Feeling Less than Inspired

So, I'd been feeling a little "uninspired" lately! So,  I've been going out almost every day and exploring my new city with my new friend Derya Aksoy. We've visited tons of great vintage shops and antique stores, thrift stores and consignment shops and we've seen tons of cool things! But I'm feeling sad because I have such a small space and no where to do crafty things, or to store great finds and I want so badly to be creative.

Derya is a jewelry designer and makes gorgeous one-of-a-kind pieces. She's just moved to SLC as well, (her husband and Perry work for the same company) and is having a bit of a struggle while living in temporary digs, like me. So, we've been on the hunt for creative outlets!

Turkish Coffee Set

We've had some wonderful adventures around town finding our favorite coffee shops, our favorite places to shop and eat. One of those places is The Copper Onion which is not only our favorite restaurant so far, but also has the best coffee. And that started...

...a sort of  "coffee pilgrimage". There we discovered Caffe Ibis a Utah coffee company and we LOVE it! We bought french coffee presses at Ikea and watched a youtube.com video of how to make the coffee so we could enjoy it at home!

Derya has introduced me to Turkish Coffee and a friend of hers from Turkey sent me a coffee set! Now, I'm not saying this is going to replace other coffees for me, it is quite strong, but I did love "reading" the coffee grounds afterward! Talk about creativity!

I've done some fairly creative things with "photography" (which doesn't take a lot of room in the condo, but is eating up the memory in my computer; gotta get an external hard drive!) Derya also introduced me to picnik.com, which is a photo editing website and it is so simple, anyone can create great photos! I'm working on a website to display my photography, will post again when it is complete, I never realized how many photos I take!

"recycled" necklace

One of the most fun things I've done is work with Derya on a necklace that I wore on Christmas Eve. We made it from an old necklace, a brooch, and plastic trash bags!

This, along with visiting a few vintage clothing stores and seeing the beautiful vintage ladies hats has given me a new idea. I am going to attempt to create lampshades with a "vintage milliner" feel.

I had to find a way to combine the inspirations I've seen into the passion for decor that I already possess. I haven't started the lampshade projects yet, but have purchased a few old lamps and shades from thrift shops to begin with. My goal is to make these projects from mostly reclaimed or vintage materials, so I'm gathering bits and pieces together and will definitely share more when I get something completed!

So, with these projects I've got a pretty busy next couple of weeks, and will be out and about looking for materials, ideas and inspiration. While this is not really about interior design, it is about living in your surroundings... sometimes what we encounter while out of our homes, can greatly impact how we feel in our homes... and as is my philosophy about interior design... the spaces where you spend your time should feed and rejuvenate your soul! (even if they are not inside your home.)

Happy New Year!

Decking the Halls

My finished tree...

I love this time of year, there is nothing like having the house all decorated up for Christmas. I love sitting around in the evenings listening to holiday music, sipping a warm drink and just stare at the lights ( I would stare at a fire, but I don't have a fireplace).

It doesn't matter whether you live in a cottage at the beach, a cabin in the mountains or a condo in the city; whether your style is country, contemporary, modern or traditional, Christmas trees and lights go with them all! This year in my tiny condo I opted for a sleek, no frills decor on my tree. I have a 9 foot tree, but I left off the bottom section and is only a little over 6 feet now. I have only white lights and blue and silver glass ornaments.

This may go back to the change in my attitude toward accessories, or the small size of my space, but I'm loving the tree without garlands and various ornaments. It just seems to give the tree more importance on it's own. The color palette is also very different for me. I've always used golds, reds, greens and for the past several years some purple with that. However, this year my space has very little color and the accent color is pale blue, so I decided to use the blue for a little bit of a change.

Back in the fall, I wrote about holiday decor that goes with the design of your space. I used this same principle with my Christmas decor as well.


I had these beautiful mercury glass ornaments and I hung them from ribbon on my bedroom door. I usually hang them from the curtain rods in my dining room, but this year I had to be a little more creative. I love the color and texture of these ornaments, so I wasn't about to leave them packed away!

I found these great little dove figurines with the filigree design. I think they are perfect for my bedroom in color and they are "love birds", how wonderful!

While going through my stash of Christmas Decor to see what I had that would work with my new color scheme this year, I was surprised how much silver I already had!  I even found that I had a Santa figurine and hand towels that were mostly teal... who knew?

Because my decor already had so much brushed nickel and silver accents, I didn't have to do much to make it look festive.

You can see more photos of my Christmas decorations and holiday sights I love on my facebook page.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Tree Trimming

Design Happens » Archive » Christmas Countdown: Tree Trimming

photo from HGTV.com 

Today I'm trimming my tree, and I have decided to do it all in light blue and silver or gold (I'll decide when I get to the store and pick out the exact ornaments). I'm only going to put a few ornaments and let the tree be the "star" of the whole design.

