Charming and lovely. I wish there had been more photos, though!

4500 sq ft on AT? Shouldn't that be on McMansionTherapy?

As we've addressed before, Apartment Therapy features the homes of all of our readers -- no matter what the size, though small spaces will always be a point of focus for us.

-Sarah Rae

Is her name Lynn-Anne or Lynn Ann? It's spelled two different ways on the front page.

*Lynn-Ann

(just wondering about the 'e')

i really enjoyed this! it is a lovely home for a family, and it looks like you use it well.

i was a little thrown though by seeing so many of the same objects in so many different places. were these a collection of photographs taken over months/years, rather than a photographer coming in a taking photos in the course of a day?

still it does remind me to keep reimagining ways to use what i already have!

This is a great home and you have made it look warm and inviting. I like how you change things around, like the blankets and pillows on the chair and I really like the mix of furniture. Very well done! Thank you for sharing it with us.

thoroughly enjoyed. I think that even in large homes, you can be inspired by things in a room. The book filled fire place was clever. Also liked the polar bear wall paper, very cute.

meh. looks like big-suburban (and wealthy) -- not really my style... nothing "innovative", per se, or even crafty. nothing to aspire to (other than the scale).

the kitchen remodel is pretty cool, though, and an exception to the above... the only space, methinks, that uses a nice blend of colors and textures in a good way (some of the other attempts seem less cohesive, but life with 4 kids might have that effect.)

would have been nice to see more of the exterior of the house to get a sense of it's history (i.e.: when it was built, the house's bones, etc.)...

@sarahrae. I'm sorry, but your response to quiltmaster was not sufficient. This is a lovely home, but readers come to AT wanting to educate themselves about how to create beautiful homes without "large amounts of money or space"--as the mission statement declares. Tell us how the prominently featured kitchen does so?

That being said, I think that there are reasons for this home to be featured on AT, but AT writers and editors might want focus on explaining why house tours like this one are worthy for an AT audience.

Settle down. I live in on a budget in an apartment, and I get lots of ideas that I can use from reading fancy magazines and upscale design sites-- color combinations that work, pieces that look good together (loved the little seagrass chair with a sheepskin on it here, for example), how people display their eclectic objects. Just because I'll probably never live in a large house in suburban North Carolina doesn't mean I don't get anything from seeing how someone else does.

i think this is gorgeous, and many of the ideas could translate well into smaller spaces.

I am starting to think House Tours should leave off the square footage, and a lot of this nonsense would go away.

There is so much to glean from this tour. Perhaps not "How to Fit a Family of Five Plus Two Cats and a Komodo Dragon in a 300 Square Foot Railroad Apartment." But lots of lovely decor ideas.

Plus, I see Ikea, Eames, Pottery Barn, West Elm and Crate & Barrel in the source list. And the end result looks very collected, upscale and (imho) highly personal. Sooooooo many people could take a lesson from that!

I have almost 2000 square feet and 3 floors in my house (not apt.). We come to AT and get ideas from the small apt. tours to the large home tours, for our home.

Stop squealing about square footage or wether a house is "too suburnan" and start appreciating what others do to their homes. I live int he city but have seen plenty of modern homes in suburbs and plenty of old fashion apt. in the city. Here in Chicago, you can easily find a 2,400 square foot, modern apt. in a vintage building just like you can find a 1000 square foot house.

Relax and expand your horizon.

@dcirene could you edit your comment so that you don't include all readers who come to AT. I would prefer that you not speak for me.

The idea that AT should never show a big expensive house because no one is interested is as ridiculous as it is wrong.

The size thing again.

Frankly, my home is half this size.....though I do have an eerily similar kitchen. So clearly, it's about design elements and implementation, not size.

I totally get that some AT readers are more focused on the smaller homes for a reason; AT was started as an alternative to the larger home magazines out there that are so prevalent. A place where creativity, resourcefulness and- well - smallness were prized over square footage.

That being said, I cringe when I see people dismissing larger homes as boring (or worse, offensive!) simply because of their size.

I was HUGELY inspired by Beth's home in the teeny tiny category. Now, my home is much larger than hers. If I had dismissed her home because I couldn't (or didn't want to) relate to it, I would have missed out on a lot of great inspiration.

I think this one was lovely.

I'm with baby_smalls & the others on this. I think good ideas can be found anywhere, and I'd hate for AT to stop showcasing one house or the other just because it doesn't fit into any silly parameters.

