Did I ever tell you that I work from home? I do. It’s swell.
Last summer, when I decided to make the switch, my husband suggested we convert our guest room into a home office. We ripped up the old carpet, put down wood floors, got rid of our old futon, painted the room, bought a sofa bed, desk and chair and then…nothing. I haven’t done another thing to it. I sit there staring at blank walls and no window coverings. I did buy a cool rug – but it’s way too small for the room.
Blank space in our house is no surprise. The walls in my living, dining room and family room were empty for a good 3 years after we moved in. Even now people use the words “open” “uncluttered” and “low-key” to describe the house, when I think they really mean “undecorated” “unadorned” “sterile” and “boring”. We do have pictures of our kids up – a LOT of pictures – but that doesn’t count.
I watch those HGTV shows and get mildly inspired to do something different. And then – nothing.
You know what doesn’t help? A husband who would live in a plain, white box if he could. His idea of clutter is what normal people call living.
Sorry – displacing my anger. It’s not his fault. I just have decorating paralysis (except at Christmas – when I turn into Holly Holiday and it looks like the North Pole threw-up in my house).
One of my good friends in NYC knows how to do it. She’s got an amazing eye for all things beautiful. When I had gone to see her a few weeks ago, I secretly snapped these photos. I’m sure she won’t mind me sharing them with the world (on that note, welcome to my blog Israel and the Netherlands, I’m glad to have you!).
A few years ago she went on a camping trip out west and took some amazing shots. She’s a great photog too – annoying right?
She simply enlarged the photo and had it printed on canvas. Perfect. Why can’t I do that? Well, I can. But will I? Probably not.
Try to ignore the stunning woodwork on the walls, the beautiful club chairs and country bench and focus on the canvas art.
She had it done through one of the many websites doing canvas printing. I love it. I hereby promise to do something creative and fun with my home! Maybe.
She also had a smaller one done for the entry hall – this is another one of her photographs.
You should see her kitchen. So great. I couldn’t take a secret picture of that because she was in there the whole time.
There’s always my next visit.
