Archives for October 2011

31 Days| Day 4 Finding Inspiration {at Julie’s}

October 3, 2011 by Edie Wadsworth 45 Comments

Inspiration is everywhere and sometimes you’re lucky enough to find it right next door!

You’re in for a treat today because I convinced my friend Julie, who has the most wonderful cottage I’ve ever seen, to let me photograph her house. It’s a magical place and full of inspiration everywhere you turn. It was a God-send that we moved next door to her after the fire. She is an amazing mom and person. She is unbelievably kind and such a servant of others, she reads Chesterton, Lewis, and Tozer and has raised bright, inquisitive and well mannered children. She bakes and loves design and had nearly every single copy of Cottage Living. Instant friends, I tell you!

She has created such a cozy haven for her family and I don’t exaggerate when I say that it’s one of those spaces that changes you and how you look at homemaking. I’d give anything if Lucille Maud Montgomery (author of Green Gables) could describe it for you. I can tell you that nothing I say and none of my pictures will do it justice.

When I walked in today with my camera, it was the essence of fall—-maple candles burning, the lingering scent of pipe tobacco and crackling wood—-all drawing you into it’s enchantment.

Thank you Julie for letting us peak!

the other side of the red door……..

the dining room and the inspiration for my round dining table purchase…..

the other side of the dining room….(i’m dying for the antique floral oil paintings–she found them on ebay after very a long period of research and looking)

the master bedroom….

and the very quaint master bath—note the details in the shower curtain, the cabinetry and the carrera marble countertop! i love it all!

i’m completely smitten with the kitchen—all open upper shelves—-i swoon!

her daughter’s bathroom…….(are you wondering how there can be so much eye candy in one spot?! i know, i know—it’s incredible)

and the most adorable vanity EVER!

her daughter’s room…..

in all its lovely pink goodness……

and last but not least, my favorite room, and perhaps the smallest and coziest in the house—-the library. i could live in there. forever. and read and read and read and read.

the wall opposite the bookshelves….

more bookshelf goodness……

and just one more because I really couldn’t stop taking pictures….

and that my friends is one of the most inspiring spaces I’ve ever been lucky enough to visit.

She should be in magazines. Maybe I could convince her to start a blog!

31 Days|Day 3 Defining my Vision

October 3, 2011 by Edie Wadsworth 42 Comments

When you’re building a house or remodeling your kitchen or rearranging your furniture in your living room, it helps to have a vision. I learned a lot about vision while working with Darlene from Fieldstone Hill Design. She’s got oodles of posts on finding and clarifying and sticking to your vision.

Give your style some names. The more descriptive they are of what you like, the better.

I would describe my style (the things I love) as eclectic, Texas, cottage, vintage, southern chic. If there’s one room in my house that reflects all my words it would be the living room (design board). I love it and am so thankful for Darlene who helped me hone in on what I love!

{Eclectic}

No one who’s ever been in my house would question this. I’m quirky. I like layers of interesting things that aren’t really supposed to go together. I embrace this quality about myself and resist the occasional temptation to tame it. I would never, under any circumstances buy a ‘set’ of furniture. It hems me in, like someone’s forcing me to wear garanimals. In fact, I was in Knoxville at OP Jenkins this week trying to buy a dining table and the first thing I asked was whether or not I had to buy the whole set including matching chairs. That would be a deal breaker for me. It would drive some of you crazy but that’s the way my brain works.

{Texas}

I have a uncanny fascination with Texas. I do not know why. But who doesn’t love all things Texas? Steer horns, horses, cowboys, George W., Friday Night Lights, boots, and good guacamole. I rest my case. Texas forever. Amen.

To illustrate this, I will confess to you that I have already hung a ginormous set of steer horns in my yet to be finished house. My builder would like to lock the doors and not let me back in until Friday 🙂

{Cottage}

The magazine Cottage Living changed my life. I can remember exactly where I was when I poured over my first issue. The images of some of those rooms is forever imprinted in my head. I was devastated when that magazine shut down. My neighbor Julie, who lives in the most wonderful cottage I’ve ever seen, also shares my love for Cottage Living and brought me her nearly complete collection of CL magazines to use for inspiration after the fire. It was like reconnecting with an old friend. I spent days and days pouring over the all too familiar images and rooms. I love all things cottage—painted cabinets, open shelving, cozy spaces, textured, layered rooms and farm sinks. My favorite spaces are always cottage-esque.

{Vintage}

I just finished watching the MadMen series. I wasn’t sure I even liked the show until season 3 and by then it was too late to quit. But I kept watching, partly because of the costuming and my fascination with the 50’s and 60’s. I adore the music, the clothing, the more formal way of life, the manners, the decor and I could go on and on. I’m sure that’s why I love thrift and antique stores. They transport me to a different time. I want my house to have hints of that era—like a little nod to days gone by and my way of showing my respect and admiration for those generations before me when women wore dresses and aprons and families sat down together to have dinner every night. (except on MadMen of course, that blasted Don Draper)

{Southern Chic}

I love this article at Southern Accents. What does ‘southern’ mean as it relates to decorating? It can mean many things—but here are my favorites from the article:

some other things they say about southern style:
“gracious and eclectic with a strong architectural basis”
“comfort and relating to the outdoors is always a consideration in Southern design”
“southern style is rather eccentric, embodying classic roots with a unique application”

So, there you have it—-eclectic, Texas, cottage, vintage, Southern chic.
Why go to all the trouble to have words and to define them?
Because every decision you make should reinforce your vision. From the floor plan to the color choice to the landscaping.
It’s helped me so many times during this project.
And even more than that, having ‘words’ helps you to clarify what you are not.
I love so many different styles of decorating and I’ve tried to force myself into styles that I am not.
Take the all-white beachy look. I love it. For ten minutes. And then I’m dying for color.
Take the simple, pared down farmhouse look. It’s one of my favorites. But no matter how many ‘Simplify’ signs I hang in my house, I’m not simple. I’m just not.
I will load it up with stuff and books and I’m never gonna change so my ‘words’ give me permission to be who I am.

