My Mother's Porn Stash

My mother was married to my Dad at 20.

 She went straight from her parent's house to his.

 During her brief single years, she still had my sister and me to decorate around.

After she was widowed from my step-father. she moved to a new 

Victorian, but still took with her their combined taste and things.

THIS will be her first house that will really be all her.

Oh, the possibilities...

My high school days were spent on an island, and then my Mom ended up here in 

South Florida and became a diver.

The ocean is part of her too.

So for this house, we'll be transforming a 70's condo

into a Beach Cottage infused with just her.

Wanna see some inspiration photos that have her running her scooter

around Home Depot and Joanns?

 Her heavy colors are going light and serene with shades of white

and slipcovers on the Early American and Ethan Allen.

Sleeker lines and lighter weight pieces will be easier for

a disabled woman to move than 25 pound solid oak chairs.

 Formal is getting traded in for soft casual.

And since the spaces have to have more....well, SPACE...for a wheelchair to pass through,

the pieces are going to huge the walls more.

Her size 6 self has to have a bit more room to get by.

 Some fun sparkle is getting introduced.

And spare, easy to clean will replace elaborate collections.

Covers go in the wash for a crisp look all the time.

 Easy to maneuver plus easy to reach mean easy style.

 We're also updating her patterns to stay playful.

 How a cabinet opens is a consideration.

She can stand, so something that opens from the bottom will mean

she doesn't have to duck and swing a door open.

 For colors, we're thinking sea glass shades.

 Built in spots she can wheel into that don't require 

pulling anything out.

Pops of mixed patterns that work together without jarring the eye.

 Extra seating so she can fill the house with guests, then stow it

when they go.

 And with all the windows, we're going to bring the outdoors IN.

 Nautical with a softer attitude...the feel, without the salt.

 Then mix in her vintage, antiques, and family heirlooms and let them shine.

 Open her Master bath and give her a good sense of luxury that wipes clean.

 Plus a little cushy guest area, just in case, but let it serve double duty.

We want the deck to invite people outside for coffee or a cold libation

to enjoy the garden.

Light wood floors will be a first for her, but she's grown to like mine.

She's also gotten used to my unorthodox dragging of furniture into a room 

it doesn't "belong" in.

 Her kitchen will get a "Thom and His Magic Sledgehammer"

makeover before paint and tile take it from a cave to airy.

 And the windows are getting dressed in sheers and casual drapes to keep

the whole place Summer Cottage fresh.

Now, if I can just get my hands on that Ethan Allen

 poster bed of hers and some gloss latex...

Yeah, this is going to be fun!