Keeping it real: House Tour & some Foils

I decided to do a real life segment.  Nothing staged up all perfect, just real life and a cool space.

 

I have friends that bought a house, gutted it, and redid it almost completely by themselves.  I had to share it because I am so completely impressed with their skills.  They used basic materials that are affordable and readily available and thought outside the box. 

Meet the adorable and talented power team that is Grant & Becca...

They bought this a few years back, and I know at several points they felt like they wish that they hadn't.  It was a lot of blood, sweat and tears...

It all eventually got finished, and now it is super awesome...

I love the fact that they did this themselves and that they took everyday materials and utilized them to add character and a funky modern edge.  Like the use of three different types of siding.

It gives the exterior a more streamline and hip feel...

I have known these guys since pre-kids.  We now each have 2.  Grant is also my hairdresser.  This happens a lot during play dates.  Blondness...

(OK, so my roots aren't keeping it real)

Grant and Becca were nice enough to let me share some interior shots, even though our kids had ransacked the house.  Just ignore the sippy cups and toys.

My favorite part of their house is their kitchen.  They used IKEA cabinets a few different colors and styles to create a more custom look, and did a great job mixing high with low.

They got this old soapstone sink for a song.  Someone was throwing it out. It was in a basement and they basically just had to pay $350 to have it moved.  And look how much character it adds...

They used dark oak for the island cabinets and white ones along the walls...

And one of my favorite tricks was using the flooring to panel the eating side of the island...

Another IKEA trick, mounting a metal cabinet in an under utilized corner to create a bar...

And the entire first floor is open so the kids have a ball and stay within view...

Thanks Becca & Grant for sharing.  You get big belly fives...

(Our sons get all Milli Vanilli stomach slamming when they hang out.
These pics are almost 2 years apart, but they never fail. Its like their secret handshake...)

DONT FORGET TO CHECK OUT MY JOSS & MAIN SALE!

Bri, this one is for you...

Bri, the goddess from You, Me and a Wiener suggested I post pictures of the other mirrors I was considering for the boys room.  I thought that was an extra fabulous idea because I haven't an original post idea for you today.  Thank you Bri, xxoo. 
I have one kid home sick who was up coughing all night, so I am extra dumb today and I'm starting to get their cold too.

OK, so  I love the Pagodas, but they are feeling a bit fancy pants in the space so I swapped a pair from my bedroom. The only reason(s) I didn't do this to start with is because I plan on adding the matching Pagoda headboard to my room and didn't want it to be all matchy match. Also the white pagoda mirrors were doing magically delicious things to my brain against those blue walls. My bedroom is plain light beige.

So here they are... Camera 1:

Bri, please note the wieners.

Camera 2:

Thoughts, feelings, emotions?

Oh, I found the same mirrors on Pieces for $1285 for the pair. Have I told you how much I love thrift shops and yards sales lately? Seriously go hit some. I got mine back before I had kids for less than $20 for the pair.

Speaking of children, I had my meanest critic yesterday.  Shortly after I posted their room, Thomas got his Under-Roos all in a bunch and decided he hated everything and it all had to go. I told him if we were on a design show the host would be crying.  Turned out he had a low grade fever and was hungry. I still feel sorry for his future spouse though. 

And Joe is not impressed with his work space. He still likes the kitchen table.

 Oh well.

I'm off to play nurse, attack this pile

which keeps growing because of "Mr. I need to change my clothes every hour because it has a drop of water on it or I need a green shirt",

 and try to get nap time to happen so I can catch up on some work.
  Ah, Mother's Day. You were too short.

Have a good one folks. And I am always open to post suggestions too;)

Full Circle

I've been super busy lately.  Projects galore, deadlines, kids back in school and SO many pumpkins to carve.  My mom sent me a magazine clipping from the 70's of a pumpkin she copied and made for me.   I still have the picture of me with the pumpkin at my 3rd  birthday party.

Here I am, and yes my roots are showing...

As a lover of fall or really any season or holiday that I have happy memories of, I immediately had to recreate this for my kids.  So we had a weekend of what my husband might to refer to as "forced family fun". A trip to the pumpkin patch (the first of many since this pumpkin might not make it to October) and lots of carving.  I had to recreate the pumpkin, recreate the photo and get all giddy with nostalgia.

Ah, good times.

I also let them do there own thing.  Here is my 3 year old with his take on a jack-o-lantern

thanks to his obsession with all things Toy Story ...

Maybe I'll send this picture to him one day when he has kids.

