Interviews
Mary Kay's Favorites
Books
REBECCA by Daphne du Maurier
VOID MOON by Michael Connelly
BIG STONE GAP, by Adriana Trigiani
CRAZY FOR YOU by Jennifer Crusie
GET SHORTY by Elmore Leonard
Movies/DVDs
SABRINA (the original with Audrey Hepburn)
CHARADE (again the original with Audrey Hepburn)
WHEN HARRY MET SALLY
AUNTIE MAME (not the gawdawful musical)
THE QUIET MAN
Movie Musicals
CAMELOT
FUNNY GIRL
SOUTH PACIFIC
MY FAIR LADY
WEST SIDE STORY
Decorating Books
SHABBY CHIC by Rachel Ashwell
A HOUSE IN THE SOUTH by Frances Schultz and Paula Wallace
MARY EMMERLING'S BEACH COTTAGES by Mary Emmerling
MARY EMMERLING'S COUNTRY COTTAGE by Mary Emmerling
AN AFFAIR WITH A HOUSE by Bunny Williams
Top Five Renovating Tips
1. An old house needs old doors, hardware and fixtures. Nothing says "new and cheap" faster than a flimsy hollow-core door and bright gold repro brass hardware. Look for solid wood doors and wood frame windows at salvage yards and antique markets. And don't forget to check the "building materials" category on Craigslist. I got all the doors for my beach house off Craigslist-for $5 apiece. Vintage hardware can frequently be found at flea markets, or check online sources like eBay.
2. Vintage light fixtures give a great look-but be sure you factor in the cost of re-wiring them, and finding good-looking shades. Nothing gives a lamp that "granny" look faster than a dingy yellow shade.
3. Before you invest in antique cast-iron claw-foot tubs or sinks, make sure they have proper fittings. Measure drains and faucetspreads and make sure you can find new ones that will fit and function properly. Antique toilets are generally a bad idea-most local codes require low-flow toilets for water conservation.
4. Before re-wiring a house, put together a furniture floor plan. You don't want a heat register under the living room sofa, but you will want outlets on either side of the bed for reading lamps, and for any area that might be used as an office you'll want plenty of grounded plugs. And how about that flat-screen television your husband wants? Plan now for cable locations.
5. Be flexible. A great fireplace surround could become a headboard, as could an old paneled door-turned sideways. And that leaded glass window that had to be removed in the remodel? Why not fit it with mirrors and a hinge and make it into a bathroom medicine cabinet?
My Five Best Junking Finds:
1. Pair of barrel-back armchairs--$30 at an estate sale. They were covered in gold embossed vinyl when I found 'em. But with the legs stained ebony, and a gorgeous blue Ralph Lauren fabric reupholstery, they're perfect by my fireplace.
2. Set of eight antique Wedgewood black and cream transferware plates--$30 at an estate sale. The seller's mother used some of them for cat dishes, others as an ashtray!
3. Vintage landscape oil painting, Tuscany maybe? Or Provence? Who cares! Bought at a "divorce sale"-the ex-husband sold this beautiful painting for $50 because it had belonged to his ex-wife. I spent a small fortune framing it, but it's the basis for a collection of treasured landscape paintings.
4. Wicker settee, Salvation Army find for $25. I'd walked to the store, and had to hoof it back home in a hurry for money and my car.
5. Faux alligator train case-found at a yard sale. When I asked the seller if she'd do better on the price, she replied that she'd give it to me for free-if I could figure out how to open it. Since it had a combination lock like the one on my high school graduation luggage, I twirled the dial to 0-0-0-because I never figured out how to change mine-and sure enough, the lock popped open. Score!
