How I Almost Gave Up (& Why I'm So Glad I Didn't)

I haven't told you about this yet, but last year at this time, my family was in turmoil.

Everything seemed to be on its ear, a family member was struggling with medical issues, and we were seriously considering putting our beloved old house on the market to move to what seemed to be greener pastures. 

I just wasn't feelin' the love anymore.

You see, in March 2015, in a freak accident, my son hit his head and suffered a serious concussion--serious enough to miss more than three months of school, and require occupational, physical and speech therapy through most of last summer. 

Where did he hit his head??

In the doorway to his bedroom. 

So, feeling a weird sense of betrayal and definitely NOT feeling like myself,  I guess you could say I was DONE with our house.

A lot of our doorways are low--as is often the case in a home with the foundation dating back to 1778-- and my son, being a healthy teenage boy, was growing to beat the band...

(this picture was snapped last summer, when my sense of humor was just starting to return...)

All of the things that were less than perfect about our house suddenly became intolerable to me and I just wasn't sure that we could change the many things that needed to be changed. I just wanted OUT. Another, different, better house just had to be the answer. 

We looked at other houses, contemplated fixer uppers, argued, fretted, grew more grey hairs (thank God for hair color!), prepped our house to go on the market, looked at more houses, cried, drove to neurology appointments at AI DuPont...

And then, because we couldn't find anything we liked as well (even with all of our home's flaws, which seemed to be SHOUTING at me at that point), we decided to stay.  

I guess it was time for me to be the House Whisperer for myself. *sigh*

So started the process of re-thinking everything about how we lived in our home, starting with my home office. The doorway you see Liam standing in above was the door to my former office, in the center of the downstairs of our home (great when the kids were little, torture now that I needed more quiet and focus to lead a growing company). 

Here's what that little room looked like on a typical busy, messy day last year: 

This room was the first one to undergo major change as we settled in and recommitted to our quirky historic abode. 

So here is what this little space looks like now, with its new identity, higher doorways, and new lease on life:

Even though we have a large family room just around the corner, we often find ourselves squished into this hopelessly cozy and welcoming space to read or watch tv...

And even though it is teeny tiny, it still has adorable, interesting corners that are full of character...

This strange little space that had been such a source of frustration has literally become everyone's favorite room in the house!

(You may remember the chair in the picture above from an earlier post a few weeks back. The cute little thing went through quite a transformation itself!) 

So, if you are ready to give up on your house, take heart! Things that seem hopeless can actually be an opportunity to recreate your rooms into what you always wished you had all along.

And where is my office now? Well, I can't wait to show that to you in a few weeks! Stay tuned... :)

A heart-felt thank you to Laura Kicey for her beautiful photographs of our new space!

More Coffee & Questions :) [VIDEO]

Jo Ann and I are on the porch again this week taking your questions!

Today we cover how to see past yucky colors and dated decor when house hunting, and how to update your fireplace in an architecturally and aesthetically pleasing way. 

What fun! Won't you grab a cup of coffee and join us? :)

What a big difference these three elements can make...

My client's home is currently in the midst of construction, but I wanted to share a few photos to highlight just how much of a difference color, architectural detail, and listening to what the room is trying to tell you can make...

Back in December, we started here: 

And now, even with the furniture covered in plastic, the noise of compressors and smells of fresh paint filling the air, the room already is so much more inviting:

What is different? What have we added?

First, the addition of architectural detail creates so much more beauty in the space. Built-in bookcases now flank the fireplace, and crown moulding lifts the eye. 

Second, we developed a meaningful palette. My client told me that she definitely wanted blue to be a part of the room's color palette, so we found the perfect rug to combine the colors in the fireplace and bring in slate blues...

And this is what I mean by "listening to what the room is trying to tell you,”  the third element that has begun to pull this room together! The fireplace is the focal point in the room, and by paying attention to the elements in it the whole room is unified. The paint colors, upholstery and rug we have selected will resonate with the existing stone & mortar tones, creating a beautiful harmony in the space. 

I look forward to sharing the room when it is all done and put together beautifully, finishing touches in place. Stay tuned!

Just having coffee & answering your design questions[VIDEO]

Just sitting on the porch with Jo Ann sipping coffee, cat meowing during the whole darn thing, and a spider on the wall over my shoulder (who knew??)...lol

I am so excited about this new way of doing my newsletter! This week we address two questions--one about how to open up spaces in a house that has a choppy layout, and how best to group artwork on a large wall. 

Hope our discussion of these challenges is helpful! Look for another Q&A video next month, and be sure to send in your own questions that you want us to address to erin@revealingredesign.com !

Because most of us cannot spend the next three months away on vacation...

Where is your mind in the summer? Mine is somewhere on the coast of Maine--one of my favorite places on earth. 

Just thinking about the pond and mountains and fresh air our family loves...my heart skips a beat and a smile spreads across my face.

Where is your favorite summer place?

Maybe you already own your dream summer cottage, maybe you get to visit yours as a rental....or perhaps just driving by while dreaming, or flipping through a magazine. We all have a favorite place that comes to mind as Memorial Day ushers in the season.

While most of us cannot spend the next three full months away on vacation, we can capture the essence of that place we love so much, and bring it home to our everyday house, making each day of the season ahead that much more special.

Having a summer that is extra summery-- full of beauty & simplicity each day--that sounds fantastic to me. How about you?  

So let's think about what makes our time away so special? What are the qualities of a summer cottage that we can recreate here at home??

Here are just a few ideas:

• summertime simplicity--when on vacation we only have the things we need with us, and nothing else. How freeing! Start to create this simplicity by throwing away, putting away, or giving away at least 10 things in each room of your house and give yourself a vacation from all of that stress and visual clutter.
• a slower pace--make sure you have time built in to your schedule this summer just to spend quiet time at home. Put your feet up and enjoy the evening breeze with an iced tea on the porch or a glass of wine on the deck.
• light and bright--put away heavier, darker fabrics and rugs (you can get them back out again come September), and put some accessories around that are colorful and airy. I bet you already have some things in your house that would qualify...no shopping needed. Think sparkly clear glass vases, white bed linens, a collection of sea shells from last year's trip....
• fresh flowers and natural treasures--a little life in a room goes a long way. Flowers are blooming and leaves are unfurling everywhere right now, so be sure to bring some indoors. The kitchen table, your nightstand, the bathroom sink are all places that can benefit from a blossom or two. These are also good places to set out the seashells I mentioned, or other things collected on vacation from Mother Nature that evoke a summery vibe. 

Here's to a relaxing, peaceful, and beautiful summer at your summer cottage--wherever it may be!