A Decorated Friendship

story: Julee McCammon photography: Djamel E Ramoul

Wednesday, January 06, 2010 -

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Can three friends survive a home design project? I’m here to attest that it can be done, even with a few surprises along the way.

Should you tell a friend you really don’t like the way her furniture is arranged? If you do, are you still friends?

Well, that’s what I did.  It all began at a little boy’s birthday party over a couple  glasses of wine.

First, let me introduce you to my friends Gary and Martica Ewers. After 10 years of living in a modest, ever-shrinking home due to the addition of three children, they recently built a well-appointed traditional home. As parents of active and growing kids and host to many friends and family, the Ewers maintain a steady presence of people, pets, and children coming in and out of their Southeast Ocala home. The Ewers wanted a home that was a reflection of their personalities — welcoming, open, and, definitely, not fussy or cold.

Martica, who is originally from West Palm Beach, sought to incorporate a classic beach style infused with serene coastal colors.  Armed with magazine clippings, Martica pulled pictures and stories from design magazines that matched her desired look.

Back at the birthday party, I was sitting in the Ewers’ family room enjoying conversation and a little vino while watching my sons burn off energy on the inflatable slide and obstacle course outside.  I had been in the Ewers’ home several times, even assisted some during the construction phase with paint choice, brick color, and other design selections.  I have to admit, it was fun to witness the metamorphosis of building a home, especially when it’s not your own. I even became friends with the builder, Tommy Permenter, so well that I knew who he wanted to win “American Idol.”

In short, I felt invested in this home.

Now, coming full circle and sitting in the home I first saw from Gary’s sketches on paper, I was feeling relaxed and took a deep breath... and grimaced, just a little.  The bones of the home were truly fabulous from the carefully chosen light fixtures, perfect granite, relaxed-style cabinetry to the intricate molding designs.  However, the furniture was sparse and the décor even more so. By that point, after designing the home themselves and overseeing construction, I think Gary and Martica were simply burned out on design choices. They needed to breathe a little before beginning to dress their new home. I felt they needed help, or maybe I just wanted to exercise my closeted decorating compulsion, so I began scheming and taking charge.

First, I needed a partner in crime. Scanning the room, I spied Lee Reid.

Lee is the most stylish person I know. She has impeccable taste in clothes, art, and furniture. Her own home is gorgeous.  As a graduate of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in New York City, she’s creative by nature and an artist at heart. I figured she’d be game, as we have previously lamented on the itch we feel to change others’ homes upon visiting.

“Psst…Lee, help me rearrange this room,” I whispered in between sips of wine.

With a gleam in her eye, I knew I’d found my design partner. We put down our wine glasses, kicked off our shoes and got started.

Two chairs over there, a couch over here, a table moved and wa-lah! The room looked better!  We were seriously giddy with the new arrangement, but what would Gary and Martica think?  Just then, Gary, the quintessential host, strolled by to check if anyone needed a glass refill.  He spotted the changes and he liked it!  Then, Martica popped in and she liked it, too! She really liked it! I felt like Sally Field at the Oscars.  Soon, the party festivities had come to an end, but our design adventure had just begun.

The morning after the birthday party, I got a call from Martica expressing how much she loved the new, more functional configuration.  I told her Lee and I had many more ideas, but didn’t want to intrude on her house or her plans. Next, we played the friendship dance dialogue, not wanting to step on each other’s toes, instead offering support and guidance. Friendship takes work and one doesn’t want to cross boundaries.  My husband actually advised me against doing anything else for the Ewers’ home.  He didn’t want our friendship to suffer.  However, Martica, Lee and I forged ahead and took the decorating plunge.

After setting some initial ground rules to preserve both the Ewers’ budget and our friendship, we started shopping. Our first excursion was to T.J. Maxx.  Apropos to its slogan, it really is never the same place twice.  Lee stumbled across some orb-shaped colored glass bottles.  I didn’t think much of them, but she said, “Blue for water, yellow the sun, and green to symbolize nature.”  All the elements Martica wanted to incorporate!  I’m so glad I have creative friends!

