My Dream House: Bathroom Edition

I realize that a big beautiful home like my dream home would have multiple bathrooms. However, the bathroom is one area of the home that really does not interest me in the least. Therefore, in general here's a post of how a bathroom should look in my eyes.

Another strange thing about bathrooms for me is that they are one of the only places where I would choose serene decor over cheery and colorful. So enjoy this departure from previous posts:

I want a big old steel tub that sits on the floor. It would be hooked up to a shower so it's multi-purpose, but I just really love the look of this one.

I want this cool glass that has water constantly running through it. Either this, or once at a bar the bathrooms had this glass that was clear until you locked the door, then it turned cloudy. That was pretty acceptable too...

I like the really simple appeal of this sink. Not too practical, I realize, but the idea of it is nice...

And while I personally would need a large vanity, perhaps the idea below would work in a guest bathroom: I love the idea of not having a mirror in the bathroom. Maybe you could put one inside the "You look marvelous" chalkboard so it's still useful, but really, who needs that early-morning shot to the ego?? :)

My Dream House: Kids Room Edition

Kids rooms should be fun, cheery, and a place for their imaginations to run wild. Therefore, in my dream kid's room, I'd start off with a slightly less vibrant shade of this orange:



I'd cover one of the walls with blackboard paint so the kids could draw on the walls, no problem.



I like the rustic simplicity of this daybed, plus the fun cluster of poofs and lanterns on the ceiling.



For storage, add in a shelf with a colorful collection of large baskets where they can put their toys (dream world, remember?). A shelf filled with fabric-covered Clementine boxes is a nice cheap alternative, especially since kids tend to destroy things so a DIY option might be smart...


...and a fun place to hang clothes, like this mismatched tree


Even lighting can be fun in a kid's room. Take this funky pendant light, for example....


....and these lanterns made from food cans.


A fun mirror brings lightness into the room too. Although a full-lenth mirror would be better, for all the times you play dressup and want to see the beauty of Mom's favorite lipstick all over your face.


A nice last touch is this children's rhyme on the wall.

My Dream House: Library Edition

Library Time. Because every deluxe home needs a good library.

I don't like the cluttered look of overly-filled bookshelves, but I have a lot of books. Therefore I'm going for more of a "reading room" appeal--cozy, sunlight, and relaxed. Bay window seat required, of course. And a library ladder, like the one Belle has in Disney's Beauty and the Beast.

So here's my vision: Non-traditional library--I want a room that looks like a relaxed sitting room but upon further inspection, you find books....EVERYWHERE....

Here's the beautiful, muted color palette I'd incorporate:

In my head the room is rectangular, so two of the parallel walls will look like this:

One of the walls has a door in the middle of it, with skinny builtin bookshelves flanking the sides and big art pieces on the wall spaces outside the shelves (imagine this photo as though they were on the same wall and not on a corner):

The other wall is dominated by a large bay window with a comfy window seat and colorful cushions piled high. The windowseat walls will have built-in shelves for the books I'm currently reading...Can't find a photo of what I'm mentally picturing, but trust me. It's cool.

Then from the ceiling by the bay window, if it didn't look too weird, I'd put a shelf of sorts for candles, like the one against the wall in this pic. Because really, how amazing would it be to read by candlelight while lounging on your windowseat on a stormy night??!

And if they are needed, I'd put curtains made from vintage flags around the window, so you can pull the flags over the window if you want a little privacy.

THEN for the other two parallel walls:

I'm thinking a nice low bench-style bookshelf on the floor of one entire wall.....

Then, because there is all that wall space from having low bench bookshelves (which I'd cover with cushions perhaps instead of using it as a display ledge), I'd put a myriad of photos, artwork, and pieces collected from my travels on the wall above the benche shelves.

Then against the other wall, I want a beautifully simple, rustic fireplace. I'd make sure that it was big enough so that the top of the fireplace itself is a shelf.

I'd put my favorite books of all time on that shelf and hold them in place with some super amazing vintage bookends...

Then on the shelf on the wall behind the fireplace, I'd hold my collection of antique globes....

