Sharing Inspiration

This post is for a friend - gathering together some photos and opinions for creating a home. I thought I'd do it on this blog so that I can access the organized ideas in the future!

FIRST,
I'm not convinced that a house must be decorated fully in the style of the architect. Some elements should flow, but overall, you're not limited to exactly one fit. One example is the blend of rustic and industrial - which could fit a cottage home or apartment or bungalow or farmhouse. Modern can mix into traditional, and cottage and blend with classic. Here is a photo to think about:

The light fixture is elegant, the bedspread is plain, the art is funky-antique, the chairs are classic, the lamp is mid-century modern? and window treatment could be boho. Yet it fits together just fine and I think the ceiling is what makes it a lovely room. I feel like this room could mix with a variety of interiors. So choose the style that you love, that reflects your personality and the functionality of your family, and then blend it with the exterior style. It'll work out well (in my opinion!)

Also, here is an article on what paint colors go with wood trim. It's at least an interesting read: http://www.bhg.com/blogs/better-homes-and-gardens-style-blog/2014/02/26/paint-colors-for-rooms-trimmed-with-wood/

SECOND
I have two home inspirations to share. Flicking through these home tours really speak to me, but for different reasons. Here is the first:

http://www.homeplans.com/plan-detail/HOMEPW76449/dazzling-cape-cod-with-spectacular-living-space

This home has quality and simplicity mixed with beauty in the details. I think it would be a fantastic home to take style ideas from. The batten-board wall treatment, beams on the ceiling, and great lighting make this home so striking even though it's comfortable and simplistic. This is a design style that would be so easy to call home. To live with. To change around for seasonal decorating if desired.

Here is another house that makes me smile:

http://hiyapapaya.com/blog/archives/1609

This house is busy with color. It is bursting with fun. I love simplicity but this house reminds me how playful a home can be.

This is one of my dream rooms:

I love the beauty of the quality floors and the simple colors with striking contrast... but it's not practical for a family...but my take-away is to remember that shapes and scale and architectural character  are what bring beauty.

Also, to wallpaper small areas - like a bathroom - is something I like:

And - I really love this light fixture from Lowes. Would set the tone of a pretty amazing diningroom!

http://www.lowes.com/pd_511350-43501-FD13-033_0__?productId=50096172&Ntt=18+light&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNtt%3D18%2Blight&facetInfo=

Which is a cheaper version of this:


For that home in particular, Restoration Hardware would be a great place for inspiration - order a catalog and drool over the beauty of neutrals!


The attic will be a super fun place to decorate... update the bathroom and it'll be like a luxurious get-away for your guests!

These wooden walls are fun with the rustic pop of color:


But I love classic white too:



Here is a mix of classic and color (I love this light gray paint btw) that impresses me - for example, would you have ever thought to pair that rug (size and color) with this table and chairs?


This picture reminds me that there should be some repetition (all matching chairs in this picture, with yellow pulled throughout the room) but that you can get by with mixing up a lot.

LAST thoughts... the kitchen... I'm liking the marble backsplash, neutral and beautiful but not loads of color in the backsplash... sometimes the herringbone pattern is nice. I like gray cupboards like these:




 White is my favorite for a kitchen. Simple fresh bright and classic. I don't get tired of white kitchens - though I kind of like the Island being a different color:



And I like glass doors on at least some cupboards







Refurbished Islands can be cool:


I like ones with the refurbished wood on the existing island - cheaper than replacing the island:





 Or another example:

(Sarah Richardson kitchen design)

The whole reclaimed wood look is super fun:

 http://houserevivals.blogspot.com/2012/07/how-to-use-reclaimed-wood-in-your-home.html


And here is a fun kitchen - such a mix and looks so welcoming



Here is an article to skim for kitchen renovation ideas:
http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2014/01/kitchen-trends-here-to-stay/

Happy Planning!!!

Teepee!

Although I've daydreamed about some fun forts - the cost and time and effort of building a structure for my sons seemed not worth it. The trampoline and sandbox have been pretty great and they can have fun building temporary created little forts in the woods. Making your own is a fond memory of my childhood. But when Tristan announced that he wanted a Native American birthday party (after learning about Illinois Indians in History class) I started imagining a teepee. What a fun place for boys to have adventures, and much more DIY friendly (timewise and budgetwise) than a big fort.

Of course I needed my parents to visit before undertaking such a task.

First step, 8' boards. They were under $2 each. My dad drilled holes in the top and halfway down. I laced them together at the top with wire and rope and tied rope through and around the middle holes to keep everything all in place and evenly spaced.

