Decor: Rachel’s Home Tour

Hello readers!  We have our first hour tour from the lovely Rachel.  Without further fanfare…Rachel’s home tour, in her own words.

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My decorating style is probably pretty traditional and classic, comfortable and relaxed. I love mixing antiques with new things, and I do like color – although usually more subdued tones, unless it’s in smaller punches. I tend to gravitate towards things that aren’t perfect, and may have a little wear or patina to them. I think this adds character, plus it tends to look better longer!

Our bedroom is a work in progress! You can see before pics (with the old linen headboard and duvet) and after with the new headboard. I am still searching for a duvet, need to make the bedskirt, and want to make a table skirt for the ugly entertainment unit/table that we have the TV on. Oh, and curtains. Work in progress!

The living room is a large open area, which we love to entertain in. With the architecture being pretty traditional, along with my hubby’s taste, I’ve gone more in that style. The green color you see on the walls was there when we moved in – we just couldn’t find another color that we both liked better! We have sisal rugs, slip covered furniture, and a big comfy green recliner that was a hand-me-down from my parents. One of my next projects is to hang a gallery wall behind the couch between the two sconces, which Chris put in last year.

The guest bath was my first project I tackled. It was dark hunter green with a burgundy/navy/green rope wallpaper border that was straight out of the late ’80’s. I took down the border, painted the room a pretty caramel color, which complimented the existing cultured marble top, and hung up a spa-blue/green damask shower curtain. I like how the warm and the cool colors compliment each other, and the caramel color is really warm and pretty.

The dining room is open to and right off of the living room. It’s tiny really, but just big enough for our hand-me-down table and chairs that I love. We also have a sisal rug in here, along with bamboo blinds. I like the natural look they bring to the room.

We also have an antique bar (another hand-me-down, gotta love my parents!) that we are using for mail/paper/stuff storage. As you can see, we need to do a little organization there. Above the bar, I hung a mirror and an iron sculpture/votive holder. Even though the ceilings are low in this room, I like how the iron votive holder visually expands the area upwards and makes the room seem a little taller!

The shot glass collection was started by Chris when he started his job several years ago. He travels, so every new place he goes, he brings back a shot glass. I’ve added a few in there when I moved in, but 99% of those are his! We just moved them into the office, which is “his” room!

The painting is of my grandmother, and was commissioned by my grandfather after he got back from the war.  It is of a picture he had with him during his time overseas.  I love it, but right now she’s hanging in the hallway for lack of a better place.  But since I love seeing her face, I can’t take her down.

My ultimate would be to live in an older house, preferably one that has an interior brick wall somewhere!! I also tend to get tired of things easily, so I’ll move accessories around, change out my pillow covers and bedding, and even sometimes re-paint. I find that starting with neutral bases of furniture helps me do this. I’m in no way “done” with my house – but I believe in that old addage that design happens over time. I’d rather live with a blank wall behind my sofa, than to throw something up there that I don’t really like!

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If you’d like to share your home (or just a room) with EAD readers, send an email to living {at} elizabethannedesigns {dot} com!