The time between Christmas and the New Year is an interesting one.  I love having less cars on the road, a fluid schedule, and more time with my family. The house is a bit messy but I don’t really care. As this year closes and a new one is ready to begin, it is a good time to reflect on the last 12 months. I am guilty of sometimes thinking ahead, and not spending that necessary time to ponder on what has been.

Here are some of the highlights of 2018:

Entertaining

Most of what we do for entertaining is simple, spontaneous, come on over for drinks and nibbles.  But having scheduled, more formal events forces us to clean a bit deeper, tackle the projects we’ve postponed, and step things up a notch.

It is always such an honor to host a charitable event, where people have a wonderful time for a good cause.  In March, we had our second Afternoon Tea with New York Times Bestselling Author Rhys Bowen. We get to play dress up with our hats and nibble on civilized food, gather with friends all while helping others.

In the spring, our property is at its best.  Flowers are blooming, the trees have their spring buds and the weather is generally perfect.  Hosting Junior Prom for my daughter and her 20 friends, was as much fun for me as it was for them.

Perhaps one of my most favorite events is Valentine’s Day.  We are at an age where we don’t do much as a couple, but having a small group of good friends for a lovely sit-down dinner is just perfect. I tried something different with the table setting and the effect was magical.

Recipes

I tried some new recipes this year ~~ Key Lime Pie, Lemon Pots de Creme, Madeleines and a gingerbread house.

Before and After

As some of you requested, I posted more Before and After pictures of Bella Terra, including the master bedroom, wine cellar, kitchen, library, mudroom, my girls’ bedrooms and the exterior renovation.

Organization Projects

Each year I try and reorganize some cluttered area of the house (there are MANY), and was able to improve both the Butler’s Pantry, the kitchen pantry, and the mud/laundry room.

Personal Achievements

Yes, there were a few milestones this year~~our son’s graduation from college and the beginning of his professional career.

However, I do not miss assembling Ikea furniture at his apartment in Washington, D.C.!

My Willetta house restoration finally sold and the family kindly invited us to their holiday open house. It is such a gift to know this family loves all the hardwork and attention to detail we put into restoring this grand old dame.

All in all, 2018 was a good one for us.  Some years aren’t so gentle, but we are basking in the glow of this one.

Personally, I couldn’t have continued writing this blog without you, my subscribers.  Just when I am feeling discouraged, someone has a generous compliment or comments about a recent post.  I know in this busy world it is difficult to find time to sit down and read about life around here, but I so dearly appreciate it when you do.

As always, I look forward to your comments and criticisms.  With feedback I can only get better. As the year comes to a close, I send you my biggest hugs and lots of quiet, loving moments for your and your family. Thank you for your continuing support and friendship!

P.S. I didn’t provide links to the various blog posts mentioned above, but if you are interested in any topic you can enter it in the search bar.

I don’t know if it is because I was raised in New England, but this time of year is one of my favorites.  November is my “pause” month.  A time to slow down and synch my rhythms to the earth.  The days are shorter and the angle of the sun is soft and golden. We finally have cooler temperatures here with crisp, chilly mornings.

The bloggers who have thousands of followers are already onto Christmas.  Though I find it hard to fathom, many have put up their Christmas trees and decorations the day after Halloween.  It seems like everyone is trying to elbow their way first in the mass retail hysteria of the holidays.

I can promise you that anything holiday-ish will not appear on this blog until after Thanksgiving. I cherish the month of November and am lulled by its quiet simplicity. It is a time for me to catch my breath, slow my breathing and appreciate the new smells and sights of the season.

During the months of October and November, I focus on more home keeping.  Years ago, when I lived in California, I had a neighbor whose home always looked fabulous, in spite of having a large family and pets.  I asked what her secret was~~she said every fall she had all the dings, dents and chips fixed around the house.   Every since then, I take care of the wear and tear our home has experienced throughout the year. I am always surprised how much time this takes, but keeping on top of the maintenance makes it worthwhile in the long run.

