How I Love The Home I Have: An Inspired Tale
Hello friends!
We’ve touched on this before.
How easy it is to get caught up in the world of newer, brighter, shiner… better.
I want to talk to you today about how I love the home I have, how it’s evolved and how I stay content. Even while I plan new exciting changes. Because I think you can do both.
If I look back and recall what our home looked liked the day we got the keys, it’s easy to feel good about where we are now. It really helps keep things in perspective.
Nothing like a good (bad) before photo to see how far you’ve come!!
This was our living room, many years ago now.
Our living room area is the hub of our house. With our open floor plan, it’s the heart of our home, even more so than the kitchen because of space and comfort. For me it’s a favorite not only because all our big family moments happen here, but because it’s truly the spot in the house that is my respite. The end of a day here will often find me here, curled-up in my big chair, letting out a long breath… and commencing with the relaxation!!
The house has went through a few changes since that photo above was taken, and it continues to morph. We started out in the beginning with new windows (from a place like Town and Country Glass), a fresh, clean, neutral-tan wall color called Cottonwood, and new carpet. And we were happy! For several years. Decor changed and moved about but the walls & carpet stayed the same.
After years of covering up where the hunter green hearth tiles had been (I may have taken a sledge hammer to them) we decided reworking the fireplace mantel and hearth was a must on our to-do list.
What we settled on wasn’t a full tear down & gut, so we were able to update it on a $150 budget! I think it’s important to have a budget, have a plan & to prioritize your projects.
And sometimes good enough is just that. Good enough.
A little more time went by, and after an unfortunate flood, and some major saving, another project came up. Speaking of a flood, this is why having home insurance is a life saver. Without it, in a situation like this, finding the money to repair the damage can be quite difficult. For example, an average premium in Georgia costs around $1.300. For some, this is a lot to pay, but for many, this is an affortable price to pay, especially if their home is being covered from events such as a flood. Having home insurance is better than not having any at all.
New flooring. Definitely a case of “silver lining” on this one.
Which led to more fresh paint (by me) over the summer we (my hubby) installed our new hardwood floors. That was a big DIY project for us and it pretty much took… all summer. From demo to the last bit of baseboard being laid.
About the time that happened, my husband started the ball rolling on the next project. He thought the pretty new floors were so pretty… that the blinds absolutely, positively had to go!
He didn’t hear a peep out of me. I was instantly on board. (imagine that?haha)
That led to upgrading our window coverings from plastic mini blinds & homemade valances, to plantation shutters. The difference was night & day! We had plantation shutters at a previous home and these felt right immediately. Between the floors and the shutters, our house was really feeling so much more like us.
More changes like painting our front interior door, are really helping to slowly bring our home in-line with the vision I/we have for it.
You know, I’m always torn between typing I or we. My husband is pretty much content to let me decorate however I like (and I love that about him!) but he also has such a hand in so many of the big projects around here.
Anyhow, for someone who craves change, like I do, those smaller projects keep things from feeling stagnate and add personality to the room.
Adding curtain rods is something I just did in the last few months, and I’m looking forward to being able to switch out drapery panels as a fun way to change things up! This is one more way to keep things interesting and change the look and feel of the room with little effort or expense. I already have an extra set and I’m just saving them for when the mood strikes. What I’ve had my heart set-on from the beginning is a black & white buffalo check. So far, no luck.
But I’ll be patient. It’s actually fun to having something on your wish list. After all, what fun would life be if we got everything we wanted?
Not very much at all I don’t think.
You might notice furniture here moves & changes a lot. I’ve always moved it about rather frequently, but recently I’ve let go of some big things and acquired in their place new, interesting pieces that appeal to us and better fit our needs.
Like many of you, I love to paint things I’ve rescued, or change colors simply to give them a new vibe! I also love to sell old pieces I’ve tired of to buy new ones.
I’ve found changing rugs creates a whole new look in a room too! Part of the fun of having the wood floors now. I never knew I liked rugs so much! Surprisingly, there are so many designs, colours and shapes that you can choose from. Who knew that there were so many? I definitely didn’t. I could spend hours upon hours looking for new rugs now, and my friend even told me about a website similar to Topteppiche.de that I should check out if I wanted the chance to broaden my horizons even further. What a great idea, although I won’t be getting too carried away though, as they are a little more spendy than my all time favorite decor item.
