SAVVY SPACES

My Home is my Diary

Reflections on Reflection

by Debbie Lane of Park Lane Estates

If a mirror provides a reflection of how we appear on the outside, maybe a home provides a reflection of how we appear on the inside.

The place I live is a collection of momentos, photographs, hand-me-downs, art, craft, travel treasures, even the occasional on-sale mistake records and represents my moods, aspirations, future and past. That sounds serious but in fact it’s joyous – domestic place-making is a daily creative endeavour that keeps me constantly switched on to sights and sounds beyond my white brick house on Summer Breeze Court.

In 2017 I decided to sell a tidy ranch home that I’d perfectly customised to reflect my style and way of life. I’d raised a son and grown my real estate business in that house. While it was full-tobursting with memories, unique design features and comforting familiarity - it was a naturally dark space and what once felt cozy, had begun to feel gloomy and stale. I decided I’d not only build, but that I would design and influence every aspect of the build.

Five years on, and I live in a light, modern but classically-inspired home – a place that celebrates my ever-growing collection of compelling original art and quirky cherished objects. As a real estate agent, I advise sellers to remove the personal from the property they seek to sell (good advice) but as a home- owner my advice is personalize

your space Lean into at every turn. the natural de-

sire to make

your home a reflection of who you are, where you’ve been and where you’re going. (But be ready to edit, store and de-clutter when it comes time to sell). I hope my love of Naples, Florida is apparent in my Ohio home. For me, Florida is not sail boats, palm trees and sand. Florida’s ‘Neapolitan’ vibe is all about light, reflection and the archetypal if not slightly rogue detail. For example, my favorite local hot spot in Naples is a place called Barbatella, a ‘spirited Italian trattoria.’ (https://barbatellanaples.com/see-inside) Its intimate bar features a rich green wall covered in ceiling medallions. One scrolling embellished circle after another gives the wall unexpected texture and a wonderful rhythm. I borrowed this design detail; numerous, beautiful circular ceiling medallions of varying sizes and designs are perfectly placed above a sitting room adjacent to the master suite of my Lima home. This relatively simple but ultimately spectacular design

feature reminds me of good times and good company, often over a cup of early morning coffee. Whether from a yard sale at Indian Lake or back-street boutique in London, collecting when you’re traveling is the best way to enliven the space you call home. Constantly gathering objects, ideas and art from outside your zip code will ensure that your house serves as a place of inspiration. Don’t we all want to look across our sitting room and feel a little rush of adrenaline as we’re reminded of the first time an object caught our eye? Along with high ceilings and large windows, I’ve used white to reflect the incoming light throughout my home. French oak flooring, Quartzite counters and a glass back splash – all sourced from shops in Naples – serve as a pure canvas for my assemblage of images, paintings, prints and sculptures. From drawings of ballet dancers my father bought me when I was a teen, to a ceramic piece covered in iridescent pond animals bought at a gallery in Montana while on vacation with my son, I’ve spent a lifetime collecting visual embellishments that boldly punctuate the lightness of my home. The effect feels invigorating. At different times of day, depending on the angle of the sun, collected art and objects look renewed, changed, other-worldly. While I’m grateful and pleased when visitors to my home compliment the space I’ve created, ultimately I’m always seeking to please an audience of just one. I’m the resident critic, and ensuring that the aesthetic delights, comforts and inspires me, is what this place called home is all about.

Favorite Space

Charmed Chairs

My favorite space is one of the smallest. The sitting room off my bedroom is a place of perpetual happiness. Designed with only one thing in mind – quiet contemplation – this is where I find peace over a cup of coffee.

Playing with proportion, I installed an enormous ceiling light in this petite room – like a planet, it’s a sun shining over my most personal of spaces. Two chairs and a table are the only furniture. But they aren’t just any chairs. I found these on a curb near my home on Nixon Avenue many years ago. It was a time when money was tight – these stunning art deco-style shell chairs came to me like a gift from the design Gods. They’ve been reupholstered no less than three times, and wherever I go, these chairs will come too.