fall for two homes

Last fall was a very busy time. Two articles that I had pitched got the go-ahead and so I was off with my camera -- and sometimes bundles of bittersweet -- to style, photograph and write about two extraordinary homes: an 1810 farmhouse in Princeton, MA and a 1906 American Foursquare in Providence, RI.



Currently, both articles are on newsstands! Yankee Ingenuity appears in Flea Market Decor, Fall 2012, pages 40-49; and A Handmade Harvest is in the October 2012 issue of Cottages & Bungalows, pages 46-55). The articles were actually photographed within a month but written several months apart. Now, reading both in print I am struck by similarities despite many differences.


Living Rooms
The room on the left belongs to Fonzie ... I mean Hilary of old house, true love; the image on the right belongs to author/blogger Christine Chitnis. What strikes me is that both women decorate their homes with pops of rich colors against never-boring neutral backgrounds; both are talented in the art of upcycling; and both use a variety of textures.


Bedrooms
Watery wall colors, white ruffles, wood furnishings and the resourceful framing of florals are elements that connect both Hilary's and Christine's clever style. The photo on the left is probably my favorite from the shoot at Hilary's house -- this angle didn't make it into the magazine and so I'm happy to share it here.


Kitchens
One of the most enjoyable parts of any photo shoot is getting to style, which is very much like playing (to me). I used to wonder why rooms in magazines never show a box of tissues or a trash can and it's because they're styled or staged. Using tips I picked up from my Fairygodmother Fifi O'Neill, I draped a denim jacket or cardigan here -- set up a little baking scene there -- to create "lived-in" vignettes in each room.



Before I close this post, I'd like to share one photo of each home that didn't make the cut. This image is from Hilary's house and gosh, she has so many beautiful rooms I'm not quite sure what this one is called. The library? On page 46 of Flea Market Decor you can find a close-up of the "D" and surrounding pieces.



And here's a fave from Christine's house. I really love her color palette and this hall reveals in an instant her knack for showing off architectural details while effortlessly mixing old and new, color and pattern, style and practicality.

Warmest appreciation to both Hilary and Christine for welcoming me in to write about their lovely homes and to the editors at both publications for their ongoing support. Contributing to magazines is such a realized dream for me, as longtime blogging friends and readers know.


Meanwhile ... I have reviewed two sections of the book and eagerly await more! It's all getting so real and exciting!



Thank you for reading this lengthy post and happy summer wishes! Hoping to enjoy a few more lazy beach days (or at least more taffy) before school begins!

xo
elyse