Sunday, July 20, 2008

My Quiet Room



Even our 3 year old knows this as the "Quiet Room". There's something about my dining room that makes you want to speak in hushed tones.






This room is near the front of the house, just down a little hallway to the kitchen but for some reason whenever I am in this room (hiding out) my family can't find me! Ahhh! Bliss!... It could be that I stay perfectly still with my eyes closed - you know the "I can't see you, so you can't see me..." theory,....so far it works!






I've tried many times to capture the "essence" of this room with my outdated camera but to no avail. The pictures don't do it justice with it's harsh flash and untrue colors.












Oh, I know there are some things that need tweaking, adding, subtracting, etc. but for now I am going to focus on the positives of this space. Contrary to what you might be thinking with it's bold floral, it's a rather soothing room. It's filled with many collections that I have either hunted down (antique green transferware, tole trays) or was lucky enough to inherit (silver tea/coffee service). 90% of the furniture was refinished by me (including the antique piano!) except for the wingbacks and a few sidetables.








My husband and I built the window bench one weekend(that was one Looongg weekend!) and I painstakingly sewed up the curtains, cushions and most of the pillows. I even installed the dark blinds myself when my husband was on a trip (he still hasn't said anything about how they suddenly "appeared"). The black buffet (formerly a peeling,beat up brown finish) was a roadside find that I made him back up & load in the truck, hoping the neighbors weren't peeking out their windows at us! ha-ha! :)










Some might think a formal dining/living room that only gets used a few times a year is a wasted space...but not to me...I use this room daily, I just don't have a crowd of people with me. When the holidays arrive ,this room is anything but quiet with our family & friends gathered but during the other 360-some odd days of the year, it's become a sort of retreat where I can sit with my tea and look around at all my little bits & sparkly pieces and breathe deeply. You know the room that stays clean and things are exactly where you left them....






I steal a few minutes of peace & tranquility and then I am ready to face daily life again with my family, because you all know that once in a while you wish you could ship the little buggers off to boarding school (or camp, which we did for a week!)










So now I am going to stop talking and let you sit and relax...because that's what this room is all about. The Quiet.~ Enjoy! ~











28 comments:

Picket said...

The room is gorgeous....oh I don't blame you for hiding out in there..it just calls you!!! I love it all.it is such a pretty place..like you said...you can go in there and know everything is in it's place and still all pretty while the bed is still watiing to be made and the dishes waiting to be done! lol I love this room girl..Have a great night!

Tausha said...

I love it! I would sit in there and be quiet all the time. I am jealous that you have a house that all must be quiet in. I have got to get me one of those. L love your style dear!
I always leave here more uplifted than when I got here!!! Yea-off to more projects

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous!!! Thanks for sharing, Janie

twintoo10292 said...

What a huge room and so pretty. I think you love it so because it is "your" room. Everything you love and all your hard work. You did a fantastic job on the furniture. A beautiful space. Twin

Anonymous said...

The joy you find in this room shines through. That is what great decorating is all about!!! Sally

Anonymous said...

Your house is so beautiful! I like your decorative touches.

Brandee :-)

Blogger said...

Oh my...I clicked on your page from Sheila's Note Songs...and it took a few seconds for your top pic to load...but once it did, I almost lost my breath!!! WOW! Then, I scrolled down and my heart started racing!!! Wow, oh, wow, do you have a way with decorating!!! Your home is just gorgeous and the colors you use are amazing!!! Wow, simply, wow!!! I am adding you to my blog list RIGHT NOW!!! :) Nice to meet you:)

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful Quiet Room you have! I remember it from RMS and I was drooling then, too! It seems so big and you have so many beautiful things. I understand about a quiet place to retreat to and yours has that gorgeous piano!! If I were there, I would play sweet soothing Note Songs for you! Thank you so much for sharing this special and beautiful room with us today.
Be a really quiet sweetie,
Shelia ;)

montacoo said...

