defining spaces

Interior spaces are important to me.  Not only because here in the midwest we are inside for half of the year {due to ridiculously cold temperatures!} but because it's where life happens.  Textures, colors, and collections can all transport the mind to a place that feels good.  Nostalgia if you will!

nos·tal·gia

näˈstaljə,nə-/

noun

1. 1.

   a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations.

   
   

When you live in a small home I find that being creative with how you make your space function is key.  Now couple that with a layout that is primarily open, and we are left with spaces that all sort of run together.  With most of our happenings taking place around the dinner table, we knew that we wanted to make this space more defined.  We don't have a dining room, so when we entertain, this is it.

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We decided to put in cabinets by the table that will go around our window which looks out onto our garden room.  Good for storage and serving food.

 Here is what I came up with....

Hardware for the cabinets...

overstock.com

Inspiration for the space...

I have always been moved by interiors that give a nod to the past in some way.  Whether through finishes or woodwork I find these spaces warm and inviting.

 via~HighStreetMarket

 Via~DesignSponge

Via~BirchandBird

{I hope to share some updates later this spring}

Coming from a family of six kids, the dinner table was the most important place of our home growing up.  In the end, it will define the space and create an ambience for many meals to come.

 My little brother sings it best in his song "Home"

New recipe to try this week from my Aunt Tina's cookbook---Vegetable Alfredo Sauce

I hope that wherever you are this weekend, you have a good time around the table!!

one thing leads to another...

The thing about design is that it never ends.  Something new comes in to your space and it changes your whole perspective..and things shift once again.  It all began very innocently.  I was just going to vacuum and remove the last bits from the holidays.  

The downstairs rug moves upstairs and the upstairs rugs moves downstairs.   And "big brown" who has always been too large for our space is off to a new home.  

  Can you spy the little helper sweeping the floor?  He is back there if you look closely!

 I purchased "big brown" over 6 years ago from an outlet store and at that time big was in.  Understanding scale weather in the garden or in an interior is an important part of design that I look at more closely now.

So with the house in shambles we headed to Ikea with the beans to look for a smaller sofa for our space.     

Better, but after living with it for a couple of days it just wasn't right.  The hubs is very patient with me when it comes to things like this.  He knows this side of me very well and I appreciate that so much!

The thing I like about interior spaces is that, unlike gardens, they do what you say.  Pillows don't wilt and become temperamental! They just sit there and do their thing!  But seriously, to create the stage where our family life happens is a pretty cool thing and one that I will always be passionate about.  

The start of our little homage to Valentine's Day on the mantel.  A wooden love sign from my mom and a strawberry picking messy heart picture with my girl.

Interior Inspirations

 Source unknown

 Seesawdesignblogspot.com

HabituallyChic

Now with little people we have decided to keep this couch thing to a reasonable price as I witnessed one of my beans using the chair as a kleenex today!  All of these sofas are under 600 bucks at The Classy Home.  

And then one of my favorites from West Elm.  

So as of now we have no couch in the living room which has been fun for the beans and their nest making habits of pillows and blankets!  For me it is a chance to hone in on a fresh new take.  Mirror down?  Art above the sofa?  What about you.... are you changing things up in the New Year?

As always friends...

Happy making, baking and growing!  

a bedroom makeover for the girls

I am in the process of designing a new space for my bean girls.  It's a project that's going to take months as budget and time are major factors. I've started a few little projects and hope to keep myself on track through my posts.  Somewhere along the way this space went from a nursery, to a hodge podge of stuff as we've transitioned from baby to kid.

When bean baby makes her way into this room, her bed will flank the other side of the window.  My sister inherited my grandparents' beds, and because she is wonderful, has graciously passed them down to my girls.

Things that work...

~beds

~chair

 This chair was my Great Aunt Helens.  It needs a fresh coat of paint and new fabric for the cushion.

 A great cuddle up chair!

My hope is to create something classic and collected.   Here are some interiors that I'm drawn to for their space....

Source

 Source

Source unknown

To do list...
~remove fan and replace with a unique fixture

~add drawers to the closet for needed storage

~paint spruce up

~thrift for benches for the foot of each bed

~make art for above beds

~add a gallery area for the girls

~bedding

~refinish chair

~windows

Scary closet...

 I hope to upgrade the closet with drawers like this one....

via-Closet Creations

 It is important that I have an area for the girls to feature their work...

Our current color is BM "silken pine"  

Paint ideas for the new space...

Source

I have accomplished a few things.  Shelves came down today and the table that I bought at a garage sale for 10 bucks that looked like this...

got several coats of Annie Sloan "Old White" and is now in place in their room...

{I shopped our house to decorate their new table..and the beans favorite books are on the bottom shelf}

 And that's a wrap!

   Happy week to everyone!!!

partying here...

The Dedicated House
I Should Be Mopping The Floor

Cozy Little House
So Much Better With Age

The Thrifty Groove

flood updates

I wanted to thank everyone for your kind comments about our flooding situation.  It has been so uplifting to receive such kind words throughout the day as we are trying to put our home back together.

We updated our 1967 split last spring after we decided that this was where we wanted to stay.  {More about tweaking our space here} It is the first and last house that we will ever have. The thought has always been to live small and travel big with the beans.

The two areas hit were our basement and the lower level family room.  The basement housed our playroom, laundry, and my temporary studio.  Down the stairs everything is out while in the family room all of our new floors will need to be replaced.  Darn water!

In staying positive, I have begun putting together design ideas for both spaces that will protect us in the future if any water dares to pay a visit again! The carpet in the basement was here when we moved in 6 years ago but new carpet will NOT be going back in.  I found flooring for both lower levels that should last a lifetime and is also cost effective.  It is tile that is created to look like wood.  

Some white washed inspiration

 vía Real Simple

via Gardener and Marks

vis Southern Living

As the ringing of fans and dehumidifiers sound throughout the house we are very close to being dry.  

Hmmm...what have I learned from this...

1~less is best

2~nothing is permanent

3~kids are resilient 

4~my hubs rocks

5~this is our home

Have a great week friends!!!!!!