I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend. It was a special, and patriotic one for my family. Thank you for allowing me to share my heart yesterday, even if I do mostly show you my “decorating” face.

Time for another ditto post! To those of you who are new here at Fieldstone Hill, I hope you enjoy getting to know my series of dittos.

I have had many clients and friends tell me that it is so easy for them to find a photo of something that they love, but when it comes to making their spaces have a similar look and feel, they are at a loss. That is the goal of dittos! To break down a gorgeous design so that the details become tangible…and do-able.

This week’s ditto post features a room that I saw in Rue Magazine, issue 3. What would you {steal} from this space?

DITTO :: {WHAT I WOULD STEAL FROM THIS SPACE}:

1. a snug sofa. One of my favorite things about this room is that the sofa fits perfectly between both walls of the room, and sits in there snugly. Now how cozy is that? I would LOVE to have a room in my home where one end of a room is filled with a sectional sofa. Imagine. At the end of this space, there is no where to go but snuggle-ville!
2. tuck away additional seating. Just in case there is not enough room on that fantastic sofa, every square inch is made practical when you tuck an ottoman beneath the coffee table. And why not in a punch of tomato red?? Have an extra guest? Just pull out that cute, little ottoman under the table, please!
3. sheepskin blanket. I am used to seeing this as a rug. But I adore it strewn across the end of this sectional. The fuzziness just oozes glamour, but comfort.
4. gorgeous sconces behind the sofa. Sconces are always appropriate! But I love their delicate touch behind this strong sofa and the graphic art display.
5. lighthearted display items. Wide-legged, white giraffe? love. Gold heart paper weights? lovely! A deck of cards? Ready for fun.
6. pillows that don’t exactly match. I love how these pillows don’t match, but work together beautifully with color and size harmony. That furry one is my fave.
7. suzani. Or maybe the suzani pillow is my fave? Are you into suzani? I really need to do a post on suzani… Off to the “Pin” board!
8. snug artwork in squared-off style. The sofa is not the only snug thing in this room. I really love how these gray and white drawings are grouped together, cheek to cheek. And the thin frames allow the classically simple art to take center stage.
9. gray velvet. love.
10. the gilded lotus bowl. This is my favorite piece in the room. Simple, small, classic and glam. I just love it.

Weigh in. What would you {steal} from this space?

What would you ditto, 1-10? or something else?

{a flea market painting that hangs in our master bedroom, featuring the New York skyline that will always be NY to me.}

Everyone in America remembers where they were on this day, 10 years ago. We remember the details of who we were with and exactly what we were doing as the horror unfolded.

I have been steeping my mind in reflections on that day. And, I never post on a Sunday, but my head was swimming with words that I had to pen.

Don’t you remember how we all said, “we will never forget?”

Last night, my husband and I watched a video of live news coverage from that day and the weeks following… and I was surprised:

At how much I forgot.

I am so glad that I watched these videos again. I cried and cried, and even healed a few wounds that I did not realize were still open. In my mind, I had been replaying the plane crashes whenever I thought about 911. But I had not remembered, so clearly, the unity of our nation at that time, and the countless examples of hearts turning to God and the love of lives outpouring in pure sacrifice to those in need. It had faded.

And, 10 years later, I can now reflect on history and realize what that terrible day really meant to me:

It was a line in the sand. It was a day when, truly, my innocence was taken away. In my own protected, lovely bubble of American peace and stability… I awoke that day to the reality that evil is real and strong, and crouching at my door. And September 11 was the day I came face to face with that reality.

But, what rebuilt my heart and my faith in the Bigger Reality of the soul, was the love. The love that Americans showed for one another at that time. I tasted that unity, and it was Good. People drove for miles; gave up their jobs: to help. People volunteered countless, grouling hours: to rescue. People prayed; served; fed; held each other: to comfort. What the terrorists wanted to tear down, we built up in those days – hand in hand.

