Oprah’s Having a Yard Sale! My Favorite Picks from Her Home Decor Auction

Pssst…did you hear that Oprah (or my new boss as I like to call her;-) is having a yard sale?! Well, not exactly a yard sale but she is redecorating her $85 million, 42-acre Santa Barbara estate and is using that as an opportunity to auction off her old furniture and other personal items to benefit a cause close to her heart – The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation College Fund which helps graduates of  The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa fund their college education. The Oprah Winfrey Collection auction will take place on November 2nd in Santa Barbara and will feature antiques, contemporary furnishings and fine art from Oprah’s homes in Santa Barbara, Chicago, Maui and Indiana as well as items donated by her friend and “Oprah All-Star” Bob Greene. Up for grabs are everything from George Smith upholstery, numerous European antiques and autographed memorabilia to an iron paneled staircase (pictured below) and  a Japanese tea house big enough to fit a New York City studio apartment inside! Let’s take a look at what Oprah’s home looked like before she began cleaning house…

_{Photos of Oprah’s home by Stephen Simons for O Magazine}

So why is Oprah redecorating, you ask? She felt her previous decor – full of precious antiques, overstuffed furniture, gilt wood, plaid, gingham and chintz didn’t suit her personality, her spirit or her lifestyle – so, with the help of LA based interior designer Rose Tarlow, she’s finally ready to transform her house into a home that truly reflects who she is. I’ve always believed that your home should be a meaningful expressios of your individuality and personal style and that you should seek to create a home that not only reflects you but also lifts your spirit and makes you feel comforted when you walk through the front door. I’m excited that Oprah has committed to making her home feel personal and I can’t wait to see the reveal her newly revamped space which I’m sure will be featured in O magazine soon. In the meantime, here are some of my top picks from The Oprah Winfrey Collection auction. To see all of the lots click here and to learn more about how you can pre-register to bid in person or bid online from anywhere, click here. Which items below are you favorite? Leave a comment and let me know – I’m dying to hear! Now I’m off to go get my absentee bid on:-)