Hi laurie, I loved visiting your home...It is absolutely gorgeous!!!I love the green on your walls too..Gorgeous...anyways I too have a rate my space, but I don't like getting on there anymore because people are absolutely RUDE...LOL..anyways just wanted to say hi.. Monta :))

Angie said...

Your "quiet room" is gorgeous! It is nice to have a room to go in that stays nice and neat most of the time.
I was excited when I discovered your blog. I will be going back to look at your past posts to see what beautiful things I've missed. Check out my new blog!

Donna Lynn said...

Dearest Laurie!
I am back, thank you so much for keeping in touch with me, I love you and consider you a dear friend!
Your rooms are looking beautiful, of course, your amazing and the talent just oozes out of you!!!

Bless you with your house full to the brim with family!!! Heavens...
Take care and we will have to "talk" soon, gotta get the back story on the visit ;)
XO,
Donna Lynn

Blogger said...

Hi, I'm back...do you know what color is on those gorgeous walls? Thanks! :)

Heather said...

I don't have a room that stays clean all of the time! Not fair! But if I did I would want it to look exactly like this. This room is beautiful....I remember seeing it for the first time on RMS and my heart went pitter pat when I saw the fabric... and the green walls!!! I love every inch of this room. And is that green toile lining your china hutches? Toile with little monkies on it? If so consider me jealous!!! LOL!!
Where did you get that gorgeous fabric by the way??
Sorry it took me so long to get over here.....I am SO behind on visiting lately!!
Hugs!
Heather :)

Picket said...

Morning girl..you must still be in this beautiful quiet room...cause you been mighty quiet lately!!! lol Just came by to check on you and to say I hope you and yours have a beautiful week!

Jerri Lynn @ Southern Sassyness said...

HI there - absolutely gorgeous room and home! I love your decorating style - beautiful! I am new to blogging, but hope to get on the "train" rather quickly, now. Do you mind if I add you to my blogging list?

Have a great day!

niartist said...

Laurie!
I found you through another page, and I was so excited when I got here and realized you're on RMS! I remember you from there, my screenname was/is ArtieBen. I don't go back there very often nowadays, but it ws good to find you in blogland. I'll keep checking back, I love your spaces.

Anonymous said...

Hi Laurie! Your dining room is absolutely elegant! I can't believe that I was about to put up valances like your black floral and black/cream check panels! The reverse of what you did!lol It's a work in progress my dining! I love your window bench you guys did a fantastic job. The whole room is beautiful. Have a great day - Jeannette

Donna Lynn said...

AHHHHH...quiet, peace, reflection! Yes, I feel it all when looking at your divine rooms! You, Miss Laurie, are the queen of beautiful rooms! You need to be in a magazine, your home is a blessed extension of your sweet self! What a gift that is...
Thank you for sharing your lovely room with me, I feel honored!
XO,
DL

Kim Hardt Originals said...

Absolutely Beautiful! Dang girl you have talent!!!

Kim

Heather said...

Just stopping by to check on you and say hello! Oh, and I hope you don't mind but I spent an hour or so in your "quiet room" today. I really needed it! Thanks so much, I feel very refreshed now!! That chair was so comfy and it was nice to be able to put my feet up for awhile!! I stared at your beautiful drapes when my eyes weren't closed! Where did you get that gorgeous floral fabric by the way??
Hope you have a great weekend sweetie!
-Heather :)

Sweetie said...

Your dining room is beautiful - there is such attention to detail. How wonderful that you have a space to yourself - most of the time.

Anonymous said...

Wow, you have managed your home so well, I'm very much inspired from you.

Mary said...

Oh, (sigh) I still LOVE this room! It is filled with such wonderful accessories, I am drooling all over my keyboard. :)
xox,
mary

Anonymous said...

I just discovered your blog and I will return. Your home is just gorgeous, you have done a magnificent job on it.
The stories of your husbands family are just wonderful. Look how far he's come in his life! You are so blessed

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