100th post: stacey

This will most certainly be one of the greatest posts I ever do. I have been thinking for a while about something special to do for my 100th post. I was thinking how appropriate it would be to do a really amazing inspired home. There are several beautiful homes in Omaha that I have on my dream list. However, I am good at procrastinating when I have a feeling about a negative answer. I don’t take it personally because I realize that many people are just not into the whole blog thing, and cringe at the idea of having their homes shared with others… no matter how beautiful they may be. So, I'm happy to report, my dream came true! This weekend, I photographed one of the homes on my dream list…. and from someone who I figured would not be interested, was in fact not interested, and was coerced by one of her dearest friends, my sister-in-law! Sweet Jesus. You have no idea how lucky we are. Prepare yourselves for an unforgettable journey through a magical home filled with magnificent collections. Collections I could do dozens of individual posts on... 

The second you walk in Stacey's home, you are greeted by the most beautiful wallpaper on the planet. A little number by Gracie which I only learned about months ago from Mrs. Blandings, when she was fantasizing about having this wallpaper in her dining room! This is the real thing people. The front door was made to feature the iron piece in the center. Look at the surround! Reminds me of Mary Douglas Drysdale... she loves using architectural elements like those columns! 

Exquisite.

This collection of canes is fantastic... with dogs and special surprises on every one. Stacey's mother was also an avid collector, and an inspiration to everyone who knew her. Her enthusiasm for antiques was passed on to her children and grandchildren. She instilled the idea very early on that everyone should have a collection. For her granddaughter, dolls, boxes, and tea sets. For her grandson, trains, planes, and cars. A smart woman making sure all were on a mission during their shopping excursions... As a result, this home is overflowing with unique and impressive collections.

Take a look at this blue and white. What about the piece the collection is displayed in? Can you see where this is going? Trust me, you have no idea.

The living room is to the left of the entry. Just a few spectacular items on display... Adore the yellow biscuit barrel. See the Kaneko dango in the back by the armoire? 

Breathtaking...

Ahhh.... Here's the Kaneko. So amazing.

The portrait is of Stacey's cousin-in-law who lived in an apartment epitomizing Sunset Blvd... Pure glamour. What a beauty.

Is this color not fabulous? 

Love this painting by an artist from the Bemis, William Dick.

The late 18th c. Italian delft tile around the fireplace was featured in a Pierre Deux book and is quite special... as is the painting over the fireplace. The fabric on those wing chairs makes me melt... MELT.

To. Die. For.

This gorgeous rug was purchased at the Lauritzen Gardens Antique Show

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This living room is absolutely one of the prettiest I've ever been in. 

Stacey has been collecting games and game pieces for as long as I've known her. (25 years) This dog was made for her with old cards by a friend... too appropriate for a collector of games and lover of dogs! 

Brace yourself for this impressive collection of games and game related pieces...

Stacey was making me dizzy picking up different pieces and opening them up to reveal delicate and intricate details of ivory and such.

From the living room, we move to the family room...

The screen is brilliant.

Holy... I seriously want to use a curse word here... It is requiring a substantial amount of control to refrain from doing so... It seems the only way to properly convey my excitement.... can you feel me? 

The collections are astounding... as are the containers in which they are housed. 

I freaked over these boxes... especially the tartan.

Laurie and Charles are a local dynamic duo famous for their incredible photography and artistic talents. Charles helped Stacey design and implement this totally cool "corner" with original and attention-grabbing photography by Charles with hidden messages. (PS I am featuring Laurie as an inspired artist very soon, and hope to do Charles as well!)

I think Stacey may have been the one to turn me on to French pottery years ago. I remember going to her mom's house wide-eyed and in awe, trying to take it all in. I knew I had to have one of those pots. I actually copied the brick floors in my home from her home as well.

 In the dining room, the excitement continues... 

These majolica containers were found at the Lauritzen Gardens Antique Show...

Look at that snail crawling up the side!

The striking screen, the blue and white jars, the dazzling mirror... Wow. 

And the silver collection is so fabulous! SO!

A Dick Jemison painting in the dining room is a real show-stopper, quite powerful in this space. 

Stacey just wallpapered the dining room a rich, bronze color... to compliment the artwork and the screen above... very cool.

Another lovely purchase from Lauritzen Gardens Antique and Garden Show!

This is a corner in the kitchen. Are you picking up on the fact that this woman isn't happy with ordinary...

This is Harry. Not sure if it's spelled Harry or Hairy... He has a combover FYI.

Take a look at this little ensemble on the kitchen island. I am in awe of how Stacey can put things together and they become beautiful. Like, cover-of-a-magazine beautiful.

Throughout the home, including the kitchen, whimsical surprises are revealed.

This part of the house is a wonderful example of how to use a combination of artistic talent and beautiful collections, and how to use every part of the house to display things of beauty. 

This area is by the back door to the kitchen... and just outside the back bathroom. An area, I feel confident assuming, looks a lot different in most homes. Probably not a majolica collection, an antique brass candlestick collection, or exquisite wallpaper in your average back hall. Just an assumption...

Again, the curse words...

Look at the needlepoint frog! A group gift a few years back from friends including yours truly... Stacey has done some amazing needlepoint work... including the rug in her powder room! (coming up)

Sand majolica. I've never seen it before. I've never heard of it before. I love it.

Again, I refer to the typical back bathroom... Probably, I'm assuming, in the average back bathroom, there wouldn't be hand-painted walls... 

These walls were hand-painted by a local artist, Andy Moore, who also did most of the painting in my house. Just look at these charming scenes...

This is the fabric on the ceiling... Totally obsessed.

This would be the door to the back bathroom... Definitely not what I would classify as a "regular" back bathroom, and proves beyond a doubt that Stacey is not into ordinary.

This painting is by a local artist and friend of Stacey's, Julie Phillips. Stacey made the domino chair out of, well, dominoes. This hall leads to a little storage room. (I'm giggling right now. Please tell me you aren't expecting a regular storage room.)

On the other side of the hallway sits this antique freezer Stacey picked up in Kansas City... for additional storage. She added the wheels and the handle on the end for easy transporting. Stacey is totally into repurposing... another post.

This is one of a pair of doors going to the "storage" room... 

The storage room is filled with beautiful cabinetry for storage of glassware, dinnerware, crystal and silver.

Harry's such a good boy... with his combover...

This cabinet houses the silver.

Not to worry... there are drawers aplenty for special individual pieces and collections. Stacey inherited tons of exquisite silver pieces from her English mother-in-law, among many other elegant and lovely things.

Sigh...

This brings us back to the entry where the powder bath is located opposite the living room.

This is the rug Stacey needlepointed... the needlepoint canvas was painted by Mario Buatta. It's remarkable... such patience required for this kind of an accomplishment.

This painting is a Jules Breton masterpiece. This 19th-century French Realist painter was heavily influenced by the French countryside and was famous for portraying the beauty of rural existence.

And this is Clyde, the new puppy. He is adorable as you can see.

Here's Harry's hairdo. It looks like he's wearing a wig, doesn't it?

There's more my friends, quite a bit more. I have now shared with you the first floor of this inspired home. I feel it would be a mistake to include all the images in one post. It's too much to take in and appreciate in one sitting. Hence, Part 2 of this inspired home will include the upstairs and the basement... Let's call this an intermission if you will... Who knew I would get my 100th and my 101st post out of the deal? Shoot, I have the material to produce posts for weeks... I am so grateful to Stacey for this opportunity!

Oh, and I haven't even mentioned the garden... That's another post entirely.