Maybe I am gaining a false sense of confidence, but I have recently thought about writing Bunny Williams a sincere note to express my admiration. I have even pulled out my nicest stationery and favorite pen, but then have chickened out.
Do you know her? Click below and read all about her.
BUNNY WILLIAMS
Even if you are only somewhat interested in interior design/decor you will still find her book, An Affair with a House a page turner.
Yes, I swear. I have read it cover to cover a couple of times and still flip through it often to read passages or sections which I find inspirational and relevent.
She bought a house over twenty years ago and has lovingly fixed it up, decorated it, and built onto it over the course of the past decades (by herself at first and later with her husband, John Rosselli). Bunny Williams is old-school interior design - in terms of schooling and style - but her unique personality really comes out in her book and you learn she isn't a stuffy doyenne who believes she is above the rest of mere mortals. She is practical, sentimental, creative, and open to her own style's evolution. I think she is witty and fun and I would love to hang out with her some sunny afternoon and walk through her gardens. I believe she is a long lost friend.
Sidenote: Maybe it was the past almost three years living in my parent's attic which enabled me to escape in to her life, and into this book? No, it was so much more: the descriptive writing and beautiful photography take the reader to her home in Connecticut and one just doesn't want to leave. I will stop now, but do check out the recipes - the peas and orzo is always a crowd pleaser.
Now onto the other reason I have written this post...my new bedside book,
On Garden Style
This book is my guide to planning the landscape and hardscape of our new home. I was telling someone today: Even though I am a decorator, I have barely thought about how I am going to decorate the inside. The interior of the house was all updated in 2007 and structurally, though in a dream world we would love to change a few things and add on above and behind, it needs NOTHING except a fresh coat of paint. (I am even keeping all the wallpaper for the time being). I know what I have - I will move my stuff in and it will work.
ALL I CAN THINK ABOUT IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO TO THE OUTSIDE, THE POOR OUTSIDE.
It needs LOVE, it needs planning. Serious planning that will last a lifetime - like installing a large and beautiful wall, a fence, a kitchen garden, a compost heap, a new swing set, a retaining wall, and a walkways and driveway. I lose my breath listing the improvements that could be made to the property which would make this home totally and completely amazing.
What keeps me grounded (beside the realities of our budget) is this book. I bring it with me everywhere and read it every chance I can. Please buy this book if you want a beautiful coffee table book which will seriously improve the way you look at gardens from now on. It isn't about one style, but rather, how to see a garden and how to plan a garden which will stand the test of time.
Here is what we are focusing on for our house:
1) We are replacing all cedar shingles on the house- garage, rear of house and gables.
2) We are reconfiguring the walkways and redoing them in a new material, like blue stone.
3) We are paying up, and installing a fence around the front and side of the house. The back is already fenced in. The fence is one of our hugest costs - we want picket in front, a gate across the driveway (possibly automated) and we would love to have a stone wall with a fence on top on the side/front yard - that is TBD, for sure.
Tomorrow, I meet with a second fencing company and the first of four masons who will give me a quote for the walkways and potential wall. I will do a post about fencing soon.
Sorry for this long post- this is what happens when both kids are in bed a reasonable hour. Please check out Bunny Williams on amazon and buy her books (I also love Point of View). Have a great evening.