I come here to get inspired and get ideas for my dream house (I don't currently own a space, but rent one.) And I don't put size restraints on my dreams. :)
------
That said, I love the eclectic combination of high-end and everyday objects in this house. Some rooms feel a wee bit too posh for my taste (I'm not really into chandeliers), but overall, it looks like a loving family lives there. Kudos!

These photos were taken over time. That's why things are in different places; I think it's a strength when the things you've chosen for your home can be as at home in one space as another, and when a restless decorator like me doesn't have to buy new when i want to rearrange. Most of the furnishings and accessories are things we've had a long time, or picked up at tag sales, or bought on sale at the outlet (in that respect, we're lucky to live in North Carolina), or that I've loved at our local consignment shops. The house is about 40 years old, and is in an older suburb -- only about 4 miles or so from downtown Charlotte. We chose to live here in order to be able to walk to nearby shops and restaurants, and to have a big yard for our space-starved kids, who'd just lived in a small-ish three bedroom victorian house with very little yard in the downtown area of a small California town. The house was neglected and overgrown when we bought it, and we worked very, very hard to make it look like it does today. I appreciate everyone's interest and comments, even the slightly snarky ones -- I learn a lot from being exposed to the interesting work and comments of others, and I appreciate very much this forum, where that's possible. But if you made a kind comment, thanks so much.

oh, and my name is Lynn-Anne. I'm from Scotland, and the child of parents who were determined not to use a family name.

It's not the size that matters, it's how you use it.

It's all a bit too sweet for me, kind of like living in a giant easter basket... but I don't hate it. I could live in the yard though, what a beautiful property.

sarahrae, baby_smalls, p(too), tess09, chicity1126: well said.

enough already with the size and budget comments. who the hell cares how big or small a person's home is? who cares how much money a person throws into a home?

also, "suburban" is not a style -- ridiculous.

sarahrae, thanks for another great house tour.

If I had four kids and two dogs I would want a big house too. Jeez people, calm down.

I like the sky blue curio! Where did you get it from?

This is a little creepy of me to have done this I know but let me preface by saying that I am moving to Charlotte and was thinking she might be a decorator I'd contact. Anyhow, I googled the owner of this home and oddly this is not the outside of her home, unless this Charlotte magazine has it wrong

http://www.charlottemagazine.com/Home-Garden/April-2009/Creative-Shelter/

Maybe photos got mixed up? That being said, the inside of the house is beautiful - fun yet elegant. I think there are lots of inexpensive items, finds that I would look at in consignment shops and not know what to do with which she makes look great. I think the outside of the house and garden in these links matches the inside of her house better than what is probably her actual house as pictured in the article.

truly, it is the same house!!! the shoot for the charlotte home and garden article was in October 2008, and the exterior photo here is from last month, I think -- the trees and flowers look very different depending on the season. But truly, we've been here four years, and it looks the same outside as it did after we added the dormers in the summer of 2007.

thanks for your kind comments. and welcome to charlotte!

lynn-anne

jensquatch -- thanks. that's an old repro brown wood queen anne curio from a local consignment shop. we just painted it in benjamin moore's metal and wood enamel in the same shade as the walls, and used wrapping paper to wallpaper the back. There are lots of these old pieces to be found quite inexpensively in secondhand shops and at auctions and tag sales, and they're easy to adapt for older kids (too much glass, maybe, for little ones). I have an old gentleman's chest that painted in the kitchen right now -- we adapted it to house the printer/fax and paper stock and a bunch of school supply type stuff. works wonderfully, and was much less expensive than new alternatives . . . just get some paint and give it a go --

Very cute home. Nice thing about it was that it looks like a real, lived in, family home. It fits exactly what AT is about to my mind. They used a lot of great ideas and nice mixture of resources, high and low. You just need to have enough imagination. And lets not forget that for a price of one bedroom in Manhattan you can get Mc Mansion in lot of places.

Lynn-Anne,

Beautiful home! I didn't see the paint by the hall staircase referenced - would love to know it. Beautiful console table as well!
Cheers!

So sorry - of course you are right! Your photos are much better and the trees show the setting of the home.

For those who are complaining about the size of the home, the shots that she has done are mostly of parts of rooms showing the details so I think it is completely relevent to this site, which I've been coming to on and off for 3 years.

