The Search for Home

Happy Spring!!! Spring has finally made it to western mass! Woohoo! (Although I’ve been warned that some years it even snows in May 🙁 ) Isn’t it funny how sunshine and warmer temps make everything look prettier!? And happier too? Isabella and I ventured on a nature walk this past weekend and saw a bunch of snowdrops on a sunny hillside. I can’t remember ever being so excited at the sight of those tiny droplets but seeing them made me feel so happy! And to think tulips are next, and then peonies, roses and hydrangeas…I hope it’s nice and warm where you are!

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An Interview with Leta Austin Foster

Today I have the great pleasure to share with you an interview with one of the leading names in American interior design, Leta Austin Foster. I have tremendous respect and admiration for Leta’s work and could not be more excited to sit down with her for an interesting interview marking the launch of her new design concept, PREtty FABulous Rooms.  Leta founded her award-winning design firm – Leta Austin Foster Interiors – over four decades ago and in the years that followed, her work has been published in all the major design magazines as well as in a great number of interior design books. She has contributed design advice to Elle Décor, Veranda, Traditional Home and House Beautiful. House and Garden magazine named her one of America’s Greatest Interior Decorators. In 2015, Gibbs-Smith published “Traditional Interiors: Leta Austin Foster, India Foster and Sallie Giordano, written by Brian Coleman and Erik Kvalsvik, a book that celebrates her firm’s stunning portfolio.

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The Hitchcock Chair

A couple of weeks ago I blogged about our “new” old chair (I so appreciated your comments, thank you!!) and I’ve been meaning to write a more in-depth post about the Hitchcock furniture style ever since. I love ours and after doing a little research and seeing other examples of this style of chair being used by some of my favorite designers (Rita Konig, Gil Schafer, Daryl Carter), I decided I’d like to start a collection of our own for our dining room someday. It will take time and patience to find the right pieces as I’ve often seen these chairs at local shops but not in good condition. The cane and rush seats decay and suffer the most damage over time. However, I have discovered the joy of the hunt and there’s no turning back. These chairs are quite versatile and look great paired with both farmhouse style tables for a country look or with more polished and elegant ones like Duncan Phyfe.

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Our Home | Living Room Updates

I just realized that it’s been a long time since I last posted about our home. I don’t know about you but I blinked and it was Valentine’s Day!! January passed way too quickly, leaving me with a long list of unfinished projects around the house, like painting our bedroom walls or ordering  fabric for our new bedroom shades. I plan on posting about my design plans for the bedroom soon, but in the meantime, I thought you’d enjoy a peek into our refreshed living room.

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Bits of Life & Flowering Blooms


Only three days left until Christmas!!! I hope life is not too crazy for you right now, although not the same can be said about our home and life in general. December has been a whirlwind month so far and we’ve been busier than ever with out of town guests, my mom’s visit, shopping, school, work and the usual responsibilities. At times it felt like too much was happening and there were not enough hours left at the end of the day (it still feels that way) but, in reality, Ivan and I strive on chaos and madness. We love the adrenaline, the rush and the busyness of life in general. We’d rather be too busy than bored. We’re crazy that way.

My daughter is the happiest this time of year. She still believes in Santa and the Elves and her innocence makes these magical holidays that much more exciting for us grownups. And now with her grandma visiting, Christmas will be extra special. For her and for all of us. I’ve enjoyed my mom’s company more than anything these days. She’s sweet, easy-going and funny. She also has a sweet tooth so she’s been sharing with us old family recipes that my grandma used to prepare for me when I was little. I want to stretch these moments as much as I can… The cold weather didn’t stop us one bit. We went antiquing and acted silly. We found nothing  but it was still worth it just for the time we spent together. 

Anyway, I think by now you realized that this is my long winded way of saying that there’s no proper post today 🙂 Lack of time. Instead, I’m going to share with you some leftover photos from Wednesday and Thursday, of my living room. A corner of it anyway. The rest is not blog-ready yet and I don’t know that it ever will be 🙂

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