their teenagers came home from school while we were redesigning their master bedroom. their son hollered up "hey you guys, can i make you a fresh pot of french press?" their daughter sat right down at the piano to sing so sweetly we had to just stop and listen. seriously. this is a happy home. full of good coffee sweet music kind people and forsythias in the back yard... this is cole's other home and she is cole's other mother. our first born babyboys are best friends. they redefine "teenager" don't believe people who say your kids will hate you. this family confirms everything tim and i know to be true... if you want love, be loving. if you want respect, be respectful. if you want happiness, be happy. if you want peace, be peaceful. go first. don't wait for the other person to change. it doesn't work that way. it's that whole be the change you wish to see in the world thing. it's that whole do unto others as you would have them do unto you thing. they prove that most of the time, you get what you give. their home is warm and welcoming and whimsical. ...'cept for the master bedroom. like most mothers, she takes care of everybody else first. so when an accident forced her to stop, rest, and recover in her room... they called us. and we came running. with a stack of books to help, heal, and make her laugh... they are the kind of people who come running when you need help. they are the kind you call. they love so big they are actually making a place for us all to gather and celebrate each other. come drink good beer with us at old town public house as soon as it opens. 'cause it takes a village, people. and the village gets thirsty. all together now... before... the pretty pillow they already have and love was our inspiration. great art and happy lamps make the same old furniture look lovely. crisp white is the secret to a bed that feels all fresh and boutiquey hotel... art by their daughter art by local artist and family friend, amy early pose by kelly lies 'cause she's sassy like that a perfectly placed mirror reflects light from the killer new fixture and the healing sunshine and...well...other fun things...ahem... her happy words... dear superstars, as i sit in my bed, under clouds of covers, i see everything all over again for the first time. i am awestruck. i gasp. the way the amy early art compliments the art behind the bed through the mirror forces another uncontrollable "oh my god!" i take in another breath and feel at peace. i'm so amazed that i get to heal in this room. i can't wait to get busy in this room! it's so sexy. the mirrors are perfect. framing and hanging the art of my children makes me know i'm home. my heart is full of gratitude. thank you for inspiring me and rocking my world with beautiful things. i might write you ladies a love note every night, at least for a few weeks. i seriously love you all! if you need me for anything tomorrow, i'll be on vacation in my room, reading some inspirational books. best. love note. ever. we hear her man is quite happy too ;-) xo... christina for all by christina britt lewis photography by angela statzer they are stunning and stylish and super cool. i was all nervous when i met her and wished i had worn something that didn't come from target. i mean, i LOVE target... but, you know. branches from your back yard in a vase you already have. easy. beautiful. his and hers... here's the thing.... don't feel bad about yourself if you just can't make your house the home you hope for. even people with fabulous taste need help sometimes. if everybody was great at everything, we wouldn't need each other. we are all made really great at something and we are at our best when we take our gifts and find a way to give them back to the world. we're all just walking each other home.
ram dass xo... christina for all by christina britt lewis photography by angela statzer we ask every new client at every initial consultation... do you have anything you love that you've just never known what to do with? this often leads to us climbing in attics, crawling under beds, and digging through garages. you have more than you think you do. helping you see the beauty in what you already have is our very favorite thing... our clever client made these window treatments all by herself. two panels instead of one hung on rings for each window elevated the beauty big time. i love the perfect polka dotted pillow on the navy blue chair that megan found for the room... our cool client took us to a closet in her bonus room, and we got all weak in the knees when she pulled out a folded up piece of fabric. the bright happy flowery fabricy art below is by marimekko. i took it home, washed and ironed it oh so carefully, and then had it framed super simply and affordably, and... then... TA DA... more fabulousness found in that treasure chest of a closet, framed simply. and a pretty new pillow that makes her old chair feel fresh and new again. uncle bill met a beautiful girl from finland who came to america to be a nanny. it was love at first sight and i was the flower girl at their wedding... bill taught leena how to speak english, and 40 years later her accent is as thick and adorable as it ever was. they are a real life example of how much fun marriage can be. tim and i hope to be just like them some day. aunt leena is why i am in love with all things marimekko and probably part of why i do what i do. she and uncle bill have always lived in homes that reflect our design philosophy...make your home tell your story. everywhere you look is something meaningful. uncle bill is a master craftsman and artist. he makes the most beautiful one of a kind things out of wood...dulcimers, boats, furniture... and there is marimekko, probably straight from finland. all her things. just redesigned... comfy chairs with slipcovers that go in the washer and dryer and look better with time, like your favorite jeans, and a funky new lamp finish the space and tie together everything else she already had... paintings by her husband and grandmother simply and affordably framed. (frames that don't quite match give a room a warm collected over time feel) her pottery, redesigned and a new rug are all this kitchen needed to feel all warm and cozy... our client's happy words... We adore, adore, adore our downstairs... When I look around, I can imagine all the future moments with my loved people in these spaces – conversation and good food, cozy movie watching on rainy days, doing homework and making dinner, train-making, book reading, pillow-fort building, and lots of warmth and fun (and some not-so-fun tantrums and tears, too, as that all is a part of life!). (My husband) and I needed a sanctuary, and you have built it! you have more than you think you do.
there is so much beauty in what you already have. make your home tell your story. you got this. xo... christina for all |