Category Archives: The Home Beete Questionnaire
Up close looks at inviting, inspiring, simply gorgeous interiors.
Danna’s House
THB! Where do you live?
Danna: Kalamazoo Michigan, midway between Detroit and Chicago—hills & trees, culture, university & colleges, friends, & extreme seasons. my adopted home where I landed after much wandering.
THB! In five words or less, your home is…
DANNA: Sanctuary, beauty & great messes, archive, dreams
THB! What do you do at home?
DANNA: Write, read, sleep, cook, clean, stretch, watch TV, listen to a wide variety of music, play with cats, yell at cats, talk long distance to my sister, stare, light fires, entertain friends on occasion, knit, rearrange furniture, grade papers & prep classes, rearrange books, shower, dress, undress…
THB: What’s your favorite room (and why)?
DANNA: My study—where the life of the mind & heart can explore, discover, compose, ponder…
THB! What’s your favorite piece of art or memento or plain old thing in your home?
DANNA: I have several pieces of original art that I cherish and love to live among, but I think my fav thing hanging on the wall is the handmade embroidered Serenity Prayer that my sister made me years & years ago. We grew up with one on the wall of our home that our mom made. It is a prayer that has guided me over the years in so many ways, and connects me with my roots/genes.
THB! What could you never throw out…though maybe you should?
DANNA: Nothing in particular comes to mind, but I suspect it would be something from my long marriage.
THB: What’s the best piece of decorating advice you ever got?
DANNA: A place for everything and everything in its place. Nice theory I do not practice.
THB: What’s on your home wish list?
DANNA: Downsizing, which will help me get to the essential, and let go of the rest. mid-life, empty nest stage.
THB: Got color?
DANNA: Yes, more lately, as accent or splash across the neutrals. This climate demands it in winter for sanity’s sake. I’ve painted the kitchen green, the bathroom will be mango & pink soon. My sun yellow bedroom is my 2nd fav room. Also chose bold colored dishes from Pier One a short while ago.
THB! Any last words?
DANNA: What I will take with me from this 1350 sq ft home (where I raised my son, and grew into a confident teaching-artist) to a 3 bdrm apartment next year (one mile from here) will be instructive & spiritually important.
The Home Beete! Questionnaire with Sierra Bailey of Manic Trout
I first discovered Manic Trout, the jewelry line by Sierra Bailey, in the 2008 Christmas edition of Real Simple. (Read my Oligoville.com interview with Sierra about her jewelry work here.) I’m not quite sure how, but I managed to resist buying myself a pair of her Sweetest Things earrings in every color in favor of actually getting something from Manic Trout for my sister. Not only do I love Sierra’s jewelry, but I also love her boldly impressionistic paintings. (And c’mon, how can I not adore someone who—as the photo above attests—is as magazine-crazy as I am?)
I couldn’t quite believe it when Sierra said yes to letting me feature her home on The Home Beete! (She’s about to move—thanks to a yucky flood—and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we’ll get a peek into her new digs as well.) I am, of course, loving that her home is filled with books and art and then more books and art. I’m also heartily hearting the pintucked linens on her bed. Thanks for sharing with us Sierra!
THB: Where do you live?
Sierra: Smack in the middle of the village in Millbrook, New York.
THB: In five words or less, your home is . . .
Sierra: Where I love to be.
THB: What do you do at home?
Sierra: The Manic Trout studio is in my apartment and I tend to work excessively, so I’m in there great deal of the time I’m home. I do, however, manage to find some time to sleep, hang out with friends, exercise and read.
THB: What’s your favorite room (and why)?
Sierra: My library/painting studio, this past summer I put half of my living room in the Manic Trout studio, so I can literally live where I work and then made a second studio space in what was the living room which is crammed with books, a comfy couch and where I have my painting studio. I love having a more “personal space” to create in and retreat to during the rare times when I need to shut the door on work.
THB: What’s your favorite piece of art or memento or plain old thing in your home?
Sierra: I have recently noticed that every piece of furniture and thing in my home has a story that each piece has been brought in because I love it. I do however have a horseshoe from my first pony that has been by the front door of every dorm room, apt and house that I have lived in since I was a little girl.
THB: What could you never throw out . . . though maybe you should?
Sierra: I am pretty good about throwing things out, the only way you can continue collecting things is if you get rid of the stuff you no longer want every so often. I would however have to say that the obvious answer is my wedding dress from a marriage I am no longer in. It’s preserved in a pretty big box and lives under the bed, and I know its weird that I still have it. There is no sentimental value, but I wore Vera Wang and convinced them to do a few custom details to the dress, how could I get rid of a custom Vera Wang gown!?!
THB: What’s the best piece of decorating advice you ever got?
Sierra: As long as you love it, you can make it work in your home.
THB: What’s on your home wish list?
Sierra: I love furniture, but have absolutely no room for anymore where I live now…but if I could fit one more piece it would be an antique black pedestal table. There was one years ago that I fell in love with and didn’t buy for some reason and I have regretted it ever since.
THB: Got color?
Sierra: Yes! There is color bursting from every corner!
THB: Any last words?
Sierra: It’s amazing what a different rearranging can make in your life; when life throws you lemons, move the furniture around!
