Dena Fishbein - The Painted Home by Dena: Patterns, Textures, and Colors for Inspired Living

INTRODUCTION
SURROUND YOURSELF WITH
THE THINGS YOU LOVE

WELCOME TO SEVEN OAKS RANCH
ENTRY WAY AND FAMILY ROOM

EVERYDAY SPACES
KITCHEN AND SUNROOM

PLACES TO GATHER
DINING ROOM, LIVING ROOM, AND DEN

COZY NOOKS
LITTLE BEDROOM AND LITTLE SEWING ROOM

PRIVATE HAVENS
SITTING ROOM AND MASTER BEDROOM SUITE

A ROOM OF ONES OWN
HALLWAY AND UPSTAIRS BEDROOMS

INSPIRING SPACES
STUDIO AND GARDEN

Surround Yourself with the Things You Love

hat makes a house a home? It is truly the memories of our life that make that distinction.

Our house, which weve lived in for almost eighteen years, is far more than just a house. It provides shelter, but it also feeds our senses and nurtures our spirits. Just before we moved in, I was given the book Living a Beautiful Life by Alexandra Stoddard. One of the main messages of her book is to live even the most ordinary of days as a celebration. I took that sentiment to heart and translated it to my home as I designed and redesigned each room. Even the most mundane of spaces should be as exuberant and as filled with life and love as you can manage. Now, when we walk through our rooms, we feel goodeach one, in its own way, reflects who we are and what we care about in life.

I hope that with this book youll be motivated by that very principle and use the many photos, designs, and projects Ive included as inspiration in making your own home.

A home has a heart. Its a place where you want to be, a place that you want to share, and a place in which memories are made. Its the setting for gatherings of all shapes and sizes, from family dinners to holiday celebrations, from a childs birthday party to tea with a friend. As you make your house your home, its important to consider the function of each space, whether its communal or private, and the feeling it gives: The kitchen should be practical yet warm and welcoming; dining areas should be equally suited to eating and conversation; family and living rooms should be comfortable and delightful; bedrooms should be havens for relaxing and dreaming; guest rooms should have all the amenities possible to ensure their inhabitants feel cared for and at ease.

As an extension of who you are, your home should reflect your personality and what you and your family care about most in life. Buying basic furniture and accessories is the way many of us get started, but individualizing generic purchases with personal touches is what gives your home its unique character and warmth. There are countless simple and inexpensive ways to transform what may be plain or everyday into something special. With a trip to the flea market, a little paint, a needle and thread, a glue gun, a yard of beautiful fabric theres no limit to what you can do.

Creating a home is a journey. As you go, think about what you need from a practical standpoint but also what will bring pleasure to you, your family, and your guests. Pay attention to the details. Think about color and pattern, about the things that you want to look at and enjoy on a daily basis. Maybe its fresh-cut flowers, a bowl filled with beautiful shells or fresh Meyer lemons. Stay open to anything that piques your imagination. A swatch of vintage fabric may inspire a fabric-covered wall, a lovely pillow, or a hand-painted lampshade. As with any great journey, half the fun is in the unexpected.

This book is about creating a home that brings you joy and happiness. It offers up inexpensive ideas for embellishing everyday rooms and objects, for cultivating an environment thats both beautiful and comfortable, and for drawing inspiration from places you may not have thought to look. In the pages to come, I share photographs of our home, anecdotes and style notes, along with many ideas for simple, inexpensive projects you can do yourself. Theres even a stencil so you can get started right away.

I hope youll use this book as a jumping off point. Start small, and take the time you need to plan your journey. Work one step at a time, and dont be afraid to make mistakes. When it comes to purchases and projects, follow your heart and trust your instincts. Dont forget to involve your family in decisions that will affect them and most importantly, surround yourself with the things you love, and your home will be a place that youand those you lovewant to be.

Our living room is one of our most formal spaces, yet its as inviting and comfortable as any room in our home.

An eclectic combination of flea market finds and handmade touches gives our sunroom its personality.

Fresh-cut flowers bring the lovely color and feel of the garden into the house.

I love pillows. They provide comfort and a splash of color.

ve always believed its not what you say that matters as much as how you say it and the way you make people feel when youre talking to them. The same can be said of your home: When someone visits, you want them to feel good, welcome, and at ease. If your house is relaxed, theyll be relaxed. If youre content and happy in your space, others will be, too.

The entryway sets the tone. Ours is a sunny yellow. I knew that I wanted the walls to be a warm, inviting color, but it took me some time to figure out the rest. When I decorate, I often work a step at a time. In this room, I painted the background color first and lived with it for a while. A month or so later, I decided to add the vines, leaves, and flowers. I love painting vine patterns because they are free-form; they do take some practice, but its lovely to sketch the design and not need to make sure everything is perfect and evenly spaced.