Oak Branch Cottage: Styling the Louis Philippe Hutch {Dining Room}

With the kitchen finally in order, it was time to turn my attention to the dining room. One of the things I love most about Oak Branch Cottage is having a true dining room—one spacious enough to comfortably anchor a dining table, a buffet, and a grand hutch.

During my recent time off, I decided to tackle styling the crown jewel of the room: a late 1800s Louis Philippe hutch.

A Grand Antique with a Sense of Place

I found this incredible piece over the summer at DOP Antiques, and it couldn't fit the space more beautifully. Standing at an impressive 106 inches tall, it carries a massive presence that perfectly balances the room’s soaring 12-foot ceilings.

Before placing a single item inside, I wanted to give the interior a subtle, tactile backdrop. I backed the shelves with a natural cane wallpaper sourced from Gulf Coast Home in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The woven texture adds warmth, depth, and a soft contrast against the wood without distracting from what's displayed inside.

Layering the Collection

Decorating hutch shelves is always a bit of trial and error, but I had a clear vision for the pieces I wanted to highlight:

• Alison Evans Ceramic Oyster Shells: Bringing my entire collection together in one location makes such a striking statement—and makes it so easy to grab what I need when entertaining.

  
  
  

• Seafood-Inspired Estate China (Seafood-inspired porcelain from Josef Kuba (JKW) Bavaria (Kuba Porzellan) features classic mid-century German craftsmanship with vibrant marine motifs): A recent estate sale find on Audubon Boulevard brought home this lovely set. The subtle coastal colors tie right into the palette I’m building for the rest of the room.

• Glassware & Ginger Jars: Sprinkled throughout to catch the light and add dynamic shapes and heights.

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Still a Work in Progress

Like any good display, it’s going to evolve over time. I’m still taking my time deciding what should go on the top shelf to tie the whole piece together. For now, seeing this antique come alive with pieces I love makes the room feel so much more like home.

Louis Philippe Hutch, y'all!

Oak Branch Cottage: Kitchen Additions

There is something deeply satisfying about watching a long-held vision finally come together.

Last weekend, J and I rolled up our sleeves and tackled a serious cleaning session in the main living areas and bathrooms of Oak Branch Cottage. On Monday, our housecleaning team came in to give everything a thorough deep clean. By Tuesday—in what felt like a long-awaited milestone—our contractor was officially ready to turn the interior of the house over to us!

While there are still a few minor touch-ups and small finishing details on the agenda (hooks to mount, shower rods to install, and tiny tweaks here and there), having the keys to the inside officially in hand changes everything.

Fortunately, the timing couldn't have been better. I was off all week on Fall Break—easily one of my absolute favorite weeks of the school year—which gave me the time and freedom to start bringing pieces over and making the space truly ours.

Bringing Character into the Kitchen

One of my favorite projects of the week was starting on the kitchen. I brought over my collection of oyster plates—a mix of treasured vintage pieces and newer finds—and began getting them in place.

The kitchen is often the hardest room to soften during a build or renovation, but bringing in these layered, meaningful accessories immediately added the warmth and character the space was calling for.

Seeing these personal collections on display marks the beginning of the best phase of this project: making Oak Branch Cottage feel like a home rather than a job site.

I made plenty of progress on other corners of the cottage throughout the week, and I’m looking forward to sharing more of the additions, details, and decorating projects I tackled during break very soon.

Stay tuned!

Kitchen Additions, y'all!

Oak Branch Cottage: Kitchen Updates

There’s something deeply satisfying about getting a space ready for a major transition. This past weekend, J and I spent some time doing a pre-cleaning prep before the cleaning crew arrived this morning to give Oak Branch Cottage a thorough deep clean. With the kitchen freshly scrubbed and spotless, we finally got to tackle one of the parts I’ve been looking forward to most: bringing in the new furniture and finishes.

Here is a peek at how the cottage kitchen is coming together—along with what’s next on the agenda for Fall Break!

The New Favorite Spot: Marble & Bistro Vibes

After the kitchen floors and counters were spotless, we set up the new marble-top bistro table we picked up last week at Renaissance Interiors. Finding the right scale for a cottage kitchen can be tricky, but this piece fits the room perfectly. To complete the look, we paired it with two French bistro-style stools at either end. It instantly creates a cozy, inviting nook for morning coffee or a quick bite.

Key Details & Finishing Touches

It’s amazing how a few targeted changes can completely transform the feel of a room:

• Lighting Upgrade: We replaced the old ceiling fan with a classic Ballard Designs carriage lantern. The swap makes the ceilings feel taller and gives the room an intentional, refined focal point.

• Custom Customization: We added molding to the shelving edges. It’s a subtle architectural detail, but it takes open shelving from "basic storage" to a tailored, finished feature. Painting the door glossy black and the addition of the custom hood also add details that are always welcoming in any room.

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What’s Next for the Cottage?

While the structural pieces and furniture are set, a room really comes alive in the soft details. Next up:

• Adding café-style curtains to soften the natural light

• Layering in warm decor accessories and cookware to give the kitchen that lived-in charm

Luckily, timing is on our side. I am officially off from school this week for Fall Break, which means my main mission over the next few days is making numerous delivery runs to transport our belongings over before the BIG move day.

Stay tuned for more updates as Oak Branch Cottage officially becomes home!

Kitchen Updates, y'all!