There Is No Place Like Home

No, this isn't my latest project. And sadly, there won't be a fantastic "after" picture at the end of this post.

"Home" is a powerful word, and an idea that evokes many emotions. It was all Dorothy wanted after her amazing chance to meet The Wizard, and it is the place we can't wait to see coming around the corner, even after enjoying a terrific vacation. A house can be our "shelter from the storm", our hope for the future, our investment in many things.  I think that is why I find the pictures of the empty and decaying houses of Detroit, America's "shrinking city"(read more here), so poignant.

I have said many times that our family's house is indeed a member of the family, one that we diligently care for and love. The rhythm of our day-to-day life is played within its walls. It is the place where my son will outgrow the low eaves in his attic bedroom in the not-too-distant future. It is the place where we at times fret, but more often celebrate our good fortune and countless blessings.

Not all that many years ago, these homes were pristine and plumb. Families were proud to open the front doors wide to friends, and spent their Saturday mornings tinkering in the front garden.

I wonder what hopes and dreams and memories are left to decay in these empty shells?

You can see more of these poor old souls here.

From Institutional to Inviting

Over the years and through many different uses, a building even with the most beautiful bones can lose its luster.  The room pictured here is the dining room of our church’s rectory, a home alongside of the sanctuary that is intended for use by the rector and their family. Last summer our congregation was eagerly anticipating the selection of a new rector, and knowing that the home that they would reside in had seen some hard use, I was asked to help spiffy it up.

It is hard to see in the above picture, but the exterior of the window to the left was completely covered by a cinderblock wall ~ a sad consequence of an office addition that had been placed there in the 1950’s.  As a result, it seemed the best thing to others who had lived in the house to just cover the window with blinds--a gloomy fate for a beautiful old window that could be such an asset to the room.

I knew for sure that I wanted that window to be a part of the room again. I also knew that there was very little money to be used for this project, and whatever money there was had to be stretched and put to best use in each room of this charming victorian-era house.

With help from those in the congregation who were handy and generous with their time, the glass was replaced with custom cut mirrored glass that I had ordered. What a difference!

Today our rectory and church are blessed with the presence of a new rector and his family. I was even given the wonderful opportunity to design the space for them after they moved in.  New lighting, custom curtains, and their existing furniture come together beautifully. The space no longer looks like an adjunct building of an institution, but has the warm feeling of home.

Is It TOO Much?

For those of you who have worked with me one on one, you know firsthand that the beginning of a project is all about removing the STUFF that is in the way of creating peace, balance and purpose in your home. Simplicity is a key component of both beauty and peace. Remembering to keep open spaces where the eye can rest is so important, and then keeping only a few things that you truly love in the space to make it beautiful. Let’s take a deep cleansing breath, and I will give you an example.

Remember, IN THROUGH THE NOSE....PAUSE... OUT THROUGH THE MOUTH......

WHOA!!

I don’t know if I could find a better example of what not to do if your goal is creating a restful, nurturing home. Not only does this room inflict visual fatigue, but just imagine the dusting! You'll find more pictures of this room, as well as other witty and wonderful posts on one of my favorite blogs Hooked on Houses.

Down A Winding Lane....

I have the best job in the world. No, really. I do. You will never be able to convince me that your job is better than mine. Go ahead and TRY.

Just a few Saturday mornings ago, while the birds were singing and the sun was shining, I climbed into my Honda with my travel mug full of hot coffee~off to pick exterior paint colors for an amazing little historic house tucked away on a winding, tree-lined lane.

The owners are diligently working to bring the charm back to their lovely house, and revive the architectural detail that has been stripped from it over the years. I had spent the time before I met with my new clients researching the type of house they have and gathering ideas based on its style--possibly indicating how their house may have been painted in the past.

An understanding of your house’s architectural style is your best friend when you are hoping to kick up your curb appeal, wanting to select paint colors, or deciding on roofing, siding or other exterior materials. Knowing what is appropriate helps you to make choices that look pulled together and intentional.

This house is a beautiful cottage built during the Victorian era, but with the influence of the Dutch Colonial style of architecture. In addition to a certain palette and placement of colors, my main suggestion to these homeowners was the addition of a shake siding to the front gable, (or “Gambrel” in this style) to add appropriate texture and detail. Here is an example of a modern house that has similar influences:

Do you know what style your house is? Check out this link about house styles, and get some ideas and inspiration for your next exterior project!

p.s. make sure you check back soon. As soon as the painting is finished, I will post the “afters”!

A (Much Happier) Woman, a Man (Also Happy), and a Weird-Shaped Bedroom that Works

So, we have established that how you feel about where you live is pretty important. And my cousin had started in the right place when she recognized her frustrations and tried to put a positive spin on it. In one of her recent e-mails to me she had said:

“Currently, I am pretending that we actually live in NYC or another city where space is at a premium, and so our small two-bedroom [apartment] is actually a lucky find.”

Being able to see the opportunities that your space is presenting you with will never be a possibility if you are stuck in a negative frame of mind. SO, I will wait here while you go find your rose-colored glasses, dust them off, and put them on.....

Go on. You can do it. Maybe a few visuals will help.

Just to help you remember, here is what the room looked like before:

I know it is hard to orient oneself from these pictures, so I will do my best to describe to you how we changed the space.

Previously, due to the odd shape of the room, the bed had been placed alongside the wall, and the dormer alcove was essentially a dead space at the foot of the bed.  It really didn’t seem like there was any other option. One person had to climb over the other to get in and out of bed (which can be fun from time to time, especially in the first few years of marriage...but it does eventually get old) and there was no room for nightstands or lamps of any kind.

We simply turned the bed ninety degrees, the unused space became the perfect place for a nightstand, and then there was room on the other side for another one!

Creative reuse of existing items in the apartment kept costs down. One nightstand was an end table in the next room, and the other was the small media stand also from the living room. We switched it with a long, low dresser that there was no longer room for in the bedroom with the  bed in its new spot.  Two problems solved!

In addition, we dug through my cousin’s linens and found a white duvet and orange sheets that matched the decorative pillows she wanted to use.  The flat sheet used as a throw across the bottom of the bed adds the additional  punch of color needed.

1950’s vintage family artwork that had been hanging in the kitchen had the colors in it we wanted to pull together, and added so much to the wall above the bed.

Yes, you are right. We did have to buy a few things. We marched off to HomeGoods to find matching bedside lamps (symmetry creates balance and a restful feeling) and other bedding items that would round out what we had.

total purchases for space:

Milk Glass Lamps (2) $59/each

Silver Lamp (not shown) $39

Decorative Shams (2) $12.99/each

Decorative Sham (1) $12.99/each

Total Price: $186.00

What possibilities could you be overlooking in your space?