Sharon Beesley’s Colorful House Explodes With Goodwill Finds
“A friend texted me the real-estate listing and said, ‘You need to get this house,” says Sharon Beesley, who lives in Connecticut. “My husband, Rob, and I went to the open house and immediately knew it was our forever home. We’ve been here for six years and I never want to leave.” Today, she gives us a tour…
ENTRYWAY
Wallpaper: William Morris. Mirror and table: vintage.
On historical details: Our house was built in the 1800s. While searching for wallpaper, I learned that textile designer William Morris designed all his prints in the 1800s. So, this wallpaper felt very fitting.
Starry floor mat: Wayfair.
On a starry moment: Honestly, I bought this floor mat because it was affordable, and I can mop it, and it’s super low so the front door doesn’t get caught. I thought it might be cheesy, but everyone compliments it, so I guess it’s cool!
On affordable pieces: Almost every item in this house has a Goodwill price tag on the back. Sometimes I like to imagine that someday, when I’m long gone, there will be an estate sale and people will be so impressed with my Goodwill art. They’ll be like, ‘She was amazing! Look at what she paid for that! Can you believe it?!’
On collaborating with your spouse: My personal rule is that, before Rob and I start a home project together, I must read one chapter out of a marriage therapy book. Doesn’t matter which one. Any will do. The book I read before doing our foyer wallpaper was Us: Getting Past You and Me to Build a More Loving Relationship.
DINING ROOM
Paint: Farrow & Ball’s India Yellow.
On holiday traditions: Thanksgiving in our home is big; we always do it up. Last year, I followed Samin Nosrat’s guide to making Thanksgiving less boring, and it was amazing. All her dips and toppings made our meal explode.
Table and chairs: thrifted. Rug: “passed down to us by our late neighbor Lou. We loved him!”
On a secondhand-shopping tip: I found our dining chairs at a Habitat for Humanity ReStore, my favorite store in the whole wide world. When traveling, I love to visit the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore to see what they have.
Lamp: thrifted from Goodwill. Poster: thrifted from Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
On decorating wins: My aesthetic can very quickly go ‘circus.’ I’m constantly pulling myself back, like, No, no, no, no… But I love this poster because it lets me have my circus moment.
On design hyperfixations: When I walk into an antique store, I always feel wildly overwhelmed. My solution is to choose one specific item and look for only that, over a long period. Two years ago, it was candlesticks. This year, it’s vases.
Locker: vintage, similar.
On workhorse furniture: We got this locker back when we lived in New York City. My three kids originally used it to store their backpacks. Now that they’re out of the house, I use it to hold my house tools, like hammers, tape measures, and sandpaper.
On an empty nest: Did you see that viral interview clip with Michelle Obama and Jon Stewart? I’m with Michelle. As soon as my kids enter the house, there’s an energy they bring, which is great. But it also wears on me. I got married when I was 21 and started having kids at 23. I remember longing to be 40 because by then all my kids would be 15 and almost grown up. Now I’m 44, and for the first time, I’m experiencing life as an adult without kids.
LIVING ROOM
Paint: Farrow & Ball’s Inchrya Blue.
On choosing a show: We like to watch YouTube, so Rob and I have worked out a deal where each person gets 10 minutes of showtime before handing over the remote. Rob likes to watch vintage car auctions, stand-up comedy, and concert clips. I like Say Yes to The Dress, gymnastic videos, and Gardening With Monty Don.
Sofa: Article. Blue throw, side tables, and coffee table: vintage. Armchairs: antiques from Key to the Past. Lamps: Goodwill. Rug: “Another Lou special.”
On cozy corners: This is our central hub, where Rob and I eat meals and watch TV in the evenings. One night, when we weren’t hanging on the couch, one of my kids came to me and asked ‘Are you and Dad okay? What’s going on?’ because he was so used to seeing us together in the same spot. It was really cute.
On choosing paint: I don’t overthink paint colors. I change them a lot. Like the blue in the living room? It might be something else soon. Our bedroom has been green, blue, white, and now brown.
KITCHEN
Paint: Benjamin Moore’s Breath of Fresh Air. Chandelier: The Trove. Mirror: West Elm. Black chairs: Habitat for Humanity ReStore, similar.
On parenting adults: Being a mother to three small children was all-consuming. But now that my children are adults, my role as a parent happens in drips. They call me once a week, and our conversations are beautiful and substantial. I do have to remind myself that I’m not their friend. They’re still my kids, and they still need my support; I will always hold space for their stuff.
