A House Full of Happy - an excerpt from
"This place known as home" by Holly Kuhn
"I have a friend who has a magnificent home. This home is not magnificent because of its considerable size or the exceptional furnishings, but because of the love and life that fills every corner. Cozy, colorful clutter tells the story of the positive spirit, endless energy and optimism of the woman who lives here.
The family room is one of my favorite rooms in the house, filled to overflowing with bright colorful picture frames and throw pillows. In the center of the room there is a large round table just the right height for three young children. Dancing around the table is a family of mismatched children’s chairs waiting for the next art project or afternoon snack.
The window treatments in here are simple hooks from the hardware store. They hold charming hats made by young hands, from newspaper, paint, buttons, feathers and string.
A preschool Mother’s Day tradition, these hats hold a special place in the heart and home of this mother. The living room of this home always reminds me of the ballroom in “The Sound of Music”. While the couch and chairs grouped around the fireplace are impressive with their rich fabrics and design details, it’s the weaving loom sitting in the opposite corner that fills this space with personality and warmth.
Her collection of wool brightens every corner of the room. Colorful lengths of yarn hang from an old pine chair rail on the wall. Balls of wool, each with its own story, fill several large dough bowls. Like the loom, this room weaves a story about the woman that lives here. It’s a story that makes you want to linger and learn more.
Every room of this house is filled with these little surprises that reflect this homeowner’s unique spirit. Her father’s letter jacket hangs from a vintage wooden hanger in the study.
Her mother’s engagement dress is displayed on a wire dress form in the master bedroom, next to her father’s writing desk.
On the hearth in the kitchen sits a huge copper pot filled with headbands and hair ties for the three little girls that live here, ready for grabbing as they run out the door.
Take a walk thru this beautiful home and you will know right away what makes this house a home. It is the expression of a love of life that creates spirit and charm. Fill your home with your personal collections, let your home tell your story, surround yourself with things that make you smile, and watch your home come alive."