This year the focus has been on our windows and screens.  Replacing screens with tears or holes and fixing windows that don’t quite close properly.  In the process, we’ve touched up window sills and baseboards with fresh paint.  It’s amazing how those little changes make the house feel refreshed.

I am also thinking ahead to Thanksgiving and pushing any Christmas decorations out of my head.  Our son will be coming home from Washington, D.C. and I cannot wait to have us all together again. He’s quite the cook, so many happy moments will be spent in the kitchen.

For me, November is the month to focus on home and appreciate all that goes with it.  It needs some loving care and as tedious as that sounds, I think the walls and windows are happy.

Be joyful this month.  Slow down and take time to notice the season’s changes and how it affects you.

Our bedroom is one of my favorite spaces in our home and I want to give you a peek into this very serene space. It is located upstairs at one end of the house~~away from everything.

The Foyer

The official entrance into the bedroom starts with a set of French door. These open into a small foyer where my “quote” door floats on the wall.  The door is illuminated from behind and it makes the best night light.  If you turn left you head toward our office, but to the right is the master bedroom. To see more about the story behind this quote door, click here.

The Bedroom

This is the view when you first enter the bedroom from the foyer.

The bedroom is rather large for a historical home. We reworked the original footprint to allow for a more up to date bathroom and closet.

On the bed, I added small picture lights to the top of our headboard, for nighttime reading. The fabric on the bed is a bit more sage green than the photo shows.  I am not sure what it is, but it’s very soft, perhaps a short cut velvet. The curves in the footboard and headboard add softness to the bed angles.

For the summer months, I added this sweet duvet cover for a more romantic look. The duvet cover is made by Taylor Linens, called Shore Rose.

Opposite the end of the bed, is a television, hidden behind the a piece of framed art.  The canvas rolls up inside the frame by remote control. It is an oil painting depicting San Gimignano in Sienna, Italy, a place we once visited.

To the left of the television, is a skirted kidney-shaped table and mirror. I have always wanted a make-up table.  The irony is that I hardly wear any makeup these days, but occasionally I will sit here and feel like a character on Downton Abbey! A mirrored tray holds bottles of perfume and cologne.

The vintage hand mirror is my mother’s and the silver topped jar is a gift from a friend.

On the opposite side of the room is a unique sofa I picked up at the Brimfield Antique Show. Upholstered in a large houndstooth pattern, it adds character to the space. Click here to see the previous blog post about the sofa makeover. Above the sofa is a collection of framed botanical prints.

The Terraces

The best part of this room is the view outside.  It feels like a tree house. It is completely private, so much so that the French doors and windows are sans window coverings. With the wide overhang on the terrace, the room gets diffused light from its southern and western exposure.

When we bought this house, there were no railings on the outdoor upstairs terrace.  The short walls were a little taller than knee-height with a 2 story drop. Obviously in 1912, there were few safety zoning codes. The railing design was inspired by the multiple arches in the home’s architecture.  This design continues on the wrought iron fences and gates on the property. To see more about the restoration of this area, please click here.

As you may recall, we have this wonderful terrace and fireplace right outside the bedroom (see previous blog post here).  It is a fabulous place to watch the sunset or enjoy a glass of wine on a cool evening.

I hope your bedroom is your oasis.  What do you love most about your bedroom? This is truly the best bedroom I have ever had!

If you enjoyed this post, please feel free to share on Pinterest

Makeup table and mirror – Horchow

Custom railings by Grizzly Welding in Phoenix

Custom Doors and Windows by Marvin

Our family room is one of the most utilized rooms in the house.  I love the actual room as it feels like a solarium.  It is my least favorite because I am not fond of how it has been decorated. Originally an outdoor porch, it was enclosed in the 1940s.  The room is really large – 31 feet long by 16 feet wide.  The other challenge is that all 4 walls have numerous windows and/or doors.

Below are pictures of the original room.  Notice the fluorescent ceiling lights and the scored concrete floors. The only air conditioning was from the window unit, which died a few hours after we turned it on.

In the first photo, the exterior doors lead to the back porch. The interior doors go to the library and living room.

On the opposite end, the exterior doors lead to the front porch. This room runs the entire width of the southern part of the house.