I love the tree shown here, I found it at the above link, the blue is the same as in my living room so I'm going to use it as my inspiration, but I have a green tree. I'd love to see your trees or other holiday decor, share them on my facebook page at Regeneration Interiors.

Check out the tree inspirations on HGTV.com at the link above. I'm probably the only person I know who doesn't have their tree up yet, but just in case you're as slow as I am... here's hoping you'll get the tree-trimming-bug! Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays!

Change of Plans

Well, weather caused us to change our plan to go north on the return to SLC. So we retraced the trip I'd made about a month ago and visited with friends the past two days, but I had to somehow work in some Frank Lloyd Wright time. So, I found a museum in Denver, Colorado that showcases some FLW works.

We visited the Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Arts.  I had so much fun seeing pieces of furniture and art; in person; of the many designers I had learned about in school. I sat in a FLW chair and the windows were his designs too! I was sad to see that I had by 3 days missed the Eero Saarinen exhibit. Saarinen is said to have been the most prolific architect of the 20th century. He designed some of the most iconic buildings of his time before the age of 50. He designed the St. Louis Gateway Arch, which is where we were day before yesterday.

Looking forward to getting home for a little while, but am loving the traveling and exploring all of the history and beauty in our wonderful country! I am not on my own computer so I will post photos later, but check out the websites I've linked here. If you are a lover of art and design, you'd love a visit to these places!!

Wanted: Handy "Woman"*

must be able to spackle, putty, caulk, snap a chalk line, cut tile, clean, paint, do laundry, make daily trips to Lowe's, pick up groceries, pick up take-out, use a measuring tape, use a chop saw, belt sander, hand sander, jig saw, nail gun, hammer, chisel, dremmel (to repair the nails you break), stain, varnish, reupholster, assist grumpy old man, argue through the "creative process", see project through to completion and then repeat as necessary, pick out furniture and accessories, "decorate", load moving truck, unload moving truck, carry large dressers upstairs, repair scratched floors, repair damaged casegoods, ability to design creative solutions for storage, assemble ceiling fans, install light fixtures, sockets and light switches, and all other duties that come up in a day of "off the cuff" remodeling.


compensation package includes momma's cooking at every meal and a clean, comfy bed to sleep in.

bonus package includes spending time with wonderful parents and knowing that what we're doing now is going to be part of our family for generations to come!

got caught sitting down on the job!

*(this was not an actual job posting, it is the description of the position I've taken on here!)




(I'm wearing Daddy's sweatpants and sweatshirt because the "work clothes" I brought were not warm enough... I look like a giant tomato!)

Nell Hill's Inspired Towel Rack

On my drive from SLC to NC we stopped at Nell Hill's in Atchison, Kansas. I love stores like this! It just goes on and on and there are so many ideas to take home, even if you don't spend a lot of money, you can get inspiration to make projects of your own.

Just inside the front door I saw these wonderful iron hooks for $3/each that had been painted, they looked old and immediately I thought about making a coat or towel rack for Mom and Dad's house. I bought four of them and let the creative juices flow while I was wandering around the rest of the store.

Holiday decor made from old windows!

We (my friend Amy and I) loved that they had used old windows in so many neat ways! This holiday idea is just one of the many uses they had displayed. They had used them as shelves, wall hangings, candle holders, just so many things. So, my little wheels were turning and I decided to use an old window and the hooks to make a towel rack/mirror for the bathroom.

this is what we started with.

Amy knew of a place near her house where I could get an old window for $3, so I got the window in Tennessee to go with the hooks I got in Kansas. My dad had pieces of mirror in his outbuilding so all we had to do was get the mirror cut to size. (I even found the screws in Daddy's building that had the paint on them and they matched perfectly!)

 
We had to scrape off layers of old paint and remove some rusty hardware and add a narrow board to the bottom to make it wide enough to mount the hooks, but I think the final product turned out just great! We decided that we needed a way to know whose towel was whose, so we used an eyeliner pencil to write our names on the mirror above our towel, which can easily be wiped off, we used brown and it matches the bathroom! See what you think! We love it!

Stairway to "Heaven"

We've been trying to finish the last bits of several projects. We get sidetracked now and again and start another project without finishing up the one we had going. (ever do that?) So, we've put down shoe moulding and touched up paint and moved the furniture into the new stair landing, the last bit of this project was putting up the banisters. We built every component of the railings from "scraps" of wood and metal rods, we painted it and then assembled it. This was a time consuming and tedious job trying to line up each and every little rod and hold them in place and get the railing fastened, but the end result is awesome!

Mom and Dad's heavenly coffee spot!

This little landing area is where my parents dream of having their coffee in the mornings and watching birds in the spring and summer, the leaves changing in the fall and the snowfall in the winter. It's right outside their bedroom and we're putting a coffee maker here, so they don't even have to come down to the kitchen to get their morning brew!

