House Update - Living Room

Wow.  I'm going to start off by saying that our living room is officially the most grown-up room I've ever had.  It still feels a little weird to have such a nice room.  Weird, but awesome.  

We have come a long way.  You can check out this old post to see a glimpse of what the room looked like when we moved in.  Or this old post to see what it looked like after we painted it but were still using it as a family/TV room.  

After last summer's big renovation, we were able to move the more casual couch and chair into the new family room.  That left this room completely empty, except the rug.  We've spent the last six months turning it into a really nice place to sit and have a conversation, listen to records, play board games, or play the piano.  I have always said that I hate formal living rooms - you know, the ones that nobody ever uses?  We made sure that this is a room where we will want to spend time.  

It still needs the finishing touches, of course.  It feels like it could be at home on a showroom floor, especially when entering from the dining room (the view below).  We will eventually add some art to the walls, books or other items to the coffee table, maybe a plant.  You know, the personal items that make it feel like my home and not just a pretty room.  I have to keep reminding myself that these things take time.  I don't want to buy things to put on display just because I want the room to be "done".  It will happen organically, over time.  We'll fall in love with a painting or print and put it up, we'll get coasters, and our book collection will grow.  We'll get presents from family, and we'll bring home items from our travels.  

In the meantime, I'm pretty excited to get to hang out here.  

Checking In...

We woke up to a winter wonderland this morning.

I realize I haven't really written very much here lately.  Life is moving along, as fast as ever.  Being at home has somehow made it harder for me to stop and sit down.  It seems ironic, but I feel more than ever that I should always be doing something.  Every day has its list of tasks and chores, I've been able to exercise most days, and of course I get lots of time with my boys.  It's all good, but I do crave alone time, that time to sit and ponder.  I need to go back to my routine of spending some quiet time by myself after the boys go to sleep.  It simply feels good to quiet my mind, and when I'm able to do it, I can focus even better on all that needs to be done.  

I survived Winter break!  I had some activities planned, but I also wanted to allow time for the boys to be bored and play on their own.  Nathan is skilled at keeping himself entertained, but it's something that Aaron still struggles with.  They did pretty well overall, though.  We finally made it back to skiing this weekend, too, which was great.  Nathan is starting to make good progress, and I think he'll pick it up quickly next season.  

Last night I stayed up too late to watch the Oscars of course.  Jennifer Garner was my favorite on the red carpet.  Such a gorgeous vivid color, stunning necklace, and Ben on her arm.  Beautiful.  So now I'm a little tired, but I'm excited to start a new week.  Can you believe it's almost March already?  I'm hoping for a bit more snow and a couple more days of skiing before the Spring rains set in.  The muddy season is not my favorite.

I'm also still getting things here and there for the house.   This week's additions include a new lamp for the living room, and a picture for the entryway.  I've long wanted an Alicia Bock photograph for the house, but it's so hard to decide when they're all so beautiful.  This tree caught my eye, and when I saw the name, I knew it belonged in our house - The Joy Tree.  

alicia bock photography

So I'm off to start the week.  As always, there is much to be done, but my singular goal is to find a little peace along the way.

A Few Little House Updates...

A few house updates:

1.  New pillows for our kitchen seating nook.  It is now officially my favorite spot in the house.  Perfect to sit, drink a cup of coffee, read...  Even better than my gorgeous bathtub, because I actually get to use it!

2.  I got this picture for Christmas 2011.  I originally had an idea of doing a collage wall above our bed, but it never happened, and this awesome piece has been sitting in my closet!  It's now on our dresser.  I love it.  I can just hear them saying "Ten more minutes!".  Quite appropriate.  

3.  Another new chair for the living room.  The fabric turned out much cooler than I had expected, but it's growing on me.  It sits low to the ground, and it's really comfortable.  Next up for this spot - a floor lamp.

4.  More new pillows.  These happy pillows definitely brighten up the couch, and add a touch of femininity to it.  

Little by little...

