Okay, I was able to take some photos of some of my favorite spots in the new house, and I wanted to share these with you. Whether it inspires you to redo a room in your house or simply just re-stack a pile of magazines, I'm a big fan of constant renovation and renewal. And this house has my creativity flowing, so here we go...
In the kitchen:
I am so excited about our new 'home office' that resides in the nook of our kitchen. It was kind of a random spot that didn't offer much (baker's rack? Future dog bowl/feeding dish site?) in the way of possibilities. Then it hit me - we need to pay bills. (and we certainly have a lot of those lately.) I need a place for the laptop. And the calendar. And - most importantly - my cookbooks, which were one of the first items I unpacked (b/c you never know when you need to read about the Barefoot Contessa's summer salad or Tom Colicchio's cured duck breast and carmelized onions with endive warm sandwich). So after looking around a little bit, I came up with this:
In the kitchen:
I am so excited about our new 'home office' that resides in the nook of our kitchen. It was kind of a random spot that didn't offer much (baker's rack? Future dog bowl/feeding dish site?) in the way of possibilities. Then it hit me - we need to pay bills. (and we certainly have a lot of those lately.) I need a place for the laptop. And the calendar. And - most importantly - my cookbooks, which were one of the first items I unpacked (b/c you never know when you need to read about the Barefoot Contessa's summer salad or Tom Colicchio's cured duck breast and carmelized onions with endive warm sandwich). So after looking around a little bit, I came up with this:
Kitchen Corner
But where is the laptop, you ask? Oh, look -- not only fun, but functional.
Viola! Computer!
I think one of the positive aspects of living in 1200 sq ft of living space for the past six years is that you learn that everything MUST have a function. The more functions, the better. So everything I buy has to double as something more than just what it offers.
In this case, the little desk slides out (and houses the laptop) but folds up when no one is at the computer. And the spine bookcase holds not only our keys, loose change, and cell phones, but also is great for displaying my cookbooks. (not to mention handy and convenient).
The desk and spine are currently on sale at West Elm ($139 and $99, respectively). The chair was a bargain since I bought it off the floor, and I've had the whiteboard calendar from Pottery Barn for almost five years. (Jen, mom to Rowan, came to visit once and liked the whiteboard so much she bought two. So now she knows what she is doing this AND next month. I told you she is organized.)
I splurged on the clock (don't tell Brian) but it's really cool and looks great with all the rest of my 'oil-rubbed bronze' fixtures. B/c that is the theme of the house.
Okay, moving on. Some little stuff:
In this case, the little desk slides out (and houses the laptop) but folds up when no one is at the computer. And the spine bookcase holds not only our keys, loose change, and cell phones, but also is great for displaying my cookbooks. (not to mention handy and convenient).
The desk and spine are currently on sale at West Elm ($139 and $99, respectively). The chair was a bargain since I bought it off the floor, and I've had the whiteboard calendar from Pottery Barn for almost five years. (Jen, mom to Rowan, came to visit once and liked the whiteboard so much she bought two. So now she knows what she is doing this AND next month. I told you she is organized.)
I splurged on the clock (don't tell Brian) but it's really cool and looks great with all the rest of my 'oil-rubbed bronze' fixtures. B/c that is the theme of the house.
Okay, moving on. Some little stuff:
Laundry clean-up
A garbage can between the washer/dryer! What a brilliant idea! (I can say that since it wasn't mine). Brian and I have spent the last six years doing laundry in our garage and usually have either thrown the lint from the dryer on top of the dryer (um, can you say, 'fire hazard'?), between the wall and the washer, or just on the floor. Needless to say, this offers a new way of life for us. And clean floors.
Yay for chairs!
A chair in the bathroom! I get to actually sit down while getting ready. This. Is. Huge.
When we first moved in, our friend Dave asked, "So, do all women sit down while getting ready?" I couldn't answer him. I replied, "Um...no? I don't know. I've lived between bathrooms for years now and have all of my cosmetics stuffed into an orange bag. No wonder I look so weird all the time" He though I should splurge and buy a big mirror with lights around it. (haha).
But I will say, the combination of the chair PLUS natural light is making my life very nice. I just plop Scotty in the closet while I get ready and I no longer have that weird line between my jawline and neck. Even today, Courtney came over and was like, "Your makeup looks really nice." I had to confess, "I sit while I get ready now. It has changed my life."
(also, US Weekly offered this tip last week - never wear blush in the summer months. Only wear bronzer. Makes sense when you think about it.)
When we first moved in, our friend Dave asked, "So, do all women sit down while getting ready?" I couldn't answer him. I replied, "Um...no? I don't know. I've lived between bathrooms for years now and have all of my cosmetics stuffed into an orange bag. No wonder I look so weird all the time" He though I should splurge and buy a big mirror with lights around it. (haha).
But I will say, the combination of the chair PLUS natural light is making my life very nice. I just plop Scotty in the closet while I get ready and I no longer have that weird line between my jawline and neck. Even today, Courtney came over and was like, "Your makeup looks really nice." I had to confess, "I sit while I get ready now. It has changed my life."
(also, US Weekly offered this tip last week - never wear blush in the summer months. Only wear bronzer. Makes sense when you think about it.)
The official 'writing' loft
I don't think words can describe how much I **love** my loft. It's coming together (slowly) but with the big red chair in the corner, my bookcase slowly filling with books (hello again, old friends), the desk with my computer, and of course, my glass head that was in my office (now it's perched on top of the bookcase...you can kind of see it)...well, life is good. I plan to hang my diplomas like a big dork, but where else could I put them? It will look a little strange, but at least they have a good home. And I can remember that I was once a real person before becoming Mom.
And in an interesting course of events, no less than four people asked my opinion on something this week. My professional opinion. (Picture me tilting my head and smoothing my hair right now...my opinion? Oh, really?) The days of wearing yoga pants are still stretched in front of me, but it was very nice (not to mention flattering) that I felt kind of, well, helpful again. And not in a 'wipe-your-butt' kind of way, or in a 'you have kale in your hair again,' but in an adult, helpful, smart manner. In fact, I even hosted my first friend in the Red Chair this week. (Starbucks was present). Nothing like a quick chat to work through some interpersonal issues about life in general. Ahh, private practice, I have missed thee.
And in an interesting course of events, no less than four people asked my opinion on something this week. My professional opinion. (Picture me tilting my head and smoothing my hair right now...my opinion? Oh, really?) The days of wearing yoga pants are still stretched in front of me, but it was very nice (not to mention flattering) that I felt kind of, well, helpful again. And not in a 'wipe-your-butt' kind of way, or in a 'you have kale in your hair again,' but in an adult, helpful, smart manner. In fact, I even hosted my first friend in the Red Chair this week. (Starbucks was present). Nothing like a quick chat to work through some interpersonal issues about life in general. Ahh, private practice, I have missed thee.
Do you think I have enough pregnancy books? I could open a gestational library. This is (sadly) only one shelf, too.
Good night, Mountain
And finally, my last and favorite thing about the new house is nothing at all I can control...it's the fact that Scotty's room overlooks a mountain. A real, honest-to-goodness mountain. (well, a hill for those of you that live by real mountains. But it's big to me.) Considering his last room overlooked our postage-stamp-sized backyard, several drug homes and a broken-down car, this is big news for all of us. Every night, we say good night to our mountain.
Dark Knight Bear
No blog entry is complete without a Bear photo, so here you go. He's rocking his Batman t-shirt and helping me (cough, cough) fold the laundry.
Hope you have a great weekend! Thanks for looking.
Hope you have a great weekend! Thanks for looking.
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