We have looked at many very nice Charlotte homes (in considering as a purchase) and let me just say your design is a breath of fresh air. It is wonderful to see that you haven't let the traditional home dictate your style. You have a great eye for mixing beautiful things up - high end, low end, unique, chain store, traditional, modern. Just lovely! I may look for you when we find our house for some help!

you're so kind.

krisse: you're right about the cost of homes .. . we have had it both ways. and it's an old house that we tried to fix; lots of people around here just tear down the old houses and do build mcmansions (gigantic), but we consciously didn't -- we love old houses, and would much rather try to work within the parameters of what we find.

sojoudesigns -- that paint is restoration hardware's latte, in a high gloss finish. there's no direct light in that front hall, and it's always dark, so one day i just painted it . . . some of the kitchen cabinets are the same color, different finish, as are some painted pieces in the dining room -- it's an easy idea to pull adjacent spaces together . . .

and mamamd -- thanks for your sweet comments! this house is in foxcroft . . . a really lovely, really diverse neighborhood where people really look out for their neighbors and care about each other. we're very happy here. i wish you luck in your search - lynn-anne

Love it. Especially some of those bedrooms. I remember your cool attic space with the This End Up couch. So cool. But where have I seen the rest of this home? I specifically remember the photo with the green West Elm table. (This is going to drive me crazy!) I love how you worked that into your room. You totally made it your own. (I have 2 West Elm Parsons tables! Love them.)

On another note, the square footage complaints really are getting old. Big houses have little spaces within them, and small apartments are sometimes comprised of one big room. Don't dismiss so easily. We're all here because we like to see how other people inhabit their spaces (big or small). How do they organize their books? How do they hang their paintings? Where do they keep their shoes? How do they set up the pillows on their beds? How many throw pillows on a couch? What to put on a coffee table? What type of reading lights? The list goes on. The good news is, the bigger the house, the more there is to look at: more beds, more couches, more coffee tables, more books. How fun is that??? More examples! So put your jealousies and judgments aside, and be grateful for the chance to take a peak.

I found this home to be beautiful, and the tour inspired ideas for my own space. That being said, I would like to point out that I live in a 280 sf Brooklyn studio.

I usually find colonials boring, but those mature trees make this house irresistible!

thanks lynn-anne! very beautiful home!

Beautiful home! I love the fireplace filled with books!

*peek*. My apologies to the grammar/spelling police.

Lynn-Anne--

Lovely home.
Not all your choices are ones I would have made, but it's a far-sight better than my Sis' place in Virginia (another center-hall colonial) I wish I could get her to work the Flea Markets, Antique Shops and Craigslist the way you have!

LOVED IT!!! Wonderful home! Can I move in? :-)

This home is beautiful. The colour palette of fresh blues, greys and whites, with some natural hues thrown in, is so fresh and clean-looking - I would imagine a house this size could look cluttered pretty quickly, but the decor makes all the difference. And I love that I can totally imagine kids running around here and not living in fear of getting yelled at for putting their feet on the Eames.

Who knew this one would cause controversy? I agree with all the commenters who say that inspiration for great design comes from everywhere, no matter the size of your own home - otherwise every Brooklyn studio apartment would look the same, every 1-bed Seattle apartment would look the same... I think the vast majority of Apartment Therapy readers are open-minded, non-judgemental design lovers who like to mix it up and have fun - there are no rules!

Don't be put off by the odd bad vibe, Lynn-Anne - your home is gorgeous :)

there are no streetlights -- it's extremely dark, i guess because of the tree cover as well. we inherited the half shutters - they are original; so far no complaints.

what a great house! i like the mix of rooms -- it seems like each one has its own vibe and it feels to me like a lived-in real house.

I really appreciate the variety of spaces profiled on AT. My favorites are real houses that people live in (versus show houses or the feature where inspiration images are taken from different sources and digitally plunked on a room photo).

I've been stalking your photos on Flickr, so it's great to see the full house tour here!

This is such a beautiful house--one of my favorite tours on AT. I love how it manages to be eclectic, yet elegant and soothing (and all with four kids). I think it's perfect. This is how I want my house to look when I grow up!

I think it's a lovely home. Kind of trendy, but still a wonderful use of colors and space.

I'm filing the books-in-unused-fireplace (picture 8) for future use.

I thought that might be you Lynne-Anne...I just sent M-C a post on FB asking if that was you when I saw the name at the beginning!