Wallpaper: Home Depot. Breakfast bench: custom. Table: Wayfair. Chairs: William Sonoma.
On nook dibs: My son Owen ‘owns’ this nook. He’s the person who used it all the time, and I miss seeing him here. He’d work on his computer or just lie on the bench.
On remembering loved ones: This is a photo of my mom and me. Usually I remember her death day, July 3rd. But I forgot it this year. Afterward, I decided I needed to put her photo in a spot where I’d see her every day. That makes me feel like she’s still part of my life and I won’t have another year where I’ll forget her.
On supporting young moms: Now when I see a young mother, my heart goes out to them. Being a new parent is so hard. New moms, know that it’s okay to focus on just getting by. You’re already doing a great job.
HOME OFFICE
Wallpaper: Home Depot. Curtains: Wayfair. Armchairs: Facebook Marketplace. Coffee table: “a Goodwill $5 find!” Lamps and rug: Goodwill. Basket: vintage from Branford Antiques.
On a wallpaper trick: This is peel-and-stick wallpaper, and what made the application easier was this helper spray. You spray it on the back of the paper and then it becomes wet enough so that you can adjust the paper while putting it on the wall.
Bookshelves: Wayfair. Floor lamp: vintage. Pig: “a gift from Rob.” Pillow: Marimekko.
On a surprising thing about being a therapist: I’ve been a therapist for six years, and I still never know how my clients are going to answer my questions! I’m always impressed by the willingness people have to talk about really, really scary parts of their lives. Their vulnerability is so honorable, I can’t feel anything but gratitude.
PRIMARY BEDROOM
Paint: Benjamin Moore’s Tamarind. Bed: Wayfair. Bedding: Quince. Side tables: West Elm. Rooster lamps: Janis Melone. Bench and rug: vintage.
On being married for more than two decades: I’m constantly refreshing my communication skills. Right now, I’m working on not being harsh when I talk to Rob, so I asked him to check me anytime I speak sharply. We also do a refresher marriage therapy session every few years. I always go into our sessions overly confident, thinking Rob’s the problem and not me. So, it’s always humbling when the therapist looks at me and says, ‘Maybe there are some things you can work on…’
Armchairs: Facebook Marketplace. White lamp: antique.
On keeping the spark alive: We take a coffee walk every morning. We’ll stroll down to the gas station and get dollar coffees, so it’s not fancy, but it’s really nice to start the mornings together.
Dresser: West Elm. Record player: Overstock.
On a relationship joy: I’m grateful that I’m still excited to see him, after all these years together. My excited feeling doesn’t always last long [laughs], but I still feel a rush every time he walks into the house.
GARDEN ROOM
Paint: Farrow & Ball’s Green Smoke. Tapestry: Anthropologie. Book: Super Bloom. Work table: estate sale. Hutch: vintage. Pendants: Lowes.
On a room of one’s own: When my kids left for college, I turned this bedroom into a gardening room. I LOVE IT. I predict it will get me through the winter. My advice for new gardeners? If you want to get into gardening, just do it. Don’t overthink it. Your desire to garden is all you need.
Poster: Goodwill. Side table: vintage. Hanging baskets: Etsy.
On giving back: One spring, I had an abundance of large-flowered tickseed. So, I cut them, tied them in bunches, and left them in a bucket on the sidewalk, with a sign that said ‘free flowers.’ Throughout the day, people would walk by — giggly middle schoolers and women of all ages — to pick out a tiny bouquet. It was the cutest thing ever.
Duck curtains: Goodwill.
OUTDOOR GARDENS
House exterior paint: Benjamin Moore’s Queen Anne Pink. Trim paint: Benjamin Moore’s Capitol White.
On favorite flowers: I’ve gotta say black-eyed Susans. There are so many varieties, and they’re easy to grow in my shitty-ass soil. I like their resilience.
On a gardening experiment: This year, instead of deadheading all my flowers in the fall, I want to let my plants look awful all winter long. Our society has such rigid standards of beauty and I believe they trickle into gardening — people don’t want to see flowers die. We’d rather cut them off. So, keeping my garden up all winter and letting passersby see old dying flowers is my personal way of challenging beauty standards.
