.jpg)  Wanna know a secret?
Being a designer isn’t all fun and games. But INSTALL DAY? Well, that, my friends, is the VERY BEST part of what I do. All the planning, designing, shopping, sourcing, ordering, returning, reordering, texting, packing, loading, and scheduling is done, and the rubber FINALLY meets the road. I get to arrive in the client’s home, send them off for the day, and get down to the fun part. Pulling the entire look together!
Yesterday was a heckuva fun “Install Day.” This particular job was a living room AND a family room (Bonus! 2 beautiful rooms to complete, just steps away from one another!). I thought it might be fun to share a few before & after shots, and a couple fun details from the day because, hey…maybe you’re looking for ideas in a similar space!
Let’s start with the Living Room…the first room you see when you enter this sweet family’s home.
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One of their initial complaints was that it felt dark, but their wall color connects to a few other areas of the house…so a change in paint would affect several other areas in close proximity. No problem. The wall color was/is a nice neutral latte color…a great foundation for our new look! We discussed painting the fireplace at the consultation, but these clients get MAJOR extra credit for installing shiplap and adding a gorgeous reclaimed mantel! What an amazing addition! It really helps create a beautiful focal point and draws your eye when you enter the home.
This sign from Harper Grayce Signs is everything. EV-RY-THING. It adds warmth to the room, a stunning rustic touch, and it personalizes the home. I. love. it. Keeping the decor on the mantel simple allows the sign to be the real star. Well, the sign AND the shiplap. 🙂
 Here’s a little peak at the other side of the room…be sure to notice the red gingham sofa on the far left side of the “before” pic. The homeowner really loved this piece (it’s so comfy!), so we gave it a fresh new life in the family room…you’ll see in a minute!
As you can see in the “after” shot, the area rug and more “tailored” furniture really updates the look in here. And yes, the curtain panel for the left side of the room is missing. Because this crazy girl only ordered ONE. Ugh. There’s always SOMETHING that goes a little haywire. Thankfully, it’s a small problem, and the missing panel is already on the way. 🙂
Here’s the view from the entry hall. Gosh, I just love this room. It really “goes” with the amazing family that lives here. Love it when that happens.
Ready to see the Family Room? Yay!! Here’s a fun before & after of that space…
Oh, how I wish you could see this in real life. Before, the dark furniture was comfy, but it was dragging the room down. Remember that red gingham sofa that was in the living room? I must admit, I was a little smitten with it the first time I saw it. Charming with a capital C! It became our inspiration for the room…sort of a “Cottage Cozy” look. The clients purchased the other slipcovered sofa & chair at Ikea, which were similar in style to the gingham sofa…just perfect. The VERY soft rug (you can find it here!) pulled the whole thing together.
Here’s another angle, before & after. And that sofa? It has my heart! The darling dotted pillows are from Target (CUTEST pillows EVER) and the amazing “gather here” pillow is from With Lavender and Grace. I adore the light-blocking window treatments (find them here) and this perfectly rustic coffee table (find it here)!
The other pillows were fun finds from HomeGoods & Ikea, and the cute little white round side table was formerly used in the front living room…perfect for our cottage family room!
This amazing white sofa table was already in the room, but it was dark wood. On consultation day, I asked the client if she would be willing to paint it. She did a beautiful job, and she was brave to let me distress it, after all of her hard work. The end result is so fresh!
Friends. The BEST part of the whole day was when the homeowners came home for their reveal. They blessed me with their reaction, their kind words, and the look in their eyes. I saw them see their home in a completely new way. And THAT’S what it’s all about. So happy to know this sweet family will enjoy their “new” spaces for years to come, and I’m so thankful to have been invited along on part of their journey!
So ya. Install Day. It’s my favorite. 🙂
Welcome and MERRY CHRISTMAS!
So excited to be joining my sweet friend Chris at Just a Girl Blog for the #welcomehometour! We are happy to have you here for a fun little tour of our Christmas porch and entryway. Hopefully you’ve already stopped by my sweet friend Courtney’s place at A Thoughtful Place…isn’t she just the best?
Well let’s start with this gorgeous wreath from Lynch Creek Farms. A fresh wreath is a great way to welcome your guests, and this huge, fragrant wreath was love at first sight! The ribbon caught my eye right away, but let’s be honest, the chalkboard was what REALLY drew me in! (Uhhh, have you MET me? I’m a little chalkboard-obsessed.) You can find this beauty here.
