Sarah Richardson Dining Room
I have finally started to find my decorating groove. Even though I’ve lived in this house for three years, I’m now able to focus on shaping it the way I want.
I’m more certain about the feel I want in this home. I know how it reads in every season and how we live here compared with other places we’ve had. I’m ready for this to truly be our home.
Sarah Richardson
At the same time I’m learning what this house will not be. Deciding against certain options can feel a little like grief — you let go of things you love that simply won’t work here right now. Once you do, though, decisions become easier and more joyful. You feel freer to move forward.
Sarah Richardson
Taking a less simple path can be a little scary. I’m not choosing all-white or plain solids — I want to mix colors and bold patterns. It isn’t always the easiest route, but I’m excited to take the risk and have fun.
I admire Sarah Richardson’s work because she handles pattern and color so well. Her rooms feel intentional and full of life.
Sarah Richardson
Sarah believes every room can be unique, and I agree. I want my house to flow, but not in a way that every room looks identical. Repeating the same room with slight changes is not interesting to me. Instead, I want each space to feel fresh while maintaining subtle threads of style that tie the home together. It takes careful tweaking, but that’s part of the fun.
After creating the inspiration board for my home office, the next brave step was to buy the curtains. They’re bold, and bold always makes me nervous. I held my breath until they arrived.
Anthropologie Mantadia Curtains
Usually my mom makes curtains for me — she does beautiful work and it saves money — but this time I fell for a bold Anthropologie pattern. The color, detail and texture felt worth the splurge because these curtains would become the focal point of my office and help guide the house’s color scheme.
When a special piece fits your overall budget and you truly love it, a splurge can be justified. I ordered cautiously, prepared to return them if they didn’t live up to the photos. But when I opened the box I literally gasped with joy. They were even better in person. With a little extra income and a birthday discount, I decided to keep them — no guilt, no regrets.
If you like the pattern but want a more budget-friendly option, similar fabrics are available elsewhere to recreate the look at home.
This is the office window before the curtains were hung. The walls still needed paint, and the curtains will be mounted to the sides so they don’t cover the window or the molding. These panels are the jumping-off point for the room and will set the tone for the rest of the house.
The pattern reminds me of a long-ago trip my husband and I took to Lanai and the Lodge at Koele Bay, a Four Seasons hotel. I don’t plan to copy the hotel exactly, but I want to capture that feeling — a refined island or British colonial vibe with colorful, bold patterns and a touch of whimsy.
I enjoy decorating in ways that bring happy memories into our home. The bird-of-paradise motif on the curtains is one of those joyful touches that makes me smile.
I visited Lanai about twenty years ago; the memory of color and layered pattern there stuck with me. My goal is to distill that sense rather than recreate every detail. I loved the hotel’s antiques and furnishings, and even though I arrived feeling terrible from the choppy boat ride, the trip left a lasting impression.
I’m drawn to contrasts of seriousness and whimsy in mood and color, and that balance is what I’m trying to bring into my rooms.
Next in the home-office makeover: new chairs. Progress is slow but steady, and I’m excited to keep rounding corners as this house becomes more like home.
UPDATE: You can see how the office turned out in an updated post about the space.
I’m excited to keep making this house feel like home and I’m glad you’re coming along for the somewhat scary but rewarding ride.