I was just watching the news (something you shouldn’t do if you want to sleep at night). I thought, with all the turmoil going on in the world, where does one go to find some peace and serenity. Besides turning to our faiths and families, our homes are our sanctuaries as well. Be it, a one room rental or a mega-mansion, those 4 walls and a roof provide respite from a crazy world. I think that’s why we love to decorate and beautify our homes so much. It’s the one place we can retreat to, and have all of our comforting, calming and beautiful things surround us. This gives us that sense of joy, well being and security. But, our homes are much more, psychologically, emotionally, and physically…
Our homes are places to…
- Find Refuge
- Retreat to
- Renew and refresh
- Reflect on our lives
- Resolve to better ourselves
- Remember our past
- Redream our future
- Rediscover ourselves
- Reconnect with family and friends
- Redesign and decorate our environment for the comfort and joy of ourselves and families.
So, home is much more than a place to eat, sleep, watch HGTV and play video games. It’s a place you long for when away, and love more when you stay. Let your home inspire you to provide that sancturary of peace, rest and beauty for you and your family. It may not change the world situation, but your perspective on the world will be more positive and optimistic. That’s something we all could use a little more of, especially me.
Here’s some “HOMEwork”…love to hear your thoughts…
- What makes ” Home Sweet Home” for you?
- What things in your home, besides your family, brings you joy and happiness?
- Add to the ”Re” asons list above, of what your homes mean to you (they have to start with “Re”, can you think of any more)?
Now, go hug your home, and the people in it!
(click on photos to enlarge)
1. Refresh is my word to add Cathy. My home is where I am able to refresh myself and also a place I hope offers some refreshment to others when they visit. “She who refreshes others will herself be refreshed” is a proverb I’m keeping in mind this year.
by Joan — 1/18/09 at 10:21 am #
2. That is so true…sometimes when the families leave to form families of their own…your home means even more…..
Its a comforting blanket to wrap around you in a cold world.
It’s the holder of your “happy stuff”.
It is the home they come home to for dinners or holidays.
It becomes “Grandma’s Place”
It certainly is more than floors and walls, Cathy, it’s our nest and an expression of our lives.
Thanks for reminding us that it does mean so much.
by Julie — 1/18/09 at 7:34 pm #
3. Rest! This easily lies under the “renew and refresh” category, and it’s one of my favorite things to do
And as for what makes makes my home sweet? I love coming home to a clean house. I have a hard time relaxing when I’m living in clutter.
by Kelly K — 1/19/09 at 11:30 pm #
4. Hi Cathy!
What puts the ’sweet’ into ‘home sweet home’ for me is always keeping before me the knowledge that we are SO blessed — from us “crazy about each other” parents; to a brood of kidlets who get the stuffing “squeezed outta them with love” like every kiddo deserves. It’s a humble nest, but, it’s jammed-packed with family treasure. You ask what things in my home, besides my family brings me joy & happiness? Oh, that’s easy………it’s all about the Lord who keeps me tickin’ out the days after Him! :o) Be it every so humble, there’s NO place like home Cathy!! :o)
God Bless, Barbra.
by Barbra — 1/20/09 at 1:11 am #
5. Hi Joan,
Refresh is a great word to add to the list. We all need refreshment everyday, as well as our ability to help refresh, encourage and replenish others. I love your proverb about refreshing others will in turn revive yourself…profound!
by Cathy — 1/20/09 at 5:18 pm #
6. Hi Julie,
Thanks for your wonderful thoughts on home. Our Homes are the container of our lives. We have the ability to add and subtract what goes in to it most of the time. Your thoughts of home are warm and comforting. May your home always provide you with peace, happiness, and love.
LYC
by Cathy — 1/20/09 at 5:31 pm #
7. Hello Kelly,
That’s a great word…Rest… It was on my list, also Relaxation. I must have had too many “RE’s” floating around in my head to REmember.
Yes, I do like a home that’s clean and uncluttered too. It RElieves alot of stress and mental commotion. But , sometimes “clutter happens”!
So glad you REvisited the site. Write back soon!
by Cathy — 1/20/09 at 5:45 pm #
8. Ohhh Barbra,
Those were Home Sweet Home words. What a wonderful family you have. I can hear it in your voice. That’s what makes a house a home, love for family, faith, friends, and feelings. They can pull us through anything. Enjoy that wonderful family of yours and many blessings to you always.