On either side of the fireplace I'd put cabinets, where some items would be on display and some would be tucked away from view to hide clutter. Also I'd retrofit one of them to hold wine, because really, who doesn't love reading with a delicious glass of red wine? These are nice options, although instead of paint I think I'd want pretty, warm, rustic, natural wood:

Then I'd put a big fluffy rug (where I can lay on my tummy reading books all day), like this sheepskin...

....in front of the fireplace with a pretty carved trunk for a table, like this:


Around the table I'd place big huge comfy brown leather chairs and couches....here's a good example:

I also really really love the supple drapey effect of this leather piece over the simple chair, so hopefully I could work that idea in somehow:

Wow this is bad. I just got SO into these ideas that I imagined for a second that it was real. Sad!

My Dream House: Living Room Edition

So I'm not quite happy with what I've pulled together for the living room, probably because it's the room I spend the most time in and therefore am most picky about. But here's what running through my head currently:

Kick things off with a big, comfy couch. I'm a bigtime napper, so somewhere I can stretch out with a cozy blanket is a must. Probably wouldn't get it in a bright green, though--I'd do something neutral like beige or a warm brown and then punch up the color quotient with bright fun pillows....I have a bad pillow addiction!

For the entertainment center, instead of something cold, I'd go with something like this. Maybe it could be redesigned to have a shelf unit in the middle somehow for the dvd player, etc. But I like this simple option and its clean lines to store all my dvds and equipment.


I don't really watch a lot of TV, so I like this option for over the entertainment center...mount the TV to the wall and put a sliding panel over it so when you aren't watching TV, it becomes a part of the wall.

Then I'd put some cool, colorful artwork over the panel so the room is always interesting! I love big giant oversized works, but this smaller was is pretty stellar too.

Cute display for my pillow addiction...I'd also use something like this to house all of my various blankets that I love to cuddle up in...

Throw un a giant swoopy lamp to read by....

Personalize the space with some cool artwork....

Add a wall of paintings and pictures to further personalize the space. I especially like the look of the overlapping paintings on a shelf and then continuing to the floor.

Then, because I change my mind about my decor so often, in order to incorporate some pattern I'd frame wallpaper panels like this--this paper is ugly so overlook that, but I like the basic idea of being able to easily change up your wallpaper.

Throw in some home-y touches like a collection of glass jars and a bright yellow telephone...

And if there's space in the room for it, I like a modern/rustic fireplace to curl up in front of. I have memories as a child of watching the fire on Christmas eve....

And that's what I have for now! Still not quite satisfied with it....but it'll do for now :)

My Dream House: Guest Bedroom Edition

You know the drill....my dream guest room:

First off, I want lots of texture. I love the swirly pattern of the bedspread mixed with the nubbier fabric of the throw. I, of course, would do it in color....


Throw in an old wrought-iron head and footboard...


...plus a cheery chair piled high in colorful, comfy pillows....



....then add interest to the walls via a large tapestry that I (naturally) obtained on a travel to a foreign land.


Of course, in a room with such amazing textures, the lamp would have to match the drama factor...


....and guests always need places to store their things, so why not these cool refurbished carts?


After all that color and texture, I'll need something to mellow the space out. How about a nice soothing blue wall color and beachy linen shades? I think yes.

What do you think? Would you be a guest in my home?

My Dream House: Entryway Edition

Every pretty house deserves a pretty entryway. Here are some ideas I'll incorporate in mine...


Isn't this just so welcoming and soothing? I like the pretty wood of the side table and the modern mix of blue shades and clear glass lamp bases. I'd probably fill that basket (or two....or four) with shoes, mittens, scarves, etc.


On the other side, I'd recreate my own custom bench made out of two repurposed chairs and a beautiful old headboard that I'd found in a dusty old corner of an antique shop.



Maybe if there's space I could make a creative coat rack like this one....

....but if there isn't space, these cheery, modernist hooks suit my sensibilities as well.

I think above the DIY bench is the perfect spot for a wall collage of artwork and photos, don't you think?