Can you count how many paint tricks pour on the charm? by Roberta Messner Was our photography crew ever in for a surprise when they visited this issue’s prizewinning home. Patti Tubbs had mailed in the requisite snapshots of what she and her husband, Dan, had accomplished at their Beavercreek, Ohio, condo since moving there four years ago. But photographs alone could not begin to capture the coziness... the comfort...the magic. Then the crew stepped inside. One look at the Tubbs’ welcoming condo and it was clear that a collector resided there. A passionate one. Room after room showcased primitive country style at its unabashed finest. So join us on our tour as we introduce you to some Ohio folks who don’t have the word “Can’t” in their vocabulary. In its stead are words like “Maybe,” “What if?” and “Let’s try it!” The Handwriting on the Wall. Above: This charming saying (that Patti painted) gives visitors something to really smile about. Consigning Woman. Below: Patti found these Parsons chairs in a consignment store for $150 apiece and snatched them right up.

UNBOUNDED BY RULES There’s an unspoken rule for condo owners that if the nook above the fireplace is large enough to house a television, then it should. But don’t tell that to Patti Tubbs. She decided that space was the perfect spot for a country-style vignette. Hanging a “Gathering Room” sign there instead, she then displayed all manner of country curiosities on the mantelshelf below, giving the arrangement prominence and establishing the theme for the space. There’s another rule that goes something like this: Doors are meant to be dividers between spaces. But present Patti Tubbs with a door and she sees it as a canvas for creativity. Doors in the Tubbs’ condo are painted with everything from a checkerboard motif to farm animals. More sedate doors act as foils for baskets of wildflowers or welcoming wreaths. Not surprisingly, Patti has a philosophy about painting, too. According to her, “When you paint, it should look like you’ve painted!” In addition to innovative painted doors, charming sayings also have found their way onto walls in the Tubbs’ home. One particularly popular one is found in the entrance, and it never fails to evoke a smile. Patti decided on it because of the close proximity to neighbors when living in a condo. It reads: “That love your neighbor thing... I meant that. God.”

Do it with Details. Left: Little touches — like wallpapering the back of bookshelves to coordinate with checks on the walls — make a memorable difference. (Checks on accessories carry the theme even further.) Photos: Bradley Olman; Roberta Messner, stylist next page >>>

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