Mary Carol Garrity - Nell Hills Feather Your Nest: Its All in the Details

Developed by Jean Lowe,
River House Media, Inc., Leawood, Kansas

STYLISTS

Kerri Wagner, Cheryl Owens, Angela Stuebs, and Judy Green

NELL HILLS

F eather YOUR N est

Copyright 2007 by Nell Hills, Inc.
Photography copyright 2007 by Bryan E. McCay
Photography on pages 18, 20, (upper right) 27 (far left), 34, 38, 50, 58,
59, 70, 71, 92, 94, 95, 100, 119 (upper right) 120 (upper left), 121, 122
(lower left), 124 (middle and lower left) copyright 2007 by
Bob Greenspan.

All rights reserved. Printed in China. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of reprints in the context of reviews. For information write Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC, an Andrews McMeel Universal company, 1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

E-ISBN: 978-0-7407-8635-8

Library of Congress Control Number 2007924703
www.andrewsmcmeel.com

Book design by Diane Marsh
Cover and author photography by Bob Greenspan
Cover design by Julie Barnes
Background pattern by Erin Hill

ATTENTION: SCHOOLS AND BUSINESSES
Andrews McMeel books are available at quantity discounts with bulk purchase for educational, business, or sales promotional use. For information write Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC, 1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

T O MY GIRLFRIENDS WHO CONTINUE TO amaze ME . T HANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT .

THE OLDER I GET, the more I am amazed by the natural world. Now, let me make it clear that I am not a rugged outdoorswomanan evening on my screened porch is about as close to nature as I get. And I didnt really become an animal lover until my husband, Dan, our daughter, Kelly, and their menagerie of pets entered my life, including Momma Kitty, the cat that decided to give birth under my bed.

But now I love the beauty and spectacle of nature. In particular, I enjoy spying on the birds that live in the canopy above my courtyard as they hunt for worms or splash in puddles. Its fun to watch them build their nests, scouting for just the right twig or tuft of grass to craft homes that are true pieces of art. In many ways, I use the same approach as I feather my own nest, a 130-year-old Greek revival fixer-upper.

Like birds, we who love interior decorating style our homes thoughtfully and carefully, detail by detail, twig by twig. We are passionate about nest-building because our homes play such a vital role in our lives.

For me, home is a sanctuary. Like most of us, I pack my days full, zooming from one thing to another. But to maintain my hurly-burly pace, Ive just got to have the haven of home, the place I go to rest and reflect. The things I adore, like snapshots and family treasures, nurture me. I also tell others a world about myself through the carefully selected details that fill my home. Just take a spin around, and youll discover who I am and what I adore.

Whether you relocate every three years or are the third generation to live in your ancestral home, youve simply got to create a dwelling that celebrates your personality, accommodates your lifestyle, and inspires you daily. Through the pages of Feather Your Nest: Its All in the Details, I cant wait to help you develop a decorating plan that reflects your style and brings it to life, room by room.

For the past twenty-five years, Ive loved every minute Ive spent talking with customers at my three home-interior stores about our shared passion for nest building. But Im always surprised to hear shoppers confide that they feel anxious or frustrated when making decorating decisions. Some worry about breaking stodgy style commandments. Others fear making costly decorating decisions theyll later regret. They doubt their own taste, so defer far too often to the opinions of others. And far too many think of decorating as a race to the finish line, not a delightful journey to savor and enjoy.

Thats why I knew I had to write Feather Your Nest. I wanted to help homeowners develop self-confidence and avoid pitfalls as they created a decorating blueprint to feather a nest theyll love for years to come.

Since none of us have identical homes, tastes, or lifestyles, each one of us must design a decorating plan that fits our unique needs, reflects the style of our home, and accentuates our individuality. In the next few pages, Ill show you how.

As we walk through my house, Ill tell you how I developed the Nell Hills style and brought it to life, detail by detail. Then, Ill take you through the homes of a few friends Ive had the joy to work with on their interior design. Youll see how each has tailored the Nell Hills look to match her home, personality, and life.

Lisa is a busy mom who transformed her colonial into a dream home perfect for her growing family. Jean spent years envisioning what her ranch-style house could be. Then, when her last chick was about to leave the nest, she brought in the contractors and got to work. After carefully appointing her stately Tudor in the city, Cynthia is having a blast remaking her weekend retreat, a charming cottage in my neighborhood.

Over the years, my friends and customers have taught me so much as they describe the unique ways they make their homes irresistible. And Ive had the privilege of sharing my style with thousands of visitors who tour my home through the pages of my books, magazine articles, and Nell Hills seasonal open houses. I love to hear how my guests personalize the Nell Hills look in homes of all shapes, sizes, and styles. Now, as you walk through my home and those of my friends, I just know youll gain loads of practical tips you can use when feathering your own nest!