artlady's Profile

Love everything! This is definitely my favorite tour :)

Love the stenciled forest!

The painting of the hutch was a huge improvement. Great job.

I also favor the "before" of the built-in bookcases, but wonder if I'd feel the same with the TV gone. I personally find it (the TV) to be a bit of an eyesore. Perhaps replacing it with a fish tank, and then adding more plants/more books/art would do the trick? Knowing that this is an island location does make me think that the blue is appropriate and probably looks really festive in person. All those empty shelves, though, and that monster of a TV suggests they haven't unpacked yet.

Love this idea! Thanks!

nest decorating: I absolutely love your living room! It's so cozy and homey--the kind of space that welcomes people and puts them instantly at ease.

Pillows? Oh, yeah. I love pillows, but keep them to a minimum on the bed. They are usually the only splash of color in my bedroom, so they're a welcome sight.

Books? I recently decluttered the large stack, and now only have the three that I'm currently reading. Since bedtime is my only "pleasure reading" time, I have to have my books nearby.

TV? We have a large sitting area with couple of cushy chairs, coffee table, and a TV & DVD player tucked into an armoire. It gets opened occasionally for movie watching, but not for "regular" television.

Computer? No way!

I appreciate this week's attention to the bedroom. It's the one room that I was hoping to cure this go around. Though I haven't completed my work there yet, I've changed out the window dressings and purchased a new comforter for the bed. Some color on the walls would be great, but our ceilings are high, and you couldn't pay me to get on the upper rungs of a ladder. It looks like I'll hang an oversized canvas above the bed, instead, to mimic a headboard. I love big rooms, but the downside is making them feel cozy. I'd welcome any tips!

Cooking isn't an issue for me, either, since I much prefer a good home-cooked meal to restaurant food. I'm focusing on de-cluttering, and have taken several car loads to Salvation Army. It always feels so good to get rid of the excess, and this is something that is a bit of an ongoing project for me. When something comes in, something goes out. Having too much "stuff" around just truly stresses me out!

After removing 11 boxes of books from my library, my shelves are now easier to look at, and books easier to find. I've also cleaned out my excess art supplies and donated quite a bit of stuff to the school where I teach, so I can enjoy watching my students use my materials! Now I'm in the process of organizing what's left in my studio. It feels great!

I have to admit that the "retail therapy" is lost on me, since I detest shopping! That said, once I free myself from some antique furniture, a forest of extra chairs, a too-big stereo system, a large record collection (33 1/3s), and a bunch of furniture that doesn't fit with the architecture of our house, I'll reward myself with a single armoire to hold a new (smaller!) stereo/CD player, our collection of board games and CDs. I also hope to find some small "remote" speakers for the new, smaller stereo.

catcam, I LOVE your flowers!

EllieA: I had very little luck with Craigslist or Freecycle in NM. There's a really good Salvation Army or Goodwill (can't remember which) on Cerrillos Rd in Santa Fe. If you can't find something there, you might have to go to ABQ. To get something new, and handmade, go to (?? can't remember the name!) a place that's near the intersection of Cerrillos and Hwy 84/285 (St. Francis Dr). It will be on the SW side of the intersection. They always have lots of hand carved furniture (the rosette designs, etc) sitting outside. It's usually pine, and you might have to special order, but it's worth the wait! The prices are super low. Another option: go to Northern NM College (Espanola and/or El Rito). They have a furniture making class there, and you can commission whatever you want or need from the instructor! Wouldn't it be great to have a hand carved cabinet with custom tinwork? :) Good luck! Can't wait to hear how it goes!

I have three large compost bins in my back yard, and keep two small ones (with snug lids!) under my kitchen sink. Once every 3 or 4 days I take the kitchen ones outside and empty them into the larger containers. Composting is such an easy thing to do, and well worth the miniscule effort involved when planting time rolls around. :)

For some months now I've been visiting this site, but this is the first time I've felt compelled to comment. And all I can say is, Wow! Your home is absolutely beautiful--obviously well thought out, lovingly decorated, very homey and comfy. I could move right in and feel completely at home. The art is fantastic. The lift in the garage is genius.

Too much stuff? No way. It all works so well together. And I appreciate all of the info that you provided with the slide show--very helpful.

Thanks for the tour! It its, by far, the best I've seen. Well done! :)