It was a 150-year-old farmhouse and we were lucky to get it. The house had been well cared for, but nonetheless was showing its age. It had been more than a quarter of a century since it had been remodelled. The thing that struck us most about the two-story stone and frame structure was that it was so much different than the modern homes in a subdivision that had sprung up nearby. This house had tremendous character.
I am not a decorator and will be the first to admit it. Personally, I didnt see what was wrong with putting an orange bean bag chair in the living room. I guess it was something about traditional styling and an emphasis on forest green. My wife is only marginally better at home decorating than me, but she emphatically threw out the bean bag.
Fortunately, we have a family friend who is a near genius with decorating ideas. She can pluck items out of the trash and put them together in such a way that Better Homes And Gardens would include them in a pictorial feature layout. Home dcor is a hobby for her and she jumped at the chance to take on the challenge of our new old house. I asked her about the bean bag and got only a chilly stare in...