Things that take your breath away.

[Spookwriter]

I think I've posted a few bits about helping my
mother redecorate her home since dad passed
away.

And I believe that when you do a room, it should be
totally yours. That it should be pleasing to you.

So I've tried to put something in her every room that
simply takes her breath away. Nothing big and fancy.
Just something simple that reflects her life.

On one wall I put her and dad's birth certificates with
their marriage license framed in the center. Then right
below that, pictures of us children.

Everyone that comes in Moms house now looks at that,
reads it. Comments on it.

On another table, I put a little cheap Christmas pond on
display. And I put two little frogs in the pond. Told mom
that that's me and her...just two little frogs in a great big
pond. And as silly as it sounds, the takes a lot of joy in that.
She moves the frogs around almost every day.

Mom and I were at a little antique store/restaurant the other
day. She was hungry. But we were walking around looking
at things, and she saw an old wooden soda-pop case. Even
had the twenty four correct bottles. She started talking about
how that was the way her parents bought pop when she was
a child. And she has mentioned that a few times this weekend.
Pleasant memories.

And for me, that's what I want when I do a room. Pleasant
memories. There are things in my own home that still take my
breath away when I look at them.

And now I'm asking you...what is it in your home that really takes
your breath away?


Spook....who loves his little spooky house and the memories in it.

 

[theotherranch]

Spook, that's booutiful!

I have to admit that the entire house reminds me of Ranchies touch! That will never fade!

 

[Opa]

The great room of our home definitely reflects my passion for the outdoors. The window drapes are a simple tie back. What adds appeal is that the material on each window drapes over a small deer rack and then held back by a single spike antler on each side.
Several mounted deer, antelope heads, and caribou racks adorn the walls inter-spaced by re-marqued, signed and numbered lithographs. A large oil painting of a white tail buck and doe in a snow covered woods hangs over the mantel. If you look closely at the "Posted No Hunting" sign you see that it was posted by me. Wildlife artist Chuck Denault is a personal friend and I'm proud to display his work.

A large floor lamp that I built from elk antler sheds and the tanned hides of all the predators inhabiting Michigan adds additional accents. With a vaulted knotty cedar ceil it becomes a room that reflects the passions in my life.

 

[3goodeggs]

We have a very small house. I am constantly reminding the husband and boy that for every volume that we bring into the house, the same volume must be removed.
And for the most part we stick to that... except for books. Our garage was turned into a small living room. It has a picture window, a small wood stove, and the walls are lined with book cases. In the morning my husband and I sit on the couch together and drink our tea/coffee and every time remark on how much we enjoy our books, the look, the smell, the feel... the content.
I will never be a kindle lover. I might use one down the road, and I may even enjoy one, but It will never replace that lovely look of books on shelves upon shelves. I know every spine and every title. Most are field guides and text books and hundreds of children's books. I look at those books and remember the thousands of hours we read and reread those lovey books. Maybe what takes my breath away is the memories that they evoke.
The boy is almost a man but the house still echos of giggles and rib splitting laughter and the echos of "Just one more, PLEASE"
That will always be the best part of my life. Sharing my son's childhood knee deep in all of those books.

 

[turney31]

I love Mules. It would be the mule art, collar, hames, traces and bridle with blinders and bit, all on the wall. Mule statues. Then the mule jewelry.

 

[Criskin]

Books are my passion, so my husband built me a beautiful bookshelf on one of the living room walls. I have it stuffed full of my treasured books and, where there is room, my collection of the weird stuff I've bought/found on our travels or been given by people special to me. Here is one of the shelves:

From left to right: An antique jewelry box given to me by my MIL, a Scottish marching band in a whisky bottle, a scrimshaw, some copper vases, a reproduction of the Venus of Willendorf, soapstone elephants I bought at the Smithsonian and some Matryoshka dolls.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

This sounds odd, but I would love to own a Victorian era antique stuffed owl. I've seen private collectors with them before. Not sure if they are legal or not, but that would certainly take my breath away. I love owls and I love Victorian taxidermy.

I would also love a large tropical fish tank. That always takes my breath away!

 

[pupsanddogs]

My Bible, My Plants, and Especially My Orchid. Being totally surrounded by plants of every variety, in practically every room. They remind me of being outdoors. Most of all, my orchid plant that reminds me of my mom. She passed away from Cancer, at the time of her death, she had 20 Orchids.

 

[duckinnut]

Somewhere along the way we started amassing wicker baskets which reside atop the beams in my post and beam kitchen. Most of them have a story behind them. Most from floral displays ranging from family funerals, anniversaries,holiday centerpieces and religious events. 33 at present count. While I can't remember all from which the came there are a few that bring special memories as in the deaths of my father and grandfather as well as the baptisms of my 3 children. Mixed in with them is about 6 antique bottles that were collected along the way in the waste industry. My 2 favorites are quart milk bottles both dated in the 30's. And to top it off is my wall hanger whitetail looking over things from the peak of the ceiling. Country kitchen all the way.

Pictures of my past dogs always make me take pause and reminisce how wonderful they were. Funny how something can make you sad and smile at the same time.

 

[1muttsfan]

I don't do a lot of decorating, but on one wall I do have a guitar hanging - a reminder of my musician/ironworker boyfriend who is gone sometimes for long stretches of time.

Of course if I REALLY start missing him I can just look out in the yard at the several boats littered around the place - and not miss him quite so much. Any time he is bored a new boat magically appears off of Craigs List!