Subtle Changes

I put out new ferns each spring and move all the orchids to the screened porch. That process started to change to lighten up my home decor for warm weather.

This year, the time was right to upgrade some of my “make do for now” furniture and art. The changes are subtle, but the upgrade in style and function make my daily life much more pleasant. The foyer (below) remains the same.

My office is just inside the front door across from the foyer. I create the blog and conduct my company’s daily business in this room. I spend many hours here, so form and function are paramount.

This view is from in front of the window.

This angle is the view from the door.

A new desk to hold my computer was the most critical change needed. The old mission-style table had no drawers and snagged my clothes often with its rough edges. Another change that lightened this room was removing a table in front of the window. I admit to having difficulty letting things flow like a river in my home decor. New additions were coming in, but not enough was flowing out.

The dining area remains much the same. However, I did remove several items to give the space a lighter feel. This view turns from the dining area to the stairwell.

A shot from the balcony shows the sitting area changes. I removed several Italian trays, tables, and other items to give the space a lighter, more modern look. In addition, I replaced the Mediterranean terrace print with a more contemporary piece of art on a plain canvas.

The dark, heavy table previously under the oversized Hudson River-style painting is now used upstairs as my makeup table. I added the small mirrored art Deco-style chest to the sofa’s back. Mirrored surfaces, straight legs, glass tables, and unframed canvases all lighten up and modernize spaces. I studied hundreds of Architectural Digest articles before making these changes.

I moved the pedestal with the urn to the other side of the room and added a small metal and glass table to the area by the stairs. Unfortunately, I had too many curved dark wood pieces of furniture, so I replaced the curvy coffee table with a more modern straight edge dark-dressed piece that relates nicely to the piano painting.

Fresh flowers and an urn full of seashells I gathered from beaches worldwide are now on the bar cart.

I added a new round pedestal table to the breakfast nook.

In the primary bedroom, I replaced two old mismatched chests with a five-drawer chest and a matching three-drawer chest. Their style complements the bed and the bench.

My talented father made the table in the corner by the air purifier. The bronze Victorian fairy figurine was a long-ago Christmas gift from Mr. Mickey.

The walls are relatively blank for now in anticipation of adding original modern art. My eyes have finally adjusted to the look, so I am ready to embrace contemporary pieces mixed with old ones. Future purchases will include light fixtures and blinds, new glass objects, and original art on large, simple canvases.

The upstairs sitting area outside the guest room also has a new, lighter look. I removed some furniture and art pieces here but added nothing new.

The guest room is ready for your visit!

The table in front of my office window is now in the guest room.

I enjoy the extra space for my makeup. That’s a small fan on the floor under the table.

The Mediterranean terrace print looks so much better in the guestroom.

Below is my “store” shot in the finished room over the garage (FROG). Home accessories are like jewelry; you need not always show everything you own. Instead, I will keep these unique pieces in rotation with the seasons. My high-heel shoe collection also resides in this bonus room, along with a bookshelf and other items — more on this collection in a future post.

A post from my old blog here shows the previous decor.