Saturday, December 3, 2011

My reader's home was featured in a Christmas magazine!

 This adorable photo came to my attention via email from one of my readers.  She sent me this picture to share how she had decorated her home for Christmas and it ended up being featured in a magazine! Look at this room! The fabric on the club chairs feature staffordshire figures, and the room looks amazing with the wreaths that have plates centered in the middle of them! I have never seen that before, have you?
This is the kind of story I love...don't you wonder how a regular person has their home photographed for a magazine?? I do and I just had to share it~Wait til you see the rest of the house, it has so many great decorating ideas for Christmas too, so lets get started~
 This is Elizabeth's home, so picture perfect. I love the stone facade, the front door and the iron gate! She and her husband built this English Country style home in 1995.
 I share her love of pretty colors and the lighthearted decorating she prefers. Blues and pinks mingle in the fabrics, and I think the walls are painted wide stripes in in blue and cream. Her daughters, Molly and Amy are just adorable too.
 Pastel vintage ornaments hang from ribbons below the mantel attached with cup hooks. You can see into the sunroom through the french doors.
 This is my favorite picture! I love this kitchen~the bank of windows, the fabulous wire chandelier that Elizabeth hung teapots and pitchers and creamers from. She loves to have a theme in her decor and the fabric hit the mark for the cornices. Even the wreath has a group of teacups suspended in the center by ribbons.
 This is the magazine that Elizabeth's cheerful home was featured in.  I read these magazines whenever I see them in the supermarket check out line. The surprising part to me is that it was 1998! So much of her decor still feels current. The photographer was Jon Miller, and the article was written by Judith Friedman with Linda Stueve.
 Now, how did Elizabeth get in this magazine?  Well Elizabeth tells it like this:

"OK,  to start at the beginning I had a favorite house from the magazine Traditional Homes....one day while shopping in a local antiques shop I spotted the woman who's house I lusted after !
I got so excited and approached her ( my mom and sister were embarrassed and hiding ) Her name is Suzy Stout.
I recognized her from her photo (she lived a couple blocks away from me.)
 I walked up to her with a big smile said hello and told her I loved her home and had the magazine on my nightstand.  She COULD NOT have been more warm and friendly ! It was like meeting an old friend.....I'm not sure what I expected but she was just so sweet and friendly.  
One thing led to another and I asked her if she would come over and help me with my sun room and some fabric for curtains.   After a few months and lots of fun we completed my sun room and she helped me select fabrics for some window treatments and I pulled her into EVERY room in my house picked her brain.   
I really just LOVED her so much I kept in touch and eventually she suggested my house to a magazine scout that she knew in the Chicago area.  They were looking for a house for the Christmas issue for one of the mags.  Suzy suggested my house, I got a call from the girl who scouts and sent them some photos.
They decided to come out and see it, and we did the shoot just after Christmas ! "
So that is how Elizabeth ended up in the magazine, and she ended up in others later on too. So you just never know when you might bump into someone like Suzy Stout. Lesson of the story is don't be shy!! 

One last thing I just HAVE to share with you is this photo~and it is also from a house Elizabeth lived in, the one they moved to after the one we just took a tour or (and now they are in a yet another house).  Well,  this house has a pretty kitchen too, and lots of windows with wreaths and really adorable roman shades in a teacup fabric...and look what is hanging over the table!! A blue opalescent antique chandelier!  You know I have a chandelier fetish, and this one has the same blue drops that my designer friend, Betsy Speert's chandy has (and that she bragged about on her blog).  I think it is super fabulous!
Speaking of chandys,  I am having my kitchen chandelier hung up tomorrow!!
It is not as lovely as these two blue opalescent numbers,
but I am happy none the less.
 You know you will be seeing many photos once it is in place.
And I want to say thank you to my readers! 
I am always thrilled when you share your lives with me, 
 this was a treat to look through the photos Elizabeth sent along. 
I hope you all enjoyed it too! 
Now get those teacups out and start hanging them from your chandys!!




