TREASURE HUNTING IN CHARLESTON

All of you who love the excitement and joy that comes with finding buried treasure follow me!

I was focused on all aspects of the Charleston history. From the local foods, to historical homes, gardens but, I could not pass up a day to go treasure hunting.

I do this at home but it is even more fun when you have a whole new resource of history and discovery in a town or country far away!

My day out in Charleston with a local guide was full of surprises. What added to my joy is she stopped at a local framing shop and asked me to help her choose a mat and frame for a piece of art. Yes, I can do that!!

Then we visited a range of venues that spanned all price points and with Laura guiding us was able to hear her stories that made a piece or find that more interesting.

One such find was a book, Mellowed by Time, by Elizabeth O'Neill Verner, a distinguished American who has been noted for her etchings. Permanent collections of her work may be found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and many other well known American Institutions. I now have it sitting amongst my treasures as a reminder that our guide, Laura, a lifelong Charlestonian borrowed quotes of this author in her passionate displays of poetic history over lunch!

Another exciting moment was when we both reached for the same lamp but to discover that there were more in the "back room"!! We laughed at such "luck" and serendipity. Needless to say I now have a new addition to my living room. Getting it on the plane - awkward - seeing it in my home - joy! Say  no more!

I loved our day treasure hunting and if you are lost for adventure.....put on some comfortable clothes, take a tote bag, and visit your local thrift shops to see what treasures you can find. It can be less than the price of a trip to the theatre.

Tap into your design or creative side and see what you can come up with.

This was inscribed inside the cover

Not Sterling Silver but a rich design never the less - I did not hesitate.

Sweet and I loved the detail!

Have you guessed what this is yet? It is a lamp Finial!

Yes this is me (on the left) and our guide Laura (in red). Crazy fun!

INTERIORS STEEPED IN TRADITION AND STYLE

 You cannot mistake the steeped Traditional style inside the historical Georgian Homes of Charleston, South Carolina.  Signs that tradition runs deep and style is secure shows in their symmetrical mantel placements, the Silver Tea Service on the buffet, the Chintz fabrics covering the windows.  Inside and out, these beautifully preserved historical homes have much in common such as the grand curved  stairs and banisters, beautiful original tile inlays and classic marble flooring.

This was all candy to my eyes. I loved discovering the beautifully rich details that in the decorating and design world are referred to as classic. The hardwood, marble and architectural detailing such as ceiling medalions above the chandeliers and the classical egg and dart design used in the molding details were all brought from Europe by the wealthy merchants when they landed on the eastern seaboard of the "old south". 

Today, all design and decor influences from Europe that gives our homes a sense of timelessness comes from style that has lasted the test of time. 

Below are a few photos that I captured that transcended traditional detailing into art and one of a kind.

Because I love decor details and love to add these elements of surprise to the rooms I put together for my clients, I believe it always adds a unique feeling that can bring a personal story to life!

Here's to Happy decorating and finding your own sense of style.

Do not feel stuck, call me if you require advise, or help in pulling together your own spaces. 
You can reach me at ROOM FOR CHANGE DECOR INC. 780 469-2718.

Sterling Silver is a sign of wealth and still sits proudly as it is passed from one generation to the next

Magnolia Leaves from the indigineous trees

This piece was handmade in Charleston and handed down through three generations

I love the colours of the bird feathers

The hall passage was used as a library

It is said that the thirteen panes represent the original thirteen colonies

Adding a sentimental object from your families history bring life to a room

Symmetry is very indicative to Traditional Style

Wood inlay in the basket weave pattern - Wentworth Mansion

original tile entrance pattern - Wentworth Mansion

Georgian Style architecture with added veranda's facing the river to catch the breeze

Look for my latest space I helped transform in my next blog post...........

FIREFLY TEA, FROGMORE STEW AND FALSE DOORS

Can you guess where I have just returned from my latest adventure by reading the title of this post? If you have guessed CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, then you, too, may have ventured down the United States eastern seaboard into Confederate history. You might have stayed in a historical Antebellum home, sipped firefly tea with bourbon from a sterling silver goblet, walked under a 400 year old Live Oak Tree dripping with Spanish Moss, and that Bacon drippings and Pork Belly are a vital ingredient to many regional dishes!

What I love about travel is finding how a regional culture and tradition evolves. We know it comes on the backs of explorers, settlers and combined flavors of many other cultures, and especially defines our North American history. Travel changes us, it expanses our thoughts and mellows our thinking and evaporates our assumptions. It speaks to my poetic heart and always reminds me how I enjoy learning through my visual sensitivities. I am connected to the people's history from whom I am hearing the stories. 

