Mudroom

To say my dad is the best is the understatement of the century.  I'm lucky enough that my dad can build anything I want and do it right.  He called me one day and said he was going to have two days where he would be able to build our builtins we wanted for the mudroom.  Done and done! 

We added beadboard to the back wall which will be the back of the cubbies.

We stained the bench and painted the rest of the wood white

We got hooks and added those in which look great.  Now I need to find baskets for those upper cubbies, the search is on!

Hello Flowers

Year one, our first spring in our new home and I had fun planting.  This little bistro set we've had since our first apartment together somehow made its way to the front porch and it's better than nothing.  I'd like some standard height chairs at some point but that'll be awhile before that happens, not too high of a priority compared to everything else we want.  I've always loved Boston Ferns when I see them on other houses so figured I'd give them a go this year and so far, I'm loving the decision.  

I added some annuals to the main landscaping as well for a pop of color.  The pots for the other annuals definitely add to the overall color of this front porch.

The view looking once you walk out the front door and go to take a seat.  Red is also not my choice for the chair cushions but it is what came with them and for some reason finding new ones has been harder than I thought it would be, so they stay...for now.

I love putting my flowers in colorful pots and clustering them together.  The purple wooden planter is my favorite I scored from JossandMain a few years ago.  I'm sad to say I haven't found anything like it since then and really wish they'd bring these styles of planters back.  Oh and don't mind the patchy grass...we're still growing our lawn and we're still waiting for the landscapers to reseed our lawn since the first time didn't go so well (hence the patches) 

Okay I know this is pretty much the same picture but a little closer view at all those colors ::swoon::

Thanks for stopping by.

Christine

Hello built ins

I've wanted a fireplace with built ins for as long as I can remember.  I know that sounds crazy but I love interior design, I love decorating, it's a hobby and a love of mine.  HGTV has been my inspiration for as long as I can remember and with Pinterest I can easily find pictures to relate to the ideas in my head.  The picture below is just one idea that I liked and could talk to my dad (my contractor) about, he likes to see pictures of what I'm imagining. 

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Let's just take a look at what this space looked like before without any built ins...looks like it's missing something to me.

We're starting this project with cabinets on the bottom for now and we'll do the rest of the shelves up to the ceiling later.  My dad had some extra time and finished this up for me on a Saturday because he's the best :)  Just seeing these cabinets built I was so excited, I'm still excited, I love them!  This cabinets fit snug in their places along the fireplace.  

I also am a huge fan of Fixer Upper of HGTV and of course wanted to bring in some shiplap.  I thought it would be a great pop of texture to the fireplace wall and we went for it.  Here's a peak of the cabinets and shiplap on the wall. 

It's crazy to me what a difference paint makes.  I love white, it's bright and airy it pops.  This is all I'm going to share for now, I need to take a full picture still.  I definitely need to collect some things for these shelves but am happy with how I styled them for now.  Eventually there will be doors on the bottom and open shelves on top.  I just love how talented my dad is and how lucky I am to have him and of course my wonderful hubby who lets me decorate to my hearts content :)


Christine

Gallery Wall

I finally got some of our frames up on the wall.  Let me tell you, it feels so much more like home when you hang pictures and art.  there is something about personalizing your walls with your touches that bring that homey feel (in my opinion at least.)  I've always loved the Pottery Barn frames.  We received so many from our Wedding shower that in our old house we had gallery walls up the stairs, in the living room and some in our bedroom.  

So far, I've only put some up in the living room as you can see here and I'm loving it so far.  I do plan to add a gallery wall up the stairs that you can see in the picture as well but that will come.  I did a different style this time around so I think I want to grab a few more frames in different sizes to start the stairs.  I went with a mix of art and personal pictures.  That mirror is one of my favorite decor items, an oldie but goodie from Pottery Barn as well.  I used gift cards to purchase that mirror and one other that will go on the stair gallery wall.  Of course they no longer have them but wish they did for others because they are my favorite.  The colors that are in that mirror are gorgeous shades of teals and turquoise.  

