Diana Shaul Fine Art

Story: The house on the corner didn't always look like this. A few years ago it was unloved, with crumbling brickwork and flaking paint on the window frames. I made my way to the front door anyway, undeterred even when one of the steps gave way beneath me. I was greeted by cobwebs, a musty smell, and proof positive that the roof leaked in two places. But somehow, even in the face of all that, I decided that this place could be home.

It took a while for me to make some changes. The outside had to come first. Roof repairs and repointing; window repairs and repainting; a new door and steps that could bear my weight and more: my learning curve was steep. I made mistakes, some of them painful. But I was resolute and stubborn, and I refused to give up.

Inside, walls came down and support beams went in and rooms opened up. I chose kitchen cabinets and a granite countertop. I selected a claw-foot tub for times when I just needed to relax and a shower for when I was up against the clock. I created a bedroom oasis, with an antique mirror and the dressing table of my dreams. My living room finally became a place where I could welcome friends.

The plants came last. The baskets that hung from the lamp post just beyond my front steps inspired me as I filled my window boxes. I had to be patient: the climbers took their time to grow.

The house on the corner wasn't always a home. With love, imagination and determination, I made it so.

Media: Acrylic and mixed media

Surface: Box canvas

Size: 41cm x 51cm x 1.5cm (depth); 16.1" x 20.1" x 0.6" (depth)

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