Then we measured the bottom, up two feet, up two more feet, and sketched out the dimensions for the fabric. The cloth was 1. Painters cloth from Lowes, about $10 2. A heavy silky tan sheet from Goodwill $4 and 3. A thick flannelish gray sheet from Goodwill 1/2 price for $2 and a matching pillowcase for $.50

All together supplies cost:
boards = $11
rope = $5
fabric = $16.50

Total = $32.50

We also used an old Karate belt for the sides of the door.
I decorated the top with a stretchy hairband and some necklaces and a dreamcatcher that I already had.

This is how it turned out:

 

 At the very top of the teepee we used a old pair of boys size 2 sweatpants and cut out the elastic. Mom sewed the pillowcase with elastic at the top and connected the bottom to the panels of fabric.  The door was our leftover piece of painters cloth with karate uniform belts for a heavy edge.

The fabric isn't crazy tight, because measurements weren't totally perfect - which was fine with me. I like the soft loose freedom of the fully functioning teepee and it wasn't worth stressing about refitting and repinning and getting everything exact. It took my sweet mother a lot of time and work, and she is good with sewing to start with, but overall I don't think you have huge experience (but maybe a good dose of patience) for creating a teepee. And without stripes it would be simpler too. But it's not like a dress where it has to fit exactly. The teepee is reasonably forgiving. 

Here is the rest of the party:

 Feathers added to the glass jars and signs added to the square wreath:

And the cupcakes were little teepees - baked in a sugar cone.

We had balloons on our table-tree and lots of decorative games:

Fun party - thank you mom and dad for (yet again) making my wishes come true!

Dining Room Re-do

This is how the dining room looked when we bought the house:

We changed out the light almost right away. - and I painted the wall sconces to blend with the new light. I found this table off the curb for free and was able to fix and paint it. It was a good table except that there were no leaves. So it could seat six and that was that.

So, with help from a handy guy at our church, we took the top off the table and used 10 ft boards (cut down to 9ft) to make a BIG dining table. We kept the table legs, but replaced the bar in between the two legs (a longer board so that it would fit the new table proportion.

The old legs and new boards mixed rather nicely together.

I tried a variety of methods to "age" the fresh wood.
I did a vinegar rub, soaked steel wool, used baking soda in the sunlight... since it was bitterly cold out I'm not sure how much sun actually worked on the wood tone. Then I used a few shades of gray paint and sort of smeared some on the wood and rubbed it off. I used a stain that was called "weathered oak" (there were a couple that I was torn between - all sort of an aged looking stain).

The overall finish is something I am happy with. The varnish I sealed it with is too glossy, so eventually I'll rub some matte finish on top. But for now I'm moving on and we can easily seat 10-14 persons.

It was cheaper for me to buy a bench than to get two more of the parsons chairs. I was really happy with this choice because the bench has been so completely useful for the boys. They climb on and off and pile on at dinnertime and I don't have to remind them to not tip the chairs or slide them in and out!

The rug wasn't exactly what I had in mind... actually I wanted industrial metal chairs too. But there was no point in changing out things that were available (I can work with this and made more financial sense), and the hard cold metal ones might look good but not as comfortable anyway.

I sold my rug on Craigslist and chose this because it was 60% off, which made it less than half the price of all my other options. The scale is good, and I don't mind the pattern, and overall, we have a dining room that can seat a large crowd - which is important for our family!

I'm loving the ability to have our whole family WITH a whole guest family, all at the same table. We do a lot of hosting, and gathering around a table of food is such a special part of a home that I want my kids to be included at the table when possible.

The dining room is an important room for us. I remember the Realtor saying that dining rooms are not used very often but I knew it was an essential for us. It might not be exactly my top choice - but for working within my budget, I am very happy about this room! AND - a few weeks later I sold these wood chairs for $50 and bought these chairs (with higher backs) for $20. They were fairly ugly with stained white fabric seats, but I painted them blue and painted the seats gray. I don't love painted fabric, and one day I'll probably recover them, but for the meantime, it's easy and functional. Works just fine and looks loads better. And I really wanted end chairs that were the right scale - and this way it ties in the blue in the rug too.

Here is the finishing touch for this dining room:

Christmas 2013

It's Christmas.

I like my chalkboard wall. It's still feels like a simple clutter-free way to decorate.

After I took the photo I added a magnetic calendar over the yellow chair. My friend had made a beautiful one at her house, and I wanted one too. Her's had a rustic red frame and was extra large - both made it look rich and more striking.