Love your great writing style. Write again soon.
by Cathy — 1/20/09 at 6:00 pm #
9. Hi Cathy, where are all these cute cottages located? I would love to find an area by the beach to take my Mother so we can walk and enjoy the scenery of the beach and beach style cottages. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Vivian
by Vivian — 2/10/09 at 11:34 pm #
10. Hello Vivian,
You and your Mom will love to go wandering around near the beach in Orange County, Ca. There are so many adorable cottages and bungalows to dream over. I make a day of it and pretend they are mine. LOL. Some good areas to look are on Balboa Island, Newport Beach, Corona Del Mar, and Laguna Beach. Those are my favorites, but I’m sure there are more I haven’t discovered yet. It’s great fun to look and dream. Have a great time and let me know if you find some other great areas.
Enjoy, wish I was going with you!
by Cathy — 2/11/09 at 8:00 pm #
11. Cathy, those homes are heavenly. As you know, I live on the river. Although our river community has many nice cottages, they are a bit on the rustic side. My friend June is trying to decorate her small cottage in a style that reflects her love of nature, especially birds and things pertaining to a river lifestyle. I’m not good at this type decor, so could you share some advice that I could relay to help her with her decorating? Her floor plan is very open and she has plank floors throughout. Since her furniture and walls are in a neutral color (beige), she is open to many possibilities for artwork and accessories. Could you present some ideas for decorating the inside, as well as the outside? She has beautiful wooden decks overlooking the river (one covered and screened in and one not). She (and I) don’t have a clue as to how to create a stunning look for these spaces. Any advice you could impart would help her, I’m sure. You have certainly helped me get my home in tip-top shape, for which I’m grateful.
by Janice — 5/13/09 at 1:02 am #
12. Hi Janice,
Good to hear from you! I hope things are going well for you. How nice you’re helping your friend with her home. You’ve done such a great job on your house you should be a pro by now. I’d love to help with a few ideas for her. Can you give me a little more info? What style does she like (more of a country feel with her love of nature)? What “color feel” does she want (cool blues, warm golds, mellow neutrals, fun and colorful etc)? What furnishings and colors does she have and want to keep? How much natural light does she get in her home? What type of budget (little, medium, the-sky’s-the-limit…we wish)? Does she have an “inspiration piece” to work from (area rug, piece of art, pretty fabric, place she’s traveled to, etc)? So, if you could give me a little more to work with, that might help me better, give her a little direction.
Thanks so much for your kind words. Until I hear from you again, take care.
by Cathy — 5/13/09 at 8:16 pm #
13. Tha;nks for offering to help my friend. She likes a casual, homey feel, but not “cutesy” country. Perhaps modern country is the correct term. She likes my French Country/tropical style but doesn’t think bird prints, and natural elements would work in her space, since the inside and outside of her home is more rustic than mine. She prefers warm colors for the main living areas –living room, dining room and kitchen but would consider using cooler colors for the bedrooms, or should I say lighter colors. She tells me that fun and colorful is more to her liking than traditional or stuffy decor. Her furniture (couch) is called transitional, I think — not too contemporary and not too traditional. It’s a very neutral couch, on the same style that I have. She has some beautiful Audobon prints, a grandfather clock, and even some nice dog prints stored away. Those prints look English country to me. She also has some nice blue and white porcelain pieces (dishes, platters, etc.) also packed away. So, you can see, she has a lot of stuff but doesn’t know which to use — or what direction to take. There is a fireplace in the living room. She has an antique oak dining table. Her kitchen appliances are white and the cabinets are a medium-tone wood, which could be repainted. Floors throughout her home are wooden. There are a lot of windows in the space, with a sliding glass door in the kitchen/dining area, which overlooks the river. Oh, yes, she has some great dishes, with black roosters on some and white chickens on some. I think the pattern is Devonshire, very English looking, and they’re displayed in an open hutch. Like myself, she loves red for an accent color. Where my home looks more French in style, hers looks more cottagey. There is a screened-in porch that needs furniture and a definite style. She can’t decide if she wants something in wicker (white or natural) or maybe some pieces that look like they came from a flea market (an eclectic assortment). As I said, this is a river house and I think the style should fit the location. But, that’s just me. What do I know?!? LOL I have a French chateau on the river, so evidently I don’t follow my own advice. I remember her saying that she would love to have a little place that would look like a cottage on a Christmas card, if that makes sense. I know I’ve written a book but I’ve tried to give a little description of her lifestyle. Thanks for any advice you can give to my friend.
by Janice — 5/14/09 at 12:53 am #
14. Hello Janice,
Thanks for more info. on your friends house. It sure sounds darling with a rustic river feel.
