I decided to decorate the cottage, for November, in observation of the great explorers of the past and present and mix in a little Thanksgiving. I have loved the stories of the explorers since I can remember. I believe the obsession began when I learned about British Explorer and Cartographer Captain Cook when I was about 5 years-old—how Cook, along with a crew of over 200 men sailed the ship, Bounty, around Cape Horn and had an extended stopover in Tahiti. The crew did not want to leave the exotic environment and the beautiful tattooed people of the Island. I was rapped by the twists and turns of the story. Cook was perhaps too strict with the men under his command, which may have led to their famous mutiny in 1789. I had a personal realization and thought if I ever had the opportunity to be in charge of a group of people I would lead with kindness—which has become an important lesson that has paid off over and over again.

There have been others throughout my lifetime—fellow Irishman, Sir Richard Burton who discovered the origin of the Nile River on a journey funded by the Royal Geographic Society; Jane Goodall and her love for all living things, including our beautiful planet; American Mountaineer, Annie Smith Peck, who in Victorian times refused convention and scaled the highest peaks in North America; and Margaret Bowman Duncan, adventurer and great, great grandmother to me, who trekked with the Utah-bound pioneers in search of religious freedom to become the first midwife in Davis County, Utah.

More recently, Keri Smith, writer and explorer of the modern world, has led me to think of the world closer to home and I have been glad to follow the pages of her books, The Pocket Scavenger and How to be an Explorer of the World.

I hope you enjoy a look at the cottage and you may feel emboldened in your journey, wherever you are and wherever you may go. Be kind + grateful.

Design Thoughts + Elements

Gaining inspiration for this month, I attended Silboration at Magnolia Market in Waco, Texas. Through my experience, I walked away with a few thoughts —First, it is all about the details. 2. Purposefulness or always be purposeful + functional. Each detail of the cottage this time of year is with the great explorers in mind. What it would be like to live in a specific time period — to be timeless + classic. From the animal print pillows to the wood accents to the candlelight — I have loved designing and decorating the cottage in tribute to those who have come before and made it possible for me to be right where I need to be.

Living Room + Entry

Shop: Monaco Rug (8 X 10) Area Rug, eSaleRugs.com; Haobo Club Chairs with nail for Living Room or Reception Room (Set of 2) Accent Chair, Black, Amazon; Gray Iron and Glass Tube Lantern, Hobby Lobby; Skinny Timer LED Candles, Seasons by David; Orange Button and Black and Gray Stripe Pillows, TJ Maxx; Throw Pillows, Smith's Marketplace; 3 Squares Cottage personalized sign - Farmhouse wood, Amazon; Antique Wall Decor, Garner Antiques; Large Acorns, Seasons by David; Basic Party Fans, Zurchers and TJMaxx; Autumn Leaves + Acorn Stems, Michaels; Frames for Pictures, Michaels; Flower Arch - Flowers, Hobby Lobby; and Open Sign, TJ Maxx; Boat, TJ Maxx; Throw Pillows, TJ Maxx; Monkey, Birds, Cranes, Giraffes, TJ Maxx; Candle Sticks (above couch), TJ Maxx; Lamps, TJ Maxx; Candle Sticks (side table), Magnolia; Large Map, CF Home Furniture & Design Store at Gardner Village; Aspen Wood Timer Candles (in fireplace), TJ Maxx; 7 inch Round Antique Silver Color Suspendible Gear, Amazon; 24 cm Vintage Steampunk Gear Wheel, Amazon; Quran Holder Book Stand, Amazon; Silver Monocle Costume, Amazon; Roorkee Instruments India Vintage Antique Tripod Telescope Brass Nautical Harbour Master Stand, Amazon; Arsh Nautical 4 inch Nautical Brass Sextant, Amazon; SharpSurvival Best Camping Survival Compass, Amazon; and Handheld Brass Telescope, Amazon.

Dining Room

Shop: Rust + Galvanized Turkey, Tuesday Morning; Tablecloth, TJ Maxx; Throw Pillows, TJ Maxx and Smith’s Marketplace; Dishes, TJ Maxx; and Wall Decor, TJ Maxx.

Kitchen

Shop: Antique Kitchen Equipment, Garner Antiques; and Pottery, Ben Behunin.

Bedrooms

Shop: Welcome Pillow, Seasons by David; Elephant Bedding, SteinMart; and Desk, Garner Antiques.

Antique Cow Painting - Antique Store in Logan, Utah

Bathroom

Shop: Black 2’ x 6’ Monaco Runner Rug, eSaleRugs.com; Shampoo and Conditioner, TJ Maxx; and Towels, TJ Maxx.

Exterior

Shop: Reversible Welcome and Harvest Sign, Hobby Lobby.

Recommended Reads + Music

Books

• The Explorers: A Story of Fearless Outcasts, Blundering Geniuses, and Impossible Success - Martin Dugard

• The Voyage of Magellan - The Journal of Antonio Pigagetta - Translated by Paula Spurlin Paig from the edition in the William L. Clements Library

• The Life of Sir Richard Burton - Thomas Wright

• Into Africa - Martin Dugard

• How to be an Explorer of the World - Keri Smith

• The Sextant Handbook, Second Edition - Bruce Bauer

• 1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving - National Geographic Society

• Women of Discovery - A celebration of intrepid women who explored the world - Milbry Polk and Mary Tiegreen

• Over the Edge of the World - Laurence Bergreen

• Jungle of Stone - The True Story of two men, their extraordinaty jorney, andthe discovery of the lost civilization of the maya - William Carlsen

• Explorers’ Sketchbook - The Art of Discovery & Adventure - Huw Lewis-Jones and Kari Herbert

• Captain Cook and the Pacific- Art, Exploration and Empire 35L

Music

• The Littlest Birds- Be Good Tanyas

• Cloud Atlas Sextet

• Spring- Vivaldi

Places to Explore

Museums, Historic sites + places of interest

Utah

• International Society of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum

• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Family History Library

• For kiddos, the Museum of Natural Curiosity

New York

• The Explorers Club, established in 1905: 46 East 70th Street, New York, NY 10021 (Between Park and Madison Avenues, on the Upper East Side of Manhattan)