Cat sculptures, lamps, pictures, figurines and (I must mention the KING of the house, her beloved feline Snappy) fill the quaint little home with kitty wonder.

Perhaps the most interesting room in the house is the bedroom. The theme of the room is, of course, cats. Lots of them. What "sets the room off" is the vibrant color of the walls: melon pink. The headboard to the bed resembles a wooden "cat fence". She constructed, designed and painted the headboard herself, as well as the matching end tables and cat lamps pictured below. The lepard print pillows blend with the total cat theme of the room, creating a sense of wildness.

Please see the photograph (at right) of the lamp stand table. Below, you will find photos of the wonderful cat headboard and other features.

ABOUT THE HEADBOARD:

Everytime I look at the Headboard below, I think of the old 1960's cartoon "Top Cat".

Isn't it cool? I'd like to see a picket fence like this in the front yard.

With the leopard print covers to set it off, these adorable little guys make this room a feline paradise.

Let's see. We have 3 tabbies, a calico, & a cute white kitty. I'll take the orange tabby.

I felt like the headboard needed special mentioning because it's so unusually amazing.

The cat lamp at right is an extraordinary work of art, displaying a childlike quality to the room. His little feline head is cocked, ever so slightly, creating a subliminal sense of feline meekness. Topping his 'tail' is a traditional lamp shade.

In addition, below-right, she added leopard print to create a sense of "catdom" to the room. The mirror frame was hand made & painted with the leopard theme, as well as the matching wall hanging close by displaying various costume jewelry of vintage pins found at yard sales, estate sales, & handed down from family ancestors.

This was a great way to make family heirlooms blend into the total feline composition of the cottage. The room is cozy & unique.

The bedroom wouldn't be complete without the "Cat Shrine" to Little Gray, the cat she owned for many years. The cat was 20 years old when she died & my sister wanted to memorialize her in a special way combining her unique style of art with a whimsical touch of exaggeration.

Note, there are pictures of little Snappy displayed on the table, but the origin of the art was in memory of Little Gray. Look at the detail in the shrine....BELOW.

Bright, cheery, retro....a combination of 1920's charm & more, the kitchen is a place that will take you back to a time when women wore pumps & aprons to cook the family meal. Remember the sunny, yellow kitchen of yesterday with the cute little chalk art decorating the wall?

How about vibrant, primary colors to delight the eyes while you sit in a cozy nook with the smell of bacon frying & coffee brewing? My sister has brought it all back to life with the choice of color in the kitchen/dining areas. The floors are red fleck vinyl tiles, the walls sunshiny yellow, decorated with happy fruit & vegetable faces smiling down at you. It's a delightful room, cozy & inviting.

See the features below...........

My sister isn't finished with the outside of the house. It needs roof work, but she's made some major improvements with landscaping. She plans to remove the decorative iron postings to replace with traditional, bungalo style wooden supports cut like an upside down 'V' to create a more original look.

I've taken some shots (below) to show the welcoming exterior of the cottage to bring the whole narrative of the home into perspective. The open front porch is home to more than humans. Snappy dominates the area, often inviting his friend Buddy to join the feast, while my sister leaves ample amounts dry cat food for them both.

 If you catch "cat cottage fever", now you've got something to compare to!  I abslutely love the cottage look.  What makes a home special is being able to blend what you love with tones that reflect your personality. 

Of course, being a professional artist can give an individual the advantage in creativity.  But what's important is blending parts of your life into your surroundings so you can feel a part of your home & others who come to visit will get a sense of who you are.  I'd say my sister has certaily done that!  Wouldn't you?

All artwork copyright 2010 by Kay Thomas.