I have never been able to make this room “right”.  The reason I am sharing this with you is that I am hoping you will weigh in on how I can improve this living space.  Due to its size, I have split the function of this room in half.  This side serves as the tv/family room.

Currently we have a very large, 96″ Mitchell Gold slipcovered sofa.  I would love to replace it, but our dogs and cats seem to use it more than we do.

Even though the sofa has slipcovers, I added an organic cotton Coyuchi blanket that I purchased from Camps and Cottages that can be easily removed and washed weekly.

We weren’t the best at training our dogs when they were puppies, so they have run of this room. Cooper, our huge white dog, takes up most of the sofa as his nightly bed.

And the cats seem to like napping on the back of the sofa near the windows.

When we were restoring Bella Terra, I wanted to keep the original single-paned windows in this room.  I love how the imperfections in the original glass blur the view to the outside. However, since we did not replace the glass with double paned panels, it is not energy efficient.  As a result, this is the warmest room in the summer and coolest in the winter.

The other half of the room is more utilitarian.  There is a large work table that is used for sewing, painting or school projects.

Along the wall under the windows are two desks side by side, with upholstered (using Dash and Albert rugs) ottomans for sitting.  Here the computer and printer are easily accessible. With two out of my three children out of the house, I’m not sure it makes sense to still have these two desks.

I do love the two 9’x12′ natural fiber rugs I purchased from Ballard Design.  They are such a nice quality and are holding up well to the wear and tear of the pets.

We installed remote controlled exterior shades made from Sunbrella fabric.  This really cuts down on the heat during the summer months.  It also reduces the reflection from all the windows on the television screen.

If you have any ideas or suggestions on how I can improve upon this room, I heartily welcome them.  I feel a bit stuck with which design path to take.  Part of me wants to take everything out and start again. Should it look more like an old porch? A greenhouse? But the reality is, this needs to be a comfortable, attractive, pet-friendly room.

Sunbrella shades by Phoenix Tent and Awning Company

Slat chairs were purchased from Relics Consignment and Antiques in Phoenix

Pumpkin pillow- Pottery Barn

Drapes by Country Curtains

Our master bathroom is my sanctuary.  It is hard to even remember the original layout. Bathrooms have come a long way since the early 1900s.

The original master bath looked like this~~love the dizzying wallpaper. The unique cast iron tub was moved to our daughter’s bathroom. We completely refigured and enlarged the space.

Here is the same perspective today. We replaced the window with two larger casement ones and added a Kohler soaking tub. We designed the tub enclosure so one of the raised panels in front can be removed if the plumbing needs attention.

There are two doors leading from the master bedroom into the bath/closet area. Perfect for privacy when the bathroom is needed for early morning use.

My sister, who is a master at sewing, made me a set of Bella Terra towels~~such a wonderful gift! The candle was another gift (lucky me!) from my friend, Lisa.

The tub has a wide marble shelf on all sides that is perfect for displaying my shell collection and providing easy access to candles, bath salts and towels. The large glass jars/containers are made by Simon Pearce.

My husband and I have separate sinks (yay!). The framed mirror is a medicine cabinet from Robern.

My cabinet was designed to have a make up table, but I never use it.  Instead, I covered the opening where a seat would have been, with a curtain.  This has become a great place for storing toilet paper and other supplies.  The curtain is changed out with the seasons, as are the towels and bath mats.

Everyday make up supplies are kept in French glasses on a small cake pedestal.  The older I get the less makeup I wear, so having a few things handy is very convenient.  Raised and off the counter, keeps things looking neat. A large brass tray holds everything from hairspray to mouthwash.

Sorry for the shift in light, but the natural light changed during these photos.  Begrudgingly I had to use overhead lights for some of these shots. 🙁

Cubbies were built into the wall for towels, bottles of water and more of my shells! The framed sheet music, “Oh! What A Pal Was Mary” was a gift from my dear friend, Gwen.

The walk-in closet is tucked beyond the pocket door.  A separate room houses the toilet and bidet.

