Thank You!!!!
A huge, huge thank you to all who so kindly donated to the Woodbourne Christmas Wish List. Together, bloggers and readers raised over $10,000.00!!
Last year we raised over $6,000, so this year’s increase is all the more special given the poor economic climate.
Thank you, again, for opening your hearts and wallets.
To read about Woodbourne or to donate, please go HERE.
December is a lonely month for Jewish bloggers. All the other bloggers are busy showing off their holiday finesse, while we sit in the darkness literally and figuratively. Who knew that when we signed that covenant with God all those eons ago, we were forever signing away our right to evergreen trees and twinkling lights? Even though I can’t indulge in the fun, I certainly appreciate its beauty. One of this season’s prettier, yet very understated and modest holiday displays, was seen in this month’s Veranda.
Poor, lonely Hanukkah Harry!
The cottage shown in Veranda was designed by Lisa Luby Ryan of Dallas, Texas. An interior designer, Lisa is also the well known owner of the décor shop Vintage Living HERE, and is a designer for Arteriors. Through the years, Lisa has garnered much press – her own house has been published several times, beginning when she was into the cluttered English Country Manor look. Today, Belgian and Sweden are her countries of choice.
Lisa Luby Ryan’s Vintage Living features Swedish and Belgian furniture, new and old.
The Veranda holiday house only shows glimpses of the cottage designed by Lisa – not nearly enough to satisfy. The closely cropped photographs leave you wanting to see more of these quietly elegant rooms. Luck would have it that the Vintage Living web site does show the entire house – before and after – a sort of tutorial as to what to do when remodeling a bungalow with priceless antiques.
The house, built in 1951, is located in Highland Park West, in Dallas, Texas. It is a mere 1,600 square feet with just one bedroom – a second bedroom was turned into a dining room. The new homeowner was recently divorced from a man who didn’t like antiques, so this house was her first chance to decorate for herself and herself only. She chose Lisa Luby Ryan to help after visiting Vintage Living, where much of the furniture and accessories were ultimately purchased. The pair also took two trips to the South of France in search of antiques. The change is substantial, only four pieces remained from the homeowner’s previous possessions. The house also underwent structural changes with a new dining room, kitchen, bathroom, and back porch – along with its own fireplace. The homeowner is thrilled with her new décor – she stayed at a hotel for a few days while Lisa put it all together for the “big reveal.” Lisa also installed the Christmas finery at the same time to coincide with the magazine photoshoot.
From Lisa’s web site: the bungalow started out with red brick which Lisa painted white. A wooden gate was added to create a front courtyard.
The Veranda spread opens with a tantalizingly unfocused Swedish desk and chair.
Veranda: next, this glimpse of a peeling painted Swedish day bed leaves you wanting to see more!
The tree and presents were color coordinated to the house décor. Lisa was insistent there be no typical red and green scheme.
I love the burlap bags and the Tiffany blue boxes – so cute!!!!!
Here is a picture of the entire living room. Long and narrow, the soothing room is broken into two sitting areas by the Swedish day bed.
Another pair of matching arm chairs are seen on the opposite side by the fireplace.
The chairs’ tall backs bring a much needed vertical element to the long horizontal room.
Veranda: a close up of the blue chest that sits opposite the front door in the middle of the living room. I love all the holiday flower arrangement – they aren’t the typical usually seen.
The Swedish day bed divides the room into two seating areas. A large seagrass rug covers the hardwood floors. At the window are printed fabric curtains – the same fabric is used in the living room and dining room for continuity.
Here you can see the antique French wine tasting table used as a coffee table.
The surprise is the modern art work – whose colors are just perfect in this room.
In these pictures you can see exactly what Lisa did to transform the room. The mantel is an addition, as are the window treatments. The walls appear to be painting a very light blue.
The opposite end of the long living room. Here you can see the dining room through the antique wood doors purchased in France.
The dining room was once a bedroom. Pictured here are the two other wing chairs, along with a beautiful pair of antique Swedish arm chairs.
I love the pop of zebra against all the muted colors – Lisa is really great at accents.
