We are very pleased to welcome Catherine Masi to A Beautiful Mess today to share her lovely home with us! 
"I'm recently divorced, but it's been the best case scenario, all things considered (my ex-husband and I are still best friends, thankfully.) That said, this new home is a wide-open and positive new endeavor for me. It's a beautifully bright and creative space in a light-drenched guest house on a 1920s estate in the Montecito area of Santa Barbara, Califiornia. Neat fact: One of the first female Oscar winners lived here for a time in the 1930s! Also, the sun shines through the bedroom window in the morning and comes around to shine in my office window at the end of the day. I'm seriously counting my blessings. It's a great home for all kinds of good reasons (including afternoon tea or coffee and evening cocktails with friends—lots of that going on here these days). And I really love the colors from the accents that pop from the all-white walls. It all just makes me feel so peaceful, happy, and blessed. It's my little haven of all things sentimental, mixed with brand new possibilities. It's a good combination, I think." 
"I love all the art throughout the house, but the ones in the bedroom are extra special. The dresser was built and painted by my grandfather whose father brought the family's furniture business over from Italy and into Brooklyn at the turn of last century. He and his team made this piece around the 1930s. It was with me growing up in my childhood bedroom back in New England, and it' traveled across country to be with me here. I love it so much. There are also other trinkets/artwork that were my mother's, who passed away when I was little, and a couple other thoughtful gifts from my father and step-mother. And the large ink drawing was a gift from my ex-husband who recently made it for me to remind me of the places I will go in life. See? Special stuff." 
"It's still kind of surreal that I have this space all to myself. One bummer about this home, since I'm now renting, is that I can't have my most wonderful and awesome boxer dog, Mars, stay with me. So I do my daily visits with him at his dad's house 🙂 But what this means for my new home is no dog hair, no muddy paws. So I get to have white fluffy rugs, and I get to leave all my materials out without Mars sniffing around and making off with silk ribbons and gold leafing attached to him. Ultimately, this means that I can use every room to create new projects, do photoshoots, and produce my shop orders without concern for (though very adorable) dog drool. In essence, this space is really the little playhouse and art studio I had always dreamed about." 
"This is a fairly new space for me. I moved in at the beginning of last Summer. And, even though it took me longer than expected to put everything in its place, when I first stepped out of my car and saw the big old palm, pine, and citrus trees and flower gardens surrounding it, I knew it would be my home. Things are still evolving, design-wise, inside this cozy house. But every time I return back from being out and about, I feel settled and peaceful. That to me is the mark of a happy home." 
Thank you so much, Catherine, for sharing your gorgeous space with us! You can find more of Catherine over at her shop or on Instagram! xo.
75 Comments
I hear ya, Meredith! p.s. I purchased those (faux) fur rugs from Fur Accents on Etsy 🙂
Your home is beautiful and calming. I, too, love the white. My new home has all white trim; it’s a clean fresh feeling. Love the fluffy white carpet!
What a stunning space. It feels so fresh! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Bill!
Love them!
Sara, hi! The floral decals are from MettaPrints on Etsy 🙂
Hi, Minnie… I’m told it’s a Maiden Hair Fern!
Oh thanks, Chloe! I’ve had to remove the comments section on my blog because there were too many weird glitches, but I’m so glad to hear you are a regular visitor over there 🙂
I think I’ll have to print this one out and carry it around with me in my pocket… thank you ♥
You!
Hi there, Jessica… the vintage floral decals are from MettaPrints on Etsy; the gold polka dots are from WallsWeLove, also on Etsy. Both great quality and good customer service!
Hi, Mara!
I got those at Target last Summer (not sure if they’re still available?). I bet there are still a few lingering around out there!
I love you, Ms. Kerstin. (Thank you♥)
The Charlie Chaplin hotel! He and Oona stayed there on their honeymoon, so you’ve got that connection! It’s a neat place to start off a romance 🙂
Leave it to you to know this… 🙂
Hi, Stacey. I think I got that table at World Market…
Hello, Everyone…
Just want to take a moment to thank you all for your kind and generous comments + a big thank you to ABM for featuring my home; I feel like a very lucky girl to have this much positivity around me and my living + creative space- so thanks for that 🙂
If I’ve missed responding to anyone’s inquiries, please feel free to email me at info[at]ShopCatherineMasi[dot]com and I’ll do my best to answer any questions you might have.
Warmly,
Cath
I am so excited you guys like the wall flowers! I made a coupon code for readers of this blog (I hope that’s OK)
20% off through the end of November off the big floral decals (or anything else in my shop)
Coupon code: ABEAUTIFULMESS
http://www.etsy.com/shop/MettaPrints
WOW! Great design aesthetics. This really show off your sensibilities to design. Clean and articulate design. WOW again …
Catherine the flowers look amazing! I am so glad you’re enjoying them! Thank you!
Love this space, it’s so DIFFERENT than what we usually see in ‘At home with…’. I’m not saying it’s good or bad, it just looks so fresh!
I love the use of white whilst still remaining quirky and individual. The desk space and mood wall are my favourites. Thanks for sharing!
SO beautiful! The most beautiful space this far! <3
Ummm, I need to know everything about these floral wall decals!
