[wrightsb32]

A children's book from 50's-70's about a girl who moved to a house with a staircase in a turret with velvet curtains where she liked to read... also another from the same time, one about a girl who lived near an abandoned house where she used to go and play and fixed it up and maybe ended up living there? I remember both books (vaguely!) from childhood and would love to read them with my daughter...

[Tekiel]

The first is vaguely familiar, but I'd need more details.

As for the second, try Mandy, by Julie Edwards (Julie Andrews). It might be what you're looking for.

[jennestes]

It's a young adult book from the 1980's. The main character was a very talented artist, but is severely abused by her alcoholic mother. A boy tries to reach out to her, but she has to keep their friendship a secret?

[suebee77]

First one sounds like "The Velvet Room."