Now, think about your words, the things that define you. Write them down and then make a list of things you can start to change or rearrange that help you (or your house) become who you are.

31 Days to Rebuilding Your House and Heart|Day 2

October 2, 2011 by Edie Wadsworth 25 Comments

As we near the end of this rebuilding project, I can hardly contain the flood of emotions.
Lately, I find myself looking back at all the old pictures of the fire.
I find that despite the overwhelming gratitude I feel for the house, there is, deep down, a grieving that is still making its way to the surface.
What do you do when your life is turned upside down? When your children are wayward or your body has given way to cancer or your money has run out?
Where do you turn when it all falls apart?
I know of only one place—-to the tender heart of Christ, who has, in His dying and rising, set the world upside down.
He has given meaning to suffering. He has made sense of cancer. His love for us burns like an eternal flame.
We can beat our chests and scream at heaven and make our mental lists of offenses that might have caused this tragedy.
Or we can lay down our weapons and surrender.
And when He finds us in the ditch, beaten half to death and dying, our Good Samaritan does for us what noone else can do—-He takes us to the Father.
He heals our wounds and pays our debts and gives us life abundant.
********
It’s of no use to curse the ditch because whatever it is that has brought us to this place of helplessness has been good for us.
At least now we know how desperate we are for rescue.

Lord Jesus, I believe. Help my unbelief! Strengthen my weak and flickering faith. I know that You are my wisdom, my righteousness, my sanctification, and my redemption. Lord, strengthen this faith in me, that I may never fear nor faint in any trial or temptation. You alone are the Author and Finisher or my faith. Though my faith be tried by fire, may I ever be found strong and unmovable to the glory of Your holy name. Let me firmly trust in Your blood, which cleanses me from all sin, that though my sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. When I am enticed by sin and the world beckons and my own passions want to yield, help my unbelief, and give me the strength and will to resist. WHen trials, sorrow, and affliction want to rob me of this trust, O Lord, help me to remain steadfast and true. Strengthen my faith in Your promises that all things work together for good to them that love God, to those who are called according to Your purpose to be Your own in time and in eternity. You alone, O almighty Lord, can help; You, O gracious Lord, will help my unbelief; You, O merciful God, will strengthen my faith. Lord, I believe! Amen.

(from the Lutheran prayer book)

Excellent podcast by Pastors Bill Cwirla and Todd Wilken on the Good Samaritan

31 Days Series|Rebuilding a House and Heart

October 1, 2011 by Edie Wadsworth 21 Comments

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3|Defining Your Vision

Day 4|Finding Inspiration {at Julie’s}

Day 5|Finding Inspiration {online}

Day 6|A Lot of Moving

Day 7|We Made It!

Day 8|Full Circle

Day 9|Choosing a Builder

Day 11|House Plans

Day 12|Design Book Inspiration

Day 13|Polly’s House

Day 14|With the End in Mind

Day 15 A Firm Foundation

Day 16 Prayer for the Home

Day 17 Exterior Materials

Day 18 Flooring

Day 19 Lighting, part 1

Day 20 Lighting, part 2

Day 21 Cabinetry

Day 22 Screen Porch, Stevie, and Siri

Day 23 Chipotle Pumpkin Barley Soup

Day 24 The Workroom

Day 25 The Girls’ Room

Day 26 The Guest Spaces

Day 27 The Powder Room

Day 28 Video Tribute by Nester

Day 29 The Kitchen

Day 30

The Living RoomDay 31 Video Tour

31 Tips for Rebuilding Your Home and Heart | Day 1

October 1, 2011 by Edie Wadsworth 30 Comments

I’m a joiner. That’s just all there is to it.
And I fly by the seat of my pants so I decided THIS MORNING to do this.
I love a good party and I really want to make time to tell you about all the details of my house before they are lost in the oblivion of my head.
So, since we’re moving in next week anyways, I thought I’d make a ‘loose’ commitment to tell you something everyday about this process.
I’m great at starting things but not such a strong finisher so you’ll have to keep me motivated.
And perhaps I can’t do it in 31 days per se. But then again, maybe I can.
Nester can talk me into anything. Not that she was talking to me specifically but she’s persuasive, that one.
I’m also almost finished with Emily’s book and I’ll tell you about it soon too because it’s been great for the ‘rebuilding’ process.
And all those questions you’ve been emailing me?! If I haven’t answered yet, ask again in the comments section of this series and I’ll try my best to set the record straight.

Today’s tip for rebuilding:

Talk your sweetie pie into building you a fire on the back porch BEFORE you move in. To make sure the evening goes smoothly, have the DirectTv guy there to hook up the tv the same day so that your children can watch Brady Bunch in the warm house. As we sat by the fire listening to white caps crashing on the shore, we reminisced about the last 9 months. We can hardly believe that we are a week away from moving back home. He even listened to my dreams about decorating the house and then he said, and I quote, “Toilets and sinks are all the decorations we need. Let’s move in this place.” He’s easy to please.

So, who else is on the ’31 DAYS’ bandwagon? Pick something and join us!