I’ll admit it…I’m a bit of a book hoarder; design, garden, and lifestyle books to be precise. I have books on benches, under night stands, piled on stools, and covering virtually any shelves! I go back to them time and again for inspiration or just to get lost in the beautiful photographs. I have acquired four gorgeous books recently that I know I will come back to frequently. One in particular may just be my favorite of all time! I…
There are always a multitude of projects after buying a home, and The Big Sur House was no exception. If you read my original post, I shared the living and dining areas. The house also featured two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Just off the dining area was a nice sized guest room with a decent closet and a rustic wood planked ceiling. I loved the wood ceiling but wanted to brighten the rest of the room, so I painted the…
It’s almost impossible for me to believe that we first laid eyes on The Big Sur House in late January of 2018. By March 1st it was ours and the work began. I thought it would be fun to look back to a year ago and see the changes and progress that we’ve made. There is still much to be done, but we’ve come a long way, baby! It was a sunny and unseasonably warm January day when we went…
I have an odd obsession with benches and stools. If they are old, I love them even more. I can almost always find a home for them someplace as they are so versatile and come in so many different shapes and sizes. I find them in antique shops, online, and locally. My two favorite local sources for vintage benches and stools are Porch and Diani Living. Tiny stools make great risers on furniture or are useful in the bathroom to…
Let me preface this post by saying the Christmas decor in our Big Sur home is simple. Getting Christmas to Big Sur is a bit more complicated. This will be our first Christmas here! Two car loads later (three if you count the trip with the tree stuffed in my tiny Prius), and we’re ready for the holidays! I have never been an over the top kind of gal when it comes to Christmas decor, and even less so here…
After spending Thanksgiving in Big Sur, I was a little slow getting my Christmas decor on in Santa Barbara. Our plan is to spend Christmas in Big Sur as well, but winter storms are unpredictable and rock slides and closures on Highway 1 are common this time of year. So I’m hedging my bets and decorating a bit in both homes. I’m just not sure which one will get the tree! I favor an organic approach to Christmas decorating…pinecones, driftwood,…
When we bought our Big Sur home nine months ago, there were a lot of projects we wanted to tackle…there still are 😉 With many projects, prioritizing was necessary. Originally, I thought we would completely redo both bathrooms but thought in the meantime we could do a mini makeover without ripping out tiles. The master bath had a few good things going for it. It had a large window with lots of natural light, a high wood clad ceiling, and…
One of the questions I get asked most often, is “what do I put on my empty walls?” First of all, there’s nothing wrong with some empty wall space. In fact, it’s often a good thing! But a home devoid of art can feel a bit soulless. You don’t have to have a lot of money or a large collection of art, but it should be meaningful. I would rather see a blank wall than something randomly picked up at…
I’m going dark…with a house color that is. It’s no secret that I love white. My Santa Barbara home is white inside and out. But white just won’t cut it here in Big Sur…at least not for the outside of a house. It’s all about the majestic setting and blending in. When we bought the house back in March it was painted a brown, which had faded noticeably on the South side of the house. The trim was an off…
Living in Santa Barbara, our autumn changes are subtle. Different plants are blooming and occasionally we get a cool fall like day. But nothing compares to the drama of leaf season in New England…Vermont to be specific. I’m fortunate enough to have my parent’s sublime farmhouse to visit. This is quintessential New England complete with warm cider donuts, the scent of fireplaces burning, and of course the color of those glorious leaves! My first day was spent antiquing and looking…