Our Master Suite in the Attic!

I'm so excited to share my master suite in the garret of my 1894 home.  My neighbor CoraLee, who lives in a home built by her grandfather next door, her grandfather was the brother of my home's original owner, CoraLee says a garett is an occupied attic. But my friend Anthea, also an antique dealer, who is Engish, says it has to be shabby and cold to be a garret, which the dictionary rather bears out.  She says that my master suite is more of a pent house. She's so sweet!  Anyway, vernacular aside, here we go. 

Within a month or so of buying this home back in 1997, we poked our heads up through a 2 by 2 foot access in the ceiling of a closet and found that our very tall attic was open framed!! The center of the attic was 15 feet tall!  I started right then spinning dreams of an attic bedroom with slanted ceilings like those I'd read about in The Little Princess and Anne of Green Gables. 

We had a staircase built in 2000, Scott put in a floor the next year, but a job change put things on hold until we had dormers built along with our reroofing last year. 

A shoulder injury compromised Scott's ability to frame and Sheetrock, so we hired a talented neighbor, Gordon, to do that for us. 

As you can see we are done with walls and doors for the most part and I am decorating the suite in red and white. This cabinet hides our flat screen TV. 

We had to be careful in using furniture, as most of what we had was too tall for the short walls. 

The bed area's slanted back wall nixed my dreams of a fancy headboard, but the wall shape and stained glass eyebrow window suggest a headboard. Don't you think? 

This light fixture has been stored in this attic for 14 years.  It was a shiny brass, so it got a coat of white paint. 

The highest point in the room is now 8 feet, but all the slopes require constant vigilance to keep from bumping one's head. 

So when I saw this sign atTreasures   antique mall I knew it would make the perfect joke. I just outlined it with red and white washi tape so it wouldn't get lost on the white wall. 

I'd planned to leave the bathroom door's original chippy finish, but next to the new red paint on the cupboard doors we used for the closet, I foresee a new coat of red paint for it too. 

This is the 1880's fainting couch, ala hide-a-bed,  I also found at Treasures Antique Mall where I work!  The extra bed space will be perfect for sleepovers with the grands. 

Just for fun I thought I'd share the before picture of the fainting couch. 

  It went directly to my friend Arlene's house for its makeover. Doesn't she do lovely work. Laura of Dear Lizzie fame once said Arlene is S'marvelous, I can't  think of a better word to describe her, and we've been friends for more than forty years. 

This is what it looks when opened. We'll need a thin IKEA mattress to roll up and stash. 

Today Scott is getting the tub installed, with the help of my son Ben, so maybe next week I can share the bathroom as well. 

We are loving our larger master suite, it is 450 sf as opposed to our former master bedroom which was 225 sf!  

Thanks for sharing my dream come true!! 

Christmas Eve in Bethlehem

Breaking bread at an Inn in Bethlehem... 

The table is spread with wool and burlap. There are wooden plates and goblets.  Tender fatted calf, assorted cheeses, olives and grapes .... and Hand thrown pottery pitchers are filled with 'new wine' aka, grape juice and 7-up. 

Shepards and travelers from afar gather to break bread together ...

A young couple with a tiny babe. Swaddled in a manger ... 

Then we share the nativity story from Luke and favorite carols around the piano. 

We started this tradition 30 years ago, with our then preschoolers as part of  a preschool co-op .... And just never quit!  For some reason most of my kids love it!  

This is me hoping that your Christmas was lovely, and that you are looking forward to an amazing new year. 

Fairy Garden Play House.

You may recall the house tour I did with friends a couple of weeks ago. 

At that time I promised more pictures of Joanne's charming cottage. You can just see the gable of the little house above the lines of shaded lights 

Inside it's just magical. 

Joanne is a master of decor, 

She has a wonderful mix of classical 

And whimsical that I adore! 

This garland of lacey strips is what inspired Joyce's wonderful heirloom clothing and lace curtain shown in the post about the Christmas House Tour. 

Here's the charming Christmas tree. 

And a closeup of the China in the child sized cupboard. 

The pennants strung with twinkle lights are a favorite for me, not surprisingly. 

I hope you enjoyed a few of the details of this charming tiny abode, I know I did!  

Christmas Home Touring.

I've longed to be part of an art group, for years!  Recently, after a lovely bloggers luncheon, and getting to know others who live close enough to make it work, I've seen my dream come true!  

We've worked on a couple of projects, and it's been so fun. As we talked about our various plans for Christmas decor this holiday home tour was born!! 

We started at my home, the farthest south of all. 

I got to use my cute West Elm salad plates for the first time, as I was serving a salad course. Polka dot mania! 

Here we all are, Me, Joyce, Jann, Ann Cathy and Joanne. 

Here is my piano with its white display!! 

Then we were off to Joanne's.   I did a Christmas house tour of her house last year, here on Pollyanne-reinvents, it was amazing, and I loved this year's offerings even more!!

Both she and I had birdcages in our trees!  What is they say about great minds? 

But as amazing as her house is, her play house is the best!!  It was windy that night, and she's straightening some of her lamp shades in the courtyard of her charming playhouse. I'm saving the playhouse pictures for a post of their own. Let me warn you, it is breath taking! 

She served and artesian cheese and bread course. 

Then we were off to see Joyce's house. 

Oh my!  What a charming nest she has. So many lovely displays tucked here and there!

I gasped at the loveliness of her bed!  Since I'm doing our Garret bedroom in this color scheme, I was absolutely smitten! 

This curtain treatment is made up of charming and sentimental bits of table clothes, her honeymoon night gown, an heirloom silk bed jacket and a sweet lacy child's slip!  Oh my!  I LOVED it.  She said she got the idea from Joanne's playhouse. 

Next it was off to Cathy,'s. She's a quilter and we loved seeing several beauties. 

She's also very sentimental and has many keepsakes, including this adorable hand made set of doll furniture... 

And this sweet hooked rug that was made for her when she was a child! How charming is that? 

Cathie had the soup course, and her pumpkin stew was delicious! 

Next it was Jann's, I love this chair and the door behind it! 

Jann's having fun with plaids this Christmas! 

What a stunning place setting.   She served meaty h'ordeuvres ... 

She has a red and white bedroom too, but just for the holidays!  Awesome! I adore her scalloped bench! 

Last of all it was ice cream pie at Ann's 

Loved her chalk art! 

And her mantel too! 

It was a wonderful evening! What amazing and talented women.  Merry Christmas all!