The Herron House

Two geese shaped planting pots on the front step at the entrance of Charmion Herron's home caught our attention. Herron remembers that when she was young, her mother put these pots in front of the house as decorations. Such decorative objects continue to remind Herron of her late mother who resided in this house until her death. 

Herron has carefully preserved the memory of her mother embedded in the architecture of this building. She has retained the green carpet that her mother laid on the stairs and the front entrance area. The carpet has worn out, yet Herron has no intention of replacing it. Some of the changes that her mother made to the home were more permanent in nature. For instance Herron's mother took down a wall between the living area and the entrance space. As a result, she expanded and extended the front living area. By taking down walls, she rerouted circulation and set up new boundaries between various domains. Such architectural changes make a big impact on the identity, everyday practices and lifestyle of inhabitants. 

A home is more than a property we buy and sell, more than a structure that we build and care for. It is a palace of memories and a repository of the past. Charmion Herron's abode is a good example of such an evocative space.