Melissa
lives in New Jersey, while her best friend (and now sister-in-law)
Lynne lives in Northern California. But although they live 3,000 miles
apart, the women feel closer than ever. "We share the blog Sugar City Journal and an online shop,"
Melissa explains, "so we peek into each other's lives every day."
Another thing the women share is a talent for adding lovely, unexpected
touches to their homes. Melissa recently stole a moment to talk to us,
while her three children napped, so let's take a peek inside...
(Note: Lynne's house is coming up on August 15th!)
We have three children--a boy and two girls. We live in a cute family town.
When my son was 5, he drew his self-portrait at school. I framed it against a color pattern. It's such a cute face; that smile is hilarious!
It was such a lucky find from an estate sale up the street--only $25! The linen fabric is beautiful. The only catch is that when I put it in the TV room, it smelled like the old lady's house! I had to get it steam cleaned.
We have a big-screen TV with surround sound, so we all watch Friday night movies. Our kids love the princess movies and cartoons.
My friend Marcia, a creative genius, put a sofa in her dining room, and so I did the same. I wanted to soften the room since there were so many hard edges.
How did you choose which maps to hang?
We have maps of Manhattan and Tokyo. My husband speaks Japanese and
really likes Japan. There's actually a chance we might move there,
which would be really cool.
Where did you find the chandelier?
An antique store in Queens. It was a good deal, since I got it before chandeliers were hot!
I think fairy tales are really sweet, so when I found the bed at an estate sale for $30, I went to town. Beforehand, it was an old, ugly, pine bed--really sad looking. So I painted it white and then painted Red Riding Hood.
I bought the four posters from a street vendor in Dijon, France. They're old-fashioned school posters that teachers used in their lessons. A cool secret: You can find them on eBay: Just go on eBay and click on "France" and type in "affiches scolaires." They're beautiful.
Is the playhouse also French?
My friend actually gave me a cheesy Bob-the-Builder plastic tent. I used the cover as a pattern and made this out of fabric. It took about three hours.
The table and chair set is from IKEA.
That's ingenious. You're incredible with these projects!
I always think that there's something else I need to do. I never feel like I'm done with my house.
My favorite painter is Cecilia Beaux. I love that her people are realistic but painterly at the same time. She uses broad brush strokes and strong colors--kind of like Sargent, but her brush strokes look furtive as if she did them quickly. But apparently she really concentrated.
This was my attempt to elevate a corner of my house. I scanned a pretty fabric into the computer and doctored it on Photoshop. Then I printed the pattern on regular paper and glued the sheets together; I laminated them and glued them on the stairs with Modgepodge. If you look closely, you can see a few faces hidden amidst the damask. It's a simple way to bring a smile, as I walk up and down these stairs a hundred times a day.
Thank you, Melissa! Want more? Read our Cookie home stories or try out our DIY posts.
More from Cookie:
- Summer Memory Contest
Submit your favorite family photo for a chance to win a spa trip!
- Are You Ready for Another Child?
Take this humorous quiz and to find out if you're ready or not for number two, three or higher. - Advice from a chef: Fabio Trabocchi
The award winning chef has headed fine restaurants all over the world, but he always makes time for cooking at home with his two kids. - Give the Gift of Cookie Magazine - Just $1 an issue!