As soon as we finished and set the furniture in, my dad said, "That's just like I saw it in my mind." He has "designed" the house in his mind, there have been no drawings or schematics to go by, just what he "sees" in his mind. And, except for the help of a few family members, he's done all of the work himself! I happen to think he's extremely talented to not only dream these things up, but to execute them so beautifully.

With almost every room in the house at some stage of completion, and not one fully complete, except the bathrooms, we've still taken the time and luxury of enjoying our first cup of coffee in this wonderful little nook that just a few months ago was just a dream in the mind of my dad! And for years to come it will be our little corner of "heaven".

Home Again

Back at my parents', working on the house. Making some progress, but not seeing large projects completed. It's amazing how many little projects are involved in every big one. I don't have any photos to share yet, but will be posting some in the next few days. Hope to have the stairs completed before the end of tomorrow! Today we built the banister components. We're building it all from "scraps" basically, and it is amazing, when you are as talented as my dad, what you can do with old wood. (the majority of the materials are reclaimed from an old building he tore down) Stay tuned for photos and more details about the stairs!

Talk amongst yourselves while I'm working here!

Looking for Adventure

Next week I'm heading back to North Carolina to help my parents with their house for another month. I'll be there until the week after Thanksgiving. I'm really excited to see where they have gotten while I was away and I'm excited to see what we can get done before the weather gets too cold! Maybe, one of the most exciting parts of this trip is that I'm driving! My "best-est" high school friend is flying out to SLC to make the drive back with me and along the way, we're hoping to find some great adventures! 

After Thanksgiving, my husband (who is flying out to NC for the holiday) and I will be driving back, and we're taking the "scenic" tour! (weather permitting, of course). We have some planned sights to see, and the rest we'll just play by ear. I do have a few spots that I plan to see and I wanted to share them with you. 

On the way out next week, we'll be stopping and shopping at Nell Hill's in Atchison, Kansas. If you're not familiar with Nell Hill's, click on the link and check out her online store, blog and decorating ideas.  I've attached the link to one of her books on Amazon.com, you can check out more of her books there as well. I'll definitely take tons of photos and post them here, wish you could all come along for the excitement!

 On the way back, we're planning to visit several states to which we've never been. My hope is to make it to Wisconsin to see some of Frank Lloyd Wright's work. I've always had a fascination for his work and the man himself, so it's a dream... hopefully the weather will be nice enough for us to make it. If you are not familiar with Frank's work or design philosophies, I highly recommend checking him out. 

And, if you're not as interested in his design as his life story and a bit of a sordid love affair, then check out Loving Frank a novel by NancyHoran. ( I guess you now can tell just how much I am fascinated with this man!) 

This next several weeks is all about my favorite passions: great friends (Amy, Lenore & Connie), decorating & design (Nell Hill's, Frank Lloyd Wright), remodeling/repurposing (and doing it with parents is an added bonus), travel and reading (I'll be reading on my blackberry & iPod with Kindle) and of course, blogging* about it all. 

*You can also follow me on twitter @designingprose and on facebook @ Regeneration Interiors! 

"I need a volunteer..."

I'm looking for someone who would like to have their home featured on my blog! I want to see what you've done and find out how you did it!

If you remodeled, redesigned or redecorated your home and you have before and after photos, then you are who I'm looking for!

If you haven't started yet, but are embarking on a big remodel, or small redecorating job, then you are who I'm looking for! We can get ideas from readers, I'll share my experiences with you to help you get your project completed!

The idea here is to discuss style, color, design and processes. I don't care if you live in a tiny studio apartment, a cottage or a mansion, I'm interested in how you decided what to put in your spaces and then if you are happy with the outcome!

I want to talk about your lifestyle and how your home reflects who you are and then share some of the secrets you used to get your look! Please join in on the fun and share you home and ideas with the rest of us!

Email me at thedesigningprose@gmail.com or message me on facebook at Regeneration Interiors!

Outdoor Rooms

With fall approaching, it might seem like a strange time to talk about outdoor spaces, but I love fall and when the air is nippy, I love hanging out outside, even if it requires a blanket! This past weekend we ate at a restaurant that had a wonderful patio with a waterfall and great lighting, the weather was great for outdoor dining and there is just something so wonderful about the atmosphere of outdoor spaces that makes the food and conversation better. Fall is also the best time of year to be outside, it's not too hot and the bugs aren't swarming!

In my current place, I have a balcony about 5'X14', so outdoor space is precious here.  You approach the balcony through a six foot slider from the living room and a standard french door from the bedroom, so placing furniture is difficult without blocking the doorways. I'm looking for ideas on how to make this space functional and cozy for sitting outside in the afternoons or for coffee with my hubby on Saturday mornings.