VERANDA: we only got this one small look into the dining room.
I love the blue and white vases filled with white flowers – such a refreshing change from red and green decoration.
Notice the framed documents that take up one wall – so interesting.
Here you can see the Belgian styled table with the Swedish dining chairs.
I love the crystal chandelier used with all the rougher elements.
This room is just so pretty.
Veranda: Lisa gutted the existing kitchen turning it more into a room with its beautiful cabinets.
The rough wood table is fabulous paired with all the white marble. I especially love the silver Louis Philipe mirror over the sink!
The back wall is perfectly symmetrical - another great detail Lisa added.
In this picture you can see more of the layout. The wood table is so large and is a very important element in the room.
Just beautiful!
The kitchen before. Here you can see the windows and how they have been changed into doors.
One more before and after of the kitchen. An amazing transformation!!
Veranda: The breakfast room as shown in the magazine. I just love this!!!
Here’s another look at the antique Swedish sofa and chairs, along with a marble topped iron table. Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!
From Lisa’s web site – a view of the breakfast area, before and after. It is so elegant!
From Lisa’s web site – a view into the lone bedroom in the house. Simple elegance.
Again from Lisa’s web site, the bathroom is remarkable. Notice the antique doors that close off the vanity area.
The chair wears a darling slipped cushion with ballet leg ties. Great vanity skirt.
The vanity has a sink recessed into a Swedish chest. Notice the wall treatment – so muted.
And finally, the bath yard with its fabulous fireplace!!!!! This is like a room itself. Just wonderful!
Lisa Luby Ryan: Before and After
On Lisa’s web site, there are many pictures from other houses showing before and after. I really enjoyed seeing these pictures because Lisa is not afraid to make small changes that other designers might let stand and not bother with. For instance – in this hallway, the décor is fine and doesn’t really need much changing. But Lisa didn’t agree and went the extra step, which really is much, much nicer: new lanterns, a set of intaglios, and curtains make a hallway come alive.
In this dining room – the décor was fine, but not to Lisa. She had the walls painted in a Swedish inspired mural. She moved the chandelier to another room and installed crystal lights instead. Next, she slipped the chairs. The lamps were changed out, as was the screen. Many designers would have probably kept the dining room as is, but Lisa changed it to bring it up to date.
In this vignette – she removed the red and blue oriental rug in favor of a muted textured one. The TV cabinet was changed out for a painted French version. The hanging screen from the previous dining room was moved to this room. Notice in the next room, the brown stone was painted cream. These changes Lisa made really brings this room up to date.
In this room, Lisa didn’t just redecorate – she changed out the fireplace to make a huge statement. Then she added antique paned doors. The bookshelves were updated by adding louvered doors instead of plain cabinet ones. Many designers would have just changed out the furniture, but Lisa changed the architectural elements to truly make a huge difference.
The same room. I love her slipcovered furniture. Notice how she fauxed the cabinets to make them look like Belgian limed wood.
Here - a new muted rug, a raw wood table, new velvet slipped chairs, new chandelier and curtains – what a huge change!!!! The new table makes such a difference in updating the look for today. Notice the wing chairs – how the pointed wings look so much fresher than the rounded wings from the before picture. A small detail that makes a big difference.
In this living room – four chairs surrounded an ottoman. Again, the décor was not bad at all, but Lisa brought it up to date by changing out the rug accented with the zebra. The framed documents add so much more warmth than the mirror – which I never thought I would say. The four chairs were moved to the family room – and a sofa and two chairs were added here, along with a Mora clock.
Another view of the same room. The fireplace looks so much better without that screen!!!
Finally, look at the changes in this entry hall. The wood floor becomes elegant marble tile. A muted rug on the stairs tones down the contrast. The plant is changed out for a collection of shells. The small pictures are removed to declutter the look. Small solutions that make up a big difference.
Looking at the other wall – this made me really think. Would I have made the changes that Lisa did? The console and mirror aren’t bad. Would I have just let it go because the owner already owned these pieces? What Lisa replaced the furniture with – a much larger chest that fills out the space much better – a more substantial mirror with sconces – there is no doubt that the space looks much better with what Lisa did. I would love to see how she presents these changes to her clients: “what you own is pretty, but I can make it prettier!” I really admire her work and her skill with her clients. It’s not easy working with clients, but Lisa certainly knows what to say and knows how to get the job done.