On decorating mistakes: I have so many decorating regrets, like hopping on the minimalism trend and painting all the walls white. Or removing the original mailbox, which was so cute. But Rob always describes this house as my greatest art project. And it’s true, living here really inspires me.
Thank you so much, Sharon! We adore you. You can read her week of outfits, too, if you’d like.
P.S. More home tours, including a book-filled home in Copenhagen, a Massachusetts family house filled with books and cats, and a lovely house in the Japanese countryside.
(Photos by Lyndsay Hannah for Cup of Jo.)
Tags: house tours
Comments
119 commentsAmazing home–I am obsessed with the paint colors. Just moved into a house with all beige walls from staging and I can’t wait to paint now. Sharon, thank you for inspiring me! I love that you fearlessly experiment and don’t overthink (my downfall).
I’m making a big assumption here, but my second thought when seeing that last photo (my first being ‘she has such a happy face’) was ‘her boobs look like mine!’ and, honestly, I’m just coming to the end of my breastfeeding journey and looking at the small sad sacks my breasts have become wondering how I make peace with that, and here’s Sharon looking radiant, proudly living in her body, looking so amazing, and that’s exactly what I needed right now. So begone restrictive bras and negative body thoughts, my girls are going to be living their best tiny, free life going forward. Thank you Sharon.
This is by far my favorite house tour! I loved reading Sharon’s blog all those years ago. It’s a treat to get an update. One thing I always remembered was how she gave her twins two different haircuts to either 1. help others tell them apart or 2. to let their personalities shine. Or maybe a combination of both? My sister had twins (that are now 12) and she ended up doing the same thing. Brilliant, practical tip!
I told my kids they could paint their rooms any color they wanted and my youngest was hellbent on a red room. I’ve been hesitating for weeks because the color seemed too intense, but I was so inspired by all the saturated colors in this house that I went out and bought the paint the next day! His room now radiates an incredible warmth and personality that wasn’t there before. Thank you for the reminder to never, ever be afraid of bold colors!
I’ve always thought that a place is only a home when it feels ‘lived in’ and Sharon’s home confirms this in all the very best of ways! Also, is it okay that the part that touched my heart the most was her saying: “…They’re still my kids, and they still need my support; I will always hold space for their stuff.”…? It is so immensely healing to read when you are carrying the scars of a broken parental relationship (following years of narcissistic abuse), while wondering if what you were hoping for wasn’t actually real. Thank you, Sharon <3 Your home is so very clearly a reflection of your heart space.
I vividly remember Sharon’s home tour a decade ago, where she didn’t clean up at all and showed us all of her messes. It made me laugh so hard and I also felt seen. I love this beautiful home, too!
I remember reading Sharon’s blog and those lockers. Wow, we are old and not really aging? DAM GIRL you aging like fine ass wine. And better? HOW ARE THE KIDS OUT OF THE HOUSE. what the fuck is actual time. gonna use that wallpaper spray, can’t stop won’t stop wallpapering everything. I decorated a storage cart at work (a hospital) and my co worker asked if I was OK.
Bahahah loved that they asked if you were ok. Hahahaha I hope it turned out great! I’m sure it did.
Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous! I love a house that feels warm and lived in!
Sharon I live in Branford and drive by your house ALL the time going into downtown Guilford *sob* it’s SO cool to see your house tour here! Once I saw you outside working in your garden while we were driving by and I told my husband “I know her” like a total creeper LOL
Haha oh Eva Say hi next time!! I’d be happy to chat!! For real.
Wow, stunning in every way. I would love to know details about living in a house of that age. Is it difficult/expensive to maintain? The floors are wonderful. Are they original?
Thank you!!! Before this we lived in 1980’s home. Seemed the same amount of upkeep and maintenance issue to me. I’ve never lived in a new build but it just seems like no matter what owning a home is just expensive. the previous owners lived here for 50 years and covered all the floors with wall to wall carpets. We removed the carpets and refinished all the floors in the house in chunks. First floor. Then second. Then attic. It takes time :)
I love, love, love this house. We’re nearing empty nest status and this will be my inspiration. As an avid thrifter myself? So inspired and so happy to embrace her joyful decor that eschews minimalism.
The gardening room… SWOON. The GARDENS. Double Swoon….
This really made me miss design*sponge.
Ugh, me too!!!!