As I started my quest for function and flavor in this new place, I thought about my outdoor space in my last home in Las Vegas. I want to share my backyard makeover with you. Not everyone thinks of outdoor spaces as needing designing or decorating, but you can have "rooms" outside that increase the living, dining and entertaining spaces in your home. And the design and planning are done in much the same way.

Before

When we bought our home in Vegas in 2007, we were looking for new construction, because we'd bought an older home before and spent the entire five years we lived there remodeling and redecorating. We had just finished the kitchen when we found out we were transferring for my husband's job and I never even cooked a single family dinner in the new kitchen! So, this time, we wanted it all done, new and fresh so we could just live there and not work there... (some of you know exactly what I mean). 

Before

So, we got the beautiful new home with new carpets and freshly painted walls, everything was brand new down to the last appliance! But the backyard would take us over half the time we lived in the house, to complete! Now, that doesn't mean that we worked in the yard that entire time, it took almost a year to complete the plans and work out the details, but the planning is always the hardest, most time consuming part of the job... right?!

After

We wanted to make sure we had a space for cooking, eating, lounging and "sun worshipping", this is the desert after all and there is a lot of sun to be worshipped. In these photos you can't get a feel for just how big (or small depending on where you live) this backyard truly is. It measures a 65' wide by 29' deep, that is large by Vegas standards, and that berm is nearly 6 feet high. One contractor estimated that it was about eighty-five tons of dirt that had to be moved in order to give us backyard spaces at all!

I added individual patios for each "room" I wanted. I used the same materials for each, but in different patterns to make the "rooms" have their own character. As in every room, the space had to have a focal point, and I put a fountain on one wall to act as that focal point. It is visible from every part of the backyard and is spot lighted so that it becomes an even more important feature as the sun goes down. The sunning spot is a semi-circular shaped patio done by cutting brick shaped pavers and laying them in a fan pattern off the existing concrete patio.

After. 

The color scheme, (just like any room would have), consisted of the red brick wall, which we had to work with, gray of the existing concrete and the tan stucco of the house. I repeated that scheme in the rock wall, pavers and even the furnishings I chose. With the greenery from the trees and flowering plants all with blooms in red, purple and white the yard had a great cohesive feeling, just like the spaces inside the house.

The major point here is this; you can have outdoor spaces that add to the overall function of your home and you use the same design steps as you do for indoor rooms. 1) decide the function you need; 2) take stock of what you have to work with; 3) if you still need a direction, choose some inspiration; 4) make it your own!

I'm going to spend some more time developing my plan for my tiny balcony, I'd love to see what you all have done with your outdoor spaces. Send photos, post comments, give me your ideas!

"Adjectives" (Accessories)

 Accessories are what give a room it's personality, they set a tone and maybe even a theme to a space. Like adjectives, they are the descriptives to a room, (or an outfit)!  I am a huge lover of accessories and love changing accessories with the season or just for a change of pace. By changing a lamp or pillows in a living room, you can create a completely new vibe.

As a home stager/interior re-designer, I have seen how accessories can transform homes. I wanted to share with you today some photos from a cabinet showroom that I "staged" for an open house. Now, these aren't drastic make overs, they are just about accessorizing. The most drastic change I made to any of the spaces was to switch out knobs, everything else is subtle, but made some bold differences in the displays.

"Cafe" Kitchen before

"Cafe" Kitchen after

"Cafe" ~ I loved the striped wallpaper they had used with this display, but felt that the white knobs were not "accenting" this kitchen in the best way possible. I replaced the knobs with black metal ones and brought in very few simple accessories, but I think the space looks completely different! I placed glassware in the cabinetry, centered in each panel, for a symmetrical and clutter-free look.

"Peaches" Kitchen before

"Peaches" Kitchen after

"Peaches" ~ This kitchen is a bit outdated in finish, but is still shows a lot of the cabinet options that this company offers, so my job was to use accessories to enhance what I had to work with... actually, isn't that the job of accessories in every space? What was here didn't match at all, and a great deal of thought wasn't put in to placement.

I simply added a bowl of peaches, two bottles of lemonade, a plant and cookbooks, but what a difference! This just goes to show you that "staging" is powerful! Am I the only one who sees it?

"B&W" Kitchen before

"B&W" Kitchen after

"B&W" ~ This is one of my favorites! The most imaginative thing about this display was the wallpaper, and I loved it. I just happened to find plates with a very similar pattern on them and used them to add color to the simple black and white palette. I chose to use red, but you could add any color to this space and make it look completely different.

I, also, added clear canisters with rice and black beans and a decorative infused-oil that repeated the black and red color scheme. Again, basically four accessories, but changed the look drastically.

Now, this is just a showroom, and no one has to live in these kitchens, but the same accessorizing ideas can work in your kitchens too. Never underestimate the power of changing hardware. That one little change can make a huge impact on your design. It is one of the easiest things to do and probably the least expensive way to change and update your cabinetry. What do the accessories in your room say about you, or how you live? Try putting new "adjectives" in your rooms today!

