In the details

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Sep 21, 2002 by Ann Marie Bush Capital-Journal

"We love this house," Dan Garrity said. "It is such a wonderful home. It is Victorian, but it is different than Victorian. It has some Southern influence that allows a lot of light in, too."

That Southern influence is most noticeable in the courtyard. While the couple was visiting Charleston, S.C., Mary Carol Garrity fell in love with the courtyards she saw there.

"She had cinder blocks flying the very next day," Dan Garrity said.

While Dan Garrity enjoys the kitchen with its Viking appliances (it was the last room to be finished), Mary Carol Garrity loves the entryway, staircase and courtyard with walls, she said.

"I just fell in love with the Charleston wall gardens," she said.

Recently, the Garritys opened the house to visitors for Mary Carol's book signing. Visitors were invited to meander through the first level of the home, including the dining room, sitting room, living room, foyer, kitchen, courtyard and screened-in porch. There are bathrooms and four bedrooms upstairs.

Mary Carol Garrity loves to share her decorating ideas with her customers and visitors to her home.

She especially loves fall and Christmas decorating.

On many of the lights in her house, she has dangled prisms from ribbon and added big bows and garland.

When decorating for different seasons, don't get rid of the everyday things that make their house a home, she said. In her own house, she usually just moves things around to give it a different look.

She also enjoys setting the table for company.

"I just love dishes," she said.

Mary Carol Garrity loves the idea of bringing out the good dishes during special occasions.

"People get into their china cabinets and get out the silver," she said.

For fall decorating, almost everything goes.

"So much of the fall works well into Christmas," she said. "Right now, it's everything --- the bright reds, every shade of green from moss green to emerald green. It's all about the individual."

Both Mary Carol and Dan Garrity enjoy the time they get to spend at home, they said. They are really enjoying it now that the remodeling is finished.

"After it was all done, it was so worth it," Dan Garrity said. "We have such a wonderful place that is so unique."

Mary Carol Garrity isn't the first female entrepreneur to own this house, her husband pointed out. The hospital was started by a woman proprietor. Later, another woman who wanted to develop the rest of the block moved the house.

"It would have had to have been done with logs and mules," he said. "This house has kind of been a path for women entrepreneurs."

And Mary Carol Garrity fits right into the scheme of things.

Ann Bush can be reached at

(785) 295-1207 or anbush@cjonline.com.

Fall: Themes go season to season

See FALL, page 18