I just got back from my 6 day trip to Texas.. and I can't wait to share with you my adventure!
I am breaking this post up into two parts because really the experience was just THAT big.. This post is on the church that I have now fallen in love with.. here is more on that story..
So as you know.. last weekend I was in Dallas Texas attending the Art of Spring event, hosted by the lovely Shea and Debbie of a Gilded Life. I was lucky enough to go with my best friend Margie.. and we arrived Thursday afternoon. More than anything I was excited to see Shea's house.. her husband Rober and her had purchased an old church.. VERY run down historic church about 6 years ago... close to the center of downtown Dallas.. where all the historic old homes are. The church is 16000 Sq ft and they (including Shea, her husband Robert and Shea's mom, Debbie) renovated the church into a house. A HOUSE! I had seen pictures of it in the magazine "Where Woman Create" and also online.. but to see it in person was so cool. Llet me first apologize by saying most of the pictures of from my phone! Sorry! Forgot my nice camera :) But I also did borrow some of these photos from Robert.. Shea's husband.. :) (which by the way.. Shea's husband.. seriously one of the coolest people i have ever met. TRULY a nice guy and just so brilliant!)
The house is split into two living quarters.. the upstairs (main part of the house) an the downstairs (below ground). Each living space has a full kitchen living rooms, bedrooms, etc. First they finished the basement part.. and lived in it through the renovation of upstiars (the main living quarters). The wanted to keep the upstairs of the church in character to what it may have looked like when it was built.. reusing alot of the wood and benches and things left in the church.. BACK into the house. They also wanted to take very special care that everything was as original as possible.. so they hand-scraped and hand-stained most of the trim, beams, doors, floors, etc.. in upstairs living quarters.
This is a view of the basement living room and kitchen which has a more modern feel to it. It really is actually more like two separate houses.. though it's all in the church. I love how creative they were in restoring the up and downstairs so differently. That is partly what Shea's husband does for a living and he is REALLY good at it.
The downstairs is INCREDIBLE.. I loved all the exposed brick and concrete floors. truly so cool.
The upstairs as I said.. was re-done to really stay true to character of the church's history.
This is a view of the upstairs living room and kitchen which has a much more classical "cathedral" feel to it.
Debbie hand cut all the stained glass windows in the house.. and tried to re-create it as it would have been when it was first built. I wish I could remember how many pieces he told me where involved! I Do remember him telling me that they stripped all the trim around the windows by hand.. and there are I think close to 200 windows in just the upstairs alone!
The house has 11 bedrooms and I believe 11 bathrooms..
the living room/kitchen area is where the congregation and alter use to be.. Seriously so cool I can't even BEGIN to tell you!
Here is a picture that hangs in their entry way.. showing what the church looked like when it was first built and how the Alter room. .now living room once looked..
Here are some of the guest bedrooms..
Shea had several of us guests staying at her house.. one of the teachers and her friend, the chefs who she flew in for the event, Jo Packham, the editor and creator of Where woman Create.. some of her closest friends who also help her with the event.. and of course her family. (she has two beautiful children and her husband and mom who live there)
and this is the room me and Margie stayed in.. Nico's room (Shea's 5 year old son.. which oh my heck.. ADORABLE.. he's my new buddy for life!)
This is the master bedroom upstairs..
.. and the best part.. Shea and Debbie's Art Studio which is the entire upstairs loft of the church (it has a balcony that opens up to the kitchen and living room below)
the Studio was full of PURE magic..
What I loved about their studio is everything had a place.. and they had stations set up all through the studio.. one for sewing, one for using the computer, one for soldering and doing jewelry, one for mixed media.. one for fabric cutting.. truly this studio is not only gorgeous but efficient!
Here is a shot of Margie and Heather (Shea's dear friend and mine too :)).. sitting on the studio.. just taking in the surroundings..
I could have sat in that space all day.. oh who I am I kidding.. it didn't matter WHERE I was at in their home.. It was just beautiful to sit and look at all the wonderful beautiful things they had done to this church! I couldn't imagine getting to live there on a daily basis! .. and that is where the sad news comes in..
I found out right before I came that Shea and her family are moving to California.. (her husband's business is there and after years of traveling back and forth).. they decided to just take the plunge and move to California to be closer to him and his work. They movers were actually coming MONDAY (the day after the event ended).. to pack up their belongings and move them!
I was SO sad to hear this news.. especially once I saw this gorgeous magically space.. but family DOES come first! So they are selling the church. One thing I KNEW they would miss (besides living in it on a daily basis).. is that the church is where they hold all of their "Art" retreats they do each year.
They transform the living room into an art studio that seats 50 people.. and the women come for three days and create art in this magical space! They feed them gourmet meals and pamper them seriously.. beyond anything you can imagine! I felt so blessed they invited me to come as their guest and that this could potentially be the last time they have an event in this historic church! Debbie joked that we needed to start selling tee-shirts that said "save the church".. and maybe we could sell enough that we could buy the church and use it to hold art events in all year long.. I was SOOOO in on it! .. I said.. let's start a fund! Save the church FUND! and seriously.. I would do it in a heartbeat.. I am "kinda" hoping maybe it doesn't sell for a little while.. and if it's still vacant there next spring.. we can hold an art retreat in the church..the three (or four of us).. I think it ROCK..
