Our Homes
"Creating a beautiful home
is a high artistic achievement;
enjoying it is the art
of living."
~ From "Creating A Beautiful Home"
by Alexandra Stoddard
Do you remember the television show back in the 1980's, "Designing Women?" Does this music sound familiar? You'll probably remember that the show was about three interior designers living in Atlanta, and this music, "Georgia On My Mind," was the theme song. I loved that show! Maybe it's because I have always loved anything having to do with designing beautiful homes. I can spend hours flipping through house magazines and interior design books ~ just looking! And I am one of those women who like to continually "decorate" my home ~ rearranging furniture and objects: "I think this bowl of potpourri would look nice on my dresser instead of the coffee table." Do you like to do things like that?
Mine is not a large, expensive, or fancy house, but I cherish my home. I have lived here for twelve years and it is still very much a work in progress. Almost everything that has been done, I have done myself, painstakingly and lovingly so.
I like homes that reflect the personalities of their owners, homes full of memories and mementos of things important to those who live there. I like eclectic!! I like color!! I like heirlooms and flea market finds, and using objects for purposes other than for which they were created.
For example, on the desk in my living room, a long ago emptied Harrod's tea canister, a Christmas present from then-living-in-London friends WHN & LJN, holds pencils and pens and sits atop a stack of books: a small, hardbound World Atlas, my address book, and "The Gift of A Letter" by Alexandra Stoddard.
My home is my castle. I love being home, surrounded by things that make me smile when I see them. Souviners, nostalgic pictures, family heirlooms, simple gifts from friends ~ all of these things are my essence. I wrote one time about why these things are important to me. You are invited to read my essay entitled, Arias & Apron Strings.
No matter where I have lived, it was not the architecture, location, or size of the house that mattered, it was the special things ~ small things ~ I surrounded myself with that turned that house into a home.
I challenge you to take a fresh look at your house today. Are things cluttered? dirty? boring? Clean out! Clean up! You know, I can't tell you the number of women who, when they see a beautiful, clean, organized house, say: "That's nice, but my house is not my priority," then they recite all of their duties as a room mother, church worker, volunteer, etc. Ladies! Keeping a clean, polished, pretty and organized house does not mean that your home is your number one priority! All it means is that you care enough about your family ... and even yourself ... to make the homeplace the best that it can be. What's wrong with that? Is your family worth it? I hope you think they are!
Come now, and let me share my world ~ my home ~ with you. Along the way, I'll point out my very favorite things and share some quick and easy decorating ideas.
PLEASURES OF THE PORCH
I love to sit on the porch. Early in the morning, the birds ~ doves, mockingbirds, sparrows, cardinals, woodpeckers, and bluejays ~ chirp out the prettiest symphony (listen to my birds) , and late in the evening one may hear the faint sound of a whipoorwhill off in the distance (hear the whipporwhill) , or maybe a mockingbird holding out for a late night beneath the light of a streetlamp.
In addition to a couple of old benches and two garden chairs, I have a picnic table on my porch. I like to periodically change the tablecloth to match the current season or holiday. There is a pot of geraniums, and an old oil lamp filled with liquid Citronella, on the table. The oil lamp looks so cozy at night when lit! At the far end of my porch is lush Confederate Jasimine growing on lattice, and a pot of green-and-white Caladium on either side of my front door. A large wicker basket sits on one of the old benches and serves as the mailbox.
I use my porch every day and especially enjoy taking a pot of afternoon tea there while reading. Learn more about the time I spend "Out On The Porch."
~ Remember, the mood on a porch should be comfy and informal.
~ Shop secondhand stores and tag sales for old linens to use as table coverings.
~ Consider covering a porch opening with lattice, and plant a fast-growing climbing flower or vine.
THE DINING ROOM
My cherish in the dining room is an old, pine dining table. It was purchased many years ago as a piece of unfinished furniture, and was later stained it a warm, honey pine. It has acquired a lovely patina over time. Adding to its charm are my son's initials which, as a six-year old, he carved onto the tabletop at "his" place! I will never remove that artwork!
~ Don't hide the beauty of your wood table under fancy tablecloths except for special occasions.
~ Use this space throughout the day, not just in the evening. I like to eat Saturday breakfast or brunch at the dining table.
