My Widows Walk Bedroom

It has been ten months since my beloved Alberto died. Many of you have been kind enough to indulge me pouring my heart out and sharing my grief with you. You might have read in older posts that I have been working on dividing my house in two, so I can rent one part of it out until my sister moves in with me in a couple of years. Photography by Sara Essex Bradley.

Valorie Hart Designs a master bedroom for a widow

It's good to have a project, though I have been sluggish making the changes. Every day spent packing away things and organizing a home made for two into a home now made for one is a volcano of emotions. It slows one down.

One of the major changes I have been working on include turning Alberto's office that was up on the second floor in a part of the house called a camel back, into my bedroom, dressing room, and sitting room. I added a bathroom up there, something I should have done long ago for Alberto. There are twenty-one steps up to the camel back, and he walked up and down them many times a day to use the downstairs bathrooms. Here is the link to see the "Before" - "The Office Of A Milonguero".

The upstairs is done. I have been sleeping up there for a couple of months. I forced myself not to return to our old bedroom once I moved upstairs. In fact that room has been reconfigured as part of the rental.

The upstairs consists of two rooms joined together by an archway.  It has an industrial loft like feeling, with an exposed brick chimney running through the center of the two rooms. There are four windows, two on each side, one set is on the east and the other set is on the west. From my bed, I can watch the moon rise on one side, and watch it go down on the other side. I see sky and tree tops. I have a birds eye few of my back patio and of the neighborhood. I call it my widows walk, a solitary aerie imagined as a garret high above the Parisian rooftops.

Surprise, surprise, I painted it white! White has always been in my arsenal and wheelhouse. I pulled out all the old Frenchy things I had stashed around here and there. I re-purposed furniture from Alberto's office and from around the house. I got something new that has been on my decor bucket list, the Etched Arcadia mural from Anthropologie. I got two murals, one for behind the bed, and one for behind the TV.

Etched Arcadia mural from Anthropologie

The bed is Alberto's old futon style couch he napped on - I added a nice memory foam mattress and an upholstered headboard - the smaller  double bed size is a perfect for me (and Cholo and Kitty Kitty Bang Bang)

I chose the mural because of the black and white and tree motif. I see tree tops outside my windows, and I love the playfulness of the idea of  being up in a tree house. It also looks like a modern version of the antique grisaille wallpaper that I loved in Howard Slatkin's New York apartment.

White drapes with black Greek key trim hung on return to the wall rods

I changed the doors from paneled ones to flat ones so I could have mural extend onto them. The mural is a stock size, and a was a little short for my walls. So I did a faux baseboard by adding a piece of trim at the bottom of the mural where the white wall is exposed, and adding trim and molding to the door. Black hinges and a black door knobs were also added. Removing the casing around the doors was too involved. I had to pick my battles.

The TV was Alberto's and it is in the same place when it was his office - The chest and mirror came from our dressing room and bedroom -  The antique Adirondack side table has been stored away for years - The rug is from our former dressing room

I kept Alberto's computer and a table he made, but I skirted in a drop cloth painted with wide black stripes, which I also used as a coverlet on the bed - the candle sconce above the computer was once in my breakfast area

This is a note I left him - we often left each other little love notes - I would be downstairs and hear him laughing at something on TV or that he saw online,  and also hear him singing tangos or playing the clarinet

This nook has a book shelf Alberto built - I organized all our photo albums or our years of teaching tango abroad. along with his important tango books here - The pair of white DIY faux marble lamps were once in our bedroom years ago

My old vanity and lamps have been kicking around for years - The pendant hanging on the lamp holds a lock of Alberto's hair

Another nook with shelves Alberto built for CDs and Videotapes

I tore out the ten year old wall-to-wall carpet and replaced it with gray faux wood (that would be affordable laminate lol). The house tilts as all old houses are wont to do, so a floating floor suits the shifting and tilting. I put in new ceiling fans (a necessity on the second floor). My closet is open with no doors or partitions.

My open closet is much smaller than the whole room Alberto and I had for our dressing room

Shoe storage is in a nook that once housed Alberto's tango video tapes now boxed and stored in the cabinets above - The little bench was once orange velvet and I had it reupholstered in faux white leather

I carved a full bath (albeit made for a petite person) out of a second unused stairway and stairwell - I used basic tile and brass fixtures - It may be a small bathroom but it is perfect for an ex-New Yorker who is used to small bathrooms.

This bathroom was once a stairwell - I used stock tile and brass fixtures - My skeleton anatomy chart makes a perfect window shade

I searched for a tiny sink - I think it is adorable

One day my lovely devoted friend Sara Essex Bradley came over to take pictures of what I had done. I was in a sad tailspin, and being with her brought me back some smiles, and the joy that comes from working with with her. 

This chaise was in our bedroom, and I had it reupholstered

All in all I am happy with the results. The only thing missing is Alberto.

My team: 
Oscar Amaya (and his wife Elvira and his son Alex) -  the contractor who did everything
Kevin (and his team) the electrician
Tommy (and team) from Pipe Wizard Plumbing
Dennis Gaultier (with his wife) - the best wallpaper installers
Designer Upholstery by Marvin
Drapes installed by Jennifer from Shading Places
My neighbor Brian for hauling away Alberto's collection of old electronics
Louis St. Lewis for hanging a mirror and his excellent company, kind heart, and sympathetic ear 
Fellow designer Penny Francis and Donna Russell for their invaluable input about the bathroom

Let There Be White

There are two schools of decorators. Those who use color, and those who use neutrals and white. I have been to both schools.  Color has definitely become firmly established in the past five years. White walls, while still around, are not the reigning color.