 Next, we spent a lot of time in Carriage Trade, a furniture consignment store in Ocala.  I scouted out a white chaise lounge, but had no idea where it could possibly fit in the home.  However, Lee found the perfect spot and now it is the top nap destination for big and small kids alike.

Taking the Ocala Chamber of Commerce’s “Buy Local” campaign to heart, we headed downtown and made some great purchases at Tres Chic, Shannon Roth Home Collection and Ocala Traditions seeking out ideas and bargains galore.  Each store is unique in offerings, personality, and is a virtual playground for the design imagination.  Another downtown shop we visited was The White Elephant, a cool thrift shop with an eclectic variety of items.

 Now, with furniture and accessories in hand, Lee and I were a bit more brazen.  We asked Martica and Gary for their security code so that we could work some design magic in their absence.  They agreed and we arrived armed with drill, hammer, level, ladder and adventurous spirits.

 Before diving in with our new finds, we took inventory of what already existed in the house.  We pilfered through cabinets, closets and drawers which was quite entertaining as we discovered a treasure trove of accessories. We found a beautiful pewter tray with a palm tree design that Lee sat on a stand. It now serves as a focal point on bookshelves in the study.

 Little by little, we layered and added and layered and added some more until we were satisfied. We’re far from finished, but feel proud of the foundation we’ve established in helping the Ewers’ house become a home worthy of their dreams. I’m reminded of the motto that “Life is a journey, not a destination.” This applies to home decorating as well.

Yet, most importantly, did our friendship remain intact?  Yes, although we did learn a lot about one another.

First, Martica has a hard time letting people do things for her, which is ironic because she gives so freely of herself to others.  She has an incredibly generous and grateful soul. This experience allowed Martica to be on the receiving end of a generous gesture.

Next, we learned what a diplomat Lee can be.  If she didn’t like something I picked, she very politely refrained from encouraging my selection.  She has a gift of making rooms sparkle with keen insight into knowing what a homeowner, and in this case, a close friend, imagines. Lee intuitively knows how to arrange a room to evoke the right feel.

As for myself, I learned a lot, too.  I have a little more confidence in decorating.  I just need to work on my own house now.  I enjoyed shopping and creating with Lee.  We were also a bit irreverent, too, joking about leaving a really tacky accessory in the Ewers’ home to see what they would say. Of course, we didn’t follow through, but, hey, even friends can be a little naughty from time to time.

Best part of all? As we added new dimensions to the Ewers’ beautiful home, we also forged a deeper friendship with one another, adding new textures to our own relationships while creating something new and unexpected.

Now, we can’t wait for another Ewers birthday party! Who knows what we’ll come up with next?

Lee and Julee’s Decorating Tips (Note: the best case scenario is to hire a professional designer, but, if this isn’t an option, here’s some advice among friends.)

Work with what you already have. Gather accessories into one place and ask someone else to look at them with a new eye.

Each room should have one “Wow” piece that serves as a focal point.

Don’t fill up a space just to fill it. Wait for the right piece

Look in local thrift and consignment shops for good deals. And there’s no shame in bartering for a lower price than what is advertised.

High-end design and furniture stores are great for ideas and have sales, too.

Just say “No” to the model home look. Mix styles and textures, make it your style.

Buy local. It’s not just a cliché. You save gas, make friends, and support your community in the process.

Walk away from bigger purchases.  Then, if you love something, don’t be afraid to splurge.  You will know you love it if you are still thinking about it weeks later.

Don’t be afraid to use items in different ways than intended, like a bedroom dresser serving as a sideboard in the dining room.

Friendship Decorating Rules:

Save all receipts.
Don’t spend any money without prior approval.
Be honest.  If you don’t like something, speak up.
Keep the experience real and, for goodness sake, have some fun! You’re with friends!

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