Starting with Inspiration

I've written several times about using inspiration pieces to start your room design, and Amber from Atlanta has taken this suggestion and designed a beautiful master bedroom using her wedding rings as her inspiration! ( I only consulted on this room, she did all the work!) The room isn't complete, and when it is I will share the before and after photos, but for now, I want to talk about how she translated her inspiration.

Amber's Engagement Ring

First, let's take a look at the ring and think about the characteristics that can correlate to a room design. Amber told me that her decorating style was a little bit modern or contemporary and that her husband liked more traditional. So, since this is their most intimate shared space, it is important to make sure that they are both represented; and they wanted it to feel romantic. Here's how we broke down the details.


Traditional -  Wedding rings are all about tradition, and become a part of the history of, not just a couple, but their family as well. Their home is an historic home with traditional details like plantation shutters, crown moldings and original hard wood floors. It is a place in which they are building the "history" of their lives together. They have dark wood, very traditional furnishings with matching night stands, a triple dresser with matching mirror and a beautiful large bed. So, having taken stock of what they have, traditional is covered!


Contemporary -  The yellow diamond is contemporary, the styling of the ring is contemporary, so we set out to find the contemporary details for the room. Amber found beautiful bedding with pin-tucked pleating in a slate gray color, very contemporary in style and fabric. The color palette which is yellow (for the center diamond), gray (from the color of the white gold) and white (isn't it obvious?), is very contemporary and extremely popular right now. We found  lamps with a chrome finish which are contemporary and also translates very well as the metallic finish of the rings. They have glass accents and beautiful silvery gray shades which deliver a little bling and continue the color story! The walls, she painted yellow and has added yellow accent pieces and a wonderful zebra printed rug. (you can't wait to see pictures can you? me either!)

Romance - It is a master bedroom, that should be romantic no matter what! and, there is nothing more romantic than an engagement ring! The color palette and fabrics are soft and romantic. By choosing very personal accessories, like the hair-piece she wore in her wedding in a shadowbox, photographs of the couple or other special moments for them, just enhance the romantic theme. 


Now, that you know how we've "translated" an inspiration piece into a room, keep checking back for the progress and the final outcome. If it could only get done as quickly as I can write about it, that would truly be a magically "romantic" room, right?




(When choosing bed linens you should always get the very best you can afford. Remember that you will spend more time in these than any other single article of clothing you own, they should be the most comfortable and durable fabrics in which you spend time.)

Reading...again (and another broken rule)

So, today I was reading and looking at pictures on HGTV.com  Designers Portfolio, and I realized that the rooms that welcome me the most are the ones with less color. I think I'm one color off from being "monochromatic"! Or, as my Aunt Judy would say, "booorrrriiinngg!".

my wardrobe!

Then I took a look in my closet and my entire wardrobe, and think, it's not quite monochromatic, but it is pretty boring, at least to some people! What I really like about fewer colors is that, it's easy to get dressed, everything matches and for the most part black and white can be dressy or casual. It's about being simplistic and classic and in such a simple palette, texture goes a long way.

 Now, I don't just decorate my spaces with black, white and cream, although that is all I've shown you so far I think, but I could easily do so. I've heard designers say that picking color for your space is like picking color for your clothes. The colors you feel most comfortable dressing in, you'll feel comfortable living in as well.

My living room now. Do you see my "broken rule"?!

So, I took a look around me to see if I really am boring in my new space and what I decided is that I'm not! I think it goes back to the living in small digs, and needing less visual clutter in my own space, because in my house in Vegas I have lots of color!

Well, after I checked out my space more I realized it's not color that I don't have, it's pattern. With my dark purple wall (which I've totally ignored) there is actually tremendous amount of color here, but with the solid sofa, solid colored pillows and chair, it does feel less visually stimulating.

What you might notice, if you've followed my blog for long, is that I have used the same accessories over and over. I love changing things up regularly, and since I can't rearrange furniture, I rearrange accessories. I once heard a decorator friend of mine say, "A well appointed house is one where you can take furnishings and accessories from one room to another and they work beautifully". She is sooo right! It's the same with the wardrobe, mix and match every single piece! This again goes back to a simple color palette and knowing your style.

So, what is all of this about really? Well, it's this: take a look in your closet for inspiration on your style and color palette; remember that color and pattern are not equal when thinking about how to add them to your room; and use magazines and the internet to help you find styles you like and get a feel of what you'd be comfortable in! You might just find that your space fits you like your favorite outfit!

(The "broken rule" is the height of the art over the sofa, and I have to say it is a pet peeve of mine. However, when I hung them the sofa wasn't there and I was trying to make them about a hand's width above where I thought the sofa was going to be. Because they each require two huge anchors to hold them, I decided to leave them where they were! My landlord will be glad I didn't put more holes in his walls!)

