by cloudadmin | Feb 28, 2011 | Uncategorized |
I love the snow, but let’s face it, this was one really difficult winter! Driving a car involved nerves of steel and a good defense, and even getting to the mailbox became a full body sport (think climbing over the snowdrift to reach the red flag). But spring is finally within our grasp. The days are getting longer, the sun seems just a little brighter, and thoughts of breaking out of the everyday routine are getting stronger. If you’re lucky enough to have planned a spring vacation, you’re lucky enough! But what if you could make your home more like that vacation spot you’ve been dreaming of?
Some people bring home souvenirs from vacations, and others bring home decorating ideas. Recently we visited with some friends who frequently travel, both for business and for pleasure. Their home is very comfortable and inviting. They’ve learned how to incorporate their furnishings with objects brought home from their many trips to create a personal space that is warm and welcoming. They have a rug from Turkey, sculptures from China, and a really interesting painting done by an elephant! (Really, they have the photo to prove it!) I love relaxing at the beach, so when it was time to decorate our guest bedroom I immediately knew I wanted to use a soft hint of blue for the walls to suggest the feeling of a summer sky and ocean waves. We carried this color through to the adjoining bathroom, and after adding some sea-themed accents, our guest suite feels like a vacation by the sea.
When it’s time for your next vacation, pay special attention to the sights and sounds and aromas around you. Then imagine bringing some of these items back home with you. You may be surprised at how quickly you can develop a decorating plan. And wouldn’t it be nice to have your home feel as stress-free as your vacation spot?
by cloudadmin | Feb 22, 2011 | Uncategorized |
You may have seen the image of our colorful Cloudland Paintworks truck on our website. Hopefully you’ve also seen it in person when we’ve come to your home to assist with your residential painting needs. This winter we’ve been out and about helping many of you to clean the snow and ice off your roofs. But we’ve also been busy behind the scenes, getting ready for our full spring schedule: (more…)
by cloudadmin | Feb 12, 2011 | Uncategorized |
Have you ever stayed in a hotel or bed-and-breakfast that was so charming you wanted to recreate that same feeling in your own home? Before we had children we frequently stayed in charming places in Vermont or the Berkshires, and even though they were all different, there were certain qualities they all shared. (more…)
by cloudadmin | Feb 3, 2011 | Uncategorized |
Choosing colors for your home can be fun, and also challenging. There are so many options! Does the color name ever sway your choice? I know it has for me! The trim color in our living room, for example, is Shaker beige–chosen partly for our love of things that are clean and simple, but also for our interest in the Shaker communities we have visited over the past 10 years. Shaker beige just seemed like the natural choice.
I also love purple. I love all its shades and variations, from light periwinkle right up to a dark, rich plum, and all the shades in between. If there is a purple paint called “Wisteria” (more…)
by cloudadmin | Jan 27, 2011 | Uncategorized |
It’s winter in Connecticut and we’re digging out from another snowstorm. Our cars have literally become one with the snowdrifts. But for all the aggravation and the backaches the snow can bring, it also brings out our inner strength. We are New Englanders after all. The snow may slow us down, but it can’t completely stop us. We dig out. We carry on.
The other night as I was shoveling the driveway, I stopped to take in the beauty that surrounded me. I could see the stars in the sky, the moon was casting a silvery glow on the snow, and the pine trees were frosted with a dusting of white. As the moonbeams caught the icicles on the barn, they too shimmered in the evening light. All around me it was still and quiet and for that moment I felt transformed. It was just me and the moon and the stars in a winter wonderland.
We are New Englanders, and we are as much a part of this landscape as the Colonials, capes, and farmhouses that surround us. We are sturdy, we take care of each other, and we keep going. That’s why we grab our shovel and wade through 18-inches of snow to get to the birdseed. It’s winter in Connecticut.
by cloudadmin | Jan 24, 2011 | Uncategorized |
I was driving home from work one afternoon looking at the beautiful winter wonderland that surrounded me and out of nowhere suddenly thought, “I need to go home and change the artwork in my living room to a winter scene.” The thought surprised me, because I have never in my life changed my artwork for the seasons. Once I choose how I will furnish and decorate a room, it pretty much stays that way. So, where did this thought come from? And why did I just as suddenly decide to move the curtains from my husband’s office to the family room? I have no idea, but it made me wonder if other people change their artwork for the seasons. And, if so, do they change any other accent pieces at the same time? What do you do?