Kitchen Update

We've been slowly making little additions here and there throughout the house.  Making the house a home.  This week's fun item is our new runner for the kitchen.  Really, I love that it's a good excuse to post more pictures of my pretty kitchen here.  But the rug really does add so much to the space that it's worth showing it again.  This area, between the cooktop and the sink, is where I spend a good portion of my time.  Isn't it cute?

House Update

Just a couple updates to report on our progress towards making this house a home.  The Murphy Bed arrived, and it is installed and ready for use.  The long-term goal will be to paint it white, but I am of the opinion that while the boys are so young and destructive, we should leave it as is.  It is in their playroom, after all.  The walls and floors in this room are already taking a pretty good beating.  In the meantime, the natural color actually goes pretty well with the rest of the big toys in the room.  

Here's a view of the bed pulled down.  The boys had a lot of fun testing it out for us.  Now all we need is a visitor!  It will be a great space to have when we have guests.  

This room is coming along.  We'd like to get a small table for one side of the bed, for guests to be able to use as a nightstand, and we still need some additional organization solutions (another big basket, a bookshelf) for the toys.  But it's working.

The other update is that we now have kitchen stools!  We spent a long time searching.  Because of the wood on the island top, we wanted to steer clear of another wood finish.  We started looking at metal options, and there are some really cool ideas out there.  We didn't fall in love with any of them, though, and if you're going to spend $750 per stool then you should really be in love.  So we backtracked and decided that we should stay simple.  I have always liked these easy, backless stools, and they coordinate nicely with the black table in the seating area.  Plus they were significantly cheaper than most other options.  The boys love this space, and they've been eating lunch at the island every day since they arrived.

Little by little...  Up next:  Living room furniture!

The Playroom

I want to make every room in our house comfortable, uncluttered, and beautiful.  That's a nice goal, isn't it?  Sometimes rooms come together easily, and other times it is more of a challenge.  Actually, it's usually a challenge for me since I have no talent for decorating or design.  The playroom/guest room is definitely a challenge spot.

It's a nice room, with a huge vaulted ceiling and a really cool light.  The walls are a nice shade of gray.  The rug is a fabulous shade of yellow, I adore it, and it's perfect for a guest bedroom.  For a playroom, however, the rug is not as big or as comfortable as it needs to be.  As we moved the train table and other toys in, I also realized that we could really use a set of shelves or something to help organize the space.  We have started to notice that although the boys do play in there at times, they more often go in to get toys and then bring them out to the family room or kitchen.  I have to figure out how to make the room more conducive to playing.  I'm hoping a comfy rug and a set of shelves will do the trick.  

The walls are in good shape at least.  I got this awesome Michelle Armas print, and we recently hung an art cable so that we have somewhere to hang some of the many fabulous pieces of art that the boys create.  We also got a large laminated map, so we can point out that Turkey is, in fact, a country as well as an animal, and we can better illustrate the size of the ocean that separates us from Cousin Zach.  

The big missing piece, and the piece that enables this room as a guest room, is the Murphy Bed.  It is scheduled to be delivered next month, and then comes the simple chore of painting it.  Ugh.  Little by little...

Kitchen Update

My favorite spot!

We continue to make progress on the house.  This latest reveal focuses on the kitchen dining nook.  Honestly, I will have a hard time expressing how much I adore this little corner.  It wasn't even in the original plans, because we weren't sure we would have room for it.  I am SO happy we figured out how to fit it in.  It is now my favorite part of the new space!  

For those of you who have followed my kitchen inspiration pictures over the years (hi family!), you know that I always said I wanted a white kitchen, but not a boring or stuffy-looking one.  I wanted a cheerful one with colorful accents.  After looking at the main part of the kitchen, you might've thought, "Well where's the color?" Here it is!  We chose red cushions and put together a collage of some of our favorite works of art created by the boys.

The table was custom made with salvaged wood by a place in Vermont.  The corner is rather tight, and most of the trestle tables I looked at were simply too big.  We got a custom one made for about the same price as a new one.   Yay!