Saying yes to white

About this time of year, the new year and all that, we humans crave change and rejuvenation. The dark side of winter makes us crave lightness. I always get twitchy, being a colorist, to completely shake things up and paint my rooms white.

Should I just add white walls?

I do have several pieces of white furniture: a couch, dining chairs, a settee, a bench in white patent, an assortment of accent tables and lamps, a credenza, rugs, dishes, kitchen cabinets, mirrors,  an ironstone collection... So how hard would it be just to continue with white walls?

White walls, white furnishings - Why not?

My Guest Picks at Houzz have a ton of lovely white furnishings you might add in the spirit of change and rejuvenation. Please take a look.

Let There Be White at Houzz

What about you? Making any sweeping changes in your home for the New Year?

Playing with texture adds so much to an all white room

Adding just the right amount of color in an all white kitchen

You don't have to use the exact shade of white for everything - mixing neutrals works beautifully

Be inconsistent - Use tones of whites and play with graphic prints

I love white floors

Mix materials - Stone, wood, metal, concrete, glass, for depth and texture in an all white room

Establish a base of white  - In this case the curtains, floors, and paint color

Amazing large white bathroom features a variety of proportions and scale

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New York: The Great White Way

Come into this penthouse in New York City. It's cozy, only 1100 square feet, but jam packed with style.

It's decorated in a way I associate with a classic New York style from the 1990's: White walls and furniture, with accents of wood case pieces, and a great mix of accessories. I love the zebra skin in the entrance hall.

The living room has white slip covered furniture. The room is layered with lots of brown and clear glass accent pieces. The huge wall of mirror behind the couch is framed beautifully.

There's a small dining area behind the living room sofa, and I spy zebra print on two of the dining chairs.

There is a large and elegant Venetian style glass chandelier that anchors the dual purpose room. More zebra print on a plate on the glass top coffee table. The little lamp shades on the chandeliers are very 1990's.

The window treatments seem to be simple blinds that are pulled all the way up to enjoy the view. There's a door out to a lush terrace.

The bedroom has a classic Billy Baldwin touch - the large Chinese screen behind the bed.
The bedroom seems to double as an office. I love the huge glass door bookcase with silver trophies and a small model sail boat on top. More zebra in here too!

White walls are replaced by this warm taupe color. And there's another door in here that leads to the terrace. Outdoor space like this is so luxurious in New York!

The garden on the penthouse terrace has a European feeling.

Linda Dano, decorated this wonderful place and recently sold it for 1.5 million. The new buyer loved the decor so much he bought everything down to the sheets and towels.

Linda is a former television soap opera star, and she wrote a decorating book in 1997.

I love this style of decorating. It doesn't look dated to me. And I love how exuberant Linda is - she doesn't hesitate to layer like crazy, and to use use zebra over and over again!

Linda Dano also has a line of home goods for sale on QVC. Unfortunately it doesn't reflect her fabulous sense of style. The merchandise looks like stuff you can get at your local TJ Maxx or other such outlets.

Come Into The White

As the unofficial start of summer kicked off last weekend, alot of people went out of town, and alot of people came into New Orleans as their getaway.
We stayed in town, and I gave the living room some summer touches.
No I didn't repaint it all white, but I did add some more white to the room.


First a good cleaning, and a change of drapes. Down came the green velvet. Then I moved the white sheer curtains from the bedroom into the living room. I often move things to different rooms, kind of "shopping" the house for a new look.


The room is flooded with light and feels so airy, so much like summer.
I also swapped out the gilded wheat sheaf base and glass coffee table for this white mid century cutie. I cannot just confine myself to one era ha ha, so I mix all the centuries together.
I also removed the black and white stripe rug and swapped it out for the cow hide which was in the guest bedroom. I love the hide rugs because they hide everything, i.e. dog hair and dirt. And I love seeing more of the floor for summer too.


The morning light is just fabulous. By mid morning it moves from the front of the house, so even though the room is light filled, it's not hot from the sun pouring in.


The art work in the living room is comprised of all portraits. It's my little portrait gallery.
I love to hang art low. It pleases my eye.


I purposely did not put side tables next to the antique French settee, though you know I have them! I had a smaller version of the coffee table, and decided to float both of them, one in front of the settee, and one in front of the sofa. I flipped the settee and sofa from their "winter" positions.


The Thomas Paul pillow with the Greco-Roman head, the portrait of Kenny, and even the little sculpted head in the tray of shells, all add to portrait gallery.


I also added a sweet little green chair, the Philippe Starck Mademmoiselle Chair. The pop of green and the clear Lucite legs add just the right amount of sparkle.


I mix a variety of prints, and the green chair has a tone on tone damask to add to the fun.


I often pick the ginger from the yard for the living room, and the fresh green of the leaves plays along with the green chair.


The Will Barnett portrait entitled "The Young Couple" has subtle shades of green too, and the bunch of giant green grapes make a nice still life.


Another corner has a metal etagere, with two of my favorite portraits, one of Cholo done by Patricia from PVE, and the other of my friend Trevor, who I snapped at Castle Howard when we visited a friend there together.


Cholo loves the new arrangement. He has so many places to choose to snuggle on, like this vintage chair recovered in a Duralee print.


The corner with the chaise is Alberto's hang out.


The tray on the coffee table holds shells, and other special little things like this box of calling cards Alberto had printed when he graduated from The University of Buenos Aires over 40 years ago!


Since we'll be spending most of our summer at home this year, I am so happy that the living room has been dressed in summer whites. It feels like we've gone someplace new and pretty for a holiday.
So take a look around your house, and see what you can move around to refresh a room for summer!