Off my foyer is my dining room. Even though eight years ago wallpaper was still thought of as the red headed step child, I knew I wanted to mix-up my wall treatments. Not until after the embossed crushed glass design was hung did I realize my husband’s first initial, D, was staring back me. I let him think it is ‘Dave’s Dining Room’ despite the fact that I don’t always include him in the design of it. He’s always fought my urge to paint ‘perfectly good wood.’ Thankfully he has yet to notice both the recently blue painted sideboard and black painted dining chairs. I love filling our home with special pictures and pieces that have meaning behind them. Beyond our dining doorway I have pictures of eye catching historical architecture taken on our recent European vacation. Passing through our living room a bazillion times a day I am continually reminded of the full circle moment I’ve taken. Most of my guests assume that I painted the geometric focus wall when I in fact I didn’t. Instead, this wall was painted by fellow faux finishing friends, Marie Joe Bouffard and Julia Dunn while I was on my design hiatus. I never in a million years thought I would be able to let other artists put their signatures on what I thought was only my canvas but because I was so done at that time that it was both freeing and refreshing and I still love it. I did swish my paintbrush on the oversized canvas above my fireplace to add some color and movement to the space. Mixing old with new and contrasting modern with shabby creates interest in my rooms and typifies my own personality. I loved the blingey cross attached to a belt that my friends gave me for my birthday years ago but hated that it would be hidden away in my closet when not wearing, therefore, I decided to accessorize my pillow with it so I can see it everyday. As you can see I embraced the tranquil shade of blue grey for my 42
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master bedroom too. Even though masters across the county share this sanctuary shade I still truly love the tranquility it provides. I’m a big believer in keeping the master bedroom a retreat for my husband and I. There have been a night or two when kids have found themselves in our bed but photos and children memorabilia have been kept to a minimum in order to keep the focus on us. Pictures of us through the years are scattered as well as the first pair of Austrian crystal earrings that now accessorize the bolster pillows on my bench. My husband once frowned upon the upholstered chairs prior to their makeover. This dynamic duo was found in the midst of a mafia owned (my guess) hardware store cover in Chicago that was full of every household item soup to nuts, including these previously covered yellow vinyl beauties. Other momentos include my grandmother’s mirror, my husband’s grandmother’s rosary, an Eiffel tower, coral from Florida getaways and a few mossy limbs from my back yard. A true retreat for me is found out on my back porch sitting on my chaise that was found at Brentwood’s Fresh Style. Relaxing, reading, talking on the phone surrounded by the outdoors and the positive quotations in my midst creates an ‘It’s All Good’ peaceful easy feeling. Most people that know me know that I try to keep it real. Therefore, I thought showing you how my teenagers choose to live despite better training from their mother, drives that home. Due to the unsuccessful attempts to get them on my tidy train, I have decided to let them be their own train wreck teen selves. I don’t understand it and don’t get it and yet I now smile to myself wistfully, that one day I might just miss it. Back to prettier points of interest…. I love my old door or