Annamarie's Shabby Chic Vintage Cottage Garden and Romantic Porch

We are priveledged to visit a cottage home this month that is shabby chic inspired. Annamarie was gracious enough to invite us to visit her home through beautiful pictures. After viewing this charming abode you will wish you could sit down and have a cup of tea and a chat. It is evident that Annamarie loves her home and has spent time making it a place that she truly loves. I promise you will be inspired!

First we saw this beautiful place this past December decked out for the holidays (you can see the holiday slideshow below) and now we get to enjoy visiting Annamarie's romantic shabby chic porch and cottage garden.

You will soon see how Annamarie has a knack for decorating with pink and white. She has carried this theme through out her cottage home and garden.

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I have to begin my giving props to Rachel Ashwell, whom I have never met, but she definately has inspired so much of my decorating and also to my mom who always collected antiques. I remember the passion she displayed and she has definately instilled that passion into my heart.

I refer my decorating style as romantic glam meets shabby vintage cottage! This shabby chic style runs in my blood, as I mentioned it comes from the heart, it is an addiction, a passion a love. From my antique Italian chair and french settee in my parlor to my antique porcelain collection all adorned with pink roses. I love slipcovered furniture oozing with comfy pillows. The old saying, "your home is where your heart is". Well that says it all...The cottage style is very calming and relaxing. Soothing palettes of whites and pinks surround me. I always say when decorating, mix it up, decorate with antiques, vintage hats, vintage clothing, slips, porcelain and lots of lace; fill pedestal dishes with strands of pearls and lots of rhinestone jewelry and install crystal chandeliers in every room! I especially love to collect wedding items as they are so romantic, from veils, to wedding dresses to cake toppers!

I call my bedroom my honeymoon suite, even though my husband Ralph and I are married 32 years, we are still on our honeymoon! So many people ask, how can your husband live in your cottage world? Well, his motto is "Happy Wife" Happy Life, gosh he is so smart (hee hee) He actually does not mind, our home is very romantic, he says its like living in a bed and breakfast, however he so loves his garage!

My sister Mary and I use to own a cottage store in Florida, it was our dream after our mom passed away. Our store and my Florida home were featured in Country Living Magazine. Since we moved to North Carolina 3 years ago, we now sell on e-bay and rent space in a local antique mall, K and B in Fuquay Varina.

As a child,I always loved the white house with black shutters and a huge front porch, so when we moved here, to Cary, we built our dream home. I love shopping in the little quaint towns and of course the fairgrounds, always hunting for that special treasure!