Near the tub, behind the art, is a hidden television. I used acrylic vs. glass in the picture frame (for a lighter weight and to prevent any glass hazard). With a piano hinge on one side, the frame easily opens to expose a small  t.v. on an articulating arm.

Most older homes have small bathrooms and limited closet space. By reimagining this space, we were able to create an indulgent spot just for us. The tub is a perfect place for my weary bones after hours of gardening.  Separate sinks, a large shower with 2 shower heads and a private water closet provides all the niceties one needs when beginning or ending the day.

Large glass jars/container made in the USA:  Simon Pearce

Soaking bathtub, sinks, toilet, bidet and faucets by Kohler

Cabinets were custom made

Paint color (walls):  Cochise by Dunn Edwards SP2560 in eggshell

Paint color (trim): Dunn Edwards Cottage White SP 113 in semi-gloss

Medicine cabinets by Robern

Windows by Marvin

Window sheer by Pottery Barn

When we first remodeled Bella Terra, the original intention of this room was to be a computer/TV/hang out room for our then 2 children.  But God works in strange ways and I became pregnant with our 3rd child in the middle of our 3 year renovation.  Of course the doctor had told me that it was highly unlikely I would get pregnant (my “advanced” age) coupled with my last pregnancy ending in a miscarriage.  Surprise!

This room had several problems~~large plaster cracks and a floor that significantly sloped to one side. The wood flooring was mismatched and in poor condition.  When we pulled up the floor boards, the joists were random heights, contributing to the non-level mess. Structurally, the corner of the house had settled. It was painted mental institution green.

Since every single window had to be replaced in the house, we took this opportunity to change the larger northern window to a smaller, fixed one. The original window led out to the top of the porte cochere and I envisioned late night escapes done by mischievous children.

Here is the renovated room prior to flooring.  It was painted a soft peach to match the Ralph Lauren florals I had chosen for her crib and bed~~perfect room for my new little girl.

When Elisabeth became a teenager, naturally she wanted a room change.  I still remember the day when she asked, “Mom, can I paint my room orange and blue?” Hmmm.  I asked what shade of orange.  She promptly showed me International Orange~~yes, that super bright, come save me in the middle of the ocean emergency color.  Groan.  But I have a fond memory of MY mother letting me paint my room a ridiculous shade of purple when I was that age. I smiled and said, “Sure!”

We agreed to painting two of the four walls orange, but two would need to be white~~for balance and a visual break in color.

We painted the room ourselves~a mother/daughter project and she was so proud when it was finished.  I admit I was hesitant at first, but the color is SO cheerful and happy.  There is quite a bit of painted white trim (baseboards, door/windows) which is crisp and clean against the orange.

Here’s the view when you step into her room.  The bed has assumed a few different positions, but this is her current layout (which gives her more friend space). The rolling cart acts as a night stand and is from IKEA.

When she graduated to a full size bed, I purchased the fabric headboard from Joss and Main.

There is always an abundance of stuffed animals on the bed. 🙂

The original room did have a closet, but during the renovation (pre-new baby), I reconfigured it to be used in the adjacent room. So we needed to add closet space.  We created these built-ins from the kitchen design department at Home Depot.  The white finish adds balance to the orange.

All my children LOVE to read and collect books so a bookcase was added to the side of the closet.

Across the room is her desk/work station. She has a cork board area and spaces designated for supplies.

A large world map mounted on a metal board provides magnetic ways for her to display trinkets and memorabilia.

As a Christmas present I painted a picture of Sox, her beloved dog.  Though not planned, I’m glad the blue works with her color theme.

I hope you enjoyed this brightly colored room! It reinforces the notion to take risks with paint color!

Paint Colors: Sherwin-Williams Manual Knockout Orange

Dunn Edwards 354 Van de Cane (white)

Large Pillow fabric:  Joann’s

Striped comforter fabric:  IKEA

Rug:  IKEA

Pencil containers:  IKEA

Pears and Women in black top paintings:  Artist – me

Beach painting:  Artist: my daughter

Lamp: IKEA

Custom Windows:  Marvin Windows