Spring cleaning?…

Cleaning is not something I get too excited about, however, I want to be ready to head outdoors as soon as weather permits.  That means the dust bunnies must be cleared away from unseen corners of the house first.  The problem with me is that I’m easily sidetracked… I not only want clean and tidy but updated and fresh.

As the days get longer and the light comes in more brightly through the windows, I’m anxious to lighten up the interior of my home, too.  Ideally, we would change our decor from winter to summer every year.  However, that could prove to be costly and need storage, which is at a premium for most of us.

I haven’t changed up the decor in my house for quite some time.  Is it because I’ve become complacent, or is it that I haven’t been inspired?  When I had the store, I travelled both to find new treasures to add to the inventory mix as well as for pleasure.  I loved all the new things in the showrooms, but it was the vintage/antique pieces that caught my eye.  Europe opens your eyes to the past, and when I’m in California, that easy breezy style is so refreshing.  Ideally, I’d love a European cozy feel for fall/winter and a California casual look for spring/summer. But want and need aren’t necessarily the same!

Finding the right balance between new and old can be tricky, but I believe, like Billy Baldwin, if you fill your home with objects you love, you will never tire of them.  Often, we are too insecure in our tastes and never allow ourselves to step outside the box.

My house exterior and floor plan would probably be considered “cottage” style, but I’ve decorated more traditionally.   It has a closed floor plan, and I’ve never been tempted to open it up, even though that has been the trend for some time, but I’m ready to add some modern touches.

“There are two things that make a room timeless: a sense of history and a piece of the future.”  Charlotte Moss

Adding “modern” to “traditional” can be done fairly easily if you keep your base somewhat classic with symmetrical styling, neutral colours and natural fabrics (cotton, linen, wool).  Modern touches can add fun and the unexpected to a dated room.

 

Last fall, I bought this book, “Artful Home” by Josh Young.  It’s always on the table because I find myself flipping through it so often.  He is an artist and has decorated his homes in that fresh, modern traditional style that I love.

Below are some of his art pieces.  What I especially like are his “scribble” pieces, which are titled.  I think the splash of colour over the eyes of a traditional-style portrait is cheeky too!  Photos below from left to right are “Paris, 1901”, “Portobello Road, 1962”, and “Willow”.

“Design should be inspired by the life, not the life inspired by the design”.  House of Valentina

Once the velvet throw pillow covers have been cleaned and put away, I’ll look for linen covers in lighter colours. For spring, I’d like to take down the heavy taffeta and velvet drapes and replace them with linen, sheer, or cotton.

I also wanted to freshen up the bedroom.  For winter, I had a velvet quilted fabric covering the padded headboard (pink photo below left), and this week, I made a new cover using a heavy white (matelasse-like) tablecloth that I haven’t used for many years.  “Princess” Charlie has approved the switch from winter to spring!  As you can see, I haven’t ironed the sheets or duvet cover…maybe next time!

One day, when I had too much time on my hands, I started scribbling too…these are the names of some of my favourite bistros in Paris.  Clearly, I won’t be selling my pieces for thousands of dollars, nor will I be hanging on the wall, but it was fun, anyway.

How are you spending your countdown until spring?

xox Judy❤️

P.S.  I heard the geese today…they’re back!