The house is beautiful, great job. Has a great mix of traditional, modern and eclectic and looks very warm, comfortable and inviting.

Annemarie (UA 87)

creative license- I couldn't agree more.
Personally, I don't live in a 4000 sq foot home (my apartment is about 800 square feet) but I try to find inspiration in all of AT's home tours -not just the ones that are "apartments" or apartment sized. We're here for inspiration and to see the ideas others have for their homes that we may not have thought of ourselves. That homes over a certain square footage seem to be offending people on this site is ridiculous! My sister just bought a house with a square footage that many of you, it seems, would scoff at, however, decorating was a HUGE challenge because many of the rooms are oddly shaped. So trust me, just because a home is a bit large does NOT mean there aren't great ideas to be taken from it.
And to dcirene - I think you should read the mission statement again.

I live with my husband and baby in a 700 sq foot home, and I really loved seeing this house. I loved the vintage pieces and the various colors. Especially love that colorful quilt! I find a lot of inspiration in these spaces. I think that people who worry about the large size of the house have limited creativity and imaginations. It's nice to appreciate beauty no matter the form.

Love seeing this houses! and this one has a lot of inspiration and personality. Beautiful home!

I loved it! I am a sucker for light fixtures but I also live in NC and can't seem to give up my ceiling fans...I know, I know. Not the most attractive, but sometimes it's necessary. Did you inherit the round ceiling fixture in the hall with what looks like flowers? That is gorgeous. I am looking to replace my hall light with something unique and haven't found anything yet. My husband also has Scottish roots so I enjoyed seeing all the incorporations too. Well done!

I love that kitchen! The subway tile, and the colors.

I think this house is great! And crafty! And DIY! And all that other stuff AT readers are supposed to like.

What a wonderful family home. This house gets really nice light and I enjoyed looking at all the different rooms of this large house.

I liked the idea of round braided rug in the living room, it makes it less formal. I love the blue paint used and how each room was a bit different. Nothing special about the dining room but it just feels good like a fun spot to hang out for a while read the paper have some pancakes..

Thanks AT for posting this and I don't want to see censorship on minimum or maximum square footage posted or on house tours.

"How do you sleep at night with no curtains or blinds on the bedroom windows?"

You might be surprised at how dark it gets at night in the country.

@ifiwereyou--

Quite so.

This isn't at all like the 7000 square foot half-empty loft in Manhattan featured here a year or so ago that housed a couple with one child - There is plenty of inspiration and interesting things to see here...
...and despite it being a larger home, there's nothing "McMansion" about it at all.

I'm glad to see a Southern home featured here! I love how fun and lived-in this house looks and how unexpected some of the design is in such a classic house.

You know what's even more annoying than the one or two postings here commenting on the excess of square footage? The 50 or so other comments denouncing size as an issue.

Lynn-Anne, thank you for sharing your gorgeous home! I, for one, am amazed at how elegant and comfortable everything looks while still being the home to 4 kids!
I'm a fellow Charlottean - love the Foxcroft neighborhood and so glad that you didn't do a tear down to get the space you wanted.
This has newly inspired me to revisit thrift stores, craigslist and the furniture outlets so prevalent in our area. Putting a home together takes time and it's clear that you've put this home together over many years. It's really lovely.
PS - I think Charlotte AT-ers should really get together!

Um, wasn't one of those denouncements yours?

Beautiful inspiration comes from any sized home. I myself don't live in a such an enormous space but appreciate what you've done here. The colors, furnishings, beautiful things throughout your home are reflections of your style and are tastefully done.
Hope you and your family each enjoy your home for years to come! Thanks for sharing!

Does anyone happen to know anything about the spherical capiz pendant in the foyer? I can't seem to find it identified in the listed items. Thanks!

