My Small Room Decorating Magazine Article

Magazine cover image used with permission of publisher.

Cover Photo: Wendell T. Webber

Dear Blog Friends,

If you need decorating and storage ideas for your small space home, condo, or apartment, here's your chance! Small Room Decorating magazine is filled with colorful and practical solutions. Check your local bookstore or grocery store chain for a copy of this fabulous double issue! It's filled with several wonderful feature articles with beautiful photos, as well as advice from some of today's hottest HGTV stars, and...

Some of you may remember when a long year and a half or so ago I knocked on the shiny red door of the cutest little bungalow in LaJolla, CA right near where I live and said, "Would you be interested in having your home in a decorating magazine?" The next day homeowner Lisa Maher called me and said, "Yes, please come and take pictures!" The rest, as the old cliche goes, is history!

I hope you enjoy my article (click to read) I wrote for this issue of Small Room Decorating magazine, about the very organized and creative Lisa and Michael Maher family and their picture-perfect historic Craftsman bungalow. I received the following sweet letter from the homeowners and they have given me permission to share it with you:

"Dear Kathryn, WOW!... Your writing captured the soul of our home! Our family and friends are full of praise. Kudos to you." -- Michael and Lisa Maher LaJolla, CA

THANK YOU! to:

Any creative project takes enormous attention to detail to pull it all together and make it come to happy fruition. And to that end, because I believe "no writer is and island," I thank the following people for helping make this published article a dream come true:

*Homeowners Lisa and Michael Maher, who so graciously and patiently opened up their home to be photographed and written about. You're a darling couple who've worked together to create a beautiful home life and you're wonderful role models for other couples trying to do the same.

*Editors Jodi Zucker and Janet Mowat for being willing to take a look at my submission in the first place, and for arranging for me to attend the photo shoot. You're both so easy to work with from way across the country that you make my job as a writer a breeze and you give editors a good name!

*All the other creatives at Harris Publications whom I have never met since I'm a freelancer way out in CA, but I know you work hard under tight deadlines to make your magazines first rate, and I thank you for doing a great job on this house I scouted.

*Stylist Sunday Hendrickson, who worked her colorful accessorizing magic to make the photos "pop." You're such a master at your work and it was so fun to finally get to meet you in person.

*Professional photographer Mark Tanner and his assistant Armando. Mark, your astute eye for detail and very patient personality made you fun to be around. And Armando, your patient moving and holding of the photographic screens and heavy props deserve you big kudos.

*My dear husband Steve, who patiently sat in the car while I knocked on the Maher's door to see if we could use their home. For over 29 years now your loving acceptance of your wife's constant words, "I have an idea!" once again didn't bother you a bit and you just smiled and said, "Okay, babe." Love you, my patient prince.

*For my dear friend of 33 years, Mary, who has encouraged my writing since college, and most recently told me I'm an example of our alma mater's motto: "You can go anywhere from here." Thanks for being my confidant and cheerleader via e-mail when tight writing deadlines loom. I don't know what I'd do without your "Calgon take me away" mantra and great sense of humor.

*For my realtor/house friend Michael, who even though I've only known him a short time, lets me blather on via e-mail about my magazine article writing and who seems to never tire of my "house obsession." Thanks for making me laugh during writing deadlines by e-mailing me messages like, "You're really cookin' like Betty Crocker on those magazine articles!" You're so cool!

*For my webmaster Julia, who posted this magazine article (and all my others) to my website so you can easily read it virtually. Julia, your never-ending patience, positive "can-do" attitude, and stellar ethics make you so great to work with and to know, especially when I'm under tight deadlines. You're a gem.

*And last, but of course not least, thanks to God who planted so much creativity inside of me that I can't but help share it with the world, and who knows the ultimate reason why writing about house and home is my everlasting passion. I am so grateful for the talents and tenacity you gave me and I hope I've made you proud. I know that from you all blessings flow.

'Til Next Time!

Kathryn :)

http://www.kathrynbechenink.com/