My Decorating Style

I found a link to this quiz on a blog I was reading and decided to take it to see what my decorating style is. Well here are the results:

Sheila , you are a GLAMOROUS CLASSIC

You have a refined sensibility with an appreciation for history and tradition in your furniture and your rooms. You value beauty and craftsmanship. You are visually sensitive and understand how symmetry and a balanced layout give order to a room. But you definitely like to shake things up with some unabashed luxury and glamour to keep things from getting boring. You go for rich materials like velvets, one-of-a-kind objects, lady-like touches, glimmering accessories, and a sense of old-Hollywood romance that makes your home dramatic and elegant.

You value serenity. While there are probably a lot of interesting things in your home, they are joined by your taste or a certain palette that keeps them in harmony. You appreciate the beauty in simple forms. Whether fancy or plain, you appreciate things that are well made and function as well as they look. You also have a strong respect for the environment and craftsmanship. You care about how things are made, and how they are used.

Putting Your Style to Work!

With your style and needs in mind, here are a few tips that will help you make your home a little happier.

1. Your Design Challenge: ORGANIZEThe front hall sets the mood for your entire home. Consider how to accommodate all the room's functions as beautifully as possible. At the very least you need a console, and if you're short on storage, consider a dresser. Outfit the surface with nice trays and bowls for mail, keys and sunglasses. Keep a trash can for immediately tossing the junk mail. Closet-door or wall hooks encourage coat and bag hanging rather than dumping. If you have children, try to give each a basket in the closet for hats and gloves. It's nice to have a chair or bench for changing shoes, a mirror for last-minute lipstick checks, and a lamp or sconces for warm light.

2. Your Happy PlaceThe more serene your bedroom feels, the happier you will be. A pretty coverlet over a big duvet makes the bed look smooth—and not all duvet-lumpy! And, a blanket folded at the foot of the bed breaks up the big expanse of fabric. Euro shams—those big square pillows—are great for reading in bed, and a few decorative pillows can also be a nice touch. Consider adding a basket or a small occasional table near your bedside table for books, papers, lotions, linen spray or whatever you'd like.

3. Be Party-Ready All the Time!Scent: The first thing you notice about a home is how it smells. Use naturally fragrant cleaning products. If you find a scented candle or fresh potpourri you love, stock up on it. Any scent you like, whether perfume or linen spray, can be used on upholstery, bedding or just spritzed into the air.

Mood: Nice, flattering light makes us feel good. So nix the harsh, direct light from overhead fixtures in favor of the softer glow from floor and table lamps. Also, stock up on some votive candles and a couple of hurricane lanterns for setting around the room.

Food: Devote space in your pantry or on a shelf for go-to party essentials: crackers, dip, chips, nuts—whatever you like to serve. Keep on hand a collection of attractive bowls and cocktail napkins, and you'll be able to set a spread—instantly!

Drink: The simplest and chicest thing is to have a drinks tray or table always set up. Include a mix of pretty glasses, an ice bucket, a lovely pitcher, and bottles of soda and water. When the bell rings, just add ice and limes.

Your Happy Home Colors

Putting Color to Use!

Don't forget that color looks best when paired with some neutrals for a little visual relief. If you go wild on the walls or with your upholstery, pull back a little on the rugs or curtains or vice versa. Each room can definitely have its own color palette, but think of your home as a whole, with each room transitioning to the next. Some tricks: go for fairly neutral hues in hallways, or add some colors from one room into the neighboring room, even in the form of accessories or fabrics.