You say, she would like an updated country feel. That’s always fresh, but warm and welcoming. What wonderful English touches she has and would look great in her home. Here’s what I came up with for her style… Clean English River Cottage Style. Sounds fun, huh. I think I’ll just list a few things I see in this style, and she can interpret it as she sees fit.
BACKGROUNDS…
I’m seeing light colored walls, even white if they have paneling, trim and moldings, for texture not color. Keep a wall or two that rustic wood feel, to contrast the white walls. Ceilings, keep natural wood paneled and beamed. Her wood floors are great. Add sisal or woven natural area rugs to living and dining areas. She could add random sizes and shapes of a natural stone (flagstone, limestone, slate etc.) to the entry and maybe bathrooms. Rock a fireplace in river rock and add a heavy timber mantel.
INTERIORS…
She has a neutral sofa. She could add some comfy slip covered club chairs in a colorful English floral chintz. This fabric would be her” inspiration piece” for colors and patterns in the rest of the room(s). She could even pull a light color from the print for her wall color if not white. From this fabric, pick a color/pattern and add maybe a striped drapery to the windows. Use woven bamboo shades for light control under the drapery. Add the floral chintz and the stripe fabric for pillows on the solid sofa. Drape a pretty throw or quilt over the arm of the sofa.
CASE PIECES AND TABLES…
Mix and mismatch here. Mix white painted tables with natural wood or other painted pieces. Find some antiques or old furniture and leave some as-is and paint others to mix it up a bit for interest and that collected look. Mix pieces in the dining room as well. Use her antique oak table with a mixed set of painted chairs. Maybe put the stripe from the living room drapery on the dining chair seats, and the floral chintz (living room chairs) on the drapery in the dining room.
ACCESSORIZE…
She has some great accessories. Hang those Audubon prints in a series together in the living room over the stone fireplace or large wall, and maybe the dog prints in the dining room (very English). Also hang the blue and white china over a doorway or arched over the grandfather clock on a wall. Add fresh flowers to the rooms (English love their flowers). Add ambient, task and accent lighting to make the room “shine” at night. Don’t overdo, you want a clean uncluttered look.
KITCHEN…
She could paint her cabinets a white color or leave as-is and add color from her rooster and chicken dishes. Maybe add a red wall in there.
BEDROOMS…
She could find another English chintz pattern and create the rooms around that…wall color, bedding, accents all from the one print. Prints and patterns are a great way to begin a design theme for a room.
There are a few ideas to get you thinking. I’ll address her outside areas in another post…remind me. I just wanted her to get a “feel” first of what she likes and wants. Look in magazines with her style and see how designers pull a room together. Pick the room apart, by colors, furnishings, fabrics and see why they choose what they did. It’s a good exercise to do.
Let me know what you think!
by Cathy — 5/14/09 at 5:12 pm #
15. WOW, Cathy, I want to live in THAT house. June was delighted with the information and suggestions that you shared. She was inspired to unpack some of her treasures and get started. I look forward to helping her, and I also appreciate your helpful advice. By the way, I forgot to answer your question concerning her budget. Like mine, it is rather modest but she and I enjoy flea markets, yard sales, etc., so we have a lot of fun. And, we know that money doesn’t have anything to do with taste — thank goodness. LOL Do you envision anything special for her deck and screened-in porch, Cathy? The outside of her home is rustic — brown wood — and the home has a tin roof. In addition to the river, our homes are in a forest setting. Thanks again!