And finally – we are off to the country to celebrate Christmas with Ben’s family. Here’s wishing you and yours a healthy, happy and safe holidays!!!!
Woodbourne, Baltimore Maryland
I first learned about Woodbourne from Meg Fairfax Fielding, a blogging friend who writes Pigtown Design. Meg works at Woodbourne and through her, Ben and I were introduced to this wonderful, caring facility. Woodbourne started out in 1798 as an orphanage and it is one of the oldest of its kind in the United States. Located in Baltimore, Maryland, it is today a non-profit organization that cares for children in desperate circumstances. The children at Woodbourne all have lived through some kind of trauma: addicted parents, abuse or neglect, or mental health issues. Many of these children live full time at Woodbourne, where they are given the tools and skills needed in order to one day return to their home or community.
During the holiday season, the faculty makes a video asking the boys what they want for Christmas and what Christmas means to them. Their requests are small and simple: a notebook, a game boy, some candy, a notepad, pens, new shoes, batteries, a cookbook, and on. Some just want to go home for Christmas. Some worry about the other children at Woodbourne, not themselves.
Oh boy. Just watch the video, below, and think about what is on your own Christmas list to compare. I know it made my list seem so frivolous, so wasteful.
Last year, I invited you to watch the video and your response was overwhelming. It was immediate and large. Together, we raised a lot of money for the Christmas Wish List at Woodbourne and it made a huge difference in the children’s lives. Their wish lists were actually granted with the help of your donations. Let’s try to do the same thing this year. I am hoping that you will watch this year’s video. Afterwards, if you have it in your heart, would you please donate to these children so that together we can make their Christmas wishes come true? Any amount is welcomed and appreciated. It’s very easy to donate – there’s a PayPal link here: http://www.woodbourne.org/makeacontribution. If you don’t do Pay Pal, please email Woodbourne directly here: e-mail or telephone at 410.433.1000, ext. 2230.
WATCH THE 2010 VIDEO HERE – DOUBLE CLICK ON THE ARROW:
Your contribution, no matter how large or small, will make a huge difference. Please join Ben and myself in making a difference this year.
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.Wishing you and yours a safe, happy and healthy Holiday Season.
Joni and Ben Webb
I love getting emails from readers, especially when they include pictures of their houses. One reader, Deanie, started sending me pictures of her house last year while she was redecorating it. Deanie lives in Grapevine, Texas and at one time was an antique dealer. But now, she had a dilemma – unpainted brick walls versus her husband. You see, Deanie’s house had several interior brick walls, including the fireplace wall, which didn’t fit in with her new all white décor. The problem was that Deanie’s husband was partial to the yellowish-orange brick walls and wouldn’t bend on the subject. He absolutely refused to allow Deanie to paint the brick!
If I have heard this story once, I’ve heard it a 1,000 times. Usually the decorating dilemma is dark stained paneling or furniture that husbands refuse to paint light. Why do men just love dark stained wood? It’s the mystery of the ages. My solution to this problem is always the same: look your husband squarely in the eyes and ask him “and where exactly did you get your degree in interior design?” This tactic may not work of course if you husband is like mine who retorts “the same place you got yours,” which is a stab at me because he knows I didn’t graduate college after attending it for four years! Deanie came up with a much better game plan to persuade her husband. She enlisted the help of her daughter, Dana. Dana wrote a faux legal brief, acting as the attorney to her client, the lowly unpainted brick. The gist of the legal argument is summed up in this paragraph:
THE CASE FOR THE “INTERIOR BRICK”
By Dana
My case is as follows. The aforementioned male house recipient has trusted his wife and devoted partner with countless creative updates and ideas for almost 40 years of their marriage. Although he prides himself in NOT reversing his decisions on most occasions; hopefully I have made a good enough case for him to reconsider his prior position regarding the future of my Client. Questions: Why is he preventing my Client from receiving the FULL benefit of his wife’s talent? Why won’t he succumb his willful determination to keep my Client in its most basic natural state? Why won’t he give her the best 65th birthday present by taking a trip to Home Depot, purchasing a single lifeless brick…paint it creamy white, wrap with a ribbon and give the best gift of all….PERMISSION TO PAINT MY CLIENT????!!! It behooves me to also mention that ALL family, friends and professional interior designers support my Client’s transformation.
