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!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before Christmas

This post is to do some house dreaming with some friends - though I've never seen the home :)
We are looking for function, affordability, and style - but in that order


Boho room is easy. It's just about pattern on pattern to give it that hippie vibe:

 

 

 

 

She wants the fairy lights, and I think adding a garland will be a nice touch too, as well as canopy drapes from those tapestries.

My only issue is, if you pintrest "boho bedroom" it has a very sloppy look. I think that brass bed will totally change her room into a classier boho, a more sophisticated boho. And she is both. The picture below shows how a mix of so many styles all can mix together for this room:

 

The next bedroom should also be pretty straightforward. I think that scandanavian style often has mattress right on the floor for a "minimalistic" approach. To keep this bedroom trendy it has to be somewhat sparse. But for the bedstand I do like this long white bench - easily made, could be sat on and have multiple function.

 

The picture below is too colorful, but it does give a general visual for the following:

naked bulbs hanging for a sidelight over the bench OR a stump. A stump would also be ideal because it would bring in that nature element. Also, an unpainted wooden crate nailed to the wall could house soccer ballballs (turned upwards) and one front facing overtop for things like books. It would also give a little unfinished pale wood to an otherwise painted room, and some small parts of pale wood does help that minimalistic monochromatic feel.

 

The third room I don't know about... it could go so many ways... but I'm thinking the easiest thing is to just take whatever is available and paint it bright colors:

This nursery below is so appealing to me and the feel could be replicated in a pre-teen room - I just love it

 

 

 

 

But above has a lot of things that may take a long time to figure out. So, below is a much simpler fix - a wall mural could give her room some personality without needing more than some paint.

 

 

 

 

BATHROOMS
I'm not sure what you're working with, but I like how in the photo below all the drama comes from paint. The sink itself is plain. The mirror is a modern circle. But this bathroom looks cool without being a complete remodel (er, again, not sure what you're working with)

 

I also love a wood piece, when you can find one, for towels. If you can put it into the hall it helps keep the towels from smelling in the humidity, it gives more bathroom space, and decorates your hallway.

 

 

 

MASTER BEDROOM

below is just  a pretty room. But having matching side tables with matching lights and matching pictures will give a room a more "expensive" feel. So if you're going to work with what is available, trying for this feel in the scale and layout is a pretty nice pattern.

 

 

LIVINGROOM

I don't love the gallery wall on this first picture, but it does have a good concept of basic layout that would work with a lot of furniture options

 

 

If you wont have your house character and poshy furniture being the wow factors, creating a gallery wall is such a great way to add in that drama.

 

Because you don't want your house to look chaotic, a gallery wall should be on only one wall while the rest of the walls are very simple - maybe one large item, but not busy.

The room below embraces Scandinavian simple, which would be an easy look to do through your house because it can be chic but minimal.

 

 

However, a glam style might be more your personality. Which requires a little more thought but I think is just as doable.

 

 

Having one statement piece is great - and if that could be a couch, wonderful. But it doesn't have to be a couch. Take the coolest thing that you can find/get/have and just make THAT your statement piece. Whatever it is.

The other trick is, to have all dark walls or one dark wall. Having a navy wall makes a bit of sexy sophistication with its moody lighting. You can make the things you have a lot more dramatic by having them on a dark wall. It's becoming trendy right now so you'd be edgy.

 

 

 

I know you said there wasn't room for a table, but I just want to see about that. If your kitchen is too small for an eating area, I would be nice to squeeze one into the livingroom...

I also love light rooms - and I actually have a large amount of gray paint (4 gallons?) that you could check out too. I keep thinking that'll I'll paint my yellow walls but..... not anytime soon.

Below is just a visual of how some basic elements can change tone by adding blingy accessories. If you find some great deal on vivid large-scale accessories, you can get by with a pretty plain backdrop.

 

I'm exited for you all because...

"I like" becomes "I am"

and I like the idea of a sense of belonging, a sense of intentional purposeful meaningful life, and creating your own home with your own identity for a wholesome place that is focused on living to glorify God

 

So to say "I like living within my means

I like pretty practical rooms

I like having our family have a place to pray and eat together

I like home as a place of peace and refocusing

and eliminating clutter to embrace the eternal"

means that it what your home becomes

 

by choosing to live it out

and the first step, creating the home, is a beautiful part of that journey

Hence, I'm excited for you all!

