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Mary, I knew you were one o' my 'peeps' the minute I first laid eyes on your artwork so many years ago. But THIS? This takes the cake, my dear! When hubby and I were newly married, I'd make him take walks with me at dusk for exactly this reason - so I could see the way people decorated their houses! He thought I was nuts. (It's been 29 years now, and he finally gets it!!!)
Posted By: DivaDeb http://hummadeedledee.blogspot.com

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Until my hubster and I can afford the lighting we truly desire in the basement, I am using a mix of oddball and endearing lamps to light my creative space in the nether regions of our home. The space is now cozy and well-lit and serves to jump- start my imagination every time I spend time there.
Posted By: Kathryn

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And I thought that I was the only one who knew this trick, i.e., walk at dusk so you can peak through windows as you walk. I LOVED doing this when I lived in the city and then the suburbs. Now that I'm in the exurbs and sidewalks are non-existent and houses are few and far between, I miss my peaks at others' living areas. And just a tip--walk at dusk/twilight--people don't tend to pull their shades or drapes until it's pitch dark. ;-)
Posted By: Carole

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I totally agree!!!! I would much prefer the subtle more softening light of a table lamp. Laura

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First, I love that you like to walk at night to peek into other's homes. I love walking at dusk before people close their drapes! Second, I hate overhead lighting! It just makes me laugh that you wrote about it. My husband always turns on the overhead light in our bedroom. I have a nifty bedside lamp that is so cozy, but (sigh) some old dogs can't learn knew tricks. I just continue to turn off the big light and turn on my little lamp. Thanks for the smile!
Posted By: Cindi

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You are SO right on this! The former owners of our home had no less than 4 different types of overhead lighting in the kitchen-- probably on sale, right?--and the best one is the dropped chandelier over the kitchen nook with 3 retina-burning bulbs in it. Egads! And the bedroom has a ceiling fan with 4 bulbs in it that my husband occasionally turns on in my face when he is trying to adjust the thermostat. Hate the overheads! Euwww! Suzen

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I agree! I really hate overhead lighting. I like the restful feeling you get from soft lighting in the bedroom and family room. Smiles,Tana

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I only use bright overhead lights in my sewing room, you know, so I can see what I'm doing. Sometimes I walk past my own house at night so I can see what others see when they're peeping in. The lamps do give it a cozy look.
Posted By: Patty B

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I think we all enjoy viewing other people's decorating styles and ideas. The ambience of lamps is nice for some but I've never cared for lamps. Now that I'm getting older and my eyes aren't what they used to be, I like the brightness of an overhead light. It helps if I want to handsew in the evening, etc. Lamps take up space on tables that I don't always have the room for when an overhead light doesn't. There are soft bulbs that can be put into overhead lights to make them not so glaring. So I guess it's all in your own decorating style and preferences. :-) There are some beautiful lamps but personally I just don't care for them. FYI: Every year at the KY. state fair there is an ugly lamp contest.
Posted By: B.J.

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This post is fabulous! I used to walk around on evenings in winter, especially in the Village in NYC, to see how people decorated their townhouses. It's best around Christmas time. But I totally agree about overhead lighting. It's like buying a few of those big operating room lights and hanging those from your ceiling. No one and nothing looks good in that light. Give me warm lamplight any day!
Posted By: Natasha www.creativenachos.com

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I always have a feeling of lonelyness when I pass a house with ceiling lights on. Espically if the house is in the country side. Remember this type of lighting show the dirt on the windows!
Posted By: Ginny Sm.

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My husband and I had words and silent battles over overhead lighting. I was constantly turning the overhead lights off and he would come behind me and turn them back on. I love the peacefulness of a little lamp casting a nice glow over the room. I know we need more light sometimes when we are reading etc. but give me break! Some of those lights with no shades are like being held and tortured. Thanks for your little article it was nice to know I'm not the only one that doesn't care for that harsh bright light.
Posted By: Diana Baukus

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I too need to be walking daily, Mary. Thank you for the inspiration! Jan
Posted By: Jan

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Amen to the overhead lighting! I never even liked overhead lighting as a little girl...I never felt right in a room with light pouring over my head. No overheads in my home! As for walking at night and admiring people's rooms...I wouldn't classify myself as a Peeping Tom, I'm not interested in the people, just how they have their lives arranged!!
Posted By: Lori

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I always check out other peoples' homes through the window. I am often lazier and do this from my car! I even pick different ways to drive home so I can see in different homes. Good luck on your diet and exercise - I hate but do both! Blessings
Posted By: racheld

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Mary....I LOVE your magazine. I am getting blinder by the day (old age). I climb into bed with a hot cup of tea and your magazine and I am in heaven. If my sweetie (husband) took out the overhead light I might miss something so....it stays.
Posted By: Betty

