Have you ever wondered how you can achieve an English country house with all those cozy layers, soft lighting, fabulous art, and that cozy, worn-in feel? The rooms seem to tell a story about the people who live there, the trips they’ve taken, their family memories, and life’s special occasions.
That’s what it’s all about. It’s about so much more than decorating. It’s about creating a home that tells the story of your life and your family. This concept is lovely and has at its core the celebration of life and what we’ve been given. It’s about graduations, engagements, weddings, births, birthdays, and just the everydayness of loving and serving the wonderful people in your life. And we can all create a home like that. Let me share a little of our story with you…
Most of you have seen this side of the living room. That hideous couch makes me smile! What a controversy was created on YouTube when we concluded one phase of the living room remodel and didn’t get rid of this couch that looked like a overcooked potato! This is part of our story. We didn’t have the money (or inclination) to buy a new couch, so we focused on improving other parts of the room. We replaced the dated wooden bookshelves, removed the 80s wallpaper, removed the bright popcorn, smoothed the walls, painted, and rearranged the furniture.
Fourteen months later, this English rolled-arm sofa showed up on Marketplace for $85. It met the functionality requirements for Matt and our guests, and all the design requirements for me, plus it fit comfortably within our budget. It’s not a piece you’d see in many homes – it’s unique, well-made, and fits our style. Now, looking at this «new» sofa makes me smile for other reasons. I knew we’d eventually get rid of that ugly, monstrous sofa, but not until the time was right. It was worth the wait. The harp-shaped side table to the left of the sofa makes me smile, too. We picked it up at an antique store years ago to be a stand for Matt’s aquarium. The aquarium was much larger and top-heavy for this piece, so it’s been a side table in the living room and a side table in both the guest bedroom and our master bedroom.
Decorating isn’t a marathon to the finish and that’s it. Telling a story takes time.
This ottoman also has a funny story. We went to my first estate sale and this ottoman caught my eye. It was $70, which (at the time) was a little pricey for us, so I was hesitant. But it was the perfect size for our living room, the upholstery was quality wool with a pattern that didn’t bother me, and it had fabulous turned wood legs on brass casters. The fun part came when we got to the car and tried to fit it in the backseat. It took a few tries, but we got it done!
“I don’t like decorating according to trends. Without accessories, the lifestyle would disappear. If it’s right, it’s right. It’s part of the character.” ~ Sue Jones
In this corner of the living room sits a high back lamp that was a wedding gift from Matt’s grandparents. It’s unique and so comfortable! Matt remembers them being at MiMi and PaPa’s house every year he was a kid. I discovered the sturdy brass lamp on Marketplace and it marks the beginning of my love for classic brass lamps. The shade is an Indian block print and is the first no-sew pleated shade I’ve ever made. The striking blue and white ginger jar over the fireplace was a gift from a friend… These items are used and enjoyed daily and make up the story of our home. It’s these personal items in a home that tell the story of the people who live there.
“You can’t just look at a blank canvas and say, ‘Okay, I’m going to decorate this room,’ you can put down the basics, but it will never look like anything until the owner, the occupant, has added all their little treasures of memory.” ~ Penny Morrison
“I think when I walk into someone’s house, the house I like best is one where I don’t know where anything came from. I don’t want to be able to say, ‘Oh, that fabric came from over there, and that lamp came from over there. ’ It’s where every object in the room tells a story. That’s what makes a room so interesting – they’re not things that were put there to decorate the room, they were put there to remind the occupants of little happy memories from their past.” ~ Penny Morrison
I can relate to this sentiment! I have been in houses that were (name your department store) houses. These houses tell the story of an assembly line and run-of-the-mill, mass-produced decor. The feeling is impersonal and tells little about the family that lives there. It is the treasures you have found, made, or been gifted to you by others that begin to add the rich layers of a house with history, your story.
With these ideas in mind for creating that charming «historical» style in our homes, let me encourage you to use your favorite color, even if it is not trendy, hang the picture that your great aunts gave you, and display family photographs and the shell collection from your last vacation. These are fragments of your history and add a lot of richness to your home.
I recently hung an English country style gallery wall from the crown molding to where a chair rail would go and the collection was filled with memories. This collection greets me every time I walk in the front door and the feeling of being «at home» is present.
Friend, I hope this post has encouraged you to love and live your home to the fullest. Decorate with your “taste” and your story. Until next time,
Take care,
Rachel