but I know they NEED to sell it.. making two mortgage payments.. specially on something of that size.. is not fun. So I am torn between praying they will sell it soon and praying someone will magically donate all the money to save it.. and let people like us.. rent it out for art retreats, weddings, events.. etc. Wouldn't that be cool? Um..so if you LIVE in the Dallas area.. or know of someone looking to invest into something.. put the little bug in their ear! lol.. It would be so sad if someone came in and just changed the atmosphere of the church all together.. so let's all pray! :)
anyhow.. so that is my post for today.. just LOVED opportunity to come to this event..and be apart of Shea's home. Her family is amazing.. her kids are adorable. Her mom is just like a wonderful sister.. and her husband is an awesome host. I was sad to come home knowing I may never get to see the church again.. that was a great memory! THE GOOD news is.. they will STILL be holding ARt retreats and events.. TRUE Gilded life style.. it might not be in the historic church.. but some of the best parts of their event were the attention to detail that went into the event and goodie bags and the food and the classes. I will post MORE about the actual event next week.. all about the projects we made.. how the space looked transformed into art heaven.. about the foods, the treats we received.. and the trip to Canton for a day of Antique Shopping. amazing. Watch for THAT post next week!
oh! and I forgot to tell you the BEST part!! NEXT Summer.. Debbie, Shea, Margie and I.. are putting together a fun little retreat IN ITALY!.. we have only started on the details.. but I am pretty sure it willl include your housing, most of your food, creative art classes and antique shopping and flea market shopping.. hosted by the four of us! I seriously can not wait! As Soon as I have more details about it.. I will post it on my blog. ALSO If you are interseted in any of Shea and Debbie's local events here in the states.. read their blog! They hold them usually twice a year!
http://whathappensnext.typepad.com/
I hope you have a wonderful weekend!! Happy Friday!
What an awesome place!! such a shame they have to sell!! why dont you come to Abaco Bahamas and do a retreat? my friend has a bed and breakfast that would be perfect! www.lubberslanding.com
she and I are going to be taking SOul Restoration in teh fall!
Posted by: Kimberly Roberts | June 10, 2011 at 03:02 PM
OH what a wonderful trip Christie...now...sign me up, immediately, for the trip to Italy...that will be my retirement present, from me to me {seriously I need to start saving my $$$ so as soon as you decide let me know}! I'm a member of the Silver Stash Society and you should see the monthly kits...yummy!
Posted by: Martha Richardson | June 10, 2011 at 03:28 PM
Just beautiful...I wish I had known about when I live in Houston :)
Posted by: lisa keys | June 10, 2011 at 04:03 PM
all i can say is OMG!!!!!
Posted by: janie | June 10, 2011 at 04:03 PM
Oh if only I had a few million dollars... It would be mine!!!
Posted by: Ramee from Rae-Berry Beads and More | June 10, 2011 at 04:46 PM
Goodness... you make me smile! Love reading about your experience at Shea's. I adore being there! Today was SO sad... boxes everywhere and not a bit of gild to be found!!
Posted by: Heather | June 10, 2011 at 04:50 PM
WOW!! So cool!! Maybe they'll find a better and bigger church in CA!
Posted by: Sandy | June 10, 2011 at 05:35 PM
Unbelievable!!
Posted by: Dottee O. | June 10, 2011 at 08:08 PM
Absolutely Stunning!! And Italy?? That would be Awesome!
Posted by: Kim Boken | June 10, 2011 at 09:02 PM
Wow!! I live 2 hours from there and never knew about it! That had to be amazing!!
I only wish and dream of the trip to Italy,I know it would be awesome! Thanks for sharing your experience!!!!
Posted by: MELINDA MCCALL | June 10, 2011 at 09:54 PM
OMG - how beautiful!!! I would love to see it in person. They did a wonderful job - it should be in a magazine spread!!! Love it!
Posted by: Linda Polaretzki | June 10, 2011 at 10:02 PM
Wow, Italy? Be still, my heart! I don't know how I could swing it, but it sounds like it would be the trip of a lifetime. Do keep us posted! Oh it is so sad that Debbie and Shea are leaving their beautiful church/home. I loved it in Where Women Create,and have been anxiously waiting to hear about your visit. Do you know where in Calif they are going to relocate? I live in the San Francisco area and would love to see what new Gilded Life they create in the Golden State!
Posted by: Christa Thomas | June 11, 2011 at 10:12 AM
My family did a trip to Italy almost 10 years ago for my birthday, going back to our family roots. We started talking about going back and doing cooking classes but this sounds fantastic !!!!!! Count me in. The church is beautiful and hope fully someone will take over and keep it going.
Posted by: Lisa Ciaravino | June 11, 2011 at 10:21 AM
WOW! Absolutely beautiful!
Posted by: Karenliz | June 11, 2011 at 07:47 PM
This is amazing - beautiful!
Posted by: Deanna | June 12, 2011 at 10:57 AM
Holy smokes! Sign me up for Italy! Seriously!!! I'm in!!!!
Posted by: Carmen Gibson | June 12, 2011 at 05:08 PM
Oh, Christy, that church is gorgeous. Gotta run...i am signing up for Italian lessons! Ciao!
Posted by: ida | June 13, 2011 at 09:12 PM
Gorgeous! Absolutely amazing! Thanks for sharing!
Blessings,
Mel
Please feel free to stop by: Trailing After God
Posted by: Mel @ Trailing After God | June 16, 2011 at 03:22 PM
Oh my goodness~! Someone just sent me a DM from Twitter with this link because my blog theme is Medieval! That is just amazing!
Thank you for posting this!
Posted by: Michelle | June 18, 2011 at 05:16 PM
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Posted by: אסלות | February 02, 2012 at 04:33 AM