Needless to say that when Deanie’s husband received the fake legal brief from his daughter begging him to let Deanie paint the brick, he finally relented. Of course, once the brick was painted he loved it! Isn’t that always the case? Is there anyone out there that has finally gotten their husband to agree to paint the dark stained wood lighter, only to be made to repaint it dark again? Of course not!
Over the course of the past year, I have received periodic updates from Deanie showing me the changes she has made to her house as she transformed it from colorful to all white. She also sent me pictures of her daughter Dana’s house. I also received pictures of Dana’s sister in law Leslie’s house. And I was sent pictures of Leslie’s mom’s house. More pictures came from Leslie’s aunt showing me her daughter’s house and a friend’s house! I had serious problems keeping up with the family tree. But apparently, everyone in this extended family loves antiques. They love decorating and they love shopping for their houses – they even go to Round Top, although some of them live in Tennessee and Louisiana. I thought it would be fun to look at one extended family’s decorating approach.
Deanie’s House: The problem with the brick walls
BEFORE: How Deanie’s house looked when she moved in.
When Deanie moved into her house many, many years ago – it looked like this. The large fireplace wall was clad in brick and was the undesired focal point. Perhaps if the brick was another color, or if it was stone, it would be less bothersome, but this was not the case. For years and years Deanie had to decorate around the brick because her husband refused to allow her to paint it. Apparently he is quite fond of yellow-orange brick, though no one else is! The blue carpet was replaced with terra cotta tiles. The kitchen is located on the other side of the fireplace – and yes, the brick is there too!
After Deanie started redecorating her house in all white – the brick wall bothered her more and more.
In the middle of the redecorating, Deanie had yet to repaint the armoire, but all her upholstered pieces were now slipped in white.
The armoire has since been painted gray.
And finally, after her daughter Dana, sent her husband the fake legal brief – the brick wall was painted.
Behind the shutters is the sunroom, which also had many brick walls. Those were painted too!
And for Christmas this year. The furniture is arranged to make room for the white (of course) flocked tree.
The painted fireplace is so pretty and soft looking now!
Since it has been painted white, the fireplace is an asset and the focal point of the room.
The sunroom was enclosed – it was once a porch. So, of course the walls are made of brick.
Here is how the sunroom looked before the walls were painted.
And, after the walls were painted. Deanie also painted all the wicker furniture gray, for a more trendy look. She also added grain sack pillows.
I think this room looks so cute! I love the wicker painted gray and I love the coffee table.
And looking at the other side with the now painted brick wall.
I should paint my white wicker gray like this. It really gives it an entirely updated look.
Now, let’s take a look at her daughter Dana’s house.
Dana, Deanie’s Daughter’s House
Dana recently moved to a rental house. The house came furnished but Dana didn’t like the furniture, so Deanie came to Nashville and moved the owner’s furniture into storage so Dana could use her own!
Dana also loves white slipcovers, and she likes to add touches of blue to her décor. I love this slip with the gathered ruffle edge, so cute!
Looking the other way towards the living entry hall.
The alabaster lamps and shades are really cute. The sofa table is an English antique.
Imagine that these rooms were painted a dark green when Dana moved in.
The white paint makes all the difference – it’s so bright and cheery and fresh looking now.
The dining room has a white table with black chairs. Nothing looks better than a crystal chandelier.
Many of the pieces in the house came from Deanie’s house or were bought by Deanie and Dana at antique fairs.
A close up of the entry hall with its antique buffet painted white. I have that same exact lamb!!!
Dana’s house is so cute, especially for a rental, and I’m sure they’ll be happy here for years.
