Tag: Elsie de Wolfe

My Abundant Life 6-17-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant LifeLeave a comment

June 17th, 2026

Affordable Splendor

“There never has been a house so bad that it couldn’t be made over into something worthwhile.”

Elsie De Wolfe (American Actress; December 20th, 1885 to July 12th, 1950)

“Today I would love to convince you that there is no room in your home that cannot be transformed by using fabric, paints, a saw, a hammer, nails, needle and thread, a sewing machine, glue, the amazing staple gun and your own imagination, time and energy.”

“The most important thing about decoration, is the fun of it. The fun of discovering a broken-down nothing and turning it into something…Best is to just charge ahead with confidence, enjoyment and a sharp pair of scissors for cutting corners.”

Dianna Phipps (Interior Designer & Philanthropist; February 22nd, 1936 to July 2024))

“I love reinventing spaces in my home by creating more beauty or efficiency. Our home is modest and loved.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 213 to 215 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

My Abundant Life 5-26-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant LifeLeave a comment

May 26th, 2026

Let Passion Be Your Decorator

“Passion is what you need to be good, an unforgiving passion.”

David Easton (Canadian-American Political Scientist; June 24th, 1917 to July 19th, 2014)

“…discovering your authentic decorating style is very similar to the creative stages of writing a book. A book may look inanimate, but like a home, it lives, breathes, and expresses your being.”

“…we need to bring a sense of passion to our work. Let passion be your muse, the authentic decorator. Let her guide and teach you to trust your instincts. Aspire to live surrounded only by those things that you passionately love. Be patient: a magnum opus can take a lifetime to create.”

“I can’t paint. I can’t write. I can’t sing. But I can decorate and run a house, and light it, and heat it, and have it like a living thing…”

Elsie de Wolfe (American Actress; December 20th, 1865 to July 12th, 1950)

“I believe a home reveals who dwells within, so make it a haven!”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 175 to 177 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

My Abundant Life 5-4-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant LifeLeave a comment

May 4th, 2026

The Personality of Your Home

“A house is who you are, not who you ought to be.”

Jill Robinson (American Novelist, Essayist, and Teacher; May 30th, 1936 to July 20th, 2024)

“You will express yourself in your house whether you want to or not.”

Elsie de Wolfe (American Actress; December 20th, 1865 to July 12th, 1950)

“When we do, the principles of gratitude, simplicity, and order will begin to transform the places where we live into hallowed havens of comfort and contentment—with or without the new slipcovers.”

“Today, no matter where or how you live, look upon your home through the eyes of Love. Walk around the rooms and offer thanks for the walls and roof that safely enclose you and yours. Pause for a moment to consider all the women who have lost their homes through death, divorce, debt, or disaster. Be grateful for the home you have, knowing that, at this moment, all you have is all you truly need.”

“My home is my husband, so where ever we hang our hats is home. I prefer to live in a way where all the spaces are lived in an used. Having a formal dining room, etc. does not interest me as most of us know that room is rarely used and we often find our selves eating in the kitchen or at the daily dining table.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 145 to 146 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.