HOUSE DREAMS #2

 

 

Hello Dewdrops,

 

Here are thoughts on the house.

 

Livingroom decisions:

 

 

Your big choice is WHERE you want your gallery wall.

It can be over the console area (I love this)

or it can be around the TV (I love this too)

 

Over console area is lovely (see one of my fav pics below) But around TV will make the TV less obnoxiously contrasted (see pictures below)

 

Here is a cool dresser idea, and then another picture that has two ottomans under, which is a nice classy touch and gives extra seating.

 

 

You could also make this your dark wall if you wanted that separation and drama

 

having matching frames makes a repeated pattern for a more expensive look - and I do love busts because they're fun right now in a trendy style

 

 

 

The rug above shows how traditional old rugs can look edgy again. And by the way if you like this rug below the lady said she'd drop price to $50 for you. But anyway this below is a more sophisticated gallery wall over console. Large prints and a centered mirror.

 

 

 

 

I love this gallery wall below and I love the box of birch wood - especially if you have a fireplace it'll give it a lovely feel - so happy to copy this picture

 

 

But below appeals to me just as much. You could also save your gallery for around the TV (isn't this photo lovely? A darker gray wall with pops of white mats)

 

 

 

Also something to consider is putting your big bulletin board over the console table. If you did a gallery around TV and wanted One Large item over console (which is perfect to have some blank walls, one busy wall, and one with just a large item. With that big big wall with the console table you'll need a Large item for nice scale)

 

The bulletin board there couldn't be crazy cluttered. It would have to be styled and intentional. But part of me likes that idea because the board is unique and beautiful and large scale and it would make the home about personal functional beauty instead of "just pretty" - especially with a phone charging station here it would make this wall useful and lovely and personalized.

 

This huge one below shows a smaller table in front, which works, but ideally you'd have a larger table in front of it instead of smaller.

 

Another reason I like the bulletin board is so that you could make that your one customized piece. At Christmas you could put a tree in your basement. But overall, decorating is a lot of work, to put out and put back. My mantle is the one thing I try to seasonally change, so that it's ONE AREA but makes a statement as if I put effort into stuff. If you have a lot of little detail, it's a lot of work. But if you have one big thing - it just says the message with less umph. Here is an example of a Christmas tree - but you could also have a big Morton pumkin festival poster that you pin up in the fall and a happy birthday banner that you pin up for those days. You could have big 2016 numbers on there for a new years party, etc, but it would be minimal work - just one moodboard. (you'd have to use mini ornaments or do a fun paper one or make Kayla do it)

 

 

 

This one is great for an entry with something to hold mail, which could be added to the board, and keys too. You'd want to balance it with some real art (framed and matted) so that it doesn't look like a drop zone but a stylish and functional mood board. Of course you can do this in kitchen hall too - as long as you're not feeling too crowded there. It's a great place to put up kids achievements to celebrate them as well.

 

You could also just have one huge art printed on it and use it like a huge frame - I think it would be beautiful to have a very large square picture attached to the center in a sort of large frame art - in basement this would make cool art too. Here is an example of a photo that could be printed in a large size. It could also be a photo you switch out seasonally if you cared.

 

 

 

Next - TV wall

 

I think the room will be beautiful all in white with navy curtains. That might be my top choice. But let me tell you the reasons to consider one dark wall.

 

1. It makes the TV blend in more instead of such stark contrast. Look at this dark wall with TV and a white wall with TV

 

 

 

Here is another dark wall TV - this on dark gray which I also like, and another white example

 

 

 

 

so, the reason to CONSIDER a dark wall is because it blends in TV and adds drama and is a new trend. Here are more examples of dark accent walls

 

 

 

The other thing is making a gallery wall around your TV. This also helps the TV blend in. And its beautiful. I just did one of these at someones house (gallery wall around TV) and it was so happy. We had an end table with lamp on each side - which you could do instead of two chairs - and that was a really nice balance look with the mix of the wall in sizes/colors/shapes/material. I think that having two matching lamps or two matching chairs will help it look intentional. And I don't know what I think about a navy wall either - but I have a black wall and I love it.

