I just ordered the book. Thanks for the heads up!

I follow her on her blog and have for a couple of years. I found her when I was searching for ways to improve some things in my ugly split level home--her own home (two houses ago) was a split level that might have been even uglier than mine when she bought it, but of course she whipped it into enviable shape, sold it, bought another split level, made it lovely, sold it and moved again all before I got my foyer painted, lol. I like her style a lot, though it is not my style and the projects she does professionally, especially, are too posh for me. Her own homes have seemed more approachable and I am really looking forward to see what she does with her new one. I appreciate her love of light and plants for sure.

The beige rooms were more interesting than one usually sees, and the first bedroom especially appealed to me. If I had to move again almost everything would come along, most importantly my collection of Chinese porcelain and the many paintings and other art on the walls. Also my parents' dining room table, most of the other furniture and most of the rugs. Also of course our books. Any place would almost instantly feel like home. I would have to leave my garden with its collection of many antique roses. Fortunately, most of them can still be acquired.

The star and hanging parlour lamp are fine together. I find the star timeless and both fixtures have similar colours and materials. Shapes are quite different but the "feel" is similar to my eye. Can they be seen at the same time? I can't remember which designer had the advice, whether it's Bunny W or Laurel Bern or Lauren Liess, but the idea with light fixtures is, especially if they can be seen at the same time, to have something visually in common, like the same color or type of finish (for example, milk glass and bronze) or same shape, etc. You've been thinking about this house for so long, Holly, that I have no doubt you can see all the rooms in your mind's eye, and I would trust that view at this point. When I was doubting myself with our house, I would just think, if I saw whatever I was contemplating in Bunny Williams', Ben Pentreath's, Tom Scheerer's, or Michael Bastian's home, would I find it appalling or charming?