Timeless Beauty and Charm

One of my simple pleasures is flipping through decorating and recipe magazines. My top two favs are Southern Lady and Southern Living. Yes, I am a southern girl with a southern flare, with a tiny smidge of tom-boy tossed in. (Ok, a lot.)

As I was reading an article in Southern Living, the February 2014 issue, Gentleman's Quarters by Terri Sapienza, a particular line caught my attention.

Through a Washington D.C. interior designer,  David Mitchell, God led me on a unique spiritual detour concerning His pride and joy, the Bride of Christ. Here are a few of my discoveries.

The vision of this D.C. dweller and designer was to take a piece of the past, a 1930s Colonial home, tucked inside the chaos of Washington D.C. and give it new life, while at the same time, preserving her history and timeless beauty.

Capturing this homeowner's vision, the writer says, "David's highest priority was to modernize the house without destroying its age-old charm, so he intentionally worked within its original footprint and kept the traditional floor plan in tact."

1. Preserving her past enhances her future. To the left, the hardwoods in David's home have been preserved and given a sparkling new shine. See how the light just bounces off of them? With such radiance, the dark, wood plank floors seem to beam with pride, inviting all standing on the threshold, "Come on in. You are welcome here."

Below, as you gaze into the Colonial dining room, the old supports the new. A modernized round table top with a cypress tree stump as its base. It is strategically placed where the family or guests will gather for meals, reminisce about the past, talk about the present, and dream about the future.

The old surrounding the new brings rich strength, support and stability throughout the home. Together.  Pure.  Simple.  Joy.

2. The timeless beauty and charm of the Bride of Christ is revealed through it's gentle blending of old and new, swirled into a sweet aroma of worship; the family together loving God and loving each other.

"By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35 NKJV)

3. The world is drawn to Her grace and charm. There's an old British custom, which many brides still adhere to today that encourages the bride to have something old, something borrowed, something new and something blue to complete her wedding attire.  The old connects her with the past, the borrowed connects her with the present. The something new and something blue (symbolizing fidelity and purity) connect her to the future.

Just as the world peeks into this charming cottage in the city, the world is leaning in to see how the Bride of Christ preserves Her past and carries Herself into the future, standing the test of time.

4.  An eclectic, inspired cottage design gives us a glimpse of how the age-old Church can come together in modern day times with a seamless ebb and flow, in and out of the past and present, radiating the reflection of Her Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today and forevermore.

Timeless, charming, and full of grace.


My Pleasure,
Melanie

Photography by Jonny Valiant from February 2014, Southern Living Magazine article, Gentleman's Quarters