Platter Serves Up Re-Do

The inspiration...

The before...

...the before...a Halloween haven 2000-2007

The after!

...times change..so does my decor. In fact, I am happy to confess an obsession with redecorating, or curating, new rooms and realms within my home. After all, it is my castle and I rule it with pure abandon for color and texture, encouraging vintage castoffs to cozy up with folk art beauties. I have no qualms about hanging an original painting next to my $1 find from a yard sale. Things are always moving about. This keeps displays fresh, decor fun, and helps me make room for new finds.

This time the victim was my upstairs hallway. It connects the bedrooms with the kids' bathroom and flanks the railing overlooking our den. I pass through it a million -- well at least 20 times -- each day.

For a space so visited, it was well overdue for a re-do.

For six years it paid homage to my obsession (yes, there are many) with Halloween collectibles and art. Affectionately referred to as the "Halloween-way" and then....Jennifer Lanne painted that 30x40 egg platter....And I began to think and to lust. I was a good girl, really, I was. I let it hang in the gallery for 4 weeks and then, I just couldn't take it anymore. I had to have it!

Now.... where to hang it....finding a blank wall around here involves moving and adjusting my many treasures and cherished art... A HA!! There it was, the perfect wall in the upstairs hall. But... the floor, the color, the accessories....all wonderful, but not suitable companions for my new painting.

I think of it as the "Helen of Troy" platter. After all, if one face could launch 1,000 ships, than a fabulous painting could certainly determine our Saturday plans, "honey-do" list nd the decor of a hallway...

Here's the before and after pictured above...

(silly me, I should have taken more before shots, but I was too excited to get to work...you'll get the idea and so many of you have been here....). We left all the furniture in place... and, thanks to one gallon of Benjamin Moore's "Shanendoah Grey", a few boxes of Mannington's "Butterscotch Hickory" laminate, and several pots of coffee...

we made the magic of a one day re-do.

I loved pulling together a new color palette of chocolates and blues. They sing with black and white accents. My beloved "I Love Lucy" lamps (found at "Home Goods" years ago for $39.99 a piece) remained, as did one of my most favorite Nicol Sayre pieces in the whitewashed clock case. My chalkware dogs moved in, along with some of my antique children's shoes, and my favorite wedding picture. The Halloween goodies were relocated and a few treasures from Laurie Meseroll and Kitty B were added.... VOILA!

What do you think of the results? I would love to know what inspires you to re-do...Is it that one new piece, a nagging hunger for new color...or just "time" for a change???

I am thinking of a rug I have had rolled up for 6 years...it might just get me going on re-working, re-decorating and re-vitalizing my four-year old daughter Charlotte's bedroom.

If I go for it, I sure will take images to share!

Chat soon

xxoo Jen

Earth Angels