This is beautiful! I was confused by the person who stated that it looked "wealthy", I saw a lot of very thrifty, inexpensive vintage items all throughout the home. I live in 800 sq ft. and this was inspirational!

carriejeaux--

"Madegoods Butterfly Capiz shell chandelier"

the capiz pendant is from zgallerie a couple of years ago; it's not available there any more, but trade sources Roost and World's Away make the same thing: check roostco.com and worlds-away.com for retail sources in your area -- or just go into a local fairly trendy home furnishings store -- they probably have a wholesale account and can order it for you.
i wish a big, easily accessible retailer still stocked this piece; but you can get it in a variety of colors and sizes -- it's very, very pretty.
if you still have problems and you really want one, let me know. i'll do my best to help.

crazydoglady: we do have ceiling fans in some of the bedrooms :-) it is HOT here, just like where you are, i guess.
my husband will not give up his ceiling fan.

thanks very much for all your kind comments, and really for all your comments, kind or not -- i think carefully about all of them, and learn what i can . . . it's very interesting.

it's lovely to hear from fellow Charlotte residents, fellow North Carolinians, and even a fellow Ursulion (so fun to hear from you, AnneMarie!)

please feel free to ask about sources. i'm sorry i apparently didn't list them all -- i am happy to share.

it is a really crafty/DIY home. we make things every day -- some don't work out so well, but it's always fun. the most important thing is that the house embraces everyone who lives here, and that it incorporates things that are important to each member of the family (i admit, i'm the chandelier and "easter basket" person - sorry!)

best to all,

lynn-anne

sorry for the confusion -- the butterfly capiz shell pendant that's in the family room now (it's new, and appears in photo #4 on the tour) is from madegoods.com, which is another trade resource. just email oscar at madegoods, and i'm sure he'll tell you where to get one, or let me know, and i'll do my best to help.
the other capiz shell light, the round one, is the one from zgallerie - see above.

Lynn-Anne,
the house looks awesome, your flair and style is perfectly shown.
Lynn-Anne is my sister and has made all of her houses warm stylish homes with her uniques flair. She mixes new, old, classic and fun to create a home that reflects and works for the whole family. It is beautiful throughout, and includes elements of the whole family, and reflects there true style. It is a warm comfortable home, not a 'mc mansion', with many individual design elements, and so much charm. Uplifting and inspiring!

@Pat: Sure, but I kept it short, sweet and irreverent and not a paragraph long diatribe just to hear myself type.

This home was actually featured in Charlotte magazine's Home & Garden back in April 2009: http://www.charlottemagazine.com/Home-Garden/April-2009/Creative-Shelter/

More awesome homes on that site, as well! Check them out!

Oh, Patrick, I don't know you...... but from what I've gleaned over the years, I'm guessing you're not a "Pat."

Should we break out the popcorn?

@ jacksonlalonde:

let me get this straight. you're saying that other commenters' posts are annoying because they are too long, but your post -- which AGREES with the posts of those other commenters -- isn't annoying because it was few sentences shorter?

am i the only one who finds this logic to be a little off?

also, the whole point is size isn't an issue! big houses are great! small houses are great! long posts are great! short posts are great!

sheesh.

creative license--

Nah. He's just trying to push my buttons, and it doesn't really work any more. Don't waste good popcorn! :)

Lynn-Anne,
Your home looks lovely and inviting! It looks like the home I grew up in- full of fun, colorful curios of all shapes and sizes. If you don't watch out though, you may find that your kitchen and bathrooms have been, ahem, "borrowed" Carmen Sandiego-style :).

I loved this tour! I viewed it almost as a quirky bed and breakfast and I couldn't decided which room I wanted to stay in. (all of them!)
Love your mantel-scapes. And especially love your faceted mirrors everywhere. Are they all vintage? I crave me one.

I think I'd name your style Friendly and Real.

Especially the chalkboard in the kitchen. Usually they are pictured with elegant calligraphied upscale menus or pithy quotes. Yours looks like it's supposed to: smudged, half erased, and enhanced with the 3 foot tall artist's work

wow, this hosue is HUGE! I really love it though. Looks like a nice place to live.

@Pat: Little idea or interest in your buttons. A marigold by any other name...

Very nice. I think pot fillers, however, are useless, an eyesore, and carry carry a stigma of vanity. What, it's 4 feet from the sink? I'd blaze that. But, very nice!

@Lynn-Anne: can you share the contractor you used for your renovations? Always on the lookout for a good one in Charlotte!

@Patrick - your comments always make me laugh. you say what i'm thinking but in a much wittier way. thanks!

Please remember to stay on topic. If you'd like to have a side chat, you're welcome to post contact information in your profile so you don't hijack the comments!

Thanks to all those who have read past them and enjoyed the tour!

-Sarah Rae

jonnifer: of course; tim smith of proline construction. he was great.

we use the pot filler for the giant vats of rice, soup, and pasta i make -- a big heavy pot full of water weighs a lot. also, as we have only one sink, it's pretty useful to have another source of water for filling the kettle or setting up a dirty saucepan to soak when the sink is piled high with dirty dishes, like it was tonight.

