Adding Color To A Neutral Room

I love colorful, fun accent pieces.  I had been keeping an eye out for something new to display in our antique china hutch.  It needed an update to go along with our newly renovated house.  For years it held a set of Blue Willow and various Flow Blue pieces.  Always classic, I plan to keep them, but was in need of a punch of color in our dining room.  I hate to call it a formal dining room, because nothing in the house is formal.  But it is the room that is only used for holidays or when entertain shoot, I can’t even type that word.  I overdosed on HGTV a few years ago and would cringe every time they used the word “entertain”!!!  So you get the picture.  I thought something bright and beachy would add a bit of whimsy to a mostly neutral room.

Probably the most nervewracking thing about me styling our home is that it takes me forever and a day to decide on something.  If it doesn’t just jump out at me, I pass on it.  Ultimately drawing out what would take others days to complete, weeks and months pass!

One day when I was least expecting it, I stumbled upon the perfect piece.  It was a handpainted platter of a pelican by artist Dana Wittmann.  I had to have it.  Happy with my purchase I was excited to find a little card enclosed that told the history of the piece.  Ironically, Dana Wittmann is from the Gulf Coast of Mississipi.  Right from where we used to live.  We moved across the country about three months before hurricane Katrina hit.  Our old neighborhood was obliterated!  Thankfully all our neighbors survived, but they all lost their homes and everything.  For Ms. Wittmann, hurricane Katrina was a turning point in her life and Dana Wittmann Designs was born! Read about her here.  So, WOW! We shared a connection.  Poor woman, here I am talking about her like she is my best friend, truth is I’ve never even met her!  But anywho….my collection began!

Dana Wittmann hand painted bowls platters and plates

They are beautiful, handpainted pieces.  So bright and fun.  A perfect way to add personality to any space.  Her website states that each piece is marked by a cross, Dana’s symbol for thanks to God for the talent He has given her.  She adds “My hope is that these pieces will bless people’s homes like they have mine and my family and friends.  Home is where the heart is.”

Amen to that!!!!!!

Dana Wittmann hand painted gulf coast pottery