Now that we are living in Germany and I am doing a lot of online shopping I am always excited to go to the mailbox, but last week was even better. My edition of the brand new book House Proud: Unique Home Design, Louisiana had finally arrive, I per-ordered it on Amazon weeks ago but it arrive earlier than I expected. I am particularly excited about this new book because it was written by a good friend of mine Valorie Hart who is a New Orleans based interior designer, decorator, stylist and author of the popular blog The Visual Vamp. But that isn’t the only reason I was excited to get Valorie’s new book, the houses of my Mom and two of my sisters were included in the book. (I unfortunately was living in Alabama at the the time so I didn’t fit the Louisiana criteria.) Since I serve as the (non-resident) family handy lady/seamstress extraordinaire I feel a special connection to all of their houses. I could barely wait to open the book and look inside.
If you have read my About page you will know that I am one of four girls and we all love to express ourselves in our homes. Although all our styles are slightly different we all have a similar eclectic vintage flare. I guess it comes from the way we grew up. My parents always had a D.I.Y. project going. My friend from college has commented that she had never been to my parent’s house twice and seen it look the same. Mom also sold antiques so if she got tired of something she would sell it and move in something new. Now as we have grown into adults my sisters and I seem to have inherited the same gene. One or more of us is always working on a “project.” We are always excited to share with one another our home decor ideas and most of time even participate. I myself have worked on someones home renovation right up until it was time for me to board a plane to go home. We are a family of what I like to call “house people.” We trade furniture like other people trade books and we love it!
If you take a look at House Proud you will know why Valorie Hart chose to include our family in her book. She shares our same ascetic: high, low, collected, eclectic, vintage, modern anything goes as long as it is loved and beautiful. As the book flap say, “Hart offers readers creative and inexpensive interior design tips, such as how to combine antique and modern pieces; use color, re-purpdose furniture and everyday items; display art and collections; create extra rooms; rethink storage; and use architectural elements inside” She is one of us. an “assistant daughter” as my dad always called our friends, and definitely “house people.”
I will treat you to some photos of my families homes and a few others from the book but these will not do this book justice, you really must see it in person. So run out right this very minute and grab yourself a copy of House Proud: Unique Home Design, Louisiana and feast your eyes on a collection of lovely Louisiana homes (including my family’s) of all varieties along with beautiful pictures, detailed descriptions and “Take Aways” for each space. You will love Valorie Hart‘s perspective, and will even get to take a peak at her very own home!