29 comments:

  1. Great post. And I love the first photo. Those wreaths in the windows look so beautiful.

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  2. My favorite room is the first pic (sunroom?). I love the pink walls and wreaths in every window.

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  3. Oh AMY You little Rascally Rabbit !! You are so cute to feature our house/houses !!! I only wish you could have photo shopped my backside in the last photo !! I can't believe the photos look so pretty you did a great job you talented blogger Goddess !!
    Hugs,
    Betsy (Elizabeth)

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  4. Amy, thanks so much for sharing her home and her magazine spread. Love it.

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  5. Wow! This was a walk down memory lane for me because I remember that house and that magazine. I looked at those pictures hundreds of time after purchasing the magazine. It all came rushing back today. The plates inside the wreaths was genius. Thanks for sharing this!

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  6. What a great post! I loved seeing those photos and learning the story behind them. She has a wonderful sense of style. I liked how she hung those ball ornaments from her mantel. Can't wait to see your new chandy too! I bet it will be the icing on the cake for your kitchen.

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  7. What a wonderful story! It was a lovely house. I saw the date before I read you explaination and was thinking "what did I miss?" :) LOVE LOVE LOVE the wreaths in the windows. Timeless! I haven't done that in a few years. May need to try that again.

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  8. Hi Amy! Oh, this is a fabulous home! That first snap is adorable with those two pretty little girls. They're probably grown now! Can't wait to see you chandy!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  9. So nice of you to share this with us! Beautiful home, decorations and so inspiring to see wonderful features for everyday folks! Love the chandy and can't wait to see yours!!!

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  10. What a fabulous home! I love the wreaths in the windows! Great inspiration!

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  11. What a totally charming and beautiful home...totally magazine worthy!! Love that first picture with all the wreaths, just fabulous and so very warm and cozy!!
    The girls are also precious....thanks Amy!

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  12. I could seriously live in this home and not fluff a thing.Just perfect.

    In my head i own this place while its snowing outside. Its beautiful.

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  13. What a pretty. lighthearted house! I can't believe she isn't there any more. I got lots of inspiring ideas too. I love the Christmas balls under the mantel - what a great idea. Thanks so much for sharing!

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  14. COTTAGE PERFECT!
    The front elevation of the home is amazingly perfect, wishing it were mine.
    I am just as excited to see all you create this holiday.
    Come Visit My New Post I feel Like a French Toy Maker For Christmas :)
    I have been Building these days!
    xoxo
    Dore

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  15. Beautiful home. I especially love the last aqua chandy. Awesome. Hugs, Ginger

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  16. Wow, what a stunning home and what a great story to go with it. Thanks so much for posting this and sharing these wonderfully festive ideas!

    Best Christmas wishes,
    Natasha.

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  17. Beautiful!!! What a charming house! Congratulations to your reader!
    xx
    Greet

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  18. Such a gorgeous home! I love the picture of their living room with the wreaths on the windows ... have seen that one all over Pinterest! How exciting for her ... thanks for sharing!

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  19. I love the wreaths with the plates in the center, such a clever idea! And the ornaments hanging from the mantel- I like that rather than a swag. Hmmm, need to go tinker with my decorations now.... :)

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  20. Wow! What a lovely blog! I really enjoyed this post. I've always wondered how people got featured in a magazine. Thanks for sharing that.

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  21. What a cool story! I love that you took us from start to finish in how it all happened. Her house is gorgeous, and it is timeless!

    Cindy

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  22. What a great post Amy. I loved reading the story of how it happened, and can see why- the house looks fantastic all decorated for Christmas!
    Stacy

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  23. What a lovely story! I wonder how she hung the plates with the wreaths? Do you know? Isn't it wonderful to share all this information with your readers.

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  24. Very pretty house. Can't wait to see your new chandi up!

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  25. Lucky her. And what a gorgeous home! I'm getting that mag now!

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