 

 

becoming the woman I want to be

I can remember that feeling of growing-up, the uncomfortable one, when I didn't like the memory because if I could re-do, I would have said something different. For example, embarrassing moments of loud laughing over something that you, seconds later, discover was a highly serious matter. Or making yourself vulnerable to someone and feeling rejected.

And then of course, the phase of trying to know myself and pushing my own views too far, as I confirmed them in my own heart - which translates into lacking grace for others and being harsh with failures, because I hadn't learned to forgive myself either.

That was before learning Eleanor Roosevelts "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent"

That was before learning who I was, and feeling comfortable and confident with myself, even when I hadn't put makeup on

That was before learning how to let go of yesterday and embrace today because, tomorrow comes quickly

But this week I had a reminder
of what it's like to not yet be the woman I want to be

One of my husbands co-workers stopped by to drop off something. I knew his dad was in the hospital and he looked weary. I tried to make a joke with him as I took the item to pass on to my hubby. I tried to be casual and entertaining, and lighten his heavy shoulders. But my jokes were slightly negative, making fun of my husband, or providing him the opportunity to do so.

and he didn't take it. He looked at me in slight confusion and disinterest; he was too tired to play social norm games

and then I remembered two things

I don't LIKE jokes that are negative. That isn't who I want to be. I've had this epiphany in the past.

For example my husband came up to an old man that I was talking to at church and teased "Are you flirting with her? I'm so sorry but she's taken - I don't want your heart to get broken."

Whereas he could have said, "I see you're talking with my wife. Do you have room in your backseat? Think you could take her home with you?

They're both a joke. But one is positive and one is negative and it takes far more wit (the risky of being cheesy is always there) and creates a far more positive environment to do the first. Poking fun of other people isn't going to destroy anything, but there is less charm and wholesome energy for sure.

So I had dropped the ball there.
I had also missed the opportunity to respond to my gracious instinct to just put my hand on his arm and say, "I heard that your dad has been in the hospital. Its sounds like a very difficult time for you and your family. I'm so sorry to hear about this. Is there any way we can pray for you?"

That's the woman I want to be.
And I'm not always her.
I know that is my true values though. And that it is a matter of being authentic and real.

There are those times that can't be helped - passing gas at a pretty dinner party or having your clingy toddler yank your skirt down in the checkout line.

But those moment are easier to laugh at then when we fail ourselves.

When we yell at our child who was just scared and we were even more scared. And we didn't want to yell.

When we tell our sister something rude because we have a different vision and in the end it doesn't matter and rudeness was the only problem in the whole thing.

When we hurt our husband and have days of his wounded heart because our tongue was moving before our brain was.

This all came to mind because a friend told me of frustration in her marriage, that her husband has fallen back into old habits of disconnect and avoiding her pushing (confrontation) - he avoids her pushing for them to fight to get closer. so he pulls away.

Several years ago they had struggled here and my girlfriend had been to the point of walking away from her marriage. Life got dramatic enough that she saw a counselor and really was brokenhearted over how crazy far everything had gone and that she honestly wanted her life and couldn't believe she had just about lost it all. The counselor then added her husband into the therapy and they could hash out some issues there. But from what I could tell, my girlfriend was the one who had completely changed. Her perspective on what she wanted and who she was and who she wanted to be, they were all different. It was her that changed.

New thought:
When we talk about accountability in church I usually cringe
It sounds like the right to come up to someone and judge them
Or worse yet expect them to treat you like their priest, where they need to do weekly confession to you

What accountability really is makes me glow with the beauty of it

Accountability is me knowing someone deeply enough to know their truth
To know what their core values are
and remind them of it when life gets cloudy and they forget

For this girlfriend, I remind her that sliding back into old habits of disconnect is something she is in control of through her own choice of happiness and perspective. That protecting herself from being vulnerable by fighting when frightened, or avoiding it all together - this is the fight and flight that she had dealt with long ago.

