“The Bee Cottage,” a Decorating Memoir

Naturally drawn to all things bee, the Buzz recently met Frances Schultz, author of “The Bee Cottage Story; How I Made a Muddle of Things and Decorated My Way Back to Happiness,” at a celebration and book signing at Hollyhock, Suzanne Rheinstein’s fabulous furnishing store formerly on Larchmont Blvd, now on La Cienega for several years.

The book is Ms. Schultz’s delightful memoir of recovery and renewal after a series of setbacks including the loss of her parents, a bout with cancer and the end of a relationship. An accomplished author of home design books and articles for House Beautiful magazine and host of “Southern Living Presents” cable television show, Schultz shares all her decorating secrets down the paint colors and fabrics she selected for her small cottage in East Hampton.

Instead of moving into the house with her fiancé, Schultz finds the courage to end the relationship and start fresh. Named The Bee Cottage because of her desire to create a home that allows her to simply be; Schultz’s work on the renovation becomes the vehicle to a new future filled with cherished furniture and collections from the past in a new setting imbued with greater understanding and appreciation for her authentic self.

The Bee Cottage story also becomes a wonderful case for the importance of allowing yourself to be happy, even if you sometimes don’t feel you deserve it.

As a home and garden writer, as well as a talented painter and observer, Schultz emphasizes the therapeutic value of surrounding oneself with beauty and the downright importance of these things that are often considered frivolous. She writes about the power of authenticity to become self aware and the ability to free yourself from the burdens of what she calls “tribal beliefs.” The are notions that others have about our lives that can take over and silence our passions leaving us to pursue a life that conforms to others expectations and not our own.

“Being authentic allows us to see our soul’s blueprint, intuit our purpose, fulfill our mission, and make our hearts sing.” Anything else is clutter, she warns.