Designing a New/Old Kitchen

As you all know, I've been working with my parents on their house. Well, we're at the point where it is time to rip out the old kitchen and start over! This has to be the biggest and most dreaded part of the house to remodel/redesign. This is where all of the things I tell you about where and how to start come in to play. I'll take you on a little journey with me as this all gets done.

First, let me tell you that the room is not very large, and at the current time has a set of stairs coming down one wall that land and turn out into the kitchen, they are going! There is also a storage area under the stairs that is no longer needed due to the large pantry we added on. So by removing this two-in-one feature, we are creating a lot more space. However, we are having to move the desk area out of the living room so we are building in a "home office" in that space. Having said all of that basically means that the footprint of the kitchen is remaining the same, so the goal is to make it much more functional!

So, to start off with my first step, taking stock of what we have to work with! Ok, the room is 14' 4" X 17', there are only three walls as one side is open to the dining room. There is a door to the deck in the corner and a window on the shorter wall over the sink. That window is going to be replaced, and we have not yet decided whether to add the same size or double it up (Momma and I say, double it up). Adding more window is great, more light and more view, but less cabinet space, so it's a toss up.

We have three large unfinished armoires which I put five shelves in each, two of them will serve as office supply storage, as well as the CPU and printer, craft supplies and books, the other will store dishes. They will make up one wall and will also serve as the ends of a desk top that will be fitted between them. The desk will also serve as a place for sewing, so the plan is to put a flat screen computer monitor on the wall over the desk, reserving the surface for other tasks. We will paint these armoires white, to tie them to the other cabinetry, since we have not selected the cabinetry yet, the color and hardware will be the common thread here.

"rough draft" of kitchen, but on the right track!

I've been working with the kitchen planning software on the Ikea website. I haven't yet figured out how to attach the plan to the blog, but when I do, I'll send it along. Of course, it is subject to change as we find obstacles to the plan. (This feature on Ikea's site is awesome, you can actually look at the room from all sides and angles, but this still image will have to suffice for now.)

Right now, we have all of the appliances except for the dishwasher and microwave, however, Daddy has been shopping for these in the "scratch-and-dent" sections of his favorite appliance stores. He has gotten some incredible deals on high-end appliances. Some of these were just purchased and then didn't fit in the spaces and returned, but because they weren't in new packaging, they mark them down tremendously! So, we're on the look-out for a dishwasher, microwave and great stainless sink!

As we search for materials and ideas, I'll keep you posted, and would love to hear your thoughts and ideas as well. Remember, this is a project on a tight budget and will be reusing, repurposing and recycling as much as possible. This isn't just about saving a dime, it's about saving the environment as well. We want to be true to the style of the house and still have modern conveniences. So creatively using materials and finishes is going to be the key to making this old kitchen new!

Reading & Writing

So, I was on Amazon.com today looking at decorating and home design books, (there are 5,899 books that come up under that search) and it got me thinking... why are there so many books about this subject? I think it's because so many people are intimidated by designing and decorating. I have heard so many people say, "I don't know where to start" or "I'm just not a decorator". Well, most people aren't decorators, but it can't be that hard, we all know what we like, right?!

When designing (or decorating) a space, I always start by taking stock of what I have to work with. It might just be an empty room with a window or it could be a room full of furnishings, either way, I look at the space and what is in the space and try to get an idea of what I want the outcome to be.

Outcome, for me, is about the function as well as the look or feel. For example, if it is a bedroom, it's pretty easy to decide the main function, but what if you don't have a home office, yet you need a place to pay bills and check emails, etc. Then we need to "build" in to the function of that room a space for a desk or at least a place to organize bills and mail.

In my current space I have a sofa table that is functioning as my desk. The desk that I have (and I love) is huge, it is nearly the size of a dining room table, so it definitely wouldn't fit in this condo, however, the sofa table is almost the same width, but not as deep and still has 3 drawers that keep my necessaries neatly organized. It is not ideal for long-term use (because I have 2 printers and right now can only fit one), but it works fine for me, for now.

Getting back to the point... knowing what functions you need from the room will help to decide layout, furnishings, lighting, color, finishes, just about everything! That seems like a simple thing, but sometimes it's hard to think of every single use you might have for a space.

Common functions for a den, for example, are TV watching, family gatherings, kids playing, even video games and usually a place for the family computer. That is a lot of function for a space that for most of us, isn't typically all that large. It requires a lot of seating, comfortable, durable finishes and furnishings, good lighting, but not too bright or it interferes with the TV, and enough floor space to play the Wii without smashing something! Right?!

A dining room needs a table and chairs, but what about space to store linens or dishes? And wouldn't it be nice if there was a space to set up a buffet or display desserts during holiday gatherings? This is a pretty easy one to figure out, but what about finishes and colors? This is where it gets in to what you like!