PILLOWS.
On occasion we make things from scratch too. Mostly, I describe what I want and my husband builds it. If he is home, and I try to make something, the project tends to get taken over. He is getting better about letting me do some building now, and I know it’s done out of love…
and him wanting it to stay together when I’m done.
Or not break his tools?
It’s been fun getting to look back and reflect on how our little home has changed over time, and I am confident that we will continue on a froward path, as time and funds permit. Slowly making our home better and continuing to have it evolve to meet our changing needs and reflect my changing style.
Decorating our home, for me, is all about having it feel good & function well. As my moods, the seasons and the seasons of our lives change, so too does our home.
I’m happy I got to share with you today how I love our home, in all it’s stages.
And also to share with you a beautiful new coffee table book, “The Inspired Room – simple ideas to love the home you have” from my friend Melissa at The Inspired Room. Melissa puts in to words, so many simple, straight forward, real life, functional ways to embrace your home. Plus, her ideas include and account for children, pets and even sometimes husbands! (wink-wink)
You can order your copy [The Inspired Room: Simple Ideas to Love the Home You Have
You’ll find big, beautiful photographs, paint colors suggestions, seasonal decorating suggestions, everyday decorating suggestions… how to mix patterns and so, so much more.
A little more news! You are invited to participate in The Inspired Room tour too, and have the chance to win a $300 gift card to Anthropologie! All you need to do is create a post with the requirements found HERE and submit your finished post URL link HERE! Entries will be accepted until November 10th.
Thank you so much for sharing part of your day with me today!
xo ~Shannon
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You can find lots of the projects & tips I shared in this post by clicking the links below:
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More Ideas & Inspiration
How to Christmas shop in your Pj’s
Did You Know You Can Wax Raw Wood?
Fence Board Planked Wall How To
Mixed Metals New Year’s Eve Mantel Decorating Ideas
How To Organize Under The Bathroom Sink
Diy Hard Wood Floor Reveal {sort of}
Ten Budget Friendly Natural Cleaning Ideas
A Bathroom Story, the zingy refresher
Wow, you have really made some changes! Everything is so beautiful. I kinda had a bit of a problem keeping up with your tables, the armoire and a couple other things. 🙂 Seriously, I would LOVE to move things around but just don’t have the room. I love having a lot of light coming in so I’m always hesitant about curtains. To add to that, the bedroom requires 96″ length and living area 120″. Not inexpensive at all! I have something in mind for the living area but they’re a bit expensive. Oh well, if you think of anything or want to come visit & help, fine with me! 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing about Melissa’s book! Loved the first one so I’m sure this one is going to be a winner too. Can’t wait to read it! And of course, I think everyone loves Anthro.
xo
Pat
Hello sweet lady!! Yes, I do scoot the little stuff around a bit 🙂 I like light too. The curtains I added are strictly for looks I know I’ll never “close” them. It’s so nice to have some texture in there, the walls get a little boring. I’m lucky I’ve found cheap-o ones so far! I wish we cols all bop around and help each other out. Can you imagine the painting parties? We could do a house in one day!
Oh, Shannon, how I love your style! I have been in a total house funk over here and needed to read this. I need to get my butt in gear and rethink my space.
Make me some cupcakes and I’ll come help 😉 hehehe
What a fun idea for sharing our own inspired rooms! And we all love Anthro, am I right? The updates you’ve done in your home are just beautiful. Our home has a lot of large windows, which is great, but I literally have one wall to work with. For someone who loves to switch things up often, it makes my designing life a challenge!
I hear you! While windows are so great for letting in lots of light, I am super wall deficient too!! No gallery wall in my house. lol
I rarely move things around, the furniture that is, it doesn’t fit more than one way in most of my rooms. Stagnant is my middle name.
My main pieces are pretty locked in place and that is why I like all my little side tables and accent chairs. The sofa and the shuttered armoire don’t fit anywhere else. I’m semi-stagnant 😉
Hi Shannon! What a treat to see how your room has evolved! I enjoyed your before and progress pics of your lovely home. Thank you so much for sharing your living room with us and for graciously sharing about my book. Honored to have it here on your blog, thank you! xo
I can’t believe that after your first book, you still had this beauty in you! It’s a stunner Melissa, and I really love how accessible it is. Such real life approaches, while still managing to look beautiful. That is a wonderful balance!