Hello, Gentle Readers. In light of recent (tragic) events, today’s Open House Tour w/ House Beautiful has been rescheduled for Monday, June 15. Don’t worry; I’ll remind you again. Thank you, and please keep yourselves safe.
Hello, Gentle Readers! So HERE’s a pandemic distraction for you. Next Monday, June 1, at noon I will be doing a tour of my house on House Beautiful’s Instagram Live. Will you please tune in?
I’m not going to lie: I’m a bit nervous about it. And not only because I haven’t had a haircut in 17 months thanks to Comrade Covid.
I’m nervous because my default setting is self-deprecation, and the lovely people at House Beautiful prefer designers who inspire. So instead of telling you that my living room has been painted seven times in 15 years, I think I’m supposed to talk about how I landed on the PERFECT shade of pink that now graces the walls.
These “designers’ own homes” stories always present a dilemma: Do I represent aspiration, or reality?
When I do photo shoots, the goal is clear: aspirational images.
Let’s take dog accoutrements. Yes to this:
…and no to…well, to whatever this is:
Reality is overrated, especially now. Therefore, next Monday my house will be arranged, accessorized, and tidied up as though “for company.” FANCY company! (Too bad we still have social distancing; it would be the perfect night for a dinner party.)
But as I lead you through our 100% presentable home on the House Beautiful Instagram Live tour, you, Gentle Readers, will know my secret. You’ll know that I am constantly re-decorating in my mind, and that it’s hard for me to talk about my house without pointing out the things I’d do differently. And you’ll know that my family does messy, outrageous, real things like nap on the sofa, open boxes in the front hall, and make toast.
But next Monday, I do none of these things. Next Monday, I inspire.
Annie Elliott Design is based in Washington, DC, but we travel for fun projects. Annie’s design work and insights have appeared in numerous local and national publications, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Washingtonian Magazine. Annie will be participating in the ASPIRE HOUSE, a designers’ showcase, this fall.