What a beautiful home and life. I admit, I am deeply envious. A normal amount of envy for the gorgeous house, but a deep envy for a strong, happy marriage of over 20 years. I have not found my person, and I want to, and I want to start a family with them. I am careening towards bitterness with why some people find it and others don’t. I am trying to frame this emotion as information about what I want, and what to work towards, but it just seems so much due to luck of the draw and that seems so unfair and hard to deal with as someone unlucky. (I hope this doesn’t come across as begrudging Sharon in particular – she seems a wonderful, warm woman and deserves all happiness!) On a lighter note, I have been inspired to look at wallpaper and have fallen down a b enjoyable rabbit hole!
In case it is helpful, I am in a similar situation. And I really do think a lot of it is luck. I personally am not a fan of it when people try to be reassuring and say, oh i found someone at blah blah age or oh my friend found someone at blah blah age so don’t give up! I mean, truly not everyone finds a partner, not everyone finds a partner that is good for them, and having a long romantic relationship doesn’t even mean it is a good one for someone. I do wish our culture would continue its slow pivot to reframing a romantic relationship as THE central relationship to one option of what a supported and supportive and loving life can look like. And not look at friends as the sprinkle additions that bring sparkle and help, but as just as central and important and capable of building a life of home with.
40 and single here, and while I used to want a relationship and partner like everyone else, I realized that sometimes the grass is not always greener. And that I should just live my life the way I want to. A person will come along or not, but either way, I’m happy with myself and my dog. I truly think we a society put WAY too much emphasis on the importance of being married and not enough on cherishing oneself.
Thank you Kay – it does help, actually! I think you’re right that we are in a slow pivot into understanding that romantic relationships are not the only path to fulfilment, which I also hope continues. I am with you on the “don’t give up, I met someone at…”. I understand it comes from a good place, but it can grate.
I dont know if this is helpful or not but have you considered texting/ emailing all your friends all over the country and saying, “I am looking to meet someone this year who lives no further than xxx away (if that matters to you) and is within this age range. Set me up.” Seems worth a shot! I get it though. Life is so hard! A lot of it is luck. I am personally having a lot of regret about where I chose to move and forced my husband and kids to move. I have self-diagnosed “grass is greener” syndrome. I think we moved to the wrong city, and on top of that, the wrong neighborhood in this city. Probably nothing is so black and white as that, and the same in your case. I would bet there are surprises waiting around the bend for both of us- maybe not finding your perfect partner, but maybe so. Maybe a big move. Maybe a new career opportunity. I try to remember that life is actually pretty long and in 5-10 years, we’ll feel really differently about the things that currently feel all consuming. Wishing you love!
Thank you, Sarah. I am so glad you are happy. Thank you too, Mollie. I have been open with a few friends and asked to be set up if they can think of anyone, but I definitely could and should cast the net wider! I’m sorry you are feeling regretful (and while of course I don’t know your situation, I want to point out that “forced” is a very loaded and I would guess probably too harsh a word to use about yourself and your decision). I really appreciate you sharing that. I’m sure there are surprises upcoming! Wishing you love, too.
Sharon’s home is beautiful, welcoming, fun. I’m going to hijack: a few people have asked how can you afford a big family young etc. I know we are all in different financial boats. But I wonder if others can relate to feeling you/your family are going financialy DOWNWARD in life. AI, recession, disability, death, whatever…I’m definitely in a place where I’m slowly coming to terms with the reality that I might not ever attain the financial situation I “thought” I needed, or even where I was 5 years ago, at 35. I “woke up” and realized I not only need a budget, but I need to budget like I did as a broke student. Also reassessing what I actually need to feel secure, happy, and have a little extra in the long term… I wonder if others are on similar journeys. Its easy to imagine everyone’s doing great, but that can’t be you.
I have been reading Curtis Sittenfeld’s Show Don’t Tell and in one of the stories, the narrator describes his life/financial situation in this EXACT way. Honestly, it was refreshing to read it. For the record, he seems very happy on his downward financial spiral. xo.
Most millionaires are extremely frugal. Warren Buffett still is.
Hire a fee-based financial planner to assist with your finances, and make a spreadsheet with every expense you can think of monthly. Don’t keep your money in a traditional savings account that earns no interest. Put it in a high-yield savings account. Then, designate a chunk to go into the stock market to grow some wealth, which your financial planner can help you with.