Love, love, love. This is what my home wants to look like when it grows up.

I see you like to mix things up a wee tad. Gives people something to think about. Case in point, the switcheroo of the lights in the kitchen. We normally see the chandelier over the table and the pendant lights over the island. Nice touch.

Very eclectic and inviting. I especially love the juxtapostion of the elegant pieces with the bric-a-brac. Keeping it real!

The house is aesthetically pleasing. Not my personal style, but I can appreciate the love and care that went into it. I actually have one problem (and it is refreshingly NOT square footage). My issue lies in what they have chosen to do with the fireplaces. It is poor feng shei to put paper, books (or electronics) in a fireplace. Fire is truly a powerful force, energy and element. Anytime I am in a space where the owner has chosen to block the chi of a fireplace with something that does not belong there (such as books or some odd electronic equipment) it just FEELS wrong to me. Let fire and the energy that it brings with it have it's place in the room. Stifling it with books or other odds and ends seems a lot like putting a decorative fruit bowl display on the back of your toilet....it's just wrong.

oops...I typo-d....feng shui in my comment above.

is that a faucet that is between the hood and the range?

what a gorgeous place! it definitely feels curated over time, which is incredibly wonderful and refreshing!

This house is so lovely! I love escaping into people's homes and looking at all of their wonderful items. I could only dream of having a home like this!

I've done a small post on my blog about the photography of an artist where he invades the homes of the rich and creative! I just adore this kind of escapism..
http://millijane.blogspot.com/2010/06/shelby-is-in-your-place.html

You're so lucky to have such a gorgeous living space :)

What a fun, comfortable home..! I love all the personal touches and just how lively and lived-in it feels. I really like the way you can tell it's developed over time and it will continue to change along with its family members. Just beautiful.

Thanks for sharing your place here.

-maria

let's me see...huge house, seemingly unlimited budget, professional interior designer. yea, I can get a ton of ideas on how to decorate my tiny studio apartment from this. I'll just fill it with expensive furniture and appointments. thanks, that is really inspiring.

Or, you could post it here and have strangers tear it apart! Equally inspiring, no?

really it's great, beautiful. but it's not an apartment. or even a small cottage.

This is how much I just KNEW that people were going to start "crying" and losing sleep about the square footage...I came to the comments BEFORE I looked at the house tour...LOL!!! A house is a house is a house, you can have oodles of money and decorate it horribly or have no money and have the hottest house/apartment on the block. Showing houses of all sizes are for inspirational purposes people!

Ok, off my soapbox now... (:

That being said, the house is beautiful, looks lived in and I absolutely adore the bathroom, especially the chandalier.

hey matthew -- just fyi; the budget is limited. lots of things in this house were extremely inexpensive/homemade/reinvented/floor models/thrift store stuff/from a tag sale/from target, at any rate, cheap. i'm helped out, of course, by the fact that i'm constantly on the lookout for good stuff -- we bought a beat up tortoiseshell bamboo table this am at the habitat restore for $2 -- it will be lovely when i get it cleaned up and fixed. and many pieces have been with us for a long time -- that's why sometimes the pieces are things i might not choose today, if my budget was unlimited. but i appreciate your comment; i just hope that people will find a few ideas to make their own homes more satisfying to them.

patrick: thanks; i really mean that.

I love the wood shutters. I was thinking of doing custom shades in the house that my husband and I just purchased in DC, but your wood shutters are inspiring me.

Also, Lynn-Anne, did you paint the exterior of your house that grey color? If you chose the grey, would you mind sharing the name of the paint color?

j i : the wood shutters are wonderful -- i love them. they're also original, 41 years old. we did not choose the exterior color - apparently that's the original color, too, although of course it's been repainted. in fact, we had lots of rotted siding replaced, so tomorrow i'll scrounge around and see if i can find you a formula, or i'll pantone it with my phone . . . .we'll see how that works! it's a good color -- very classic and varies between taupe and grey depending on the day - good luck picking!

@shannont, re: feng shui
Huh, I'd never really thought about that. You raise an interesting point.

When can I move in?