 

ON TO BEDROOMS

 

I think I can get free nice lace panels which could be nice hanging. But this room is more boho not hippy. So she can decide if she wants something like this lighter feeling or something heavier.

 

 

You can see how this bed is slide over to the farthest wall. Centering a bed in the middle of a room might be nice. But for me, in a small room, I really want to maximize floor space. In a big bedroom I love it centered. In a small one I want to feel like there is room and have some floor that doesn't feel like a narrow walkway around the bed. I also love to see the bed when I come in, so that the room has a statement to it - and the bed should be the statement. Those are just my personal opinions - er, and those of many designers as well ;) but it wont offend me if the beds are in other areas. Just things to consider. Maybe shove the mattresses around a few times to get a feel. I would Strongly recommend to not cover the vents. The issue with covering vents is that the heat is blocked from the room and forced up, so your upstairs will be hotter and the rooms downstairs colder. This will use more heat and be much less efficient. I don't know if it's a fire hazard, but it is like turning off the heat to that room.

 

I went to a house with the eaves like yours and the boys shared a small bedroom that was very charming and nice with no toys anywhere. And in both sides he had created playrooms in the cubby doors. One was a lego world and the other was for the rest of the toys - GI Joes and such. It was amazing. The kids loved setting up their stuff in a room void of anything else then their own dreams. I loved it. I imagine a 15 year old's area will look very different but I think it's fine - especially for her to create it herself. If she has a heavy duty stapler and a bunch of fabric she can cover the walls and section off an area that is clean and pretty. I don't know if she'll actually use it a lot - probably she'll hang out in the basement if not in her bedroom - but even if all she is doing is creating, that has meaning in itself. I'd encourage her to go for it!

 

The chalkboard wall is fun. I don't think it matters if it's on a wall with a window but she might like having the blank wall the best. Her room is a little bigger and with a low bed it will feel bigger too. I would probably do it on the wall with the single window just to maximize space and make her chalk headboard a statement piece - but whatever is nice.

 

This would be a bit how the bed would feel off to the corner - though makes it more challenging to draw a cool headboard so she has to decide if she wants the feeling of space or the feeling of a centered headboard.

 

 

 

This is bedding I imagine moreso for Kayla - and also with the white lace again.

 

 

For Kayla I think we need a tall dresser and it might be fun if she painted it herself

 

 

 

It could be fun to do a gallery wall in Kenna's room too - let her express herself over her dresser for some extra bling. This also shows some gold and black color mixes - so if I give you that big black bed canopy you'll have to figure out a bit of black touches to the room. Like that glam dresser I painted - black and gold - and I could do that again. Home decorator has great gold knobs. At least they did :)

 

It doesn't have to be black and gold though. I don't actually care much about color - more about shape and size because scale is what will have something look good or bad - just like clothes. No matter how pretty they are, it's more important that they fit right.

 

I probably would take the door off the closet and just not have any. I'd center that beautiful day bed that I love in front of the window. I'd hang the black canopy over it. And Voila - total girly glam. Huge statement and lovely. Then her colors and choices and layers don't actually matter. If she wants blue or fluffy pale pink or bright purple - it doesn't matter. Blow is a room with a lot of pattern and color. She can pick things she loves and it's easy to make it magical. Especially if she gets to pick things for a gallery wall over her dresser. Then its things of meaning - photos yes - but also some chunky thing from her past that can just be mounted on the wall.

 

 

 

In your room Ann, I think that the comforter and headboard you have just speak of luxury and glam and elegance. And having matching bedstands with matching lamps will add to this feeling. Even if it's tight it'll be the most dramatic effect to have this classy romantic feeling.

 

When you get a chance, measure it for me, and I will see if this nice set of end tables that I bought for you will fit. The two matching lamps that are there - in gold - can be spray painted. And I bought two matching drum shades (in white) that can go over them an make the rest of your room complete. Only you may need an art piece (or mirror) above your bed. And a rug. But maybe a rug isn't so needed if your bed takes up most of the room. You maybe could paint the floor but I'm guessing to paint and seal the floor would cost as much as a rug and be a lot more work. You could test is out in the upstairs bathroom and see how it works before hiding it all with new linoleum.  Below you can see a snug little bedroom but sweet and good scale.