I love the words "lets go and explore".

Here are some snaps with my iphone that represents a small glimpse of what was happening around me. 

In my next blog post I will share what I found in my ANTIQUING UNTIL YOU DROP DAY with a local Charlestonian who led me and my girlfriend on a antique treasure hunt day! 

I hope this inspires you to explore. I always come away richer, in mind and spirit!

Feeling the breeze on the Piazza (Veranda).

Southern hospitality might involve a glass of Firefly Bourbon Tea!

Yes, you are seeing Bacon inserts - in this pecan pie!

Steps to the False Door leading to the main floor Piazza!

Frogmore Stew - Sea Breezes, a glass of wine and fresh shrimp..yummmm!

Live Oak Trees dripping with Spanish Moss

Live Oak Lane leading to Poon Hall Plantation

Antebellum Home where we stayed dating back to the 1700"s

GUNK TO GLOW

I was with my family last weekend celebrating my father's 84th birthday. Usually when my brother and I are together at our family home we end up going through old memorabalia from our basement. My mother did not throw out anything she thought could be reused or repurposed!

This time we concentrated on an old bookcase that held on to National Geographics and my father's Power Engineering text books. Nothing here that we could drool over. However, then came two books I could not resist flipping through and seeing my history flash again, before my eyes. BLACK BEAUTY AND THE BOBBSEY TWINS were two books I wore out, copyright 1950. My first reader 'FUN with DICK and JANE" reminded me of a much different time and reminded me how attitudes and cultural influences have changed, but, to me these just reminded me of playing hide and go seek until dark, changing into play clothes after school, and putting my skates on while sitting on a log beside a patch of cleared pond!

THEN....out popped GUNK TO GLOW, the gentle art of refinishing antiques, coyright 1952, and, HOW TO MAKE SOMETHING FROM NOTHING, transforming newel posts into candelabras, copyright 1968! These were my Mother's  way of coming by to shed some light on possibly what has influenced me in my decorating world and also my brother who has an old 1960 corvette in his garage slowly being refurbished.

I know my Mom had an influence on my passion for Decorating and ReDesigning spaces. My youngest daughter, I observe, is happiest when working on a repurposing project and this, I believe, is directly descendant from her Grandmother's genetic pool. My oldest daughter found a space to showcase and use a refurbished and reupholstered antique my mother had risen from an old shed, and my youngest daughter's latest repurpose is creating am kitchen island from an old dresser.

Explanation: Found on the shelf in my mother's basement!! A wink and a smile.

Look back, and I hope you can find the fun and the signs of what makes you excited, with a wink and a smile.

Happy Decorating!
Bev
www.roomforchangedecor.com
780 469-2718

"I DO MYSELF" was my daughter's favorite saying when she was two years old.

This became a definitive part of her personality that I came to respect and admire.

ARE YOU SOMEONE WHO LOVES A PHYSICAL CHALLENGE, WORKING WITH YOUR HANDS, AND LOVES THE CREATIVE PROCESS? This describes my daughter.

It started with a broken toilet hose in January. My daughter and her husband came home to a completely flooded upper floor and the water had quickly found its way to the main floor and to the basement through light fixtures and any conceivable crack it could find. This started a path of decision making, past simple replacement and repair to removing walls and repurposing reincarnates such as old barn board and recylced dressers for the base of a kitchen island and bathroom vanities.

An opportunity, they determined, to fix what was bothering them for so long about their home.

They both agreed if they did some of the work themselves it would make it affordable and be a practical way to stretch their budget.

I do not advocate that this is for everyone, but, in their case, it has taken them through first time lessons on laying tile, hardwood floors, space planning and innovation to a personal satisfaction of "Doing it themselves"!

Five "do it yourself" pieces of advice:

1. DETERMINE YOUR BUDGET (reality will determine the scope of your vision)
2. PLAN YOUR LAYOUTS ON PAPER (measure to account for traffic flow and electrical outlets)
3. DO RESEARCH ON PRODUCT PRICING ( recycled fixtures instead of brand new ones can save)
4. DETERMINE WHAT YOU CAN DO YOURSELF AND WHAT TO HIRE OUT (electrical)
5. BE REALISTIC ON HOW MUCH TIME IT WILL TAKE TO COMPLETE

I will post a few before and after pictures once they have completed their projects.

Good luck with a "DO IT YOURSELF" experience that can be the hardest thing you can undertake for the first time HOWEVER, it also has the potential to be the most satisfying kind of labor!