This month we're visiting Lori's home in Woodland Hills, CA.

Remember, you can click to enlarge any photo!

 

Living the cottage life in Woodland Hills, California, Lori and her family have resided in their home since July 1979. Creating an elegant, yet comfortable space that reflects the things she loves and that her family can feel at home in was important to Lori. She describes her decorating style as "Vintage Romantic meets Beach Chic, with a French flair." Lori attributes her love of decorating to her mom, who has always decorated with great passion. "As I was growing up with my two sisters, mom was always wallpapering, sewing curtains, and getting dad to paint something just the right shade of pink" says Lori.

While she finds magazines to be a great resource for decorating ideas, Lori often tweaks them to make them her own. "When I see something I love, I find a way to make it unique for me. The vintage frame on the ceiling over my dining chandelier is a perfect example: saw it at a flea market, loved it, then it hit me...the ceiling"! One of Lori's favorite decorating touches is adding lots of sparkle with mirrors and chandeliers. Her friends Marsha and Bruce create beautiful vintage chandeliers, which can be found on eBay, under the user id casualcharm. "Shopping at their house is truly a treasure. Our home is small, so reflective surfaces are important to me" says Lori.

Lori has many collections throughout her house which include: vintage paint by numbers featuring horses, anything that is chippy, vintage mirrors (both beveled and frameless), mercury glass, old concrete statues, wedding cake toppers, seashells, vintage glass bottle stoppers, and anything vintage and aqua. Lori frequents her favorite local flea market, the seaside Ventura Flea Market for unique finds.

Lori's husband Tim is often the one who makes the decorating visions in her head a reality. "I give my husband Tim lots of credit for putting up with the often ever-changing array of treasures that continue to show up around the house" says Lori. He will modify something to make it what I want, and after almost 35 years he still is willing to tackle projects for me. Oh honey, I had an idea..!" You can check out Lori's treasures on eBay, under the user id myshabbytreasures. -JG

 

(Photographs and written feature by Jennifer Grey, owner of The Old Painted Cottage)