Now, I also received pictures of Dana’s Mother-in-Law and her daughter’s houses. So, that makes two sets of mothers and daughters in an extended family. Of her family, Deanie says: “We are definitely partners in our madness over all things old and making our homes look the best we can. Its in the blood I guess. We all love a lot of the same things but our houses are completely different with our different tastes.” Her daughter Dana says of the bunch “We ALL love Roundtop, decorating(we NEVER stop), laughing, great food and company, cultivating 'anything' we see and just living beautifully and full!”
Elizabeth’s House:
Dana’s mother in low, Elizabeth, recently moved back into her house in Nashville, after living in Texas. While in Texas, her house was rented and it was painted by the renters. It now all has to be repainted and just the front rooms have the new paint. Here is the living room with its gray buffet and darling blue and white slipped sofa. Deanie said that when she started decorating with white – Elizabeth didn’t understand it or like it. Now, she has many white and painted pieces herself.
The dining room is in the prettiest shade of blue gray. I love the color of the walls!!
She mixed a crystal chandelier and a dark table with a painted console.
Elizabeth’s family room is still to be painted, but you can see her large white slipped chair and ottoman.
I love her green lantern – it is one of a pair. The hide rug adds another trendy touch.
The bedroom has a white slipcovered headboard with white and pale blue bedding, along with painted white end tables.
White with light blue is my favorite color combination for a bedroom these days.
Leslie’s House:
Elizabeth’s daughter Leslie (who is Dana’s sister in law!) painted her living room a light blue gray, just like her mother.
She mixes urns and columns and mirrors – as did her mother, Dana and Deanie.
The entire family all has white slipcovered sofas! And they all have crystal chandeliers. Leslie mixed in baskets and mirrored furniture.
The antique French armoire is a real focal point. When starting out, you should try to buy one large antique for each room, then build around it when decorating.
The antique will last through any decorating style or trend and is a great investment.
Elizabeth and her daughter in law Dana both moved to Nashville to start a church. Elizabeth and her husband are the pastors and Dana is head of the Children’s Ministry. Dana’s husband also preaches there. Besides her work with the ministry, Dana has four children who keep her quite busy. Needless to say, Deanie is very proud of her daughter, and who wouldn’t be!
Looking at these four families – two mothers and two daughters – and how similar their houses are, yet different at the same time, think about your own family. Does your house resemble your mother’s or your sister’s? Or do you have totally different styles than theirs? In my own family, it is similar – my mother and sister and I all love the same things, but in different ways. We all love antique furniture and accessories. They don’t love slipcovers and seagrass like I do, but we all three love French design. On my husband’s side, the daughters in law also all love decorating.
I wonder if all families are like this? Do the women all love to decorate in your family too? I would love to see more extended family houses and look at how the decorating is related from house to house. I think it would be hard to be the only one in the family who decorated. If you spent money on your décor but your in laws didn’t, would they think you were extravagant or wasteful? My mother always advised me to “put your money into your house and not into your clothes,” which I do. I would much rather buy a new accessory than an pair of shoes. It helps that most everyone in my extended families – on both sides – have the same mindset.
A huge thank you to Deanie, Dana, Elizabeth and Leslie for sharing pictures of your beautiful homes!!!!
ANNOUNCING A GIVEAWAY!!!!
Kristin Mullen who writes the blog Covetable Designs is having a giveaway to tie in with a big announcement. Kristin who designed her own gorgeous home in Dallas, above, has started a new decorating business, Design Online, for clients who don’t live in Dallas but want to hire Kristin. Be sure to visit her blog for all the details about the giveaway HERE.
And, don’t forget that Kathryn Ireland is the guest interview this week on The Skirted Roundtable, HERE. Last Saturday, we recorded a new interview with a HUGE surprise guest! That will be online after the holidays, so watch for the announcement. Thank you as always for your continued support. Pictured above is a dining room from Kathryn Ireland’s book Classic Country.
And Finally:
Cote de Texas welcomes a new sponsor: Chic Provence Design Tour. Interested in a shopping trip to Provence this spring? Go HERE for the brochure!