I just had a similar financial conversation with a 29 year old at work. She and many of her friends are living paycheck to paycheck and are really disappointed in their financial security despite having degrees and good jobs and reasonable spending habits. The cost of living is high where we live. We are hearing about people getting laid off in our social circles too, lots of feelings of uncertainty.
I loved Sharon’s blog and I simply cannot believe that we are in the empty nester era! This interview is like getting a new season of a favourite show after several years. And one that does not disappoint! 🤎
GIRLS reunion coded
Sharon! I remember your blog when I first had children. The way you seeemed so centered and able to navigate motherhood in the city. You had cool fashion sense, home decor, and all the kids seemed free and fabulous. And now your home is warm, whimsicle, unique, and brave (who would have thought to make a gardening room in home). For many years, our blog truly inspired me. I am now getting my 2nd graduate degree in CMHC in drama therapy, so let’s pretend you inspired me. Cue glitter falling from the ceiling.
i do the same thing with my goodwill finds and i think very similar thoughts of grandeur and how awesome my estate sale will be someday. and how happy someone will be when they purchase a very cool item from my house and turn it over to see the price tag and exclaim, “this lady was a thrifting genius!”
Magnificent!!!
Oh my gosh, just everything but especially THE GARDENING ROOM!!!!!!!!!
Love this! Such a beautiful house and garden! And yes to not deadheading plants! About 6 years ago I started leaving most of my flowers up over the winter and I love it. So many birds eat the seed heads- especially goldfinches on the purple coneflowers and dark eyed juncos eating the black eyed Susans.
And also, the seeds will fall and in the spring you will have baby plants for free!! Which you can nurture and move throughout the garden. Never fails to bring me joy; nature’s gifts.
Sharon is delightful! Her home feels warm and inviting. I’m inspired by her keen eye for Goodwill finds! And as a gardener, love that she turned a room into her own.
I love it all. I really related to this: “My personal rule is that, before Rob and I start a home project together, I must read one chapter out of a marriage therapy book.” My husband and I just had a couples therapy session about an upcoming home project lol.
I just saved so many images from this house tour — tons of inspiration! Appreciate the sweet peek inside this beautiful, personal, awesomely thrifted home.
Her home, the colors, her personality, the whole interview was delightful. I enjoyed reading this so much and feel inspired by her vibrant personality and honesty (Rob’s the problem lol). Her home is so beautiful because it is an extension of herself, Rob and her family! I’m in the midst of raising a young family and hope (and hope to put in the work) to enjoy a beautiful empty nest like hers someday!
Did you put in the brick floor for turning the spare bedroom into a gardening room or was it brick when it was a bedroom?? I love how it makes the room feel indoor-outdoor.
The brick floor is original to the room! Sharon thinks that room used to be the carriage room.
Oh! Wait—we put the brick floor in. :) when we moved in it was linoleum with a brick print. Ha! I liked their idea—but wanted to do the real thing. The room is original to the house and I suspect the original was dirt floors like they are in the barn.
And yes it was brick for the bedroom haha with a couple of rugs to soften it up
Oh this is the most absolutely beautiful house I’ve ever seen in this blog or anywhere else…just starting from the pink exterior…and following with everything else… perfection…so inspiring…thank you for sharing!!!
agree agree agree
I love it. Already plotting to leave work early and head to our local ReStore – I haven’t been in a couple years!
Fabulous! I love W.Morris’ work – I discovered it with a temporary exhibit at the museum (for those who are interested in art, La Piscine in Roubaix, France, highly recommend this museum, AND you get to discover places outside Paris ;) ). Also, I love the garden!
What a fun post! Love and admire her relationship with paint color (not overthinking it). Funny side note: I didn’t realize at first that her legs were crossed in the last pic, and she reminded me of my kids when they were younger when they would wear their shoes on the wrong feet 😂
haha i noticed that tooo
I love everything about this! We’re also avid antique-ers and collectors of other people’s things via marketplace, thrift stores, sides of roads. Our home is quirky and collected. We also converted our yard into a giant messy garden and don’t dead head or trim back we just let nature be nature. So freeing and so lovely to live that way. Cheers for this lovely feature!
I really like seeing Sharon on here! Such a treat
Well, that was DELIGHTFUL.
