Some people treat their houses like a retreat from the rest of the world, and that’s what makes it home to them. Others enjoy playing the part of the quintessential hostess. These folks are always at work to make their homes more appealing to family and visitors in creative and meaningful ways. These homes don’t just look good. These women and men are ready with offers to brew fresh coffee, provide a cold drink, dispense humor and share a goody that’s home-baked.

Sherry Perkins enjoys adding touches to her home that make it stand out from the rest. She uses vintage objects. Some have been given as gifts. Some are heirlooms. She also uses what’s at hand. (See details on how she created her fencepost and pantyhose pumkins.)

“To me, it’s all about making people feel at home,” said Sherry Perkins. “I want company to feel welcome when they knock on the door.”

Perkins said most of the people who visit ask to sit on the porch and rock when they’re visiting. She decorates inside and out, and has made many of the crafts that dot her rooms and yard.

She’s always been creative. Her mother, the late Mary Cook, was helping her with projects back when she was in first grade over 50 years ago. In fact, she still has one of those. It’s a decorated coke bottle stopped with a vintage aluminum laundry sprinkler. It’s no longer used to dampen her before ironing. It and many of the items in Perkins’ house are reminders of how things were and how much household chores have changed.

“I love old things and it brings a warm feeling to know that my home may have something in it that sparks a memory in those who visit,” she said.

Sherry Perkins likes the pumpkin motif because it can be used through Thanksgiving. This year she’ll serve almost 20 guests and will use orange, green, rust and brown plates from the Dollar Tree, goblets with acorns and leaves and gold stainless.

The American Press welcomes story ideas about homes, creative projects, repurposing, upcycling and other ways that readers make their house a home. To submit your ideas for consideration, email rlebleu@americanpress.com or call 337-494-4072.

Guest to Sherry Perkins’ home enjoy sitting on the screen-in porch and sipping coffee. (Rita LeBleu / American Press)