By Christina Wallace, Metro Boston Senior Reporter | August 19, 2005
|
See photos 
Submit photos of your pad
When J. Ward moved into her Brookline apartment, her decorating began with hanging a painting of a French café.
Now, three years later, without Ward even realizing what she had done, the décor of the entire two-bedroom bungalow is inspired by that painting and the time she spent living in Provence during her college years. The French influence and vivid colors in the picture are infused throughout the 800-square-foot space.
"I buy things that I like and then it just all seems to come together," said Ward, who works for Flair bridesmaid boutique in Boston. "I have an eye for certain colors."
'Contemporary is not me'
During a time when it is fashionable to have a modern city apartment, Ward doesn't apologize for creating a "comfy" and "romantic" atmosphere. She loves the exposed brick that carries through her home and the large windows that filter in the morning sun. The details - from the hand-painted salt and pepper shaker on the kitchen counter to the rod iron bistro table on the roof deck - create a French countryside feel.
"I don't love a clean slate. I'm attracted to colorful things. Contemporary is not me," Ward said.
The pieces of furniture in her third-story walk-up are unique but manage to complement each other. The green floral couch flows with the burnt orange plush chair. The hand-painted TV console pairs nicely with the distressed wooden kitchen table.
The multi-colored rug may seem loud when looked at alone, but it brings together all the items in the small living-room and dining room.
"I'm a busybody. That's my personality, so all the colors equate to my personality," Ward said.
'Like a bistro'
Most of the oil paintings on her walls are of scenes in French cafes, the Provence countryside or streetscapes in Paris. She supplements the pictures with dried flowers on a hand-painted table in the hallway, a vase full of sunflowers on her kitchen table and numerous small candles placed on furniture on tables throughout the apartment.
"It is warm and cozy, like a bistro," Ward says.
The other aspects of her life - from her travels to Italy and Greece, to her childhood on Cape Cod with her family - are represented in the other pieces in the apartment. She has pottery from Florence and Venetian glass displayed above her kitchen cabinets, alongside platters of starfish and mermaids. She has a tiffany lamp in her hallway, given to her by her brother, and a romantic crème lampshade with tassels she inherited from her sister.
"I'm happy with the way things turned out," Ward said.
Christina Wallace
[an error occurred while processing this directive]