LEFT: The mirrored wall gives this room a double punch. I spend money on things like the mirrors, but I'm a bargain-hunter, do-it-yourselfer more often than not. The fabric for the balloon curtains, matching tablecloth and two upholstered chairs (out of the picture) was a gift, and I did the sewing myself. The pillows and velvet fringed throw in the foreground are also home-made.


RIGHT: A good mirror installer can drill holes in the mirror and install light fixtures. Notice the mirrored bifold doors in the vanity mirror? They're a great way to get side and back views of your hair and clothes.

(click for larger view)

My generous daughter-in-law offered a bolt of the rich tapestry you see on the bedspread and a bolt of the rust-colored suede cloth used behind the shelves. Tapestry made me think of a castle and medieval times. A theme was born. My husband, Sir David, had a new room. We'd had the Queen Anne furniture for years and purchased a gothic pulpit chair at an auction. The chair sets the tone. We should have had it in the picture. Sorry about that.

The framed print is a reminder of the king of
our lives, Christ Jesus. We made the spread,
pillows, throw and cornice ourselves. Neither
Sir David nor I like to do this kind of work or
really know what we're doing, but we love the
custom look. By the way, my husband and I
are still in love after forty years, but we love
our separate bedrooms. One of us goes to
bed late; one is an early riser. One listens
to music; one reads in silence.

(click for a larger view)

ABOVE: This bed was a steal ... until I realized it didn't go with a thing and looked really bad in my all-white room. Decorator friends suggested this faux-leather wall treatment, but could I stand to sleep in such a dark room?

Maybe ... if I was an ARABIAN PRINCESS, riding my camel across searing hot sands, eager to reach my dark, cool OASIS!

A camel wears tassels. The tassel on the front pillow became "the boss." Everything in the room had to go with it. For two years, the tassel and I hunted lush fabrics, beaded trims ... and more tassels.

BELOW: Formerly upholstered in white, this chair got into the act. A whole herd of camels showed up, big ones like the one shown here, bearing a plant, and others small enough to hold a candle.

RIGHT: I was about to throw away an old dressmaker form when I thought we should use it to display my 1958 bridal gown. The dress will eventually get dirty, being out all the time, but I'm enjoying it more now than I did for the few hours I once wore it. And I love the birdhouse! It reminds me of my publisher, Steeple Hill, and the wonderful opportunity I have to write stories of love, laughter and faith in Christ.

In 1964, I represented Illinois in the National Chicken Cooking contest. Why I did that is a long story. I didn't win, but I received a cool certificate that I framed and hung. It was the beginning of my chicken collection.

Back then, chicken decor items weren't easy to find, but that changed, as you know. The years passed, and every time the family needed to buy me a gift, I got more chickens.

I have chickens in every shape, fabric and color. I repeatedly say, “No more chickens!” Instead, I get larger, more expensive chickens.

At least they were confined to the kitchen and family room until Mother’s Day 2004 when I got a chicken the size of a German shepherd. It had to go to the porch ... the front porch. The screened porch is for fish, shells and lighthouses, of which I also have PLENTY. I tell the family I like flowers and chocolates, but ....

Notice the floor-to-ceiling louvered door behind these shelves? I had no use for it until we attached it to my office wall and added adjustable shelving strips on either side. Brackets (14 inches deep) were painted to match the door. The shelves are 3/8 inch glass, ground on all sides. The backdrop for the shelves was so effective, we used the same concept in the Sir David room ...

... where we covered a floor to ceiling frame with rust-colored suede cloth and added adjustable shelving strips on either side. Brackets (14 inches deep) were painted to match the rust of the fabric. The shelves are 3/8 inch glass, ground on all sides.

(click for larger view)

ABOVE: The shelves cover a connecting door to a bathroom/dressing room. The door was seldom used. On the other side is my beloved sit-down vanity ...

RIGHT: ... shown here. Before we took advantage of the wasted space, a lonely chair occupied the spot, too often covered with clothes that should have been hung in the closet.

LEFT: There's always a twisty, wired garland running down the center of this table. Brass or crystal candlesticks hold tapers that don't have to be new with each burning. Notice the mirrors inside the breakfront (that's what Granny Beth called a china-buffet). The sparkly reflection is so cool, the crystal doesn't have to be top quality to look great.

(click for larger view)

RIGHT: I set this table in ten minutes or less. In Princess Diana's butler's book, he says you don't have to use a tablecloth or mats for evening. I say, who cares if it's evening? At our house, we take lots of short cuts. For instance, we never put the food in serving bowls. After grace, everyone treks to the kitchen island and fills their plates from the nice, warm pots the food was cooked in. What is the saying? "Treat your family like guests and your guests like family"? That works for us.

LEFT: This is the kitchen table centerpiece. It's simple, but it always looks pretty with the flame reflected in the glass hurricane shade. The candle can be burned over and over. Surrounding the hurricane shade is something seasonal ... a vine, colored leaves or holiday decorations. The dining table on the screened porch also gets a candle in a hurricane shade. It's surrounded by shells for the seashore theme.

Candles in jars are relatively safe, but they look messy after several burnings. Hide that by putting the jar in a metal holder intended to hold a wine bottle.

I now buy inexpensive votive holders, too. The reflection of the dancing flame is what you notice, not the quality of the holder. Put them on a mirror or glass surface for double the "wow."