by Janice — 5/14/09 at 10:48 pm #
16. Cathy, I ‘m sorry to keep bugging you but I forgot to mention something relating to my own home. As you know, I like to change things for the seasons. For the king-size bed in our master bedroom, I have a beautiful aqua coverlet (solid color) that I’d like to use for summer. In this room, I have a triple dresser (New French style) that is in a pale golden yellow finish, and slightly distressed. It sits directly across from the bed (iron, arched headboard), and between two tall windows. The mirror of the dresser is on the solid wall between the windows, and almost touches the ceiling. The top of the mirror has a carved inverted shell medallion that I really like. When I purchased this piece at an auction, I had planned to re-paint it in a cream finish, but when I got it home, I decided I liked it like it was. When I say the style is New French, I mean that the base looks like a credenza and the piece is “chunky,” not provencial. Anway, with ivory walls and wood laminate flooring, it’s a pretty neutral room. Could you tell me what type and color window treatments I need for the two tall windows on either side of the dresser. And, does the aqua coverlet even go with the color of the dresser? If so, how should I dress the bed? I just have white sheets and the coverlet so far. Since the iron headboard is arched, I have three botanical prints hung above it, the center print being a little higher than the ones on either side. One print has white roses and the others have pink roses, and the mats are in a paisley aqua print. I have an occasional chair (French in style) that I got from the Goodwill for $8.00. The bones are good, and it will be easy to recover, as I’ll only have to recover the seat, back and arms. The rest is wood (curved legs and carvings on part of the arms). With all the information I’ve provided, could you give me your suggestions for the window treatments, fabric for the chair, and other accessories, especially pillows for the bed — that is, assuming that the aqua coverlet will work with the yellow dresser. Thanks a million!
by Janice — 5/15/09 at 4:56 pm #
17. Hi Janice and June,
I’m glad the information got your taste-buds-wet. Sometimes just a fresh perspective is all you need to get going.
As for her deck and screened-in porch, I think stay with that rustic English country style. Think Adirondack chairs or wicker with an outdoor English chintz fabric for cushions or pillows. Add in a stripe as well. Add a wood table and chairs. Maybe an outdoor area rug that you can stencil a pattern from the fabric on the chairs. Maybe some outdoor drapery for fun and function (shade). (Read my new post for budget friendly ways to dress up the patio. It will be posted tomorrow. Titled “10 Cheap-Chic Ways to Repurpose a Patio”. It might give you a few more ideas to work with).
Also, Add lots of flowers (you know the English and their flower gardens…). How about a water feature? Make one out of river rocks. The forest setting is a wonderful background for your style.
I see more rustic furnishings with English accents and fabrics on them. Accessorize with English plates, weathered urns, vintage garden tools, lattice or trellis on the walls with a collection of vintage garden hats hanging on it. An old bench or footstools for coffee table. I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea.
I think you’ll both have fun decorating the house. Start with an inspiration piece and run with it. (that could be a chintz fabric or whatever inspires your design.)
I’m anxious to hear how it progresses. Keep me posted.
Have fun with that great project!
by Cathy — 5/16/09 at 6:39 pm #
18. Hi Janice,
Your bedroom sounds so nice. I love all the great looking pieces you’ve blended together. What a fun room. The colors are great, just add a “tieing” fabric to pull those colors together, with the aqua coverlet, pale yellow dresser and cream walls. Your French style also plays into the feel as well. I’m thinking of a print or patterned fabric that has the aqua, yellow and cream colors together, for your draperies and you could also cover your chair with it and add a pillow on the bed. Maybe a stripe or a floral with a French feel. I think that would work well and coordinate the room nicely. Let me see if I can come up with an example for you and you look as well.
As for style of window treatments, I always like long drapery in the bedroom. If you don’t have a lot of wall space between the dresser and window, hang one panel each on the outside edges of the two windows. You could tie them back or let them hang straight. They can be fully closing or you can add a shade or blinds to the windows for light control.
Let me know what you think…you just have to find the right fabric to pull it together.
by Cathy — 5/18/09 at 4:45 pm #
19. I’m sorry for the delay in responding, Cathy. I’ve been having computer problems. As always, you offer the best advice, and June and I are most grateful for your help. I always try to complicate things, and when you said all I needed for my bedroom was the right fabric, I immediately knew that was the right way to go. I don’t have a lot of wall space between the dresser and the window, so I will do as you said. When you said that I could add a shade or blind for light control, it needs to be ivory, right? Thanks so much for your help.
by janice — 5/23/09 at 12:58 am #
20. Hi Janice,
I’m glad I could help you and June. I want to hear what the two of you do in her house. I’m sure it will be great!
As for the shade or blinds for your windows, I do like a white or ivory color, unless they are a patterned shade from the room, then you can line them in a white. This keeps a unified look to the outside of your home if the windows are seen from the outside. Also, if the blinds are strictly for light control, attention is not drawn to them. White is always right here. Draw your eye to the decorative elements in the room.
Take care and keep me posted on who’s divinely decorating on the river.
by Cathy — 5/26/09 at 3:11 pm #