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?

My Dream House: Kitchen Edition

So part two of the series. My Dream Kitchen, see below for all the goodies....

I love the modern yet rustic appeal of these cabinets. YUM. And I like the idea of having one or two of the cupboards fronted with glass to show off all my prettiest pieces from my grandmothers.

Someday, I WILL have this table. Love the mission/craftsman style in such a pretty stain.

I'll set the table breezily, as shown below. Pitcher filled with wildflower is required, of course.

I'm thinking I'd go more with a deep purple setting though, perhaps with pops of yellow or orange?

That way, I could use THIS elaborately overdone, colorful chandelier over my dining table....

Ever since I was a little girl, I've dreamed of my wedding dishes being Fiestaware....yeah, I was a strange child, so sue my imaginative soul. Anyway, as long as I'm going purple, I might as well indulge that fantasy and pile in the whole fiestaware collection to fulfill my penchant for color:

Maybe the chairs could have cushions in a pretty, colorful striped pattern like below?

I'm a person who likes to A) Keep lists and B) Easily change her decor. Therefore, blackboard paint is a perfect solution for me. While I've seen variations on this from painting entire walls to painting trim or fridge fronts, the option I like best right now is painting a piece of furniture. I'm thinking I'd get a long credenza to store pretty dishes in the dining room, then paint it with blackboard paint. So cool.

Finally, to bring an extra hit of the nerd inside of me, I'd use labeled test tubes for my spices and oh, perhaps even a salt and pepper shaker set with a set of science-y humor to top things off.... :)

My Dream House: Exterior edition

So I'm going to have to slowly add to this post as we go along...

Someday, in my fantasy-world future, I will build my own house. And here is a sampling of the elements I will include in said fantasy house:

Exterior: I'm gonna have me a big, beautiful craftsman-style front porch. Big enough for a porch swing and a couple of rocking chairs. Dog and lemonade requisite, of course.

Behind the house will be a 3-seasons porch, which I will decoratewith comfy, colorful pillows and throws, pretty rugs, and a metal bench or two where I can sit to take off my adventure-loving Converse AllStars:

In the backyard I'll have a big picnic table, which I keep covered in a summery blue cloth with brilliant yellow flowers at all times.

Dining al-fresco after dark? Not a problem. I'll just hang a bunch of lanters--some filled with flowers, obvs--and place candles all around and on the table for a little mood lighting.

The backyard will also have a patio (coming off the 3-season porch, natch) where I can put this enormous chair to snuggle with friends after our nighttime picnics together. Pool table optional--after all, it DOES rain sometimes, even in fantasy-world.

Tune in tomorrow for a look inside my fantasy home! :)

My first design project!

Wow haven't posted in a while. In the meantime, my brother bought an adorable house and I get to help design the interiors! :D It's a cute little stucco, 100 years old but renovated inside with the most gorgeous wood cabinets and crown molding and a tiny little breakfast nook and really really charming windows and a big window seat in the living room.....I love it.

Kyle's moving in on his own but has a long-time girlfriend, Wendy, so we need to take into account her design ideas as well--can't be an overly manly bachelor pad I guess! Here are some ideas I have for him:

He likes pretty simple, clean things so I'm thinking to spice things up a little he is gonna need a lotta textures, like the beautiful bed above.

This goooorrrrrrrgeous mission-style table is pretty much a must. It matches the design of the house.....and it's just pretty.

His house is pretty small so space-savers and things to visually open up the space are going to be clutch. I'm thinking he should have an armoire like this one in place of a full-on entertainment center. That way all the dvds, etc can fit in one place plus you won't have the visual eyesore of the TV when you're not watching it!

I like these accent pillows in all the colors. I think this leather couch is beautiful too but pretty sure he'll want cloth. I'm thinking a deep chocolatey suede?

Lastly, he has a lot of really pretty windows and I want to keep the space well-lit with natural lighting, so maybe these linen-type shades would do the trick? I also like the calming feel of this bedroom...

Anyway, gotta clear this with the big bro.....he doesn't move in until August so I suppose we have time.... :)