The real her doesn't fight OR flight.
The real girl that I know, the woman she is and wants to be, values grace. Values allowing him to be imperfect. Values giving him the benefit of the doubt because his actual track record (not the one she imagines when feeling insecure) shows that he's deeply loving and loyal and committed. And Values receiving grace for herself and living in that with a grateful heart.

And the woman she is and wants to be - that woman doesn't get her security from her husband anyway. She gets it from her relationship with a Heavenly Father who has loved her with an everlasting love and calls her beautiful. And calls her enough. And calls her his own.

So as I turn over my own day, and that of my friends, I smile at the Bible verse, "His mercies are new every morning" and I'm glad that a fresh start, and a fresh perspective, is available at any time. And that we can live in my own core values EVEN IF those around us are wrong. This is freedom. This is living true to ourselves. This is living in grace.

split level home makeover on a budget

I visited my friend Tia about two years ago. They had recently moved to a split-level home with builder grade dated basics. The upstairs main room housed furniture around the TV with dead space behind it.

Because of the layout, it took Tia a few attempts of adjusting before she figured out her main room - on a tight budget. And two years later when I visited again, it looked quiet different.

 

She found one sofa on craigslist, and though it's a little shabby, there is no scolding her cat, dog, or four children when they utilize it. The other sofa was $30 at a garage sale. And her rug was a craigslist $40 find. The coffee table was built from a curb reject bottom with aunties old deck boards as an industrial top.

She split the awkward room into two sections and simplified the crowded kitchen by moving the dining table out here.

The table legs (I need a picture Tia) were from a $20 table. The top was discarded and $30 worth of lumber on top created a farmhouse table that was bleached with liming wax. The legs and top surprisingly blended together nicely with their coat of liming wax.

The chandelier was another thrift store find - spray painted white to update it. And these retro-modern chairs were blue, but painted white. The two end chairs were wicker from Tia's mom that she incorporated with new cushion covers to go from 90s red to subtle.

Her gallery is a blend of photography, art, and meaningful concepts - all in a coordinating color scheme and neutral layering.

Each piece in this livingroom was a make-do or slow find, or usually both.

Tia has always impressed me with her eye for simplifying and arranging what is already available. She has a gift for seeing magic amid the functional. Here are some of her secrets:

1. Its okay to not have everything at once. Small steps over time are a healthy balance for the many balls we all juggle.

2. Get up early. Early enough to soak in steady silent minutes. With coffee, your Bible, your husband, or just in stillness. But ample time to adjust from sleep to wake. Then the day can be productive and creative.

3. Make intentional effort. Even when it doesn't seem to be returned.

4. Figure out what works and what makes you happy and have a reason and a purpose for everything in the home. If it doesn't have a major (usually double) purpose, it doesn't deserve to fill up your life. We can't do the important things if we're busy managing stuff.  Get rid of it by the trash bag full.

5. Savor old memories and old friends and invest in the future - but enjoy and appreciate and live fully present, today. That sounds too cliché. So practically it looks like this for their family; ditch the phone when you're with someone else. No one can leave the house before they hug mama goodbye. Sunday nights have a tradition of popcorn, apples, and cheese for dinner. Simple, filling, and time to connect. And girl weekends, dinner parties, and good food are a part of regular life for catching up and cherishing wholesome relationships.

So how does she do it? How does she fit in work and 4 kids and hubby and pets and church and exercise and writing a novel!

This is what I love about her livingroom. And her perspective.
She finds a way to make it work by getting creative with what can be done.

When I arrived she had no time to cook. So together we gathered and she poured wine and chopped a few veggies and took things out of the fridge. She laid out whole wheat pitas and a pile of different pizza options - pears, onions, fresh tomato and precooked bacon, blue and goat cheese and cheddar and so on. 

The pita tasted like a delicious thin crust, we all shared each others creations, and clean up was a part of the fellowship. It was amazing to eat and no pre-prep and enjoyable to just share the kitchen - yet a very grown up and gourmet experience.

Hers: cranberry pear blue cheese and spinach
Mine: pineapple feta spinach orange pepper bacon and balsamic drizzle

(Salad was made by Heather but that amazingness is a recipe and a topic for another post)