I have always been inclined to bring beauty to things around me. Turning an ordinary space into something interesting and beautiful was an effortless and enjoyable process for me. As I began to explore the art of decorating as a young adult, I realized it was more than just something that I enjoyed—it was something that would shape who I am.
My interest in design started out as a collection of ideas about home decorating, and those ideas eventually grew into a retail store, Old Glory Antiques. I have come to realize that this collection is really more centered around an attitude about life. My growing love of decorating had presented an opportunity for me to identify, acknowledge, and, in writing this book, put into words those things that are most important to me. The ideas I had been collecting and developing were really about how I wanted to live my life and nurture my family, build relationships and create memories.
My design work at Old Glory Antiques resonated with people—from the thoughtful selection of merchandise to the carefully curated displays. Visitors to my store would feel comfortable and inspired in an atmosphere that felt familiar, yet fresh and new. I was often asked what term I used to describe my style of decorating, and I did not have a succinct answer. That is when I decided to give my collection of ideas a name and to define the elements that comprise my signature style so I could share my process. As I sat down to describe my approach, it was hard to determine if I was describing the decorating of a house or my attitudes about life. Indeed, I believe the two are closely intertwined.
Home isn’t just where you live; it is how you live.
My collection of ideas on decorating that had grown into my signature style became the framework for my book. In the pages that emerged as I began writing, I started by describing the elements that make up this signature style. While the book is not a how-to, it does provide a look at what I think and do in my own pursuit of beauty and authenticity. The book shares beautiful examples of my style at work in real homes. I hope readers will find inspiration and ideas for bringing beauty, comfort and authenticity into their own homes.
I have always been inclined to bring beauty to things around me. Turning an ordinary space into something interesting and beautiful was an effortless and enjoyable process for me. As I began to explore the art of decorating as a young adult, I realized it was more than just something that I enjoyed—it was something that would shape who I am.
My interest in design started out as a collection of ideas about home decorating, and those ideas eventually grew into a retail store, Old Glory Antiques. I have come to realize that this collection is really more centered around an attitude about life. My growing love of decorating had presented an opportunity for me to identify, acknowledge, and, in writing this book, put into words those things that are most important to me. The ideas I had been collecting and developing were really about how I wanted to live my life and nurture my family, build relationships and create memories.
My design work at Old Glory Antiques resonated with people—from the thoughtful selection of merchandise to the carefully curated displays. Visitors to my store would feel comfortable and inspired in an atmosphere that felt familiar, yet fresh and new. I was often asked what term I used to describe my style of decorating, and I did not have a succinct answer. That is when I decided to give my collection of ideas a name and to define the elements that comprise my signature style so I could share my process. As I sat down to describe my approach, it was hard to determine if I was describing the decorating of a house or my attitudes about life. Indeed, I believe the two are closely intertwined.
Home isn’t just where you live; it is how you live.
My collection of ideas on decorating that had grown into my signature style became the framework for my book. In the pages that emerged as I began writing, I started by describing the elements that make up this signature style. While the book is not a how-to, it does provide a look at what I think and do in my own pursuit of beauty and authenticity. The book shares beautiful examples of my style at work in real homes. I hope readers will find inspiration and ideas for bringing beauty, comfort and authenticity into their own homes.
