Let’s face it: our homes speak volumes about our personalities. They are a mirror to our outlook on life sometimes reflecting our sense of welcome, order, beliefs or simply the way we like to adorn our own little world inside four walls.
Rarely has a home mirrored the inner soul of the owner so completely as the bungalow owned by Linda and Addison Gore in the historic Whitland Avenue neighborhood. Addison’s ability to fix and create, coupled with Linda’s love of design, color, and balance allows them to transform simple things into astounding objects of beauty. Linda is the driving creative force inside the walls. Whether it be the battered lamp from Dealer’s Choice or a dress purchased at Jamie’s 75% off sale, if Linda sees a thread of potential, she is able to transform her find into a masterpiece.
When you walk through the front door, your eyes come alive immediately with the play on colors and artful arrangements everywhere. My tour began in the living room where Linda pointed out the lamp she designed from a pattern, then had it cast in refurbished copper. Then she added the verdigre patina. The mantle reflects a sense of balance and serves as a place to showcase one of her many pieces of art. She noted a pair of vases she designed and made from clay and even the pillows on the couches are adorned with hand painted buttons.
The dining room is simply gorgeous grounded by a large wooden table purchased in Mexico. On the wall is hung a stately mirror called a Trumeau, as it is inspired by a French design. Linda drew a pattern and together, she and Addison built the mirror, found the appliques and added the finish. The end result is stunning. Small painted metal tables are on both ends of the room and both were designed and painted by Linda. “That’s a lot of work,” I mused. Linda’s response was, “Do you know how hard is to find narrow tables that fit in specific spaces?” She’s right, but believe me, it’s still a lot of work. The tables add a wonderful dimension to the small corner where they reside.
In the kitchen, consider the quaint breakfast nook tucked into the corner. The lamp ($40) and the table were found at Dealer’s Choice. What initially caught Linda’s eye in regards to the lamp was the outright quirkiness it had as it’s an old umbrella stand! with it’s rusting edges and industrial look, it makes a gorgeous statement. The table was a bit more expensive, but with the elaborate stenciling, it was a “must buy” that adds another element of charm to her kitchen.
Upstairs is as much fun as the downstairs and our next stop was the guest bedroom. Linda made the pillows and the quilt on the bed. When asked, “You made the quilt too?” she explains how. “Well I get a bunch of fabric from sales and left over projects, then cut them in all kinds of shapes and sizes, sew them in a zig-zag fashion and see what happens.” I chuckle and think, “You can pull that off, but I can’t.” And that is a truism since the bag of fabric that Linda and I bought together is still stashed in my laundry room. I marvel at her energy! I have included a couple pictures of side tables because I simply love her eye for arranging THINGS and I think you will too.
Linda’s love of decorating is matched by her talent as an artist. ALL of the artwork in her home is HER OWN art! The color palette in her home is consistent: burnt oranges, chartreuse, eggplant, and cream. My favorite of all her art is her sketches because of their simplicity and white space. They are inspired by past memories, Eudora Welty and Linda’s North Carolina heritage. Yep, time to start scrolling back up to take a look at all the artwork on the walls again. Yep, all Linda Gore. Amazing.
So dear reader, what can you take away from this post? Find the treasures you love and don’t be afraid to rehab them. Add a great lamp shade or change out the knobs, even try a new paint technique. Use color to accent rooms with pillows, throws, and lamps. Keep the palette in your home consistent so each room flows and feels connected. Finally, have some fun with it all. If your home truly reflects who you are then make some bold statements and BE CREATIVE!
Note: Linda has started making fabulous jewelry; the pieces are so varied and interesting we will devote an entire post to her creations before the Holidays. But to give you a glimpse, here is a picture of Linda wearing one of her pieces (available at Sugar). We promise, we’ll post more about the collection later. OK, I can HEAR you saying you want a sneak preview. I understand. Click here.
Have a lovely day- Elizabeth
