Friday, July 10, 2009

LORRI'S HOME TOUR~part one!

Welcome to a summer home tour at my dear friend Lorri's home. We can walk just around the block from my home to hers where she lives with her husband and sweet greyhound named Ellie.

Lorri moved here from British Columbia where she began painting many years ago. As a small child she loved to create. Her mother encouraged her talents giving her papers to paint. Everything was a surface to Lorri even then. She remembers a time when she decided to redesign and change the colors on the Cinderella wall paper in her childhood room. Her mother never was upset, smiled and handed her more paper to create on. Lorri's mother is very special, she knew not to scold the artist, but rather encourage the creative side of her daughter.

Later in years, Lorri actually worked for a shoppe owner where she studied Decorative Painting going on to custom paint for clients, and the rest is history as they say.

Lorri and I met six years ago at Hobby Lobby. We happened to be browsing the decorative arts supplies when we took up a conversation and have been great friends ever since. She, like myself, is a decorative artisit and loves to decorate and redesign from great thrift finds. Needless to say, we have a lot in common and can talk for hours about decorating and bounce ideas off each other for redos of old and new treasures. Before we go inside, just look at her beautiful potato plant trailing out on to the driveway. These actually came back from last year. I'd say, Lorri has a green thumb!

Hi Lorri, thank you for having us over for a home tour today.

"Welcome to my home, so nice to have you visit."


As we enter through the yummy green door, we face several directions to go, but let's go upstairs first to view her garden room loft, studio and guest room for part one of our tour.

As we reach the top of the staircase, we see a gorgeous garden loft that leads to the other second floor rooms. This area is a recent redesign for Lorri. The vintage china cabinet in it's previous life was dark wood teamed with other dark elements in the area. Lorri wanted to lighten and redesign the area so she set to painting all the pieces with raw cotton and the transformation is amazing. Light, bright and inviting making this space a shabby fresh and romantic sitting area.

The door you see leads to the master bedroom which we will see next time. For now, let's continue in this gorgeous setting. The china cabinet belonged to her grandmother who brought it from Bangor, Maine to Canada during the depression years. Lorri also being from Canada, before becoming my neighbor and friend, inherited this piece after it was handed to her mother first. Three generations have enjoyed this beautiful piece and the raw cotton paint, gave it new life that shows off the details.


Remember to click on the pics to enlarge to see the details. The beautiful bunnies displayed here are what else but another treasured yard sale find. Behind the cabinet, the porch post is a thrift find that Lorri also painted and distressed.


Across the room is a fabulous tea cart, also another great thrift find, positioned with a rocker that Lorri also painted.



Did you notice the pink doily on the tea cart? Lorri found this sweet treasure, needed it pink, so she used the new pink fabric dyes to give it a new look. It turned out beautiful.
Now turning to the left, we see a french door with a beautiful summer dress hanging. Inside this room is Lorri's shabby rose studio where she paints, crafts and creates her treasures. Let's go inside.


This room over looks the backyard, the pool and the gorgeous trees. With Lorri's painting table facing the window, it is the perfect spot to be inspired and create. It was difficult to get a brighter pic due to our bright Texas sun. I edited this several times, so enlarge to see better. Take a look at the wall color. The top is a pink with a white wash over top to tone it down and the bottom a soft pretty green.

Moving around the room we see a vintage ironing board perfect for making extra counter space for projects. The easel was also a yard sale find, once again painted raw cotton and displaying a gorgeous print from Ross. We always browse Ross finding great treasures for decorating. Lorri dry brushed a light ivory on the frame to give it a shabby style. Looks like Lorri is working on some winter sleds for Christmas.



Lorri's painting table shows the artist at work. What a beautiful and relaxing place to work. Across from here you see storage cabinets that line the walls holding art supplies and surfaces. In their previous life, they were solid white. Lorri took quilt designed fabric, cut out the shapes and decoupaged them on the doors with tassels for accent on the door handles. It is an amazing look. Take notice above the cabinets. There Lorri displays collectibles and gorgeous victorian prints found at the Goodwill. All she did was clean them up and paint the frames for contrast and that shabby style.




This is a long tour. There is so much to see. We are still on the second floor and now we will move on to the guestroom. Here Lorri displays more redesigned furniture and a few of her hand painted treasures. Who wouldn't love to stay in this inviting room?


Notice the tea tray on the bed. Lorri found gorgeous floral post cards at an antique mall and applied them to the tray giving it a new and vintage look. It is gorgeous and perfect for guests to enjoy a cup of tea perhaps sitting on the window seat.


The night stand provides a cozy and comfy spot to retire with a good book. On the wall are cabinet doors hand painted by Lorri with a bear design by Maxine Thomas. Fluffy towels displayed in an over sized basket ready for guests, sit handy and ready for use.


Along the entry wall is another gorgeous painted chest Lorri did some time ago. It looks perfect with the light furniture and provides space for guests to unpack and be organized.

This ends part one of my summer home tour with Lorri. I hope you enjoyed it so far. Coming next we will visit Lorri's master bedroom, bath, guest bath and second floor office.Along with being introduced to Ellie, Lorri's sweet greyhound. It will be fun with design elements sure to give you some great creative ideas.
Thank you Lorri for having us over. See you again soon for part two.
Till then, I am off to paint. Blessings, Celestina Marie

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your home, Lorri, is quite beautiful & calming. When you can combine both so effortlessly it usually does provide not only the eye, but the nerves, a soft place to fall. I love your work area. Very serene. Your cabinets you did with pieces of fabric, classic idea being used in a new way. Love it all.

Angela said...