This corner of the house truly looks like a pottery barn store...the lamp, the pillow, the frames, the mirror.  While these items are usually more of a splurge for me they are pieces we've had for years now and I still love them.  If I'm going to spend money on something I really love I can justify it and these items all fit the bill.  

Thanks for stopping by.

sources

pillow - pottery barn

lamp - pottery barn, no longer available in this color but clear is available 

frames - pottery barn wood gallery frames, single, multiple, oversized

Christine

Kitchen Backsplash

I'm lucky enough to have a contractor for a dad and it's amazing.  Really it's a blessing and a curse.  I think anytime I want something new done it's no big deal, my dad can do it.  In reality, it's always a bigger job than I think.  However, my dad is amazing and always gets it done for me, simply the best.  I still to this day don't know why we don't have a business together, him the contractor and me the decor.  It'd be great, at least I think so ha!  

Anyway, I kept saying how much I wanted my kitchen backsplash done.  I was over my parents for Sunday dinner and pestering my dad but in a fun way saying it'd be so nice to come home from work and have it done (since I knew he was off, January usually is his slow time and he gets a little break.)  I'm sure you're all guessing what happened....I came home from work Monday and noticed someone brought in our garbage can from the road and that clicked in my head as "dad was here!!"  He still can't believe that the garbage can gave him away, kind of funny.  I walked in and saw he got all the materials and started.  I was so excited and was laughing because he actually did it, he just showed up and did it, the best!  Perks of moving back home and being near family :)

I went with classic subway tile and gray grout to help the tiles pop against all the white.  I love the timeless look.  I plan to add pops of color throughout the kitchen but of course that will all come with time.  As I'm sitting here looking at this picture it just hit me that it'd be really fun to paint the block that are knives are in...

Just another view...I proably should have turned off the microwave light so you didn't see the glow.  We leave that light on all the time and I didn't even think about it.

So there she is, our white kitchen with a backsplash.  There is so much light pouring in the windows that the cabinets are practically shining here but I'm not complaining, I love the natural light.  

I definitely plan on changing out the rug and have a pretty good idea what's going to replace it.  It's a great rug but I'm ready for something new.  I want to do something fun to those pantry doors but that's still an idea running through my mind.

Until next time...

Christine

Dining Room Updates

Hey all!  I just wanted to check in and show how different (I think) our dining room looks with our new rug that I am in love with.  I seriously think it's my favorite decor in the house!  As you remember, there was the lovely struggle with the previous rug that you can read about here and see below.

I will admit I was not the biggest fan of the color when this rug showed up.  It's supposed to be grey but I think it has a subtle purple hue to it.  The color of our table just clashes with it in my opinion plus the whole wool shedding problem...

Now onto the best rug ever...

Isn't she just gorgeous?  I just love, love, loveee this rug.  It just makes me so happy when I walk downstairs and see it first thing, or when I'm in the kitchen just looking over at it, or when I'm just simply staring at it from wherever I am because I love it that much...okay end long run on sentence ha!

Gah, just one more look for you, I love it!!  I love that the table runner I bought years ago from Pier 1 that ties in so well too.  I'm telling ya, favorite purchase to date (okayyy maybe favorite purchase that goes on the floor.)

Thanks for stopping by!

Source List

Safavieh Rug

nuLOOM rug

Dining Room Table

Dining Room Buffet

Christine

Let's talk sofa tables

Sofa table, sideboard, console, whatever you'd like to call it, I'm in search of a new one.  I want it to be a nice chunky piece of furniture.  Yes, I just referred to it as chunky.  I'd love for it to have a turquoise or lime green pop to it...this is where I wish I could design what I see in my mind.  My dad can basically build me anything I want but when it comes to painting something that's where I struggle.  I would like it to be a dark wood like piece.  You know how some items have a finish where some color is applied, that's where the green or turquoise would be awesome in my opinion.  I say all of this but then at the same time, I'd be happy finding the right piece if it was white or even a black...so who knows what I'll end up with...for now, here's some inspiration.

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Thanks for following along!

Christine