With our recent chilly weather, we are getting good use out of the multiple fireplaces at our 1910 home. Fireplaces in the mid to later 19th century were a way to heat houses.

Many of the original fireplaces were restored and upgraded during the renovation. There is a total of 5 indoors~~ in the breakfast room, dining room, living room, library and upstairs sitting room. The two exterior fireplaces were added when we designed the outdoor terraces.

After doing some research, I believe the shallow ones are known as Rumford fireplaces.

The Rumford fireplace is a tall, shallow fireplace designed by Sir Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford, an Anglo-American physicist best known for his investigations of heat. He made them smaller and shallower with widely angled covings so they would radiate better, carrying away smoke with little loss of heated room air.

A good example of this style is the one in the upstairs sitting room. It is small and shallow. Here is a picture of it before restoration. The tiles around the opening were narrow, white ones that were chipped and damaged.

We replaced the tiles with green, crackled glazed ones from Waterworks. I have converted this room into my art room and it has been lovely to paint with a fire going.

The original fireplace in the library was okay, but I wanted the library to be dark and cozy. I replaced the original mantel with an antique one and changed out the tiles for a deep, burgundy crackled glazed tile from Waterworks. Years later, I was tired of the dark look and brightened it up with new paint and upholstery.

The library fireplace today.

The current breakfast room fireplace location was part of the original kitchen. The chimney was there but nothing else. See the big vent in the photo below. We added on a new kitchen and used this chimney access for a new fireplace.

What I love about this particular fireplace is that it is on a wall switch starter. It is the first one we turn on to warm up the kitchen. I have fond memories of the children sitting on the hearth drinking cocoa before school.

My unofficial office is at the breakfast room table where I get to enjoy this as my working view. The Batchelder tiles used here came from the original library fireplace.

The dining room fireplace tiles were painted black and once stripped, revealed the same Batchelder tiles from the early 1900s.

In order to comply with City of Phoenix building codes, we had to add gas starters to all the fireplaces during restoration. In the shallow fireplaces, we have ceramic faux logs, which is easier to use than building a wood fire every time.

The living room fireplace tiles were also painted black. Must have been a thing back then? It has the largest opening and as a result, we left it as a wood burning one.

The outdoor fireplaces are new…well, now 20 years old. They share the same chimney. The first floor terrace fireplace is dry stacked stone and during many winter evenings, we have a roaring fire to enjoy.

The second floor terrace fireplace is not used enough, but when lit, it can be seen from the master bed.

There is something very primal about lighting a fire. I could spend hours watching the flames dance and flicker. When I need a moment of quiet contemplation, doing so in front of a fire fills my soul.

Count Rumsford designed these shallow fireplaces in 1796. This design is still used 224 years later! Isn’t that amazing?

Have a wonderful Tuesday! Hope you are staying warm!

Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that’s the stuff life is made of.  ~~Benjamin Franklin

Holiday decorations started coming down yesterday. It is tradition to leave them up until the Epiphany (January 6th). Technically, my “new” year starts this week. It feels good to get back into a schedule!

Here are my top priorities for 2020!

Being more organized and efficient.

Perhaps my most productive time in life was when I was working in corporate America and the senior management team had to go through the Covey Leadership 3-day seminar. Who remembers the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People? For years I used this system and it was brilliant.

I decided to implement this again. The action of writing it down seems to keep me on task. Doing it on a computer or phone doesn’t give me the same sense of commitment. If I can stick to this for 2020, it will be a highly productive year.

Upping my exercise routine.

My family genetics tends to favor plump vs. lean and as a result, I have exercised most of my life. Currently, I do Pilates twice per week and go to the gym 2-3 days a week. I am reading the book, Younger Next Year (which I highly recommend for anyone over 50) which provides compelling information on how to live brilliantly for the next 3 decades or more. If you are interested in turning back the biological clock, this is for you!

Just remember….The human body is the ONLY machine that breaks down if you don’t use it. Sitting is the new smoking. Move. Get up and get active. Become engaged. Let’s encourage each other!

Tackling a few BIG house projects is a must in 2020.

The barn, guest cottage and well tower need exterior maintenance~~painting, staining, etc. The garage is going to be my January/February project~~what a mess that is. The back staircase that I wrote about months ago, still hasn’t been completed. The front fountain needs significant repair. The priority to-do list is currently being created. However, I don’t want to feel overwhelmed or financially drained so I am spreading out the projects over the course of the year.

Act like a tourist locally.

When my son is in town, we do more local, fun things that we didn’t know existed. Benjamin has an ongoing list of places he wants to visit. But when he is not here, we tend to get stuck in our comfort zone~~same restaurants, same destinations, same, same, same. I would like to, at least monthly or quarterly, try something/someplace/some destination that is NEW to us.

Appreciation, Gratitude and Kindness.

The world has become such an ugly place, hasn’t it? I feel we need to do our part to seek the beauty and loveliness of life. There seems to be so much hatred out there. I don’t know of anyone who has made a good decision based on hateful emotions.