Love everything- you have great style.
Thanks for sharing heaps of great ideas :)

Your home looks like a lovely, alive, work in progress -- as it must be with 4 kids and dogs and bunnies... There are wonderful nooks and crannies -- shared areas and private corners. I like that nothing seems too contrived and nothing is too precious so that all can enjoy the house. I love the color palate and imagine it is just right for warm southern days and nights. I love the setting in the trees so you can enjoy your privacy without having to block the pretty windows.

It is the kind of home that one would feel welcome and comfortable in right away and I'm sure your guests must congregate in the beautiful kitchen with you.

I've tackled a big old house and know that it is an ongoing labor of love (you better love it because there's always something to do!) -- and worth the effort because you have a one of a kind beauty. Thank you for sharing your wonderful home.

I will be incorporating some of the feel of it in my small space (have downsized for the time being) -- because just looking at those soft, blue grays, leafy greens and shades of white is soooooo relaxing!

I am so excruciatingly tired of the square footage drama. Move on. Get over yourself. While not applicable to everyone, I do think a good bit of the sourness on here comes from pure jealousy of other people's larger spaces.

Its ridiculous to say that because a house is say 6,000 Sq. Ft. and your Aparment is 1,000 Sq. Ft., that there are no nice ideas you can gain by looking at the larger house. I'd rather hear about a real Vs. Knockoff debate again than this crap.

WOW! I love this house, it feels so cosy in spite of it's size. Those red stools in the kitchen are great.

Lynn-Anne: dinnae fash yersel hen. Some of these punters could start a fight with theysels in a phone booth. I think your house is lovely.

Very pretty!

Anyone know the size of the sweet orange Magis puppy in the boy's bedroom? I want one!

Hi Lynn Ann!

I just love your home; it is so so so lovely! I've been looking at the pictures on and off all day! I live in a 900sq ft apt but will be stealing a lot of your ideas!
Just curious...Did you paint the green table in the family room yourself? If so, what kind of paint did you use? Is that a lacquer finish? Please let me know when you get a chance! I want to paint my wooden bistro table the same color/finish! Thanks!

Lauren

The house and surroundings look like a place place where children grow up to have nice childhood memories.

I like the amber crystal chandelier, rectangular mirror and oversized shell in the living room. I remember seeing them in the Nieman Marcus/Horchow catalog.

hi lauren -- that green table is actually a parson's desk in "wheatgrass" from west elm; sadly, no longer offered in that color. it's highly lacquered and i tried and tried to get a pantone match using my iphone, but the closest i could get was pantone 364C. try that -- and good luck!

and j i, couldn't find a paint pot (now that may be a problem!!) for the exterior color, but i'd try pantone warm grey 4C, or Farrow & ball hardwick white -- both really similar. i hope one of them works for you :)

and brigs, thanks for your sweet comment; no doubt horchow has similar things, but in this case, the shell is from zgallerie, the amber chandelier is vintage, from an estate sale (found in pieces on the floor wrapped in a blanket, a marked $150 -- I took a chance!), and the mirror is 1920s, from a california country auction -- i think i paid $80 for it :-)

k2yhe: are you frae glesca? or are you channeling my auntie nellie?! either way, thanks for the sentiment, and the giggle!

shannont: you raise an interesting point re feng shui and that fireplace -- i don't know much about it, but i pay attention when someone explains it to me -- i might very well be rethinking that storage option - thanks.

terrym: i tracked down that magis puppy (he does tend to travel from room to room -- found him in the attic playroom standing guard at the dollhouse "town" caroline and teds have built (three mismatched dollhouses and a castle!) and i am pleased to report that he is 18 inches tall and 20 inches long.

and everyone else -- thanks so very much for caring to comment! lynn-anne

Lynn-anne:

Thanks for the pup info. I found one online and just ordered it!

hooray! i'm glad you got one: he is fun. very popular at our house as he doesn't need to be walked like fergus and henry, the real, and needy, dogs around here.

Love it LA!
Just found this as I have been meaning to look but kept forgetting. The house has changed a lot since I was last there!
Your house is wonderful and inspiring, just like you! (cheesy i know...)
Lots of love
meggie (little sister)

megs, changes every day, you know . . . thx for looking for it :) come visit soon!!! we miss you! xlynn-anne

That is pretty much my dream kitchen right there.

I absolutely loved this tour! Too many wonderful features to list- but a few of my favorites would be the variety of chandeliers, wooden shutters, metal bed frame, mirrors, and of course the kitchen and bathrooms :) Lots of inspiration here!

gorgeous kitchen!!!!!!