Looky-Loo - An Open House Tour

or at least a moving-in tour - not our own house, but a friend's. It was definitely a full weekend, filled with family celebrations on Saturday, as well as a moving party on Sunday...with the emphasis on 'moving,' more than partying, though there was some good barbeque at the end.

Though I think I did as much looking around as I did moving. I can't help it, I am a looky-loo - I LOVE to look at houses. The bright side of that for my friends, is that usually means I will be one of the ones who actually shows up on moving day to help you. The down side is - I'll ask if I can blog about it, hee-hee.

I wish I had thought to start taking photos earlier, while the light was better. She's still getting settled in, while there are still some parts of the renovation that aren't quite finished yet. Maybe I'll get another chance at taking some better photos, later on. I thought about waiting till next weekend when we'll be over there again, but then I happened to find out, from that stylish Rodrigivitz place, about a house tour hosted by Hooked On Houses for this Tuesday - so I thought I'd go ahead and share about the whole moving in process with you.

The house was originally filled with her family's cherished memories and love, so when it came down through the family to my friend Sandy, she didn't want to just sell it to someone else - she wanted to preserve the best of the house, while bringing her own style and cherished belongings into it. To make it both shine again, and really feel like her own home. After a year and a half of renovations, she's finally moving into her dream home. It really does feel like a dream home - one where dreams could come true. Especially while dreaming in this bedroom!

Or in this tub... 

it fills up from a little waterfall ~sigh~

If it were my tub, I think I would spend hours in there, especially once the window treatments are up and the garden view is finished...

Though it could take hours just to get out of the closet, let alone the tub. I must try to get better photos next time - these don't do justice to the vibrancy of the colors inside...

Sandy is an artist, so some of the first things getting moved in were artwork - her own, as well as her collection of other artists work. Even though there was still more stuff to be moved, it was hard for her to resist setting up little vignettes along the way. Of course, as you can see, I was trying really hard to keep things moving - as evidenced by all these photos ...   ;-)

Or not, as the case may be -

I am so easily distracted by the bright and shiny...

One of Sandy's beautiful Arabian horse paintings is temporarily perched there on the wall above the chair...

Pardon the mess while things are still under construction - especially please excuse the broom and dustpan in the corner, somebody left them sitting there while playing around taking photos - ahem...

It was hard at times to keep moving, to not stop to ooh and ahh, over all of the little niches, nooks and  crannies -  places just waiting to be made into sacred spaces, indoors and out,

with Sandy's own special touches - fusing all the different elements together into one beautiful home. Sandy's been calling her casa, Bella Luna -

- a perfect name for it, I think - especially with these little bat tiles scattered about the garden walls...

She hasn't even moved all the way in yet, and already it's shining like a beautiful moon.

If you're interested in seeing more, I'll try to get some more photos once she's settled in...though I'm sure there'll be more box and furniture toting, and sweeping up, in between...that's what friends are for, right?

Speaking of friends - another artsy friend,  Jenny Daniels - whose art has been in several different Somerset publications has finally started a blog - Artistically Designed Diversions. If you get a chance, go check it out and tell her 'Hi!' Welcome to Bloglandia, Jenny!

Now I just have to get Sandy blogging too...

p.s. Please forgive me Bloglines and Google readers for multiple publishings - for some reason, the photos keep getting cropped strangely. Crossing my fingers and pushing 'Publish,'  one more time...

Comments

[Hooked on Houses]

Ooh, this was a fun house to look at! Thanks! I love that she named her house Bella Luna, and that she has those bat tiles around. I always enjoy seeing where artists live.

Thanks for joining the blog party! -Julia :-)

[somepinkflowerss]

oh what fun...
look
at the pinky closet!

:-)

man

doesn't that have
~my name~
written all over it....

[Janet]

I never pass up a chance to peek into someone's house!! I love that bed! Well, actually I think I love everything about this house. My computer screen has drool all over it!

[miss*R]

wow - does she have a housekeeper?
I remember visiting a friend in California a few years ago and her house was amazing too.. huge! thanks for showing us this Tink, I love the little spiral on the bats tummy :)

[Linda @ Lime in the Coconut]

Oh....I'm hanging around this tour for awhile...don't mind me...just sweep around me!

Thanks so much for the peek into her beautiful abode....and that BED!! Are you kidding! I don't think I would be getting out of it much!

Thank you!

[Ms. Tee]

What a beautiful home. Thank you for sharing it with everyone. :)

[Pat]

I am so happy you shared this fabulous home on Julia's tour. I'd love to see more!

[maya]

oh wow! good for sandy! beautiful job.

[Bella]

What a fabulous house, her work is beautiful too!

Thanks for sharing it with us, please stop by my open house if you get the chance to.

Bella :)

[Marie Louise]

What a cool space. Love the garden area. Thanks for sharing!

[Tori]

I love how open the house is. I really like the use of the curtains in the closet

[Debbie]

What a cool place she has to pillow her head, just loved that bed! Oh right, I loved the rest of her lovely home too and what an amazing artist she is. Great Post!

[Darla - UltraBeautyBoutique]

I'm a looky-loo too! LOL!!

[angela]

Love that red shower!

[Pacian]

What a lovely home!

My whole place would fit in that living room. Surely there's room for me and my cat in a closet somewhere?

[Fifi Flowers]

Love to be a looky loo! Thanks for the tour!

[JackieW. transplanted Okie (Buried in Legos)]

Thanks for the tour !

[Lisa "oceandreamer" S.]

I literally sat here looking at the photos with my mouth hanging open. That bathroom is probably the size of my living room, the tub is to die for (and a separate shower? bliss). That bed, the niches, the outdoor space AND that closet. I just swooned and dreamed seeing that kind of space. I am definitely one to love being a looky-loo at beautiful homes. The problem is I come home to our little sugar shack and think "this whole house could have fit in their backyard" ha!
Thanks for the tour and I promise next time not to trip over that broom. I was pretty embarrassed when it startled everyone but I was looking up and around.
XOXOXOXO

[gemma]

Hi Tinker
Isn't it fun to see different ways people make houses into homes?
I love that bed. Great place for a cat sculpture.

[Artbrat (Brandy)]

Wow thats an incredible house. I love every element that you showed. Your friend must be on cloud 9 to be moving in.

Have a great day.

[stephanie]

WOW!!! A dream to be sure...that bed, AND that closet, well I could live in there!

Thanks for sharing and YES! I want to see more!!

[Paris Parfait]

What a fabulous place! That bed is gorgeous! Thanks for the tour. xoxox

[leah]

drooooool. that bed is awesome!!!