 

 

 

NEXT LETS DREAM ABOUT THE BASEMENT

 

I do like the idea of stenciling the floor. But not a perfect stencil. Something that fades and changes and isn't too defined. Not too busy. Like its aged and matches the age of the floor. If I had a stenciled floor I would make a clean painted wall of a solid color. Maybe Revere Pewter would be perfect because it's not too gray and anything with too much gray would look like cement block. I think the gray I gave you is also taupe enough but just a little more gray to it. But an aged floor with a clean wall - or an aged wall with a glossy floor. Because I like what Beka said about a high gloss - to just give some clean feel to the floor. Anyway here is the stencil example:

 

 

So there is a rug I have on hold for you to decide about. It's pink. Solid pale pink. 11x13 so very very big. You cant find that big of rug very cheaply. This one was originally $2500 and I talked her into $75. It is made partly from silk so you wont want to spill wine on it, but I think it would be a big and happy solution. I like the shades of grays and pinks together but it doesn't have to be too crazy girly. See some pink rugs below (though it's not a hot pink like first pic):

 

You could even do a grunge wall, white washing over the existing paint, and have it be a little urban mixed with a pink rug - and the aqua color on the wall and a subtle pink rug with the gray hues could be a fast and happy way to get the basement moving along.

 

 

It would be fun if you could move the barn door from the garage and put it for the laundry room as sort of "art" for that wall. I think you actually need a very big dresser for your TV... Or the one that Jennifer got on some X legs. That would help it have substance. I think you also may want to divide the room into two sections so have two rugs, one for the table area with a big self. If you had a hutch I'd paint it a cool color and have it down here. There is one I really love for $75 - which is a nice price for such a big quality piece. But a nicely painted hutch on the farthest wall would give you "large art" for the big blankness. Rooms are SO MUCH ABOUT SCALE and you'll have to think big for the basement. Big art on the wall above the couch. I don't care if the girls have favorite posters that they want to tape with cool tape on the wall behind the couch. I care more about size.

 

THE KITCHEN

 

I'm going to give you tons of over the sink examples - some are dated or stuffy kitchen styles but just ignore that. You're only looking at function. I'm very happy with you just taking off the cupboards on the one side and just putting shelves there - and who cares if there are some small drips on the countertop. It wont be a puddle. So maybe the best is to just have it all over to that side -I'll show you pictures of those racks too. But if you need more space you CAN go all the way across the window and it's not an issue. I also like black trim but maybe you want to do it in the same gray as the cupboards are painted.

 

 

They put just clear glasses in front o f the window for this - but I don't think it would matter. Hard to see them though.

 

 

If you are nervous about it, I'd still recommend something like a mounted dish drying rack off to the side so that the act of washing dishes in the sink is very convenient - to grab and put back the same things over and over will be easy. All the same color is pretty but everyone having their own color would make it very noticeable who is responsible and who left a plate in their bedroom. And if you're pretty bland everywhere else but have four colors of dishes and paint your four chairs/stools the same colors, it might be a fun way to have some nice personality to the room. It could be bold or it could be all soft shades - or gold black silver and white. It wouldn't matter. Maybe something like clear glass, turquoise glass, navy glass and white. Just a thought. It will like clean and contemporary and nice to have all the same though.

 

There are a couple photos that wont load. Bummer. But maybe you have enough. One showed a kichen your size with eat in table and, though crowded, it was okay. It was on purpose.

 

 

Last of all - I'm only taking up my precious sleep time to write you all of this because it shows my enthusiasm for you. I want to celebrate with you. I want to underline the joy of God's blessing. If you don't use any of my effort, it's completely fine! I want to connect to the hope of this transition so giving you things to consider is a nice way to do that. Although you could very nicely have a very happy house that is wonderfully classic, I want you to think about what you really like - and what it would look like if you were trying to express yourself. Maybe it doesn't work, but to make this home feel like it's YOURS you get to be creative. I'm going to show you rooms/outfit styles that show similar feeling. And maybe you'd enjoy thinking of your house like this - like "how would I wear this room" - if it helps you to capture your own personality more.

 

May you treasure and enjoy the beauty in the middle of all the work ahead of you!!!