I stood outside of the home of Bunny Williams, one of America’s premier interior designers pinching myself. Was I really, finally here? 

The self-guided tour of her property, part of the Trade Secrets annual plant sale weekend, had been on my list of must-do events for years. 

I guess it’s official. I am an empty nester. 

With my youngest off to college and my oldest moving back out as a pandemic refugee from Manhattan, I find myself reflecting on what I call my three stages of motherhood. 

SInce my two daughters are nine years apart, my three very distinct stages were nine years of Melissa alone, nine years of Melissa and Becca here together, and my last nine years of Becca alone. 

That adds up to a 27 year career as an at home mom. 

Yes, I have taken many steps in the last weeks to enjoy some newly found independence. I had lunch with my bestie, scheduled some travel, and went away for a spa weekend.  It is odd to not hear kids’ voices in my house, but it is not exactly peaceful. 

You see, I am a glutton for punishment. 

I find that I am now knee deep in stage four of my motherhood. 

I am still an at home mom, but now to four bad dogs.

I don’t know about you, but my garden is exploding in such a glorious way this season!  The roses have peaked up here in the northeast, and they were especially fragrant and lush this year. 

I have had roses on my mind since my late April trip to Alabama where I visited the beautiful Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

Cue the French music, spring is definitely in the air in this fabulous “Fleur de Vigne” dining room by designer Sam Ciardi of Samuel Robert Signature Spaces. This is another great designer room I have highlighted in this showhouse benefitting the Morristown Medical Center. 

I could almost smell the heady fragrance from the bursting flower vines on that divine wallpaper. 

More was definitely more here, and this room does not hold back.