Sanctuary

 
View from our deck affectionately known as Ginger Lounge

Sanctuary, on a personal level, is where we perform the job of taking care of our soul.
~Christopher Forrest McDowell

I was talking with a couple of my girlys about expressing ourselves creatively a few weeks back. They were giving me feedback on my business idea (more on that soon) and we were brainstorming ideas for them as well.

I made a point about how each one of us has expressed ourselves creatively in our own homes. One friend has an amazing pristine Spanish style home she decorated with custom made furniture, built by her husband, located high up in the hills that should be photographed for a cover of a magazine. The other friend has a cozy bungalow near the beach which she has set up in a way that transports me to the french countryside when I am there and mine... well,  hmmm, I don't know how you would describe it in one sentence ~ it doesn't fall into one theme, but it has been called things like bohemian and ecclectic. Bohemian eclectic, is that a theme? Our home is light and airy with an amazing view and is filled with things Jimmy and I have collected over the years and during our travels. Each piece has it's own story that somehow work together with no real theme one way or the other. It just is what it is, but it works somehow.

I think the spaces we inhabit are in so many ways extensions of our personality's and voyeur that I am, I will admit that I love getting a gander into people's homes to get a deeper view. I will also admit I love to take walks in the evenings hoping to catch a glimpse of the interior of some of the gorgeous homes here in Silver Lake. I think it's the closet interior designer in me.

While visiting Amsterdam we were told that the Dutch leave their curtains open just for these kinds of occasions. I couldn't help but walk down the streets and stare inside their parlors upon realizing this information was true. Be it a hillside apt, beachside house, city loft, or magical cottage the personal sanctuary we create for ourselves is where we take care of our souls.

I decided to share some of the quirky elements of my sanctuary as a way for you to get to know me more. While our humble space is not even close to being worthy of the likes of say, architectural digest, it is inviting, comfortable, sensual and calm with a few shakes of fun thrown into the mix. I am a five senses kind of decorator when it comes to my abode. Scent, touch, sound and taste are as important to me as the visual and I like to incorporate all of them in my space. Few things make me as happy as having all our windows open causing the fabric over our windows to dance in the breeze, scented candles lit throughout each room, soft lighting, fresh flowers, beautiful music playing, my cat curled up in a ball sleeping on the back of the couch and my husband opening a bottle of wine to toast the sunset or because we have company, or just because it's Tuesday. 

It's in these moments I look around with my heart wide open and am truly grateful for what I have. I might not have my dream home with an outdoor dining table, garden and dishwasher in the cook's kitchen and sweet nursery just yet, but I am grateful for the place I have called home for many years now. Like me it is sometimes messy, rearranged at times, fun, warm, evolving and usually filled with wine.

This is my legacy wall. The three women pictured above are my great-grandmother, Irene, and my two great-aunts, Mabel and Adele. One a writer, one an actress, one a role model. All extraordinary women who inspire me.

I inherited some interesting and gorgeous silver pieces which belonged to my great-grandmother. There is something so comforting about displaying in my home some of the belongings she collected in her lifetime.

This antique box above belonged to my great aunt Mabel. Inside are photos, some of her letters and screenplays. I adore this box and was so happy to be the recipient of it. Behind it is a sculpture a sweet friend made us as a wedding gift out of wire and an antique light fixture. It is one of my favorite gifts.

To the right: Books reign supreme in our home, it makes me happy to be surrounded by them. They fill the well in many ways.

We don't have a dining room lamp over our table, only a wrought iron candle fixture. Needless to say, we dine by candlelight almost exclusively around here.

A friend of mine dubbed our kitchen a "one booty kitchen" meaning it's tiny and there is barely room for one person to work much less two, but we do our best and have created many yummy dishes here over the years. One day I will have a "real" kitchen, with a dishwasher, an oven with actual temperatures, a sink with a working garbage disposal and no trace of the ugly green tile that resides there currently. {wink}

I think everyone who has passed through our threshold has commented on this. This vent has been an eyesore forever and since I could never figure out how to hide it, years ago I decided to celebrate it and turn it into art by framing it with this great frame I found in an antique store.

Jimmy and I love bubbles. You can't help but be happy when there are bubbles around. I wanted to create bubbles in our bathroom by hanging glass ornaments from the old vent on the ceiling. I never get tired of seeing them. Bubbles=smiles.

This is the door we just hung in my studio. Anything I can do to cover those hideous popcorn ceilings is a plus. I give full credit to my favorite bohemian for sharing this fun idea.

Speaking of covering those popcorn ceilings, Jimmy didn't like waking up in the morning to them so he designed, created and installed fabric sails across our entire bedroom ceiling shortly after he moved in. Paris meets Bali in a sea of fabric...

