What I Did On My Summer Vacation

Sitting on the beach on a wooden deck chair from the 1930s, finishing another book on WWII as the waves come crashing in,...the salt water soothing my sunburned legs. Does it get any better than this?

Summer vacations, or any vacation for that matter, can provide times of solitude and reflection, times with family enjoying a hot dog roast, and times (more than likely on a rainy day) to find treasures to display in your home to remember a time and a place where alarm clocks retire and diets go into hibernation.

As a decorator, I've been known to use everything from a bottle of seashells to a staged family portrait with everyone wearing white in my clients' houses. I encourage you all to visit art galleries as well as the omnipresent souvenir shoppes when you are on vacation. I've framed many an oil or watercolour that I've found just sitting around in someone's closet. Many times, "vacation art" is delegated to powder rooms and guest bedrooms, but the savvy traveler might have a beautiful painting from a yet-to-be-discovered artist for me to hang perfectly above the fireplace in the family room.

Collections work well in your bookcases. Thimbles. Baseballs. Small statues. Buy a nice hardcover book of photographs from your vacation spot to glace at on that dismal rainy day in the winter.

Arrange photos of annual trips in similar or same frames and display them in a group. Get the picture?

A vacation can provide your home with many opportunities to remember those far and distant places.

What will I have in my home to remember the Summer of 2010? My new Johnny Cash cd, "Six." Driving to the island in my Mini convertible with my 88 year-old father enjoying the tunes as we zip through Georgia, one of us say, "There's not a better voice in the world," as the other smiles in recognition.

It doesn't get any better than that.

SECOND HOMES SHOULDN’T BE SECONDARY

I LOVE helping my clients enhance and beautify the homes they’ve worked so hard to obtain. Over the past sixteen years, I've created designs for second homes ranging from a cabin in the woods to an estate on Kiawah Island. Nantucket. Destin. Snow Mass. Hilton Head. And every one of them has been magnificent, each in its own way.

It always surprises me when people treat their second homes as if they don’t matter. The second home is where they put things that are too worn or out of style for their regular homes – and this makes no sense to me! Whether it's a one-bedroom studio or a mansion on the lake, second homes should be valued for the comfort and relaxation they provide.

A good designer can recycle those "oldies-but-goodies" and put them in "just the right place". However, if quality time isn't spent discussing function and comfort, that wonderful second home can become a not-so-wonderful secondary afterthought. Do you entertain for six or eight for dinner? Then your 48" round table won't cut the mustard. Do you have a counter at your island to sit at and eat your cereal? Those old barstools are probably too high.

Regardless of whether you decide to recycle old items or buy new, do treat yourself to a good mattress and box springs. Losing sleep at your vacation home is an oxymoron at best. Your sofa needs to be comfortable for those Sunday afternoon naps, too - no springs popping up through the cushions!

A second home need not be secondary. With careful thought, working within a plan and specified budget, your second home will provide many years of good times and fond memories.

I don’t have a second home (I hope to one day). But a little vicarious living can be fun. So, if you don’t have a second home (yet), I’d love to hear what your dream home would be. If you do, tell us what you love most about it!