After the sad news was announced yesterday that Elizabeth Edwards had died, ending her six-year battle with cancer, readers began searching my blog for photos of her home in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. News reports said that she died there, surrounded by family and friends.
I originally posted photos of the house after Oprah interviewed the Edwards family in early 2009. As I recall, that was before John admitted that Rielle Hunter’s daughter Quinn was his, and before he and Elizabeth separated.
Nate Berkus visited her home on his show recently, and you can see part of the interview on his website. I found it very moving. She told him that she was determined not to live out the rest of her life as a victim. Some of these photos are screenshots I took from that interview.
I love the front porch with the brick floor. The “Big House” as they call it has a warm, family-friendly feel.
Nate greeted Elizabeth in her living room in front of the stone fireplace. He talked to her about her love for decorating. She even opened her own furniture store called Red Window in Chapel Hill that she said helped her turn the chapter and start fresh after separating from her husband.
There’s a quote on the kitchen wall, and I’ve been trying to figure out what it says. A reader named Cheryl had the answer:
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in
Cheryl explains, “Elizabeth said that it was to remind her that nobody has perfect lives and that we have a choice about how we integrate the imperfect parts into our lives.”
Another reader adds that it’s a quote by poet/songwriter Leonard Cohen. (Thanks, Lori-Anne!)
I think the strength and resilience she showed in the face of tragedy and heartbreak was pretty amazing.
My heart goes out to Elizabeth’s family in this difficult time–especially her young children Emma and Jack (shown above).
See more photos in my original post: John and Elizabeth Edwards’ House.
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