Homes, like people, come in all shapes and sizes, colors and styles. But most importantly, it's what's on the inside that counts. (Of course, exterior finishes and landscaping help with the curb appeal, like knowing what clothing colors look best with one's complexion.)

This current project is a home just over 8500 square feet. That's pretty big, by most standards. But when you have lots of children, and own your own business, the Not So Big House is just not going to work out.

As you can see, we are starting from scratch on this project; everything from the shingles to the sheets. That means most everything will be new to this home. So we must ask ourselves, "How does one make a large, new home into a home with the comforts and coziness of something old-world?"

Well, keep an eye on this page, and we will show you how this story unfolds.


This is a large home, but it's difficult to see that from the front. The basement is not visible from the road, which will allow for this home to be more understated than others with its square footage. Very tasteful, I must say.

I love old. Especially when it comes to things for the home. Why buy new when you can reuse or repurpose old? Old things have a history. And when you find them, there is the story of the hunt. Such is the story of my own home.

My kitchen is 1970's vintage. Literally. When we moved in, we walked back in time. Linoleum flooring (which perfectly preserved the oak underneath), laminate countertop and backsplash, and the prize: a 1973 GE electric stove and double oven unit, trimmed out in chrome and wood paneling. She was a true beauty.

After a spiffy paint job and replacing cabinet fixtures, we brought this kitchen back to its true glory.

And then the ovens died.

For months I thought, I'll get them fixed later. After all, it was summer in Atlanta, and baking was reserved for sitting by the pool, not in the home.

Then rolls in our first dose of fall CSA. (Aside: CSA stand for Community Supported Agriculture. Every Wednesday we receive a huge box of veggies from a farm in Ranger, GA. Visit this website to find a CSA near you. Help support local farmers and get fresh picked veggies at the same time.)

Apples, apples and more apples! Zucchini out the wazoo! And best of all: butternut squash. Well now. How can I create my favorite fall dishes without an oven?

So after calling around, I landed on a company to come out and look at our beast of an appliance. The verdict: not possible to fix. Too old. Parts no longer available.

Well if you know me then you know I like a challenge. So I hit the web again and talked to colleagues in the industry. Jennifer Sams of City Issue recommended Antique Appliances, a restorer of vintage stoves. As it turns out, they like a challenge too.

Cost wise: Spend money on repair, or buy new for the same price?

Back to my original statement: I love old. So my husband and I loaded up the old GE into our 1992 Ford Ranger (a relic in itself) and off we went. Well, not exactly...

We bounced into the pickup and went to crank the engine and — nothing. Not even a grown or a wheeze. Just a click. It seemed as though this little old Ranger was giving us the finger. But you know what they say, when it rains it pours, so of course the truck is not going to start.

Luckily our next door neighbor came to the rescue and let us borrow his pickup truck. Just goes to show, it's good to know your neighbors. Especially if they have a fully functioning pickup truck.

So we reloaded the old GE into the newer, mightier pickup truck and started out. The bonus here is that this truck had air conditioning!

After driving for two hours, we made it to Clayton, GA, a small town snuggled in the north Georgia mountains and handed over our blessed Old Mama GE to store owner John Jowers and prayed for the best.

To reward ourselves for our faithfulness to our stove, and to refuel for the ride back, we couldn't help but stop by Oinkers, just like everyone else in Clayton seemed to be doing. And of course we brought home a pound of bbq to our pickuptrucklending neighbor.

Three weeks later, after a new starter and an oil change (both thanks to my husband), we headed north again for our reunion. The stove made the long journey back home, and like the southern woman that she is, the GE went right back to work in the kitchen.

I love old.

Chelsea Morning is fortunate to have its home base in the in-town Atlanta neighborhood of Lake Claire. Situated under the shade of giant oaks, between the fragrant gardenias, and surrounded by neighbors young and old who have life sparkling in both eyes. Yes, I am lucky to have found this place.