However, I opted for a cheap version. I went to GoodWill and found this for $3.99

And I put on command strips, flipped it over and stuck it on my wall. I used magic marker to outline the edges and bought the number stickers and nativity stickers at Hobby Lobby. I cut the tip off one of my star ornaments and hot glued it to a magnet. And this is the result:

Sorry the picture is a little blurry - the sticker details don't show well. But I'm happy with it.

I was low on decore for the tree, so I used some butterflies that will soon go to the Church Girl bathroom. I took leftover fabric from the chairs and put them in the frame and attached the butterflies. I also found $2 packet of name tag butterflies that I added to the tree.

And the matching chairs:

The livingroom as a whole:

In the kitchen I put two wreaths on the window and Tristan's nativity art:

In the Dining Room are the three trees on the windowsill.

And on the front door the wreath my mom made me. I love this wreath because it works for all winter long, not just Christmas. I simply left out any red, and that makes it winter vs. Christmas. I had these sage & white green floral things that my bridesmaids carried, and it was nice to find a place for them in my home.

And that's a tour of the Christmas decore!

Two New Couches

A lot of changes happened here lately, specifically in couches.

First, my husband said he was tired of having the desk shove up under the low ceiling in our bedroom - that he'd rather have it by a window. So we moved it to the toy room - excellent location, and the kids love using the big tabletop desk for playing too.

But that left a long low bank area in our room.
My friend was selling her couch (offered it to me for a lower price on Tuesday) but God didn't give the thumbs up for me (it wasn't fair to her and it wasn't God wanted me to spend $400). She sold it Wednesday and I was disappointed. Thursday a lady I'd never met called to see if I'd be interested in a yellow couch. She'd trade it for a photography session, and deliver it too. God's plans are always so much better than ours.

I found a clearance lampshade for $10, a wooden lamp at GoodWill for $6, and used my old end table and coffee table. I might change it up eventually, but for now, it's all set up happily.

Since the rest of my bedroom lacks yellow, I added some yellow ribbon to the headboard, and some felt flowers.

The pillows were $7 each on end of the season clearance (they're outdoor pillows) and the body pillow was $5 from Target. I already had the yellow placemats under the clock and lamp, so that worked out well.

I was all happy about my new couch when ANOTHER gift was added.

One of my friends lost her apartment in the tornado and was left with nothing. She'd mentioned before that she liked my bird couch, and I felt like it fit her personality well. I wanted to give it to her, as long as I could figure out a replacement. I'd always liked the HomeDecorators Gordan sofa - but they run about $1,500 with shipping. I was keeping my eye on it over Black Friday, but told myself that was silly, I had a budget too small for even a Black Friday price. So I asked God about it and looked on Craigslist in a 3 hour radius. (FYI I have looked on and off for the past two years and never found one that wasn't out of price range or already gone). I was a little shocked to find the EXACT Gordan sofa I wanted Brand New for $280. It was slightly damaged in shipping and missing some nail heads. Two to be exact.

My husband gave the thumbs up and I went and picked it up. It even fit perfectly in the van. And I sold my kids unused train table for $80 and won a $200 story-contest that week. So God totally dropped the whole thing into place - isn't He amazing?

Isn't it beautiful? And for $1.99 I bought a packet of nail heads and replaced the two missing ones.

I got the coffee table this summer at GoodWill. It was in our outside porch but I moved it in. The lines add some feminine to all the masculine. Even our dog matches our very manly black and brown house.

So God gave me two beautiful couches this week. It's been fun. Now I can move my special green chairs into the living room!

Simple Autumn

I love October, November, and December.
And I like welcoming these into my home through little symbolic decore.

But lately, when I look at seasonal decorating, I think "Wow that's a lot of STUFF"

So, this year my goal was to be simple, while still embracing the warmth and charm of underlining the season.

Last year my "Quentin birthday" was my fall mantle. This year I simplified. No orange even. And can be left up even after the birthday is over:

This blanket goes in Quentin's room, but makes a pop of orange down here for fall.

I threw the glitter pumpkins that the boys made on a tray in the livingroom. It makes them see their art as part of our decore.

 

This swag is takes 10 seconds to lay on the back of my buffett, but it makes a nice fall contrast with the black wall.

 

And I drew some art on the wall as well

 

And our easy centerpiece - on a tray so I can quickly remove it:

Decorating DOES celebrate. I want to feel like we celebrate Thanksgiving. I want to celebrate the changes of seasons (flowers in the summer, pumpkins in the fall...)

I just want to celebrate with LESS. To not spend time decorating and undecorating and storage full of stuff. We will see how Christmas goes...