Find your HomeGoods

Explore One Near You

Pura Vida

It's been a week since I got back from my cruise and boy let me tell you it has been hard adjusting to life back home. As usual we had a blast and it was so nice seeing Sandra, Wanda and Donald again. We always have a good time when we get together. This year we were on the Freedom and we visited Cozumel, Mexico, Limon, Costa Rica, and Colon Panama. We did an excursion at each port and I enjoyed each and every one of them. In Cozumel we zip lined, rock climbed, and snorkeled. I enjoyed the zip lining but I was terrified. If you look closely at the pictures you can tell I was a little skittish. I kept thinking Lord don't let my kids have to ship my body back home. Lol! Sandra and Wanda were fearless. I so envied their ability to let go and enjoy the experience. After zip lining we went snorkeling. Again I was a little skittish. I made the mistake of asking how deep the water was. When they told me 10 feet I was like never mind I'll stay here. The guides assured me they would not let anything happen to me and would stay close so I went ahead and did it and I am so glad I did. It was the best thing I did the whole trip. I had so much fun. In Costa Rica we went horseback riding and I wasn't looking forward to that either. The reason why my husband and I got together is because I went horseback riding and had a crazy horse and he helped me not freak out. So I was not looking forward to this experience riding in the Costa Rican rain forest. I did enjoy it but I was glad when we got back to the stables. The scenery was beautiful and I had the sweetest horse. I talked to him the whole time and one of the other people commented that the horse was actually responding to my voice and what I was saying to him. After horseback riding we went shopping and I picked up some coffee and jewelry for my friends. In Panama we kayaked in the Panama Canal and went to see the Gatoun Locks. We saw a boat go through the canal then hit the gift shop. When we got back to the port we went shopping in the duty free gift shop and in some of the stores near by. I brought some Ed Hardy perfume in the gift shop and got a free tote. We spent 2 days at sea on our way back to Fort Lauderdale. It was nice because we were able to relax. We met some wonderful people on the ship and as usual ate too much. I did try to work some of it off dancing in the 70's club at night but I think a few pounds stuck to me. I had a great time and am looking forward to the next cruise. This time I hope my children will come with me.

In Memory of Edward Conway Young

When had dinner with Peter Bragdon last Sunday at Gaetano's to discuss fund raising for an endowed chair at the Governor's Academy in Ed's name. We have been talking about this for the last four year's and now it looks as if it is actually going to happen. Ed loved what used to be GDA(Governor Dummer Academy) and is now the Governor's Academy. He had a wonderful experience there as an ABC (A Better Chance) student. He was involved in everything student council, sports, and of course drama. Over the years I heard so many wonderful stories about his time there and his friends Bill Martin, Larry Coles who is Eddie's godfather, Doug Pope, and Art whose last name escapes me right now. He talked about all the wonderful teacher's, the trouble he should have gotten into but didn't and of course he roles in the various plays that were done during his years there. Then he told me a story about how someone from school called his parents to see if anyone was coming to graduation and no one was because they couldn't afford it and they were told someone has to come but they wouldn't say why. Well his mother came and it is a good thing she did because her son was awarded the highest honor at graduation, the Morse Flag. My husband will always be contected to this school because his name is carved in the wall as the 1973 recipient of the Morse Flag. One of the reason's my husband wanted to be a headmaster was because of one of the former headmaster's at GDA Val Wilke. Hope I spelled the name right. As an adult my husband had the pleasure of working for both A Better Chance and the Governor's Academy. At A Better Chance he had many titles as he was promoted but the job he loved the most was the Assistant to the President. Judith Berry Griffin was the president of ABC at the time and they were a great team. Then in 1996 Peter Bragdon was kind enough and smart enough to hire Ed as the Assistant Headmaster at the Governor's Academy. Again he and Peter were a great team. While there my husband touched the lives of many students and most of the young people who are my friends on facebook are his former students. The first thing Ed did when he became a headmaster was to go out and buy a hat just like Peter Bragdon's hat. You see his example of what a great headmaster was was Peter and he wanted to follow in his footsteps. He always strove for excellence and was not satisfied with mediocre.

Well when Ed passed away in July of 2006 I wanted to do something to honor him and also to help students like him who were extremely intelligent but their families did not have the finances to send them to private schools. There is a scholarship in Ed's name at All Saint's but I wanted to have a scholarship at the Governor's Academy a place that he loved and had made him the man that he was. Therefore Peter, Eddie, Kristina, Aaliyah and I, and Ed's friends from GDA, Middlebury, and St Marks School of Texas will be forming a committee to start fund raising for an Edward Conway Young endowed chair at the Governor's Academy. Don't be surprised if you get a phone call or a letter from one of us asking you to contribute to our endeavor. He was an amazing man and the one way I know how to honor his life and the thing he loved the most is to help the students that he loved so dearly. Love and miss you Daddy and hope you and Streisand are having a blast in heaven. Your wife always and forever! Sheila