Inexpensive Meaningful Artwork

You can kind of see where I'm heading can't you?  I am blessed with two left handed doodlers.  I encourage it, as you can see with Joe and my day planner.  It makes my husband a little mental (sometimes the couch cushions get involved) but  it also makes for some wonderful artwork.  If you have kids, you have a huge resource for inspiration for your walls.  Kids + IKEA frames = great inexpensive artwork.

I try to mix some in with each grouping... Pumpkins by Thomas.

And I also am lucky to have artists in the family...

My sister-in-law Jill Herrick-Lee's encaustic with watercolors from my boys and a painting from my Grandma.  All are special and have so much personal meaning, especially since my Grandma is no longer here.

These were my oldest's first real doodles. He did them on a C2 paint chip I had lying around and a sharpie that (oops) was left out.  I've gotten better about that!

 

You can also find inspiration from old advertisements.  These were old marketing material for a print company I found and thought they were great for a boys room.  Once again IKEA frames to the rescue and I had a bunch of artwork for less than $10.

You can also pull such great color combinations from kid's artwork.  They have no inhibitions or rules about putting colors together and that can really help you break out of the box sometimes...

I got a lot of inspiration lately from the pinks and greens in these pieces when I put together this grouping for my living room.

I just love the details of their work... big teeth, crazy hair, over-sized jewelery...

 Its brutally honest and right on.

 

I mean, when else can you receive a portrait of yourself in which you look like a Picasso figure and feel beautiful? 

Great new blog to check out...

For those of you with children you must check out Erica Cook's latest blog Little Moth.  It is such a wonderful concept... "big style for little people", and bound to be super inspiring.  Erica is more than qualified in this department, being an interior designer AND a mother to five boys.  How do you do it girl?  Tell us your secret!  She also manages two other equally fantastic blogs you must visit if you haven't already... Moth Designs and Luxe Life.   I can't wait to see what this amazing chick does next. Now go get inspired people!

Brilliant!

Just love this kids room! The thin horizontal stripes are a refreshingly graphic change from the standard 6-12" stripes. I love the fact that this room can grow with the occupant, and with a few accessory change outs can also make a great guest room or office.

Metropolitian Home

Love this kids room and the use of so many patterns... looks so perfectly planned and unplanned at the same time. Everything just falls together, yet you know it took some agonizing to achieve that.

Joe & his 'tar.

I rarely post my kids, this is a design blog afterall, but I had to share these pics. This is my son Joe, he is a special little guy. He was diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum PPD-NOS which makes for some challenges. We have had great success with the Gluten-free/Casien-free diet... he is speaking again, making eye contact and gives the best hugs that just melt me.

He has always shown a slight interest in music, but when we started going to the Rowley Fleamarket we started to notice his love of instruments. He'd spot them yards away and yell out "tuba" or "tumpet". He would meltdown when he saw a trumpet, flute or guitar because they're usually priced WAY to high for him to even touch. (And "just looking" doesn't comprehend to a kid.) It started to feel cruel just bringing him along. This weekend he had just gotten over a sobfest because he couldn't touch a $160 guitar, when we turn the corner and there was a kid's guitar for $15. We finally gave and bought him it. It was the best money ever spent, I can't take it out of his hands. He brings his "Tar" everywhere...

car rides...
dinner...

potty training...

and to watch some Dora.

Great stripe!

I found the new inspiration for my son's room from Betsy Burnham's portfolio. He asked for a blue room with white "road" stripes and orange "train track" stripes (dashed lines). I did that for his current room with 1 1/2" stripes and he drives his trains and matchboxes along the walls. I'd love to integrate the ceiling into the mix at the new house and I'm loving this racing stripe!

How lucky are these kids?

I think this playhouse is unbelievable! Architect Patrick Ahearn based the design on the 1843 Whaling Church in Edgartown, Ma (where this playhouse also resides). Makes me want to be 3 feet tall!

DESIGN new england

Little Things

I'm in the process of preparing to bunk my two boys together soon, so I have been trying to get a plan together for decorating the room. Before we do it, we have to get our oldest to sleep without the overhead lights on. We have been looking for a night light alternative and he spotted this lamp. He loves it because it matches his stuffed animal dog "Pistol" and now Pistol won't get lonely. I like it because its clean and simple... so we now have our starting point.

Speaking of kids rooms, studio bon has some great handprinted fabrics (as well as plenty of grown up fabric too) that are are modern & sweet. I love the simplicity of her line, clean patterns with zesty colors. They could work in so many different settings.

This ric-rac pattern is great, just screams summer. (Pillows available on her site)

One last little thing on a different note... these chandelier sleeves from Kaarskoker, I absolutely love them. They come in several different patterns and colors. What a simple, easy way to make over a fixture and add a pop of color to your space.