~ Enhance your chandelier by topping the bulbs with miniature shades. I use white in summer, and black in winter. Put your chandelier on a dimmer switch ~ dim the lights when you sit down to dinner, even when dining alone. Set the tone for your meal and your mind-set!
~ Don't be so predictable! Unify two different style dining chairs by slipcovering the seats in the same fabric. Or vary matching chairs by recovering seats with different fabrics or mismatched seat cushions.
THE LIVING ROOM
The actual area of the living room is small, but that's okay. This is "my" space, where I can escape to read, cross-stitch, or watch a favorite video, something like "Lawrence of Arabia" or "The Shell Seekers". It was rather easy turning this room into a private space ~ instead of a long sofa where teenage boys could stretch out, I instead furnished it with a small loveseat, just big enough for me!
And you won't find a Lazy Boy recliner here. (You know, the kind "they" like to flop in while watching endless hours of ESPN?) No, I have two upright, wingback chairs, and they don't find them very comfortable. So far, so good!
A very unique feature in my living room are two of my favorite quotations which I had an artist friend stencil in beautiful lettering on the walls. The first, "Love is Heaven and Heaven is Love", from a poem by Sir Walter Scott, is stenciled above the brickwork of my fireplace. The second, "Take Time For All Things"
My favorite piece of furniture in this room is the old, wood desk. It is rather plain, so I turned it into something a bit more interesting by having a piece of desk glass cut for the top. Beneath the glass are postcards from all over the world ~ Dublin, Copenhagen, Paris, Berlin, London, Roatan (Honduras), Singapore, Rome! It's so colorful, and an instant conversation starter. Whenever I have family, friends, or co-workers traveling abroad, I ask them to send me a postcard ... it's a fun and inexpensive collection!
~ When accessorizing the top of any table, think of it as an empty canvas on which you can apply colors, shapes, and textures. Put low objects towards the front and tall ones toward the back.
~ Put a big bowl or basket on your coffee table and fill it with family photos that haven't yet been put into albums. Not only is it a fun and easy accessory, it's a great memory jogger.
THE KITCHEN
My kitchen is very, very spacious. I think it was one of the major selling points of this house. It is located in the "center" of the house, and is just a terrific place to cook, eat, and entertain. While it is true that a kitchen should foremost be efficient with regard to placement of appliances, etc., I think the most important aspect of any kitchen is just that it be a place you love to be.
My kitchen has a black-and-white checkerboard (on the diagonal) tiled floor. The original walls were 1950-ish knotty pine which had turned over the years into an awful "orange" color. The first thing I did after moving in was to paint the walls a cheery yellow. "Golden Laughter" was the name of the paint, and it sums up the essence of that room. The yellow walls and white trim are very cheerful indeed, as are the pine cabinets which I left in their natural state. The countertop is black "slate," a choice I have never regretted.
My favorite thing in the kitchen is the antique kitchen table which, for many years, was in pieces in a cardboard box. The table was a family heirloom. I carted the box of legs, leaves, and aprons to a local furniture refinisher and asked him to work his magic. What a surprise it was when I picked up the finished piece ~ a beautiful round dining table of rich, dark wood. Often, as I walk by, I can't resist just running my hand over the tabletop, the wood is so smooth and sleek.
It doesn't necessarily take any major work to turn your kitchen into a room that you'll love to be in. Sometimes, new paint, a different centerpiece on the table, or just a good cleaning can spruce things up! Think of your kitchen as a "cafe," not just as a place to cook and wash dishes. Showcase a collection ~ baskets, teacups, old plates. Before you know it, you'll be spending more time in your kitchen, and less time ordering take-out!
~Store a collection of clean, glass pitchers on top of the refrigerator.~I have a pretty glass bottle, very inexpensive, on the counter next to my sink and have filled it with liquid dish soap. This also makes a very nice hostess gift.
~Hang some whimsical artwork on the wall... Enjoy your kitchen!
MY BEDROOM
The only furniture in my bedroom is a lovely poster bed, painted a soft ivory, and a white antique four-drawer chest which serves as the dresser; an old mirror hangs above it. I have a small tea table next to my side of the bed, set with the telephone, bedside lamp, and all the books I am currently (supposed to be) reading.
As with the desk in my living room, I have covered the top of my dresser with glass and beneath it are ticket stubs from plays, concerts, and other special events to remind me of those good times. I may also tuck some old stamps or pictures under the glass. It's a virtual kaleidescope of my life.