OMG the OG Sharon!!! Love that you two are still friends. Used to read her blog What NYC Taught Me and even fan-girled over the two of you at a Moth event once upon a time. What a great home! The entry and the kitchen are my favorites and I’m saving them for inspo. The place looks so welcoming and feels harmonious- I imagine that walking though the front door is an immediate nervous system regulator :)
YES to all of this! What a cool friend, mom, gardener, decorator, and therapist. Thank you for sharing this insight into your lovely life.
What a beautiful home! I am obsessed with that blue throw, how pretty!
I unexpectedly teared up when I read this: “Being a new parent is so hard. New moms, know that it’s okay to focus on just getting by. You’re already doing a great job.” Felt like she was talking right to me.
ohhh sarah. well i was talking to you!!
replying hear as another sarah who felt precisely the same way. reminding myself to carry this message into the future for other moms.
eek HERE! (see, just getting by :))
Agreed! My heart was helped<3
Hi Sharon! I’m in love with your home. I also live in CT, and I’m applying to school to receive a degree in counseling in order to make a career change. I’d love to hear a little more about your experience pursuing this career! Thank you for sharing your home with us.
best career ever!!!! so glad to hear you’ve made the decision. wishing you the best. a little about pursuing the career: i saw a therapist the entire time i was in school and then for about the year after. even after i moved to ct. it helped me work through my own stuff while I was learning how to support others, highly recommend it if you are open to it!!
That William Morris entryway wallpaper and the rug — sigh — be still my heart. I love those colors. I’m in the middle of repainting my dad’s living spaces, currently three different colors on the various walls. I can’t make decide, but I don’t mind all three colors together, so he’s living with it for now.
oh boy–sounds like a little circus theme happening!! you know i support that. :)
I have always adored when you share Sharon posts. My heart skipped a beat over “and now that they’re out of the house.” WHAT?! Sob.
Just when I thought I couldn’t love this woman and home any more, you hit me with that beauty standards banger of an ending! Sharon, you are a queen.
i wish there was a heart option on these comments because i would heart the hell out of this one. double hearts!! thank you!!
Beautiful and authentic. Thank you.
I love leaving my crispy flowers in the garden during the fall— I think it adds to the spooky mood of October/November. I do usually do a big shear around thanksgiving, but then leave the plant material where it falls to provide winter insulation for my plant babies and cozy homes for bugs and other critters.
The kitchen wallpaper, the garden, the coziness of the house!
Love your home!! I also leave the thrift prices on decor, haha! Mainly i don’t want kids wondering what to keep or sell or fight over! This $3.99 accent item is not worth the fight, ha!
i didn’t think of this!! so true. can you imagine people fighting over our $3.99 treasures?!?!
Goodwill and thrifting in general is great for finding unique furniture, home goods, and of course, clothes. I am doing so much second hand shopping these days. Is Sharon’s long denim skirt thrifted or does she have a link? Also follow my thrifting journey here: https://www.instagram.com/thejessarchive/
ADORE. While I was at the dentist recently, they were playing some random Nicole Kidman action/thriller from the 2010s where she’s married to a diamond dealer and they live in this McMansion with a sleek, modern kitchen, very stark and bare and I recoiled in horror. I spent a couple of days haunted by that kitchen and try to figure out why and it felt soulless. This house is the exact opposite of that. Treasures everywhere, signs of a cherished life. More of this please. And well done on the Goodwill art! The majority of the art/objects in my home are hand-me-downs, street rescues, or thrifted. My Goodwill puts all stickers directly on the glass though and those stickers are sticky mofos.
Goo-gone works really well for getting the sticky-ness off!
A cotton ball with a little bit of an essential oil helps remove the sticky residue! I’ve tried it on multiple surfaces (glass, drywall, etc.) and it works like a charm!
thank you so much and also thank you for calling all my stuff by its proper name: TREASURES!! yes, I’d like to think my house is a treasure trove. :)
Wow, love this. And love the “bucking beauty standards” and not deadheading. :).
I love Sharon’s home and follow her on Instagram! Last year, I cut my flowers back in the spring instead of the previous fall. It’s only my second growing season here but they THRIVED this summer. Black-eyed Susans are indestructible, which I love/hate. They sprout up all over!
Yes! This is also so so good for habitat for all the overwintering bugs and birds.
So inspiring on all fronts! I feel such kinship with this feature as a fellow 44 year old mom who just recently started couples counseling after several years away. My therapist always says the healthiest people she knows are in that room and I think it’s so true. And I say keep leaning more circus – it’s so lovely!!!