So please join me in being the force that makes a difference. When someone is rude to you, don’t be rude back. If someone is frowning, smile at them. If someone is spewing political abhorrence, don’t give them an audience. Kind and loving gestures are FREE and have rewarding results for all!

Updating My Blog and Website

I have so enjoyed writing this blog and for the last few years. It’s been personally rewarding and worthwhile. I can’t even begin to tell you how much your comments and feedback mean to me. I read each and every email or remark from you. However, like with most things in life, I want to get better. Be better. I will be seeking new ways to improve my site and hopefully you will be happy with the results.

I don’t advertise on the blog, nor am I getting money from sponsors. What I write is meant to be shared with you, in hopes that it will brighten your day, inspire or encourage you to try something new.

Spreading a positive, genuine, and informative message is my goal. Now, more than ever, we need to support each other….to find the true meaning in what makes us happy and fulfilled. That’s the goal, right? Let’s share with others who are seeking the same sense of satisfaction and quality of life.

Since I have started the blog, I have improved my photography skills, learned about technology in ways I wouldn’t have, but there is still so much more to learn. In 2020, I am committed to improving upon the foundation that has already been laid. Up to this point, I’ve been a hobby blogger. I am hoping, with more focus and hard work, that I can expand my reach to many more.

My success comes from you. I appreciate all your support and hopefully you have told your friends to check out Life at Bella Terra. I am on Instagram @lifeatbellaterra and do some (rather little) on Facebook, mostly because it’s just me. No staff. No paid managers. No assistants. If you like what I am doing, please spread the word.

Of course, I have other smaller resolutions in 2020~~drink more water, learn to cure olives, and improve my hands/nails (notice how you rarely see my hands in any photos?).

What are your goals and aspirations for 2020. It’s a new decade and time marches on, doesn’t it? All the more reason to set forth in a positive and uplifting manner. Let’s do this!

It is hard for me to believe that we are beginning a new decade. It feels like yesterday that we were celebrating the beginning of a new century. The concept of time is so fleeting, isn’t it? In a blink, 20 years has passed.

Most “new” years, I am excited for the fresh beginning, the anticipation of new challenges and looking forward and ahead. 2019 was a year full of life changes and I am still trying some on for size. Empty nesting, especially. Having our youngest leave for college in the fall has been unsettling for me. But I know different opportunities and a clearer path will come into focus for me in 2020. Ambiguity is not my strong suit.

This is the first time in my life I have thought about this ~~ I have more decades in my rear view mirror than I have ahead. I recently spoke with an older friend of mine who stated the hardest thing about getting older is feeling irrelevant. The reality of empty nesting has me also pondering the concept of aging and where I fit in the world. This discussion could be an entire blog post!

But enough of that! As much as I love the holidays, I am ready to get back on track. The indulgences over these last few weeks have been marvelous, but my body craves the routine of healthy eating, accomplishing goals and outlining next steps.

In reviewing the past year, the most popular blog post was my son’s bedroom remodel. Since 2020 will require additional maintenance to Bella Terra, I hope to feature more “re-done” spaces. This year the well tower will need to be repaired, re-stained and deep cleaned. The garage needs a complete overhaul. It has been one of those spaces where you shove everything in and then close the door. I am determined to clear it all out, donate as much as possible and re-configure the space so we can actually use it to park our cars!

We are pretty boring New Year’s Eve types. I am happy to watch the ball drop in New York City at 10:00 p.m. our time and then head to bed. I prefer to greet the new year with a good night’s sleep and then an early morning hike or vigorous walk. The days of dancing and partying until actual midnight are fond, yet distant memories.

Whatever you do to celebrate the New Year, or perhaps you just want it to quietly slip into your life, I wish you and your family joy, love and good health.

My son’s bedroom re-do has taken longer than I would have liked. Am I completely finished? No, but I am close. There are window treatments to complete and of course, sorting through years of his belongings. I want to accomplish that with him, because I would probably keep all the grammar and high school projects just for the glorious trip down memory lane.

Here is the bedroom before. The last time we did anything to his room was on his 14th birthday. It was time to get rid of the whimsical child’s room and do something more suitable for a teenager. His colors at the time were mostly red, blue and brown. Benjamin now lives in Washington, DC so his room hasn’t really been touched in quite a long time.

As you may recall, this was my inspiration for the remodel. You can read the entire blog post here.

Here is the bedroom after (and nearly done)! We moved the bed to the opposite wall to get the wonderful views out the 2 northern windows, and the view to the outside terrace.

Using leftover Blue Radish linen fabric, I slipcovered the bench under the black writing desk that I moved from the family room. The desk now gets such better light from the western window.

I kept the small dresser with the hand painted fish as our son LOVED having fish when he was younger. Plus the scale and color goes nicely with the rug and rest of the room.

A guest basket is filled with waters and snacks for his week long stay with us. In keeping with the blue/nautical theme, a limited edition print by Jan Balet from is hung above the dresser.

