Thom of Staunton

Here's something you might not know about me: I've a fairly decent education in Martha Stewartness. I know all about 24 gauge floral wire, Christopher Lowell, poly-fil, serge stitches, and stuff of that nature. For instance, I put up our Christmas tree the other day. Its theme is "Rustic Cabin." The colors are all off-whites, reds, and wood, lots of cranberries, cinnamon sticks, quail and cardinals, moose and pine cones, with Laine's bright red, ear flapped winter hat for a tree topper. All the ornaments are also unbreakable because we harbor two fugitive felines who like to climb. It's much more practical than the "harlot" theme of my apartment-dwelling days, with its red and gold glass baubles and gold lamé tree skirt draped provocatively around the base. While I was at work everyday, the cat would knock out a glass ball, kick it around for awhile, then smash it into a wall. I was pulling glass out of the carpet the rest of the winter. But I digress.

The reason I know about these decorating things is because my best friend since high school taught me well. Last night, he and his wife had their third annual Christmas party in the house they bought in Staunton, Illinois. It was a mess when they took ownership, and since then, Thom has transformed it into a storybook beautiful dream home. In high school, while you were popping zits and getting high behind the 7-11, Thom was drawing plans for his future palace, complete with a "family wing," the only place the kids were allowed to go. I wish I still had those drawings. But anyway, Thom and his wife are expecting their first child, a girl, the first week of February. I'd heard his description of the baby's nursery, that there was a pink Parisian theme with lots of poodles and Bonjour!, but I was still unprepared for what he did to that room. It's jaw dropping, and pictures can't do it justice, but I'll give it a shot:

The wall treatment is hand painted. We didn't take a picture of it, but he also made black and white polka-dotted cloth-covered boxes around the top of the window, with little pom-pom fringe around the inside of the window. The baby furniture is all white, and there was an adorable baby coat made of pink fake fur hanging on the baby-sized armoire door.  Too frickin' cute. And Thom's house sported the standard (for Thom) Christmas tree in every room, and the baby's room didn't want to be left out. On a table with a little tea service for two set out, with black and white polka-dot ribboned napkins, of course, sat the baby's first Christmas tree.

Bless his froo-froo heart. I hope he and Katie bring a very careful, gentle baby into the world, one who appreciates the tiny details and loves to shop for bargains at the Hobby Lobby and Garden Ridge. At the very least, if she's like me, she'll learn.