And finally, a lesson learned.  If I could do it again, I'd spend more to have them build a back for the bench.  My boys are still young, and they are very hard on the house.  The wall behind the bench is already pretty beat.  For now, my little guy sits in the chair.  In a couple years - when he has a little more self-control - I'll let him move over to the bench.  

What do you think?

Yes I did go straighten out all the pictures after taking this shot.

I wish I knew how to take better interior pictures!

Masterpieces

My New Kitchen!

After seven years of dreaming and planning, I'm proud to present my new and fabulous kitchen!  Isn't she pretty?  

It's not 100% done yet either.  As you can see, we are missing a few stools in front of the island.  We're still trying to decide.  I may post a couple we've been debating to ask for input.  It's on the back-burner at the moment.  

A few notes about some of the decisions we made along the way:

*We wrestled with the decision over whether to install a hood vent or to use a downdraft vent that comes up out of the island.  Obviously we chose the hood, and I'm very thankful we did.  It's quiet, works well, and isn't nearly as obstructive as I originally thought it would be.  Yay!

*The top of the double-oven is actually a combination microwave/convection oven.  So I not only got the microwave off the countertop, but I got the double-oven I wanted too!  Awesome.  

*I love having glass-front cabinets.  We only have a couple upper cabinets, but it's so nice being able to see where the glasses are.

*The countertop is actually granite, although it looks like soapstone.  Another great find.  It is exactly the look I wanted without the maintenance of soapstone.

Confession:

*I did already have the Pelegrino, but I put a couple bottles on the counter just to take pictures.  Although I swore I'd have a bowl of lemons on display, I didn't have the patience for that.  A bowl of tomatoes had to suffice.

Here are a couple other pictures as well as the before shots.  Be forewarned...they are ugly.  

I almost hate to post such ugliness, but it's fun to see how far we've come...

Bathroom - Before and After

Isn't it pretty?

There is something not-quite-done with every room in the house, but I just can't wait any longer.  This is our new downstairs bathroom.  It is still missing a shutter for the window, so just try to imagine it, okay?  I'll update the post once it is complete, hopefully in the next week.

I love it.  The gray color is perfect, and the wood vanity and floors warm it up.  I'm really happy with how this room came together.  

The before shot...

Family Room - Before and After

Ta-da!  Take a peek at our new family room.  We don't have a thing on the walls yet, and I can't show you the other side of the room until we fill the bookshelves next to the gas stove.  Oh, it's going to come together when we do that.  (Can't do it until they redo the floors in the front part of the house, because the dust is going to fly.  Again.  This will be the third time they've done those floors.  Really.  I can't even talk about it.  But once it's done and we can fully move in, it's going to be so nice.)

Before (as a playroom, obviously):  much smaller space, broken windows, enormous brick hearth that took up most of the room, and freezing cold.

Kitchen Inspiration and House Update

photo via Midwest Living

Don't you just love how bright and cheerful this kitchen is?  Pretty soon, I will be done looking at pictures of kitchens.  Once I have my own new kitchen, I won't want to look at anybody else's, because I don't want to think, "Oooh I wish I had...", or "Oh I wish I could've done...".  Who wants to do that?  All the kitchen admiring I've done over the past few years was a fun way of dreaming about my own.  Once I get it, that'll be it. 

The renovation is coming along, albeit more slowly and with significantly more stress than I'd like.  I wake up in the middle of the night, dreaming about stove vents and wood flooring and cabinet layouts.  But we have windows, and doors, and insulated walls with wires and pipes in them.  Next week we'll close up the walls, and the following week we'll start putting down the floors.  Then it'll really start to get exciting. 

side entrance to new family room

kitchen windows

Bedroom Inspiration

image via Rejuvenation

I talk a lot about the kitchen, but we're adding quite a lot in this big renovation, including a room that will double as a guest bedroom and playroom.  One change that cropped up in our design plans was to the roof lines, and as a result, this room is going to end up with a rather tall vaulted ceiling.  I'm thinking it might be fun to get a big and cool light for that space.  I'm liking this one.  What do you think?