On the desk is an antique letter “from a Nobleman to a School Master” dated May 10, 1740 about a man sending his “Boy of Genius” off to get a liberal education. I love the lettering, the grace and tone ~~so civilized.

A fresh bouquet of flowers perks up the room.

I started a custom painting for the area above his bed, however, it’s not finished so we hung a limited edition nautical lithograph from the British maritime artist, John Stobart. If you want to read the blog post on the making of the pillow shams, click here.

We still need to go through items on his shelves, but I tried to organize it the best you can with items from a boy’s life.

Happy Saturday, my friends. The best part of this bedroom is that my son is home and filling the room with his presence. I hope you enjoyed the fresh and updated changes! Below is a list of resources.

This post shared with:

Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday #601

Silver Pennies Sunday #369

Eddie Bauer Blue Cotton Blanket on bed; $27. 19 ordered from Amazon

Sheets and Duvet Cover from The Company Store

Denim Rag Rug from Annie Selke by Dash and Albert

Blue/white chinoiserie lamp on desk from Overstock

Blue Radish fabric by Radish Moon

Radish Moon
648 Broadway suite 600
NY NY 10012
917.279.5465
www.radishmoon.com

All artwork is from our collection

Candlestick lamps from thrift store and repainted

Flowers from Trader Joe’s

Having a back staircase is such a blessing. Located off the mudroom, this leads to the 2nd landing on the main staircase. Hundreds of trips have been made up and down this staircase by many feet. Suffice to say, the back staircase is used much more than the main entry staircase.

Both staircases have the same type of carpeting-a sisal natural fiber runner.

Initially I selected sisal because I thought it would keep the children, as toddlers from playing on the stairs~~their soft little feet weren’t attracted to the feel of it. I also really like the look of sisal and find it softer than jute or other natural fibers .

But, with heavy foot traffic, the back staircase sisal now looks like this on each of the treads. Since 2001, this will be the 3rd time I need to replace it.

To make matters worse, Cooper, in the last year or so, has found pleasure in scratching at it (on the top step), rolling it up and then laying on it. As a result it now looks like this! (sorry for the bad photo!)

I am really not sure what to do. Do I replace the sisal for a 3rd time, knowing that we have less feet in the house and therefore it won’t break down as quickly?

We have started removing the carpet. The sisal was put down by professionals with boatloads of glue. I was even considering painting the stairs but tackling old glue removal will be a considerable effort. What a mess! The carpet covered up many plaster wall problems too.

This project will take quite some time to finish. But in the meantime, I’d like your help in determining what I should do next. I’d love to paint the stairs and put in a runner, but I’m not sure I can fix or hide all the plaster issues.

Here are some inspiration pictures. Do you have a favorite? Remember that the stairs are angled and not a straight shot like some of these photos.

In addition to replacing the carpet, there must be a way to improve the lighting. The ceiling height obviously varies depending on what step you are on, but at the greatest point, I’d say it’s approximately 18-20 feet to the ceiling. It might be time for a chandelier?

Please send me your thoughts or ideas~~as I am not sure I need to match the front staircase runner with the back. There is a door separating the two.

Thank you in advance for your help!

We have an old 2 stall horse barn on our property. We’ve never had horses even though the girls REALLY wanted them. I am always so impressed with those that do take care of animals larger than themselves.

Here’s what the barn looked like when we first purchased our home in 1999.

In 2011, my friend Susan and I turned the barn into a base for our business, 2 Connecticut Yankees. Susan LOVES to shop for unique items, which we would offer at a small mark up. The idea was to come to the barn, have a bite to eat, shop and socialize.

We freshened up the exterior of the barn with Ralph Lauren Barn Red paint. New flooring was added and the interior painted a bright white. String lights helped with the dismal lighting.

We had great fun and this venture lasted a few years. But we both got busy with our lives. Most of the items have sold, but the barn is still full of “stuff”.

It was finally time for me to sweep out the cobwebs and see what was behind the barn doors.

As dirty as the barn was, it was fun to find some treasures that I had forgotten about. Here is an old 1894 hope chest I had purchased for my daughter, Elisabeth.

Elisabeth also fell in love with a set of Limoges china when she was a little girl. I finally found the original set of dishes and some linens to match.

Each piece needed cleaning as years’ worth of dust had settled on them.

But slowly things sprang into life.

Here is the barn, all fresh and clean.

Susan and I need to decide what to do with the remaining items in the barn. I personally LOVE this piece I got at Round Top antique fair. Originally a display counter at one of the high end retailers in the early 1940s, it would make a fabulous kitchen island.

You may not know this but my website has a STORE tab with items that are still available. They’ve been all wrapped up and protected. If you are interested in any of them, please email me directly at marycrz@cox.net. I imagine that we will try to sell the rest on eBay, once I get my act together!

If you have a big project to tackle, happy cleaning! This was a very satisfying project.