Ok,,first off,,Lorrie looks SO familiar, and yes she also lived in British Columbia also. My goodness gracious it was WILD..I'm thinkin,,is that the same person? I met "Lorrie" in Ontario first, than she moved to British Columbia...

I have LOVED this tour. I can't wait to see the second part. And I'm so excited about yard sales tomorrow,,,I got tons of ideas from this post..lol.

Anonymous said...

What a nice visit I had.... I can't wait to go back!! Your home is Beautiful! Thank you so much Lorri for opening your home up & Celestina for being my tour guide!!
Have a Wonderful Day!!
Love,
MArilyn

A Hint of Home said...

Hi Celestina,
I enjoyed the tour very much. Your friend has a beautiful home with all her personal, special touches. Her studio is such a neat place to go to and create.
Can't wait to see the next phase. Don't make us wait too long. (smile)
Have a great weekend.

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

I love home tours and Lorri's home is lovely! can't wait to see more.

blushing rose said...

Whoa! This is spectacular, elegant, warm, awesome ... ummm, SPECTACULAR!!! WOW what a beautiful tour, dyig to see the rest of the tour. TY for sharing with us.
TTFN ~Marydon
PS Pop over & view my 'home' tour posted.

Stephanie ~ Angelic Accents said...

Your friend Lorri is a doll! And terribly sweet to allow you to take us all on such a wonderful tour of her home! I love her upstairs landing!! I'll have to show Mother her green guest room ~ she'll love it & all those sweet bears. Those pink Victorian Santas are making me drool!!

I've had A all this week, get Baby K tomorrow, too, so I'm busy busy, but will email you soon!

Much Love,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents

Anonymous said...

Such a beautiful home. Thank you so much for sharing. Gave me a few ideas to use.

Willow

Unknown said...

Celeste,
What a beautiful tour of Lorrie's home. How wonderful to have a kindred spirit around the block. God is great. Oh, and her home is gorgeous. I have been thinking about you while I paint your surprise. You are such a loving person, and it looks like you are in good company.


Karen

Anonymous said...

Alrighty now... I spyed me a few wabbits in this tour!! Love me sun wabbits.

I love your home. This is the look i'm trying to obtain a piece at a time. I want it soft but welcoming.. pinks, whites, some reds.. greens... beautiful rooms... beautiful.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

What a beautiful home! Thanks for the tour. She certainly has put her special touches to make her home unique. She's a wonderful decorator!

Unknown said...

Your friend, Lorrie, sounds like a lovely lady. That is a fun way that you met her. Thank you for taking me on a tour of her lovely home! It's truly inspiring! What a beautiful post! I love seeing beautiful homes like this. That is wonderful that her mother encouraged the artist in her! :)

Draffin Bears said...

Thank you so much Celestina Marie, for introducing us to your friend Lorrie. I can see why she is a friend of yours as she is sweet like you are and you seem to have the same taste for beautiful things.
I love her home and it was a real treat to be taken on a tour.
I look forward to Part two. Thank you for the ~ lovely post.

I hope that you are having a happy weekend
Hugs
Carolyn

Anonymous said...

Celestina, oh my goodness your friends home is so pretty. I love her guest room and wish someday to have one that I could decorate so nice. Thank you Lori for showing us your beautiful home and Celestina for being such a wonderful tour guide. I can't wait to see more.

Maryjane-The Beehive Cottage said...

Love, love, love your blog! So inspiring, bright and fresh! Thank heavens for blogland and you!

Hugs,
Maryjane

Mary said...

Hello Celeste, What a lovely friend Lorri is. How wonderful to have a kindred spirit just around the block... I bet you can visit all afternoon,then go home and call because you forgot to tell her one more thing:) Her home is Beautiful with special touches of family treasures.I know the next part will be just as lovely. Hugs, Mary:)
p.s.Do you girls walk with the dogs?

Anonymous said...

How you met seems like you were destined to be friends :-) Who would have though being on a store and striking a conversation that you both would really get into would result into a friendship like yours? A blessing Celeste :-)

I think she is really nice to show us her home. it is lovely. The color palette is fresh and warm - and sweet! Have to add that. Her little area on the second floor is what's sweet. And her studio too. Love what she did with those cabinets with blocks of floral accents :-)

Oh no wonder you just light up when you met. And I am glad you guys did meet and be friends because you just seem to belong. WE do feel that with friends, right? There's something that's really special that just forms a bond between the two.

Mizpah!
Li

Cindy@Cutepinkstuff said...

Very pretty! Love the white furniture, of course! Thanks for stopping by and browsing, Celeste! I've been away with my daughter on a short vacation shopping/buying for the Little French Flea. I returned this evening and saw your comments. As always, thank you for your kind words!

Unknown said...

Hi Celeste!

Lorri's home is STUNNING!!!!!!!!!!!! I love everything about it, lol! The shabby pink and green colors are just beautiful! I love how she did the landing on the stairs too! All the details are just perfect. I love all the bunnies too :) She is very talented! The bear painting reminds me of Boyd's Bears! She did a wonderful job on it! I cant wait to see the rest of her home :)

Thank you Lorri for letting us tour your gorgeous home! Thank you Celeste, you know what us bloggers love :)

Love ya lots,
Amy

roseroomnz.com said...

Lorri's home is truely beautiful, can't wait for the next installment!

LillyB said...

This was so much fun!! Thank you both for showing us!! Can't wait for part two!!!

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Celestina Marie
Celestina Marie

Welcome To Rose Garden Market from Celestina Marie Design. It is so nice to meet you. My name is Celestina Marie named after my grandmother and my friends call me Celeste.My creative journey extends over 30 years enjoying the love of painting and redesigning vintage and new treasures. I love to go treasure hunting and the fun of finding great vintage pieces to redesign..