In my appreciation of its welcoming arms, I have volunteered to run the Lake Claire Home and Garden Tour. This year will be its revival, after having a six year hibernation, so it takes an extra amount of "Let's Go!" than years past. Lucky for me, we immediately had several volunteers pop up to turn this event into a happening. And boy, talk about getting stuff done! These people are some of the brightest and best around, and they are ALL my Lake Claire neighbors! All of these hard working, nose-to-the-ground, creative people live within my proud little community where hippies and lawyers, filmmakers and nurses, musicians and doctors all come together to live and be happy.

So Saturday, October 2, 2010, from 1-6pm is our Lake Claire Home and Garden Tour. This event is NOT to be missed, let me tell you. Let us inspire you with our modest homes, eccentric gardens and the spirit of a community that blooms even more fervently than our dogwood-lined streets.

For more information, visit:

www.lakeclairehometour.com

Have you ever had the problem where you buy a new piece of clothing, and when you bring it home, you quickly realize that there is no room in your closet to put another thing? Do you get a daily workout from pushing aside all of your clothing to get to a shirt that is sandwiched too tightly between the rest of your clothes? Do you have troubles sleeping at night because your clothes are peeking out at you from the dresser drawers because there is no room at the inn? Well, you are not alone.



This is a picture of the innards of a closet that was having similar problems. This person's closet needed cleaning out because she had lost weight, needed new clothes, but had no room for them in her closet.

This closet belongs to one of the sweetest people on the planet, my husband's "Grandmommy." She is a North Carolinian, born and raised on a tobacco farm. She knows the meaning of hard work and simple pleasures. She raised two girls to be successful and happy woman, and cherishes her grandchildren, their wives, and her great-granddogs. She speaks with a sweet southern lilt that could not be imitated by even the most talented of linguists. She exemplifies Southern Belle, only not in that gross, two-faced way that so many of us know about these days, but just an honest to goodness do-gooder. When she is not quilting with her sisters or making her famous corn pudding, you could find her tending to her handsome husband, who she married at age 78, after both of their spouses had passed away. And if you don't think that is cute, well then, let me give you a picture of her surrounded by her lovely daughters who would do anything for their cherished mother!



So anyway, back to the closet. After hours of coaxing and trying on, we eliminated more that half of the clothes in her closet and sent them to the Salvation Army, so they could find a new home for people who need them.

Grandmommy has been experiencing back troubles lately, so would probably have not been able to do this on her own. So her interior-designer-daughter, Melanie (another "WE" - see below) and I pulled everything out that did not belong, inventoried the belongings for tax purposes, and hauled it to Salvation Army. It was a days worth of work, but now our Grandmommmy is the proud owner of a perfectly organized closet with room to grow (her wardrobe, that is).

In other news, it was one of many closets in this sweet couple's North Carolina home. So stay tuned!

As you're reading this blog, you may ask yourself, who is "we." Well, it's me of course. And everyone else. Most importantly, Skip McFuzzbody, my faithful sidekick. He helps me with important decisions when no one else is around. He's got a good eye.



So, as I was saying, it's me + Skippy McFuzzbutt + everyone else. That means you. Everything I do for your space is a reflection of you. Remember that.

This is me! Not very glamorous, eh? This was a backpacking trip with my little family in the Pisgah National Forest of North Carolina.

Ignore my disgruntled face in the foreground, and turn your attention to what's happening behind me. What!?! Beauty in its highest form. Like fine art, only better. Finest art.

How would you like to incorporate this color theme into your design? It seems only natural.

After several years of people telling me (I'm paraphrasing here), "Hey, you're really good at making a house look good," or, "Wow! This looks great! Did you ever think of going into interior design?" I decided to take the plunge. I look at it like dropping back into a deep sofa. It's a comfortable fall, and I may not want to get up.

Only, I don't want you to think of me as a designer. Too many harsh vowels. Think of me more as a friend who helps you move furniture. Perhaps the term "déménagement de mobilier ami" would be slightly more fancy-er. Whatever it is you would like to call me, we'll work together to make the most out of your space. Indoor, outdoor, home, office or all of the above. Que vous préférez.