I would love to know what that plant is in the second picture!
This is so pretty and feminine- the sunshine, the flower walls! And what a glamorous history to it. Love!
I love your blog but never comment…but I just had to comment to say that this is my favorite house in the series! Such perfection!!!!
Being blessed enough to know you, it is only so fitting for you to be surrounded
by such aesthetically arranged treasured items.
I am in love with the space you have created for yourself.
It is a perfect reflection of how your heart
radiates outward into your work and your surroundings.
Only you could capture timelessness, peace, boldness and cheer…
balanced perfectly in one space. As brilliant as your heart!
-TLJ
Such a nice place, lovely details and her plants are really nice too! x
http://moiraparton.blogspot.co.uk/
me too! They’re stunning. Currently on the hunt for some on the internet (:
She has lovely style!
xo Jennifer
http://seekingstyleblog.wordpress.com
a beautiful space for a beautiful lady.
woah, I LOVE this home! Please tell us where those decals are from!!! pinning!
The botanical inspiration to your space has such a modern feel with a nod to the vintage. Thank you for sharing!
Karen June
www.littleyellowcouch.com
Beautiful space! I have been inspired and have a question for Catherine:
Where did you get the maroon stools under the window in your living room?
Hey, there… the pretty plant is a type of fern (though I can’t recall the exact name; I’m sorry!). I’m learning how to not kill it- so far so good 🙂
Maiden Hair fern 😉 xxoo
Absolute perfection ! So excited for Cathi to be featured . She has an amazing eye and talent. …. Which needs to be shared and admired . Not to mention a beautiful soul , all shown in this post!!!! Well done! Xxoo
Hi, Eveline… thank you! It was the nutty Marie Dressler who lived here for a time in the 1930’s.
Well, I wasn’t expecting to see you here, Ed! Love back at’cha.
Thank you, Naomi! The tattoos are done by Sebastian Orth, my very talented ex-husband 🙂
Aw thanks, Maggie. It’s so nice to hear your folks are able to make it a positive experience, too 🙂
… and it works, too!
Hi, Wanda! Try MettaPrints and WallsWeLove (for the gold polka dots) on Etsy.
Hi, Gina. Thank you! They are decals… check out MettaPrints and WallsWeLove (for the gold polka dots) on Etsy 🙂
Very cute home! My boyfriend and I stayed at the Montecito Inn at the beginning of last summer, and that’s where we became boyfriend + girlfriend! Very nice area!
Those flowers on the wall!!! Be still my heart! <3
Love,
Stephanie May*
http://www.maydae.com
Great decorating! I was wondering though, what type of plant is that in the white pot in the second picture? I see them mall over pottery barn catalogs and have always liked them…
Love your house Catharine! Impressive that you have put all of this together in just a couple of months! I’m curious, who was the female Oscar winner who once lived in your house?
http://fragilityofbeauty.com/
WOW…great way to reflect on spaced utilized versus simply the occupying of space.
so warm and beautiful!
http://davrilpoisson.blogspot.com/
So proud of my sis!! Love you Cath. Thank you ABM for featuring her!!!
Absolutely crazy about that wall painting! xx
www.creativityandchocolate.com
How Gorgeous!!!! Love the romance, plants, yet not-too-cluttered house. Molte bella!
Love it; pictures and the write up
So lovely!! Inspirational all around!
www.ayellowsparrow.com
I love her home and her tattoos! Pretty lady~
xoxo
The Occasional Indulgence
Beautiful! What a lovely use of colors and trinkets! So darn cute!
http://sometimesgracefully.com
LOVE all the flowers, they make it such a happy and beautiful home!
http://talisatalksbeauty.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/birchbox-uk-november-2013.html
This looks like such a bright, positive space. My parents are also recently divorced but still on the best of terms. Good luck!
My favorite is that white floral table!
LOOOVE all the flowers!
I’m a hippie flower girl as well- as you can see here:
http://lasagnolove.blogspot.de/2013/11/weekend-reviewmy-army-of-fortune.html
Love from Germany,
Bambi
Wow, Love the flower theme of her home. It looks alive and comfy.
http://thinkworkandgo.blogspot.com/
Holy Moses, I just fell in love with that telephone! I bet it practically makes you Audrey Hepburn if you use it! ♥
Looooooove it! All the floral is just so lovely! It’s the kind of look I want for my future home! I especially love that dresser– wow!
http://cuddlyasacactus.wordpress.com/
what a cozy and lovely abode!
xx
the floral pieces on the wall are amazing! absolutely love this dreamy space
xxoo,
nikki
www.dreaminneon.blogspot.com
gorgeous home!
So pretty! I love the flower wall art.
Lovely, lovely home! It is so bright and happy.
Lovely home! xx
Love the floral decals!! I am a renter as well and am always looking for new inspiration. It is sometimes difficult to find fun (temporary) design solutions. Where did she find those decals??
I love how wonderfully feminine the space is. It seems like the perfect spot for this time in her life.
What a lovely home ! It’s absolutely nice!I love the flowers on the wall!! Thanks for sharing.
What a lovely, romantic home! I especially like the floral decals(?) on the walls.
Gina Michele