The Home Beete Questionnaire: LA Moffa
I met Christiana Moffa more than a decade ago when we both lived in Chicago. On her first day of work at JP Morgan, she sang me happy birthday. And believe me, this gal can sing! (You can take a listen here.) I always loved visiting Christiana’s Chi-town apartments. I admired the way she ably mixed high and low, dramatic and classic—in both her dress and her decor. Moffa’s since gone Hollywood, but lucky for us, she’s still just as sassily stylicious as always.
THB: Where do you live?
Moffa: Los Angeles (in Century City, just between Santa Monica and Beverly Hills)
THB: In five words or less, your home is . . .
Moffa: My sanctuary of Moff.
THB: What do you do at home?
Moff: A lot of things, but mainly read, exercise, and enjoy my lovely kitties.
THB: Your favorite room?
Moff: I love my living area because it has art, furniture and accessories from every type of era. It’s eclectic. When I sit on my sofa and read or watch TV, I love how I feel. I feel “home.”
THB: What’s your favorite piece of art or memento or plain old thing in your home?
Moffa: I have soooo many; that’s what makes up my style, I think. But I did get a lovely vintage Parisian ad. It’s a sketch of a male foot and a female foot, flirting and playing “footsy” under the table. The caption says “Le Bas Scandale,” which means “the Scandal Below.” Very Standard Era.
THB: What could you never throw out . . . though maybe you should?
Moffa: Despite my shabby chic apartment, I’m actually quite good at getting rid of old, antiquated items or those that could go to someone in need. The only things I tend to keep forever are underwear and socks. Hmmmm… I just admitted that on a blog. Oh wait! I have something – my old hat rack, which is broken on one side. A new one is certainly in store.
THB: What’s the best piece of decorating advice you ever got?
Moffa: “It’s okay to mix woods.” People seem to have this idea that furniture has to match. I don’t think ANY of mine matches!
THB: What’s on your home wish list?
Moffa: At some point, a nice, long, chic chaise lounge in my bedroom. However, I need a bigger space for that! I would also very much like a washer and dryer, but that’s not as glamorous. Plus, I rent.
THB: Got color?
Moffa: All KINDS of color! Themes tend to be burgundies and terra cotta tones, as well as champagne and sage. Then I’ll throw in gold or blue, just for kicks.
THB: Any last words?
Moffa: La vita è bella! Live in a beautiful space that you love, and that brings you peace.
The Home Beete! Questionnaire
I first encountered Jennifer Grey over on Design*Sponge, or rather I should say I encountered a few swoon-worthy photos of her gorgeous Southern California home. When Jennifer was sweet enough to chime in on The Home Beete! to thank me for my gushing response to her D*S spread, I took the opportunity to invite her to be the first ever person to answer The Home Beete! questionnaire that’s not me.
Once you’re done with your own oohing, aahing, and general gushing, check out The Old Painted Cottage, Jennifer’s equally swoonworthy online site. With categories like She Makes Things, Curious Finds, and French Country, I have a feeling you’ll be making a (very long) wish list just like moi! (And keep an eye out for more from The Old Painted Cottage when I get around to launching my weekly Shop This! column.)
THB: In five words or less, your home is . . .
Jennifer: My Sanctuary, Love, and Life.
THB: What do you do at home?
Jennifer: I run my own online business out of my home, so when I’m not taking care of orders, I’m doing projects, moving things around, or contemplating moving things around.
THB: What’s your favorite room (and why)?
Jennifer: That would have to be my dining room. The custom built shelves we had made to showcase my ironstone collection take my breath away every single day.
THB: What’s your favorite piece of art or memento or plain old thing in your home?
Jennifer: Can a floral loveseat be considered a piece of art? I think it’s the most special thing I have. Purchased at an antique store several years ago, I’ve convinced my husband that when we’re old and gray, we’re making room for this tufted baby in our retirement home.
THB: What could you never throw out . . . though maybe you should?
Jennifer: I’m not sure this is something I would ever “throw out,” but I have a lot of my grandparents’ things. My grandmother adored Victorian style, but her things just don’t go with my current look. I’m not one to put things away out of sight, so I have found a home for her things in nooks and on shelves to keep them in my heart.
THB: What’s the best piece of decorating advice you’ve ever received?
Jennifer: Two pieces of advice actually. The first came from my mother when she said “Paint covers all sins,” which rang especially true with this house. And the next came from my mother-in-law when she said, “No matter how much you do, you’re never done decorating.” How true, how true.
THB: What’s on your home wish list?
Jennifer: I can’t wait to remodel our master bathroom, which needs a major overhaul, and I’ve been dreaming of a white picket fence since we bought this house one year ago. Or since the day I was born really.
THB: Got color?
Jennifer: Yep, two of my favorites: A great taupe – Ralph Lauren’s Canvas Natural (seen on my walls in my dining room, kitchen, and living room). And a fabulous creamy white – Behr’s Seaside Sand (seen on all my white furniture, doors, trim, fireplace wall, and ceilings).
THB: Any last words?
Jennifer: Are we there yet?
(See more pix of Jennifer’s digs and get the inside scoop on some of her treasures and marvel–when you see the second image–that we have the same, exact vintage clock on her blog.)
Paulette Beete, Writer 