Kitties in gardens are a natural occurrence.

That's a little peek inside our home.

Comments

[Dreamer Girl]

I love a look inside other peoples homes...i´m dutch after all ;)

xoxo

[Sue]

Well, I am not Dutch, but I totally love looking into other people's windows to see what their interiors look like!!!!....my man more commonly refers to me as Mrs. Kravitz of "Bewitched" fame. HA ha ha! (I am relieved to know I am not alone in my voyeurism -- did I spell that right??) Your photographs are as stunning as ever, as is your home, my friend. I am so happy that you are enjoying the new camera so much! I think I can speak for everyone that it warms our hearts to see how much you are enjoying it -- it shows in all of your fine photos!

You & Jimmy have such wonderful, creative & whimsical ideas for making your residence a cozy home! Much of it, I have not seen in person lately, so it was great viewing your photos.

And, you are WAY too kind with regard to my home, by the way. I think I need to start showing you all of my pet dust bunnies & cob-webs. HA ha ha! XOXO

[amanda]

i love your home. so cozy. so perfectly suited to you. and i love how you describe the evenings with windows opened and wine...
i would love to visit.

[d]

I'm blushing! Thank you for your kind words. As I said before, having someone say that your home "transports them to the french countryside" is about as big a compliment as I could ever hope for. TMy inner French girl says "thank you!"

And your home does HAVE style! Your place is amazing in its own right! It's welcoming and calm. It lacks fussiness which reflects Jimmy's style and has your personal touches and stamp all over as well. It's a very Zen place to be. I am always welcomed by a sense of peace and serenity when I'm there.

Thank you for opening up your home to us and for saying such lovely things about mine.

[Angie]

I really love the bubbles! Thanks for sharing all of this. I'm one of those people who is afraid to decorate unless I know EXACTLY what I want, and if that is too expensive (usually), I do nothing. Terrible! Your house looks lovely.

[daisies]

i love looking into other people's homes and love to walk in fall evenings when living room windows are lit from within and i can gaze through lives decoration. your home looks amazing and i love that bubble idea (i may have to steal a version of it for my home because i have all these beautiful coloured hand blown bulbs that i only bring out at christmas but would love to have around ALL the time ;-)

since we bought our house last year, it has been in a constant state of renovation as we can afford it in bits and fits and starts. i have been taking photos along the way with the plan to eventually post the before, during and afters though am starting to think that may be five years from now, lol ... maybe i should put up bits even though its not finished, as if a house is ever finished anyway :)

thank you for showing us more of your beauty!! xox

[Tina]

I've always loved the way you've decorated your home, and I've always loved your bubbles, what a neat idea!

I love that you have belongings from your great-grandmother and great aunts. There is something so comforting about having belongings that belonged to your ancestors.

Those are some of my most treasured possessions, belongings of my ancestors.

I, like you, love seeing inside other peoples homes as well. :)

[ceanandjen]

Gorgeousness! Your home is a delicious mix of old and new and so full of creativity and comfort. I, like Dar, LOVE the bubbles. Oh my goodness that is fabulous! I also love all of the glass jars filled with oats and grains. I just reorganized my kitchen this weekend and started to do this very thing...only I need more jars. :-)

Thank you for sharing your wonderful sanctuary...I'll be right over. :-) love to you.xoxo

[me-nikk]

Your home is WONDERFULLY WONDER FILLED!!!

My favorite is the bubbles, which I love as well!!! OMG what an awesome idea! OMG, I might have to steal that idea... may I? I love to look out my bedroom window because at times the neighbors are out on their porch blowing bubbles with their kids. I lay in bed after a nap just watching them sail by.

Champagne bubbkes are the best though...

xoxoxo

[me-nikk]

Your home is WONDERFULLY WONDER FILLED!!!

My favorite is the bubbles, which I love as well!!! OMG what an awesome idea! OMG, I might have to steal that idea... may I? I love to look out my bedroom window because at times the neighbors are out on their porch blowing bubbles with their kids. I lay in bed after a nap just watching them sail by.

Champagne bubbles are the best though...

xoxoxo

[colorsonmymind]

Oh what a luscious filled post.

I adore the pics-great job love-and the house-wow-I love the style. The ceilings in your bedroom are so dreamy.

Thanks for sharing this.

Hugs and much love

[Chris]

I, too, love to look at how people create their homes. Such inspiration and beauty. Thank you for sharing.

[wishstudio]

so love the bathroom bubbles! and your dreamy fabric ceilings are so lovely. i especially love the shots from your deck - gorgeous! you really have a beautiful space.