To begin this blog correctly, we must step back in time well over a decade to a busy Friday evening when the shop was crowded and occasionally neighborhood deliveries were made, sometimes on foot, to our clients...
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| "Our Friend, Shirley" |
Joey and I walked briskly across the boulevard to drop off a piece of art and we conversed about weekend plans, laughed at silly thoughts exchanged between us and enjoyed a few moments of each other's company away from the hustle and bustle of business before approaching our destination. I had no idea what an indelible mark would be left on my mind and in my heart that evening, as we were greeted in the doorway by a petite lovely woman awaiting her art delivery. Few people come into our lives that walk in immediately as friend but on this enchanted evening, such a friend was standing in her doorway, elegantly dressed and giddy with excitement that her delivery had arrived.
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| "A view from within" |
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| "Entryway Pleasantries" |
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| "The Formal Parlour" |
As I was introduced to Shirley, we explained pleasantries and stood in awe of the wonder and amazement behind our host as she opened up her home and heart to us. We peered through the door for what seemed to be a most long moment, and were pulled into this hued wonderland meticulously designed and envisioned by Shirley herself. At first, we just stood looking all around, completely forgetting our mission, and remembered that we were there to do a job. Her framed art was unwrapped and presented and Shirley was anxious to place it amongst her collection.
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The Delivered Maiden...Now retitled by Shirley as
"The Stevie" |
Finally, Joey mentioned that we must be getting on our way and we reluctantly left Shirley pretty much as we found her... Smiling at her door, giddy with excitement, and now from our admiration of her abode, blushed by our compliments.
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| "Simply Soft Sofa" |
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| The "Murphy Bed" Armoire |
As Joey and I made our way back to the gallery, we walked now relaxed and quietly, absorbing the moments we spent with Shirley in her world. While each waited for the other to start the conversation, I burst into exclamation over just how unique and captivating both our host and home were. Joey just smiled at me and chuckled before offering his take on our excursion. He too was quite amazed at how beautifully Shirley had created her surroundings and loved that I was so affected by her. Once back at the shop, we both shared our experiences with Teri, who was disappointed not to have been with us and listened as we went on about Shirley and her design style. Eventually, she joked and told us both, that it was time to take off our "Rose- Colored Glasses" and get to work. Joey and I looked at each other and silently set a special place in our hearts that moment for Shirley. As the years past we reminisced about it every now and then. when he passed away, it was up to me to keep those moments we shared just as alive and warm as that
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| " The Dressing Room" |
evening left us. From time to time, we'd see Shirley too, either in the neighborhood or at the shop, and tell her just what an impression she left on us. Today, all these years later, Shirley is still just as beautiful as her home. Recently having some work done by our shop, we were fortunate to spend some quality-time again with her in her magnificent residence. Only on this visit, we asked Shirley if we could share both a little of her home and herself for our blog...Let's just say, She was "Tickled Pink" by the idea!
Shirley has called Forest Hills home now for over 25 years and has always had an affinity for all things vintage and old fashion.
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| Delicate and Detailed |
And, while it's no secret that pink is her favorite color, She says "Trends and Fads can come and go...And I have great admiration and appreciation for them. But, I choose to surround myself with treasures that make me smile and those that remain timeless". That mantra has fueled Shirley's collection which includes fine porcelain and delicate figurines,
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| "Sisterly Love" |
romantic roses and captivating artworks. One such portrait holds a very dear place in her heart, that of her Sister, which graciously gazes back at Shirley daily from her decadent rose-fabric wall. And, when she's not out antiquing, one can find this crafty darling sometimes refinishing and up-cycling her finds herself! (Of course, in that "Mauveolous" color itself) "Inspiration comes truly from the heart", she says, "But, I do find lots of great ideas in decorating magazines..."Traditional Home is a personal favorite".
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One of the many treasures refinished personally by Shirley
in the same romantic fabric she's cover her walls in
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| "Shirley Sharing Stories" |
Having lived in several cities in her lifetime, Shirley's love of beautiful things goes beyond her current residence. She lived in Los Angeles in the 1960's and once shopped model apartments in Elmhurst. "I'm very inspired by architecture and structure". She's even worked for a travel magazine and shared "Beauty can be found in every facet of life, if we just allow ourselves to see it". It's her "rosey" outlook that makes this charming lady so special and spending just a few moments with Shirley can affirm that she definitely understands a thing or two about taking time to smell the roses.
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"An Elegant Bath"
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She's even fashioned her bath to feel like a retreat,
her closets to resemble those found in Versailles...
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| "Versailles-like Doors" |
And her totally adorable kitchenette (which, by the way, is the only room in her little sanctuary that's not pink) feels like those found in a fancy resort villa.
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| "Adorable Kitchenette" |
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| "Kitchen Pleasantries" |
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Shirley, with her Secretary Desk purchased from
St. Vincent De Paul. Her very first purchase when she moved to NY. |
On a personal note, Shirley has an understanding that not everyone has a love and appreciation for vintage items inspired by romance. She expressed, "While contemporary design has its place in the world that I admire many aspects of, it simply is not what I chose to surround myself with". She did go on to include that it is important to find a style that says something about you and makes you feel good when you come home. It seems quite apparent that her philosophy isn't a secret but more of a quiet understanding in our own consciousness that often gets lost on everyday practicalities. "It has taken me some very much enjoyed time to put this all together...But for me, I am where I 'm supposed to be".
For more of Shirley's home photos,
please be sure to visit our Facebook page and gaze through the photo album
Until Next Time...
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