After almost 17 years writing this weekly column, I must bid you farewell. I have loved every minute of sharing ideas with you each week and will miss it tremendously — but I’m on to new adventures.
We’ve covered a lot of ground over the years. From country to retro, we’ve been through many styles and looks and have touched on everything from paint colours to flooring. I’ve enjoyed learning and evolving with each of you as styles and colours changed over the years.
You’ve been there through all of my renos and redecorating projects, and I truly feel you are all part of my circle of friends. Thanks for coming along for that ride. Thanks for including me as part of your weekend ritual. I’ve enjoyed getting emails from many of you either looking for advice or sharing your experiences and triumphs.
I’ve met a lot of great people over the years that have opened up their homes to readers and allowed us a glimpse into their private spaces. I thank them for sharing their experiences, which inspired us to make our own spaces beautiful.
Thanks to the Free Press for taking a chance on an unknown local writer those many years ago and letting me hang around for so long. I am proud to have been a part of our local paper.
Thanks to my husband, who is my biggest fan. He did much of the work on those renos mentioned above and didn’t get a lot of credit for it. He’s been my sometimes photographer, chauffeur and proofreader. He’s my hero.
We plan to do a lot of travelling now that we’re retired. We have such a lovely country to explore and want to see it from coast to coast. I’m looking forward to our new adventures.
Keep frequenting our wonderful local decor businesses. I’ve always tried to support the work of small business in Winnipeg and throughout Manitoba, and their efforts to keep on keeping on. You can usually find something unique for your home in those stores, which helps inspire you to keep your decor updated, that you won’t find in chain stores. We should treasure what we have.
I can’t go without giving you at least one more bit of advice, which is to keep your decor evolving. I think the home is so important in our lives. It’s our place to recoup and revive, to nurture and grow and to make memories. It needs to be as beautiful and comfortable as we can make it.
Here’s to wishing you all the very best and thanks again for everything. You have been my biggest inspiration.
Connieoliver2016@gmail.com
