Esperance Sutton is a detective at heart. She is fond of solving puzzles, whether they are the 1,000-piece Sherlock Holmes crime-scene jigsaws or the thousand mysteries that make a puzzle out of life.
“When my blood pressure is up and I have had a really stressful day, I find working on solving a puzzle really helps,” said Sutton, pulling out from a neat closet 25 boxes of those she’s completed with her family over the years.
“I’m not the do-’em-and-glue-’em-and-put-them-on-the-wall type,” she said, laughing. “We accomplish them and move on. I have to be desperate to do one more than once.”
A former real estate broker who volunteers her time working on projects to help solve women’s issues, Esperance, whose name means hope, seemingly applies an intrepid detective’s nature to all things about her life.
“I like finding things, and I’m a big believer in recycling and repurposing,” she said, referring to the stately side chairs, sofa, curio cabinet and piano that all are at least 20 years old. All came from consignment shops and other recycling sources she visited looking for a treasure.
Those treasures have to pass a standard of quality in material and workmanship and be budget-friendly. “I resist buying things new,” she said, adding that the hunt is a large part of the fun.
Sometimes, Sutton doesn’t have to go looking for the treasures that end up as part of her home’s decor. Over the years, family and friends have come to know her style and disposition and will give her leads about a piece of furniture or a painting they saw that she might like. Or they give it to her as a gift.
Dolls, paintings, small sculptures, dishes and glassware from China, Africa and elsewhere are pieces of other cultures that have a place on her shelves, tables and walls. “I appreciate other cultures and like having pieces of them around.”
Sutton’s inclination to solve puzzles and recycle goods also comes into play as a member of Women Behind the Community, a volunteer organization that recycles professional clothing and accessories free of charge for women trying to turn their lives around.
“Life gives you a broken necklace, you just restring the beads,” Sutton said.
AT HOME WITH ESPERANCE SUTTON
>> STYLE PHILOSOPHY — Recycle. I stay away from fad items. I’ve always liked quality wood furniture. I seldom buy new. I go to antique shops, flea markets, consignment shots and, my favorite, estate sales to find affordable but great pieces. I like furniture and other things that can grow with you and can be passed along.
>> STYLE SECRETS — Create a solid design and style foundation. Then things can be changed and moved around, creating a whole new look with the same pieces.
>> GOT STYLE FROM — Years of visiting stores and learning what I like.
>> COMFORT VS. STYLE — I absolutely cannot relinquish one for the other. I don’t believe in plastic slip covers and stuff that will stick to my skin. I have to find that space in the middle, where comfort and style come together.
>> COLOR VS. TEXTURE — Is very important, from what I eat to the way I feel when things touch my skin to what I see.
>> FAVORITE COLOR — In warm weather, it is blue. In cold weather, I like mustard and harvest colors.
>> WHAT DOES COLOR SAY TO YOU? It means joy and light, and it can invoke memories good and not so good.
>> MUST-HAVES IN YOUR HOUSE — A fireplace and pictures of boats, lighthouses and the water. I really like the nautical feel, and I am gradually adding pieces.
>> MOST BELOVED OBJECT — I don’t have any beloved things. There are things I like around me like pictures and collectibles, but I don’t have anything I can’t do without.
>> FAVORITE DESIGNERS — I don’t have a favorite designer in mind, but anyone who makes great furnishings and objects is appreciated.
>> HOT TIP — Some things are best left to the pros. For example, as much as you want to get a really smooth surface on a wall, if you don’t know how to prepare the wall you can get a terrible job and throw good money after bad. To minimize imperfections, use flat paint or wallpaper. High gloss paint reveals everything.
>> LIFE ADVICE — Do something for someone else without looking for something in return.