That is why I grieve whenever I see Americans engaging in verbal and political Civil wars of hatred and division. I’ve realized that 10 years later, I want to cry out to our beautiful country: “Don’t you remember? Don’t let them win.”

Yet, I have no new battle cry for this country and the people that I love that has not already been sung:

Have you ever heard the last verse to our Star Spangled Banner? Likely not. These words are rarely sung, but I think they are among the most stunning and beautiful words ever written. I urge you to read our country’s own national anthem:

If you are visiting from Rhoda’s blog, a warm welcome! It may not technically be a Southern welcome, but I did live in South Carolina for 8 years… does that count?? I learned how to say “Bless Your Heart” with the best of them, and we just adore the sweet Southern ways. And I ALWAYS turn on my Southern accent when contractors stop by; everyone is much nicer to me that way {wink}.

From bow ties, to seersucker, to BBQ, and debutante balls, we joined in on the joys of the South, and now declare {proudly, and with a twinkle in our eyes} that “The South does not bend to you. You must bend to the South.”

Northerners by birth, snowy winters and colorful autumns called our hearts Northbound again for this season of our lives. And I would be flat-out-lying if I told you that the old stone homes had nothing to do with it. We are blessed to call Fieldstone Hill our home!

Today, I am so honored and giddy to be featured on The Southern Hospitality blog’s Feature Friday. If you don’t know Rhoda, you simply must stop over at her blog and follow along as she shares her Southern sweetness with y’all. Thank you, Rhoda, for sharing Fieldstone Hill with your readers.

If you don’t know me, well, Nice to meet you! I am {darlene}, and I am the owner and interior designer at Fieldstone Hill Design, my design company that offers eDesign services to some of the most wonderful clients in the world. I am also a wife, a mom, and a dreamer… as well as the owner of a home we have named “Fieldstone Hill,” but affectionately call it “Our third child.” Historic homes are like that! We change the diapers on our house more than we did on our children. ha! But, it is a love affair. No doubt.

If you would like a tour of our historic circa 1820’s farmhouse, you can click here, or get there by clicking on the picture of our door in the right sidebar.  And while you are here, stop by and read a few of my featured ditto posts, where I dissect one gorgeous room at a time, analyzing what I would “steal” from that space. I also feature Lessons in Design posts, for thoughts on how to add more interior design philosophy into your own home.

I entitled this post “southern hospitality for the weary” because I have had a tough week. Serious family health concerns and raging floods in our area are at the top of the list. So, thank you to dear Rhoda for her perfect timing in sharing such a lovely post about my home. It is like a sweet Southern hug on a very rainy day. …And I never turn away prayers! Thank you in advance, dear ones.

So, what do you do when life is out of control?? {amended to say: life is always out of OUR control, it just happens to be more obvious at some times than others.}

Well, I, for one, clean and organize. Like a fiend. Which explains why I spent Thursday night finishing and organizing my Portfolio page.  And I will be adding details and testimonials along the way… {in my free time. ha!}

Thank you for stopping by Fieldstone Hill! Stop on over any time!

Click here to see my portfolio of recent work!

It’s “A Room I Love” Day….just a simple hello, from me to you, featuring a Room that I Love, and a quick list of why I love it:

This amazing office {via Little Green Notebook} is a space that is made stunning by the details.

Scroll down to the bottom of the pics to see “What I Love” about this great space:

What I Love:

1. The black lacquer bookshelves, expansing the room.
2. The white-frame detailing on the bookshelves.
3. The silhouetted lamps, hardwired and providing an extra touch of light.
4. Being surrounded by books while working and creating.
5. The fabulous tufted chair.
6. A desk with modern lines.
7. The fabulous disc detail on the ceiling trim.
8. The detail of the black-line trim on the flooring.
9. The cheetah.
10. Bright art in a neutral room.
11. A window view while you work.
12. A comfortable place to lounge and study in the office.

Do you love it?? What do you love?