07/19/2026
My name is Judy Watson. I apologize for the long post, but I want to share my story and how it has led me to where I am today.
A lot has happened in my life over the past few years, and I’ve found that my social circle has decreased tremendously. At 59 years old, I am an empty nester, living alone for the first time in what feels like forever. At first, I was sad and lonely, but as time has passed, I’ve begun to realize that I still have a full life to live. It’s definitely not the same, but the beauty of it is that I can make my future—and my life—whatever I want it to be. I’m discovering things that I truly enjoy and removing things from my life that no longer serve the life I want to create.
One of the first things I decided to do was redecorate my home. I had furniture that had definitely seen better days and a bed that was aggravating the back issues I’ve been dealing with. As a wife and, later, a mother, I always considered the tastes of my husband and daughter when choosing my décor. They both leaned toward neutral colors that I always thought were a little boring and dull. I was always drawn to bright, open white spaces or bright, colorful ones.
I went out and purchased a new Purple mattress with an adjustable frame, a new sofa sleeper, loveseat, two chairs for my living room, and a new dining room table and chairs. What surprised me was that, left to make the decisions on my own, I still chose neutral pieces. A brown sofa and loveseat, a light wood dining table, cream dining chairs, and two camel-colored accent chairs with wooden arms. For the first time, those choices were mine alone, without anyone else’s influence.
Another thing that surprised me was discovering a love for plants, both indoors and out. When my daughter lived at home, we had two cats, so we had to be careful not to bring in anything that could be toxic to them. When she moved out, she took them with her, and suddenly the possibilities opened up. It all started with a plant arrangement my coworkers sent after my mother’s funeral. It included a peace lily, a palm, a pothos, and another plant I never could identify. That mystery plant didn’t survive, but the others are still thriving. Since then, I’ve added a Bird of Paradise, a collection of succulents, two snake plants, and my sister gave me two beautiful ferns for my front porch.
Even though I chose neutral furniture, I found myself warming everything up with color—Swiss Coffee paint, rust-colored curtains and pillows, amber glass, sage greens, woven textures, and walnut-stained wood. It’s still neutral, but it feels warm, inviting, and anything but boring.
I still have a long way to go, but as I work through each room, I’ll be sharing my progress, along with before-and-after photos whenever I can. Once my home is finished and my workspace is ready, I’ll begin transforming thrifted finds into beautiful pieces for Cleo & Pearl’s Market.
Thank you for following along on this journey. I’m excited to see where it leads, and I hope you’ll enjoy being a part of it with me.