Although I have a very, very small bedroom, this intimate setting is my treasured sacred place. I think the coziness of its size contributes to that feeling. My bedroom is furnished very simply, kept clean and tidy, and is the one place in the house that is always still and quiet. After all, our bedrooms should be places where we feel welcome and rested.
My very favorite ~ most favorite ~ thing is reading in bed. Sometimes, in the fall or winter when it turns dark early in the evening, I'll take an early dinner, put on my pajamas, lay a tea tray, gather an armful of magazines, newspapers, or other reading material, and spend the rest of the evening in absolute heaven. This is a soothing way to end the day.
~Tie bouquets of your favorite dried flowers to the bedposts with a pretty piece of ribbon~A favorite goblet filled with a single flower won't break your budget and is a wonderful view to wake up to when placed on your nightstand
~A picture of yourself as a child in the bedroom will bring back happy memories
BATHROOMS
There are two full bathrooms in our home. One is used mainly by my young adult daughter, the other is used primarily by me. There's not too much I can say about decorating a bathroom, except that all of the same design rules apply to that room as to any other.
A bathroom should be immaculate, smell nice, and be attractive to the eye. I like to see beautifully framed prints on bathroom walls, fancy frames around the mirror, and pretty towels and small bowls of soap or potpourri on the vanity. I even have a very small lamp in one of my bathrooms. There are so, so many lovely bathroom accessories on the market today that it is very easy to turn your bathroom into something special.
The bathrooms in our house are very small. It amazes me to visit show homes and discover just how big some bathrooms are these days! They
are nice, but the bigger they are, the more it takes to keep them clean. *grin*
I'll live with my tiny bathrooms, thank you.
I change the design elements in my main bathroom to coincide with the seasons. In spring and summer, I usually go with a white theme. When fall arrives (yippee!), I change out the shower curtain, throw rugs, window treatment, and wall prints to something darker and "warmer." Doing something like this will help keep your bathroom from becoming a boring and uninviting place to be.
~Store your personal items and appliances in bathroom cabinets or closets. If you have the room, a small chest or cabinet will add a touch of charm as well as storage space.~I love white towels ~ not only are they economical, but you can bleach and bleach and bleach them and they will always look new and fresh. They really are a wiser investment than colored towels which, eventually, will fade.
~Paint clouds on the ceiling so you can look up from the tub and feel you're outside.
THE DEN
A den, or family room, or whatever you wish to call it, should be the one room in your home where you can kick off your shoes, sprawl out on the sofa, hoard the remote control (or the computer), and just relax. Our den is such a place. Here, we don't even try to hide all the equipment ~ computer, TV, VCR ... anyone can "plug in" and it feels alright.
Our den has white tongue-and-groove paneling (knotty pine, which I painted a soft white), rich pewter gray trim, white berber carpet (the only room in the house with carpeting), and black mini-blinds covering the windows. There is a small fireplace, made of red brick. I "sponge painted" the brick with a solution of equal parts white latex paint and water and the effect is lovely, very soft. We have a queen-size sofa-sleeper covered in a masculine plaid which really comes in handy for overnight guests. This has become a very used, and a very versatile room.
This is by far the most masculine room in the house. A collection of Ducks Unlimited guns and decoys are the focal point of the room. Also displayed here are mounted birds (green wing teal, bufflehead, and ptarmigan), hunting souviners from Alaska days. I hope your den is a fun gathering place for your family and friends, too.
~Have a game or card table where the whole family can work on a puzzle or play a board game together.
~Treat your bookshelves to beautiful books! Put all the hardcover books together, removing the jackets and pulling spines flush to the edge of the shelf. Stack large books horizontally on shelves or a coffee table. Place a pretty book on a plate stand, letting its cover face forward.
~Decorative tassels (I love them!) add color and class. Hang one from a lamp, candlestick holder, ceiling fan, or a key in a chest or secretary.
Two Words: The Queen! (Martha Stewart Living)
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"To Adam, Paradise was home.
to the good among his descendants,
home is Paradise."
~Hare
~ LINKS ~
Home & Garden Television
American Society of Interior Designers
Southern Living Magazine
Kitchens, Bedrooms & Bathrooms Magazine
Country Living Magazine
The following books are on my bookshelf and I recommend them highly to those of you interested in the art of creating a beautiful home. Some of the content of this page was inspired by material in these books:
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