There are certain colors that invoke certain psychological reactions and it would do well to use those colors if you are looking for a certain reaction to your space. For example, the color red in a dining room increases the metabolism and stimulates the palate, thus encouraging energetic conversation, lively parties and gatherings. Think of a large Italian family gathered around the table... you know the colors would be bold and so would the food and fun! Green is a calming to a space; so if you like your meals quiet and relaxing, this is the color for you, would work great in a breakfast room, to wake you gently.

My best suggestion for a starting point is finding the inspiration piece. Maybe it's a piece of furniture or a color or a piece of art that you love, you can use anything! Ladies, have you ever designed an outfit around a pair of earrings or shoes? It's the same concept, only larger!

One other thing that I think helps when you just don't know where to start is thinking outside the box. Now, I've talked before about using furniture in ways that they weren't originally intended, but here it is again. When you are needing a buffet for your dining room, think about a dresser in a bedroom that you aren't using. You can also use extra dining chairs in a bedroom if you don't use them all the time. Try a drop-leaf table for a desk in the corner of the den, you can put the leaves up for more work surface and then fold them back down when you need the space. I love armoires, and I use them for everything from storing clothing, hiding the TV, a "desk" (because I can close the doors on my mess) and I've even used one in a hallway for a coat closet for guests. 

I like using old things, and repurposing so I love this book about Flea Market Decorating. Anyone can do it, it doesn't take a lot of money to be creative. It's about thinking out side the box, about recycling, reusing, but it's about having things around you that you love! It might just be that you can find inspiration from something old to create a new space!

So, what of all of this book writing and book reading on the subject of decorating and design... Everyone has their own likes and dislikes, and there couldn't be enough books written to describe every taste out there, so read the books (or blogs) and take advice, but write your own story in your space!

Time to Reflect

I have just spent the last couple of hours writing a new post and adding the photos and captions and clicked one wrong button and deleted all of that work! How frustrating! So, here is the photo "story" of my parents upstairs bathroom!

As I spent time traveling the past two days (13 hours in airports and planes on Monday and 7 hours in the car driving yesterday) I had time to reflect on some of the work I did at Momma and Daddy's. Most of the work is not visible because it is inside walls and beneath coats of paint, but we did the finishing touches on both bathrooms and the pantry.

This bathroom is on the second floor and has some funny roof lines. Because of the odd shape the only place for the shower was smack dab in the middle of the room. To the right of the shower is the toilet and sink and to the left is the laundry room.

Daddy added this room on a couple of years ago and it has functioned fine, but the finishes weren't complete until last week. I caulked all the trim, we painted, added shelves and then the fun part, decorated!

After

Before

There was very little storage because of the limited space and pedestal sinks. So they decided to add shelves to the shortest wall next to the sink. Because of the steep pitch of the ceiling, the space was not usable for anything else and yet it was too much space to waste.

We found the perfect bins to use for storage in the office supplies section. These bins are used for file storage, but worked so well here because they are square all the way to the bottom. (most baskets we found were narrower at the bottom and didn't utilize the space as well) We left the top shelf open for towels and since she uses only white towels, it looks very clean and organized!

I'm not going to pretend that we knew this would work out so well, but when we got home with the bins, they fit perfectly!!! I mean it was as if the shelves where built to fit them! What luck!

We used an antique metal kitchen canister for laundry detergent. And where this new addition met the old house there was an odd little niche that we closed in and made space for one more bin to store additional laundry supplies.

It is amazing how some carefully thought out storage made a tremendous difference in this odd space. The bathroom is actually quite large in floor space, but because of the odd angles of the ceiling, the space feels much smaller. The layout, use of every inch of space we could cut out for storage and the clean crisp color scheme, keep it from feeling cluttered. When it comes to organization and storage, think outside the norm. We found the best solutions in office supplies and antiques!

Hitting the Proverbial Brick Wall



The fireplace before.



Today has been the toughest so far. We are tired!  I've had some sort of allergic reaction and my eyes are red and  bloodshot, my hands and feet are swollen and bothersome. The good part is that my eyes don't hurt or itch, they just look bad and my hands and feet are still working. Momma is a bit overwhelmed and has some emotions that frustrate her, they are results of the stroke. The amazing part is that we, with the help of two aunts and two uncles, were still able to accomplish a number of things on the list!

The list gets shorter, and the projects on it get more and more tedious. These are the last details in each room, the minutia that give a room the "period" at the end of the sentence, (or hopefully an exclamation point)  but they wear on the nerves and the timeline. This is also why they are just now getting completed. We have a list of 23 items, most of them requring no more than a hour to do, but that's nearly an entire day, if we could work at it nonstop. The worst part is that you have to gather up the tools to do it, then you have to prepare the space to do it, then you have to do it and then you have to clean up the space and the tools. Thus, the one hour project just took over 2 hours to complete. You've probably all been there!