The Little Things...

Well, I guess if it has to rain, I'm glad it's happening primarily during the week.  We had a glorious weekend.  We went outside after breakfast and didn't go back in until bedtime.  The boys mostly wanted to ride their bikes and scooters, so that's what we did. 

The house is in such a state of disarray, but we're managing pretty well so far.  I keep my focus on the little areas of the house that are actually in my control, keeping them as tidy as possible.  I also find myself feeling grateful for so many of the things we have.  We've been selling and giving a lot away over the last couple weeks - how lucky we are to be in a position to do that.  I hope these things are useful and provide value to their new owners. 

I've chosen a few pictures of some of the things making me happy around the house this week.  Above...my mother's day gifts.  I can't wait to put that aloe plant in my new kitchen! 

Below...our new bench for our entryway.  We searched for a really long time for this bench, and I'm so happy we finally found this one.  It's perfect for the space and really helps keep the area more organized. 

My new pillow! My mom bought me this for my birthday. It is a handmade knit sham, and it is super soft. I wanted one throw pillow for our bed and searched for a long time for something just right. I'm so happy I found it! Thanks Mom!

And last but not least...I received a gift in the mail from one of my lovely blogger friends - Louise from Lou, Boos, and Shoes.  Lou developed a line of handmade facial oils, and she recently decided to open up her own internet shop!  It has been so inspiring and fun to watch her idea grow and flourish.  I was excited to give the oil a try, and I adore it.  You might be thinking something like what my husband said when he saw it, which is "Isn't it counterintuitive to put oil on your face?"  But trust me - it's awesome!  It sinks in immediately and doesn't leave a greasy feeling at all, and the smell is amazing.  You really should go check it out - the shop is called L'Apothecary.  Thank you so much, Lou!

Kitchen Inspiration and House Update

source unknown - please let me know if you know!

I want a nice wood cutting board for my new kitchen.  This year's Christmas list is going to be entirely made up of kitchen items.  I wish I was bold enough to go for colored cabinets - these blue ones are very cool, and I've seen red ones that I love too.  I just don't have the guts for it.  I love the white subway tile, and the glass-front cabinets too. 

Progress is being made quickly, which is a very good thing of course, but it also increases my stress.  We've planned and talked for so long, but when the work is actually done, it's easy to freak out and think, "Wait!  Is that the way we wanted that?  Did we talk about this?"  There's no turning back now...

As I said, things are moving pretty fast, and I haven't been taking any pictures! We were on vacation, and then it rained every single day last week. Well, I finally took a few shots over the weekend, so I can fill you in on where we stand. When I last posted, the demolition had just begun. Just a few weeks later, and the framing is almost complete! Look - we have walls!

This little spot will be a seating area on one side of the kitchen.  Can you picture a built-in bench below that window?  We're on the hunt for a light to hang down from that high ceiling over a table.  We'll also be on the hunt for a table, but one step at a time. 

Neko Case House Tour

all photos by Bjorn Wallander via Country Living

I am a fan of Neko Case's music.  She was gifted with a truly magnificent voice.  Now that I know she owns a 1787 Vermont farmhouse, I love her even more.  Her style may be a touch more eclectic than mine, and she may like purple a bit more, but I really enjoyed looking at a tour of her farmhouse in Country Living.  I especially adore the piano in the kitchen, the beams in the kitchen, the hallway library, and that beautiful garden.  

Blog Love: For the Love of a House

*All images from For the Love of a House

I just love it when I stumble upon gorgeous house inspiration, and I have to share the latest blog I added to my reader:  For the Love of a House.  It's written by a woman who moved to New Hampshire seven years ago and is renovating an antique farmhouse.  Similar to Katy Elliott, another blog I love, she shares all the behind-the-scenes work that goes into fixing up an old house.  It's wonderful.  I had a really difficult time picking out just a few pictures to share with you.  Here are a few pictures of some of the completed rooms, but if you like them, go check out the blog - it's amazing.  The renovations are still underway, so there is sure to be more gorgeousness to enjoy.