I adore this house! Anyway you could explain a bit about how you apply wallpaper to plaster walls ( assuming they aren’t drywall)? Please and thank you.
I have been anxiously awaiting this tour since it was teased a while go! I love this. And I’m also a little jelly
i love this house so much. as a fellow drawn-to-circus-vibes decorator, i ooohed a lot over that print. a question for the hive– pattern on pattern decorating, how are we doing it? what are the tricks to properly layering different ones? i’m loving the look more and more, but am soo lost as to how to recreate! i feel like every friday link round-up has a lovely english cottage with about 48 distinct patterns that somehow look good?? how????
I think part of it is that we are more critical of ourselves and what we are choosing than we are of someone else’s home, presented to us as finished and admirable. But beyond that, part is looking very closely at what you like and saying out load why it is; do you like that the colors go together or that they clash, that the patterns blend into each other or that they are distinct, that they are geometric, animal based, color on color, or many colors within a particular pattern? A tone on tone one or two color pattern is going to come across differently in a room than a bunch of patterns that are all on a white background (think about how this works with ALL the furniture being on skinny legs – it’s bothersome). And then I’ve also seen some great tutorials that are more analytical and lay out how having one large hero pattern, then one or more medium patterns, and then a small repeating pattern or more all work together better than perhaps three large patterns competing with each other. Most of all, have fun. Try something then if it doesn’t work, swap it out. Go a little crazy! Often we don’t realize that having just 1 or 2 things doesn’t work. It’s having 6 – 10 things/patterns/whatever across the room that make it come together (until you get itchy and then remove 1 thing at a time until you are happy). And take a photo to get a real read on the room – it really clarifies where the problem is better than standing there and just stewing. Have fun!!!
Hey Cat, I highly recommend Living with Pattern by Rebecca Atwood. She’s a painter and textile designer who has an eponymous fabric/wallpaper line. It’s a great book that breaks it down well. And the book itself is beautiful and is pretty on display. The gist I’ve learned from trial and error and her book, and a good mix of small and large prints, and making sure you have solids as a rest for your eyes. I always feel like British cottage decor does this so well.
thanks to both of you! going to check out that book and start experimenting.
i can def see how it looks difficult to recreate. i like a mess. and i’m also ok if I’m not actually doing all the pattern mixing perfectly or even remotely correctly. it’s hard to put to words but I think Cris does a good job below. just give it a try! Part of the fun seeing what you like
The vibes! I want a movie with a cozy plot to be filmed in this house. Then I can vicariously live in it whenever I need a boost.
A special shout out to the dust on top of the dresser!! LONG LIVE THE DUST!! Here’s to more photos of houses that are lived in and lovely and with unperfect trim and LOOK LIKE OUR HOUSES! Thanks for sharing, Sharon – you’ve earned that $1 coffee!
hahaha that damn dresser gets SO dusty!!! what happens in that part of the house is a mystery to me.
This home reminds of the coolest family I knew in a university town in Canada, when I was a kid. It was a British family with 4 wildly different but kind and creative daughters and their mother was an artist. I forget what the father taught, but he was a warm and absentminded man in my memory. Anyway, Sharon and her home are bringing back wonderful memories of hanging out in their house and their fabulous garden!
Ok, Sharon’s home just rocketed into my top 3 COJ home tours of all time!!
Here to say exactly this. Love the house and love the perspectives!
What a joyful and joy filled home! I’m moving into the most boring oatmeal box apartment today, and this post is like a huge shout to embrace my desire to paint it bold colors instead of plain old white.
I adore this home–everything about it! It feels creative, artsy, warm, inviting, cozy. And I’m always happy to see a post about Sharon to see what she’s been up to. :)
A historic house like this is my dream – and hers is absolute perfection!
I love your home, Sharon! And your gardens. I could move right in. So lovely. Have you watched old episodes of ‘Love Your Garden’? I cry almost every episode. Thank you for sharing your space.
uhhhh, no. never heard of this gem. 3 sessions!! I’m on it. Will alan titchmarsh be my new celebrity crush? y/n??? i’ll keep you posted.
what a wonderful home tour. I have so many questions. how did their family support themselves while sharon was having several children seemingly close together – did her husband work? is he a lot older? what’s it like being 44 and already done with having kids? I literally know not a single person like that, who wasn’t an unplanned teen pregnancy. I love all her marriage tips – why did they choose to move to connecticut while still so young (40s to me is very young), isn’t it silent/isolated in the suburbs?
looks like a lot of the answers can be found here: https://cupofjo.com/2025/08/28/sharon-beesley-therapist-outfits/
I have the exact same questions! People are so interesting. And what a beautiful house.