This evening we stopped earlier than we've been, we sat down and had dinner without the anticipation of getting right back to work, and we talked about what we've accomplished and what was left to do. We talked about the wonderful help we've received from neighbors and family and how grateful we are for each of them. We laughed about things that we've said and done and realized that we're already living wth the memories we're making.

The fireplace today.

One project that was not done this week, but that we enjoyed this evening was rebuilding the fireplace. (we only lit it for a few moments, and we had to crank up the air to be in the room with it) Now, as long as I can remember the chimney was outside the house and the rock fireplace was covered over and there was a woodstove in the house. My dad moved the walls back to bring the chimney inside and when he uncovered the rock fireplace he found a large hole where they had run the stove pipe. He meticuliously worked to remove loose rocks and mud that had been the "mortar" in the original and carefully rebuilt the fireplace.  It is not a rock surface on a masonary fireplace it is a true rock structure.

This weekend Momma and I finished the last bit of spackling around the rough edges at the wall and now the project is complete. It is absolutely beautiful, but there is no way to show the days of labor that were required to restore each old rock to its place, rather than to rip it out and build a new fireplace.  This type of attention to details is the reason that it has taken nearly four years to restore/remodel this house, but it is going to be sooooo worth it!

Today we are feeling a bit tired, frustrated and just plain fed up with the whole thing, and that's when we find that jobs that have already been done are restoring our spirits. I say all the time, that our homes are our sanctuaries and that these are the spaces that should renew and restore us. It's so wonderful to know that this house has been doing that for our family for several generations. So, while we feel like we've hit the proverbial brick wall, we can sit back and admire a lovingly restored rock one.

"its final resting place"

Since the last post, we have not completed all of the projects we anticipated, but we still have gotten a tremendous amount done. My dad's youngest brother and his family came to visit and were able to share in restoring a cabinet that was in the house when my dad and his brothers and sisters were growing up. This cabinet was re-purposed around 1955 to this house from the house of a relative.

When Mom and Dad started construction this time they put the cabinet in the workshop of Uncle Ray and yesterday we brought it back home. As my little cousins (my uncles younger 5 children) scraped off the loose paint, they discovered years of paints in green, red and more layers of white in between. Then my aunts and uncles who were here discussed how many different colors they remembered it being. We spent most of the afternoon, and until just after dark, scraping, priming and re-painting the cabinet to put it in the new pantry we had built this week. It is now where my Aunt Pat has declared its "final resting place"!

We aren't really using it for a new purpose, it will still store dishes and other pantry items, but even in my lifetime this cabinet has been in many locations in this house and is now in a room that was a porch just over a week ago. It will continue to fulfill the needs of the entire family as this is the gathering place for many-a family meal. I heard my little cousin Noah tell my mom yesterday that she was one of the best cooks in the entire world! She definitely needs and deserves this awesome pantry!

Everyone, right down to the smallest one, took part in the cabinet make-over and at the end of the day we took a marker and each one signed and dated the back. It was once again, like years before, a big family affair. We had lots of fun, we made lots of memories and we helped to fill this home with love! 

This Old/New House

Well, it's been over a week since I got here and we've worked almost around the clock! We've accomplished so much, but haven't had time to take pictures or to sit down and write about it. We've got one bathroom completely done, one that just needs touch up paint and caulk and the living room within an hour of completion! We've added on a utility room and in the next 24 hours it will be complete and stocked. (and it was just started 3 days ago!)

The original house was  built in 1889 and it has been remodeled several times. I remember the year I graduated from high school, our entire family worked weekend after weekend getting it "updated" for my grandparents! It has had a few things changed here and there since then, but this remodel is the biggest one yet!

The house in 1984 after the remodel for my grandparents!

One of the best things about this transformation is that the majority of the materials used are reclaimed. My parents tore down an old building for the materials which needed some work to be usable, and they have  worked for months pulling out nails and sanding, etc. I know it was a lot more work, but the savings to them financially were tremendous, and the savings to the environment were even more! And it has been so much fun to look at some of the old pieces and find ways to use them in the house.

I ache in places that I didn't know I had, and I wonder how Momma and Daddy have been able to keep this up for so long. Even though we are exhausted beyond belief, it is so exciting to get up every day just to see what we can accomplish that day before we go to bed! If you have ever taken on a do-it-yourself job you know the frustrations as well as the joys of the undertaking and accomplishments! The absolute best part of this particular time is that we are making memories and with my mom suffering a stroke just over a week ago, we are just too aware of how important those memories are.

As I think about home and my entire philosophy of home and design, I've been thinking about how this home will fulfill every aspect. Not only will it be a place where they can live and will satisfy their needs daily, it will definitely be a place where the love and care and memories abide that will nurture and renew them every single day!