My Sister's House

Yesterday I posted a few pics of my sister's chocolate brown guest room. They just listed their home for sale as they are now "downsizing" due to all the kiddies FINALLY moving out. They have a wonderful lake house and are thinking about eventually moving there. You can view a few more pictures of her house here.

She sold most of her dining room furniture as she does not know whether or not she will need it in another house and certainly not at the lake. It was very formal furniture and the lake is already packed full and furnished very casually but comfortably. The house is huge and they have been busy cleaning, sorting, throwing out, selling, and just generally getting rid of years of accumulated "stuff." I need to do that myself! Her daughter is very organized and when she comes to visit, they have just gone through one room at a time. She says she hasn't missed a thing!

They have always had big homes and this one was custom built. I remember when they were building this house, I went with her to pick out several things and while our tastes were and are different, she went along with some of my ideas. I have made some suggestions over the years on her choices in decorating the house and she has incorporated them. Her red rooms (dining and formal living room) I like to think were inspired by me! She did have a professional decorator come in at the beginning and of course, some of her ideas were used. She says she does not mind giving up her big house because it's a lot of work maintaining it - not to mention the grounds. Her husband loves to work in the yard and he has done a wonderful job landscaping it. I think we reach a "certain age" and see that we don't "need" all the things we once thought were necessary to living.

Our family has enjoyed many years of holidays visiting in her gorgeous home and we will all miss it but like I told her.....the next house will be a new opportunity to shop for and decorate and that's something I ALWAYS like to do!