French Country Christmas at the Cabin

Hi there,

I wanted to share this wonderful weekend home of the late Charles Faudree with you even though I know it's been seen before.  It's so perfect and cozy for Christmas, it's worth repeating.  And for those of you who haven't seen it before, it's an absolute treat.

This was an old, rundown cabin that became available for sale near Charles' previous cabin.  It wasn't selling as it was in such terrible condition no one was willing to take on the problems involved in updating.  However, once Charles looked at it and realized its potential, he bought it.  Once in his possession, and after a year of renovations under his careful eye, the cabin became the charmer you see below.

His detail is impeccable and his collections one of a kind.  

And now that he is no longer with us, we can only appreciate his wonderful work from the past......

Enjoy and have a wonderful day!

This foyer was once the 4th bedroom of the cabin.  The cabin didn't even have a front door, so Charles added the door and foyer.  Notice the planked and beamed ceilings and rustic flooring accessorized with his beautiful French antiques.

Such simple details, but perfect results.....

This was called the 'big room' with a raised, planked ceiling and a 12' tree covered with hundreds of Victorian glass ornaments.  Charles bumped the back of this room out another 10 feet.  Notice the dutch door.

The 'big room' fireplace with the white distressed Swedish look furniture.

The view from one of the four floor to ceiling windows Charles added in the 'big room'.

How can you go wrong with blue and white stripes and gingham....

The dining end of the kitchen with wallpaper mimicing barn siding.  The ceiling was formerly a fence from Charles' previous home.  Staffordshire chicken lamps on a 19th century pine buffet.

The kitchen accessorized with Charles' blue and white collection and a 19th century tole tray featuring a winter scene.

The master bedroom with the original log walls and ceiling...again with his blue and white fabrics and quilt.....gorgeous!  He originally planned to paint the logs white to have continuity throughout the house (as he usually recommends), but after living with the dark walls one winter, he realized they had to remain dark.....so cozy.

The master bedroom stone fireplace and antler chair.

Small but striking....

And I am adding this guest room of Charles' although I am not exactly sure if it was in this cabin or one of his previous cabins.....wherever it was, it is certainly too special to omit from this post on a Christmas cabin.

TBT - Ainsworth Noah Cabin

Hi Everyone,

I hope you don't tire of my cabin posts.  This should be the last one for awhile, but I wanted to share this beautiful home in - guess where? - Cashiers, North Carolina!!  Remember here and here?  So, Toby West, Ainsworth and Noah were neighbors with the late Charles Faudree who also had a cabin here and who decorated the home I featured in 'Cabin Fever'.  Apparently, this mountain area is a haven for other decorators, too.

It's a small world and a an awful lot of talent in these hills.

So, Hal Ainsworth and Winton Noah, who at the time of this publication, owned the largest space at the Atlanta Decorating and Design Centre, a condo in Atlanta, and an apartment in Paris decided to build this log home as their weekend getaway.

With it's massive 32-foot ceilings in the entrance hall and the living room, they needed large scale furnishings to make the spaces cozy and welcoming.  As an example, the living room sofa is 109" long and 46" deep.  The doorways are 8' tall.

Since they regularly travelled to Europe 6 - 8 times a year for their valued finds and clearly had lots of great pieces to choose from, they then proceeded to fill their home with a collection of antiques, folk art, twig and willow furniture - all complemented by the homey touches of quilts, toiles, plaids and checks.  All just beautiful.

But, the biggest surprise of all was the white shiplapped and beamed guest room with blue and white decor!  At first, I thought there were some pages missing from the magazine and that I was looking at another story, but, no it was all part of the plan......as well as another white walled guest room and games room.

Quite a partnership these two have considering that Ainsworth was quoted as saying in the article that "I can decorate and Hal can't add"!  Obviously, they work as a tandem team and fill in the voids for one another as needed.

Enjoy!

They have three wraparound porches.

The very big sofa I mentioned.

Hal's bedroom with a Niermann Weeks bed and Carleton Varney toile.

Winton Noah's bed is made from local wood.

And this is the surprise - love the shiplap walls and painted beams.  Also, the blue and white is just lovely.

Another guest room with patchwork and plaids.

 Games room.

The back porch.


 Veranda
July - August 2001

The Monteceito Home of Designer Lee Kirch

Last year, I posted (here) a Monteceito cottage owned by designer Lee Kirch - an antique dealer who was (at the time of this article) part owner of an antique shop, Rue de Lillie, in Summerland, California, as well as a shop owner in Vail, Colorado.

As a French country enthusiast, she travels regularly to France to collect antiques.  She completely revamped this house and her passions are evident in every room.

Enjoy!

Lee Kirch Designs

Meredith Specials

Decorating with Red

Red!  The color of passion, fire, power, stimulation, energy and romance!

Unlike most colors in a palette, red evokes emotions.  What other color can you think of that can bring out so many different responses or describe so many situations,  such as a 'red hot' romance celebrated with red roses, a scarlet woman, 'red carpet treatment' just to name a few.

When a woman wears a red dress, she is noticed and remembered, just as a man will wear a red tie to standout and exude a semblance of power.  Red indicates danger and is the color of fire...... is used on fire engines, stop signs and, of course, red lights.

In decorating, just as blue is calming and green is serene, red is stimulating.  Whether to use a lot of red in a room, or just a splash of it here and there, can be determined by the use of the room, as well as the personality and emotional wellbeing of the homeowner. 

This color not only stimulates our appetites, but our emotions, in which case if you feel you need a lift or want stimulation, then by all means, use red.  If you feel your life is already in overdrive and you want to relax when you get home, red would definitely not be your first choice of color.

I'm sure you've heard before that restaurants often use red to stimulate their diners appetites....well, that's true. And I have heard 'never use red in a bedroom or you'll never be able to unwind!' and whatever you do, never use red in a nursery or kid's room if you want a calm and happy child!

Having said all that, take a look at the rooms below and see how many red bedrooms there are.  As stimulating as they may be, they are also warm, cosy and welcoming.  

Some of the world's greatest artists, designers and decorators use red with abandon - just another indication of their passion for life and living!  From rustic to regal, it's a knockout!

Enjoy!

Carolina Herrera's daughter in family living room

Traditional Home

BHG Cottage bunks

Cath Kidston's kitchen, London

Charles Faudree's living room

A Charlotte Moss guest room

A Tom Scheerer bedroom

Framed fabric BHG

Galen Weston's Florida home

Katrin Cargill design

Gingham and toile bedroom Toby West

Red vignette

Katrin Cargill design

Lynn von Kersting dining room

Michael Smith design

Red frames Tumblr

Mary MacDonald living room

Real Simple

Sue Ellen Gregory

Carolyne Roehm vignette

Carolyne Roehm