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I love walking at night as well. I live out in the country and it is such a beautiful thing to behold the stars in the sky. We have such busy lives these days that we don't even take time to look up each night and wonder...what do the stars represent? For me it represents all of those wishes I made on them as a child, and some of them actually came true. Just last weekend I saw a falling star. You know what the first thing was that came to my mind, hurry up and make a wish before it is too late. I know it sounds silly, but it made me feel like a little girl again with no worries but the precious wish of a child. So walking at night is a luxury that we forget that we have...tonight go for a walk and make a wish on a falling star!
Posted By: Vicki Nolen

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love this subject matter it is right up my alley i must own at least 10 or so small lamps for cozy lighting affects in my tiny apt. i even have a small one that belonged on my dear departed mommas bedside--that i use on my kitchen table at nite and keep it lit all nite long--ahh fond memoried of mom-- -she would love it in my kitchen i am sure keep up the lovely ideas and comments peole luv your mag getting it for 11 yrs now--- monie lee siebler
Posted By: monie lee siebler

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Mary, I love your magazine and even take out the past issues to inspire me each season. I like to find items where my $ helps such as garage sales and Goodwill and Salvation Army. It helps me keep my costs down and imagination up!!
Posted By: Joanne Allen-Walker

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This post made me giggle. Partly because, I too, am trying to lose some WEIGHT and exercise more AND because the hubby and I squabble over lighting all of the time. He seems to need the house to be lit up like a baseball field and I like the more cozy feeling of lamps. He calls me a vampire who likes living in the dark. Too funny!
Posted By: www.mosaicqueen.typepad.com

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I am very much in agreement here! If you must rely on overhead lighting and at times it is necessary, install dimmer switches. http://teaorwine.blogspot.com/
Posted By: teaorwine

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So funny....I too love to look into people's homes...I also love lamps vs. overhead lighting. I love your magazine and your artwork. I tell everyone I want to be you when I grow up, hah. Thanks for all you do for all of us.
Posted By: Grammypetals@yahoo.com

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I too love to walk at dusk to peek into windows and imagine the lives of the people who live there. I love to walk in the morning and check out how people have landscaped their yards and what flowers they've planted. I got a good laugh over the lamps. I tell my husband that I go for the decorative over the practical and that men are all about what's easy and convenient...but not cute!
Posted By: Marilyn S.

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I too cannot stand overhead lighting. And yes it is the husband who doesn't seem to get it!
Posted By: Posted by Donna E.

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I guess this confirms it--I am not a decorator in any sense. I am a reader and sewer and I like overhead light so I can see better. I have often grumbled about newer houses with no light fixtures in the ceiling at all! I much prefer the overheads, though I think lamps are nice in addition. Except when you live in a small apartment and have no room at all. Here in NYC, the overhead lights in every room are just what I need.
Posted By: Ruth

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This gives me something to think about. I love my unique antique and vintage lights overhead but have lots of little lamps here and there. Will have to turn them on more often and see what I've been missing.
Posted By: Nancy

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hi mary,I live in germany and people here close the windows early so you can`t see inside.But we didn`t do that, so we can see people look in ouer livingroom (thats funny, sometimes)and we know that they are talking in our little village about our american looking livingroom!!!! I love your Magazine since I saw it for the first time when we lived in Texas 1999-2003 and I miss your magazine so much Is there any way that i can by it here in germany??? God bless you your family and friends and america love Renate w.
Posted By: renate widera scrapbooknsuch3@-online.de

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Thanks for enlightening us on that subject, Mary! I totally agree that overhead lighting in the livingroom is NG.It's horrible and glarey and belongs in an office. A lamp can be made from just about anything. The wiring kit can be found at any home improvement store and the shade can be made from lampshade paper and old lampshade rings. Flamable materials should never be used, of course. I once made a lamp from an old crockery jug and a paper-punched lampshade. I had it for more than twenty years and finally tossed my handmade shade but the jug is now on my mantel.
Posted By: Karen Bryant

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Lamp light is so much nicer. We found something to make the lamp light even nicer when we stayed at a Four Seasons Resort, dimmer swithches attached to the lamp. The dimmer control can be set on the night stand or end table for immediate coziness. You can find the swithches at Home Depot. If your lamp is wired to the wall switch you can buy dimmers for that also.
Posted By: Vickie Snow

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Not on the lighting subject but...I realized you were now referring to Mikayla as your daughter instead of grand-daughter. Did you adopt her recently? If so, Congratulations. You're going to love raising a girl after 2 boys. It's so much fun!!!!!
Posted By: Dianne Ballard

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I also noticed Mary referred to Mikayla as her daughter, Congratulations!
Posted By: Pat Kennedy

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Lighting! My husband, the electrician, prefers bright overhead lighting, but I have beautiful lamps in every room except the bathrooms(still working on this). I love the look of the two small table lamps glowing at night in the dining room bay window on the beautiful oak table my husband made me to match the dining room set. I just found the cutest little lamp with beautiful silk shade for my kitchen counter-- makes the kitchen cozy at night. Love my lamps!
Posted By: Donna G., Hatboro, PA

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