Connecticut doesn’t have to mean suburbs! There are still small, medium, even large towns and cities in other places besides New York! I live in a small town (4500 people) and I have more friends and connections here than I did living in a MUCH larger city. Also curious about your other questions!
I can’t speak for Sharon, but my parents had finished having all four of us by the time my mom was 34 (her first, my older brother, she had at 26 – definitely not a teen mom!). So, at 44, her youngest was 10. My parents owned a restaurant when my older brother and I were born, and my mom worked in it up until our births and soon afterward. She stopped working when the restaurant went under and was a stay-at-home mom when my two younger sisters were born, all the way until I finished high school. My dad always worked. It doesn’t seem that crazy to me, but maybe that’s just because I was raised like this! I know a lot of people I grew up with had three to five kids, some with two working parents, some with one. As far as the suburbs thing — not everyone wants to live in a big city! Plus, from what I know, Connecticut has cities and is also really close to NYC (at least from this Californian’s perspective). My husband and I moved away from L.A. when I was 33 to a much smaller college town, and it is infinitely better in almost every way (the only thing I miss is the food).
I read the other article about sharon and it makes sense. To have kids that young and look after them one needs a working spouse or family help or both. So it makes sense being in a community that trains men to plan to be dads in their early 20s. I have literally not met men who were ready for marriage in their 20s, except for those who were effectively pushed into marriage by their parents or in laws.
hi!! oh good questions!! we married young because we were rasied mormon. Getting married young and having kids is what we believed in. We don’t practice anymore. he worked. i loved my time in nyc (2010-2017) and I could have stayed maybe one or two more years, but now I much prefer Connecticut. I really love our town. we have a great french bakery, the best pizza and indian food, great coffee, the best library, hardware store where they know my name and i know theirs. all within walking distance from my house. this is so dumb–but i really really love the goodwills here. i also have made a few friends and have space to GARDEN.
@Sharon thank you so much for sharing! Would you elaborate on “much prefer Ct”? Why? The things you’re mentioning can also be found in nyc right ? Not saying you should have stayed or anything, I am simply curious to understand what precipitated a movie like that and how one handles going from a huge dense diverse city to suburbs or a small town. I’ve been to Connecticut and it seemed very quiet to me even in New Haven. I’m sure the gardening is a huge plus. What was that transition like ?
Was also raised Mormon, also no longer practicing, and will be an empty nester at age 45 — 2.5 years from now. :) Loved this, Sharon. <3
@Malena – I’m not Sharon obviously but I live in a town right next to hers with many of the same features, and I love her town as well :) yes you can get all of those things in the city, but the vibe of a small town / suburb just feels different. It’s not as hustle bustle as the city, way quieter, less crowded, more space, more GREENERY, and at the end of the day some people just prefer it – myself included :) the city is great, but lots of people just prefer to live in the suburbs.
Like in a fairy tale :)
I did not think it’s possible to love her more!
absolutely unique and STUNNING!! i love this house so so much.
The blue red armchairs WOWOWOWOW! Also I remember Sharon’s blog and it was part of my trinity COJ, Sharon’s blog, swissmiss (and Kottke, obvs.) :)
LOVE! My first house had bold colors everywhere, including a yolk gold room like this one – I may have to bring that back! it is a warm hug in the winter. I’ve been obsessed with estate sales lately. The old stuff is just such better quality, weirder and I don’t mind a little patina. I usually say a little blessing and thank you as I take the item away to let the people know (energetically) I’ll be giving it a good loving home. Currently obsessed with a big marble lamp I got for $30 that just makes me happy. Living in Connecticut probably helps the quality of items considerably, however.
Estate sales yessss. I haven’t reached that level yet–I feel like that’s advanced for some reason. It intimidates me. I should just go. They seem amazing.
So good! So real and beautiful and inspiring! Long live the house tour!!
This might be my favorite house tour yet. All the color choices and thrifting finds are so inspiring! Sharon’s honesty about her relationships with her spouse and kids was also super refreshing
Sharon, you have chosen the most beautiful paint colors for your home! Every one is a winner. :)