Ok, and now for the rest of the porch. This year I was feeling like doing something a little more simple. Just one “exclamation point” on the porch. We normally have a pair of adirondack chairs out here, but a couple months ago I happened upon a darling little church pew at a vintage sale. As soon as I saw it, it screamed “PUT ME ON YOUR FRONT PORCH FOR CHRISTMAS!!!” Please tell me this happens to you too. You know, the furniture and decor calling to you. Mmm Hmm. I thought so.
So originally I had planned to paint the pew. But after giving it some thought, ultimately decided the wood grain was more “Christmasy,” plus if I had to wait for paint to dry, I’d lose my decorating mojo, so there ya go. A couple buffalo check pillows (from @plumperfection on Instagram) and this darling snowflake pillow (from @farmhousebshop on Instagram) added the perfect amount of coziness to the pew. (Side note: about an hour after I finished the porch, I noticed it was really windy outside. I went out to make sure the pillows hadn’t blown away, and sure enough, the snowflake pillow was missing. My son and I grabbed a flashlight, bundled up, and went out on a hunt for the pillow in the dark. His 19-year-old eyes finally spotted it, quite a ways down the street in a field. Oh, I was so happy. We came right home and pinned the pillows down so it wouldn’t happen again. ;)) The striped rug was replaced with this fun patterned outdoor rug (find it here), and then the pew was flanked by a couple arborvitae bushes from Home Depot, plopped in some old farm buckets. But hmmmm. I needed something for height in the back.
My hubby suggested using an old $5 bookcase we had in the garage to support this beautiful sign (from @vineandbranchestx on Instagram). It worked like a dream, but we still needed something tall so I could drape the cedar garland and lights. *lightbulb moment* Can you tell what I used?
A vintage rake! This little gem has been sitting in the garage, waiting for just the right spot.
We added a couple wreaths to the shutters, tucked a vintage picnic basket under the pew, and went inside to warm up by the fire.
Speaking of which, let’s go inside!
I’m not gonna lie, the entry way put up a bit of a fight this year…but after editing a few items out, it finally came together. That’s what decorating is all about, right? Adding and subtracting until you have just the right mix.
A felt wreath, a cozy scarf, a tin sign hung on this old gate…yes. Simple, humble, nothing too fancy. Just the way I like it. Scratch that…just the way I LOVE it.
Across the hall, a few little items were added to our old ladder in the entry.
And of course the entry bench. All it took was a couple pillows, a vintage Pendleton blanket, and a little Christmas tree.
Oh, it was so much fun to have you here today. You should stay for some hot chocolate, and we can talk about everything we DON’T have done for Christmas yet! 😉 Be sure to stop by Haneen’s house (from Haneen’s Haven) next!
We were ready. Our bedding was old, worn-out, and let’s face it, our sweet puppy has had a few “incidents” on it, God love her. (Ok, more than a few. But she’s no spring chicken, and we love her anyway.) Our old bed was a pretty inexpensive option, back in the day. I’ve been looking forward to upgrading for quite some time. And a rug. Oh, I’ve always wanted an area rug in our master bedroom. Soooo, you can imagine my delight when Birch Lane said they’d like to work with us on our master bedroom mini-makeover!
Last night, the final piece of the puzzle arrived (the bed)…so it was makeover time! Just in case you forgot what our room looked like “before”…here’s a reminder. It was great, and we loved it, but just ready for a little refresh.
Ok. Ready for the “after?” I’m so excited to show you! I literally felt like I was sleeping in a beautiful hotel last night…
Let’s break it down and talk about each piece, because OH MY. I am so impressed by the quality of these Birch Lane items!
The bed, which you can find here, was so easy to assemble, and is made of real wood, which I adore. The inset fabric panels are the perfect neutral, and add some softness to the room. The headboard goes a little higher than our old bed, which gives it more presence, if that makes sense. Heart. eyes. all. day.
Can we TALK about this rug? As a designer, I’ve seen a lot of rugs. I’ve unrolled a lot of rugs. I have NEVER seen a rug lay so beautifully immediately after being unrolled. This. Rug. Rules. And wanna know a secret? The original rug I chose was out of stock, so I had to make another selection…and boy am I GLAD!!! This is an 8×10, and it works perfectly with our king size bed. You can find it here.
Aaaand the bench. I decided on a darker bench, to contrast all of the lightness going on in here. The wood grain on the legs is gorgeous, and I am LOVING the color! As you probably know, I’m a light-and-bright girl, but this bench grounds the look. You can find it here.
I fell in love with the bedding as soon as I saw it. Tiny black polka dots with ruffle detail? Yes, please! I had already purchased the bedding (from Wayfair), but you can find it here! The red plaid pillows & cream throw are from TJ Maxx, and the “blessed” pillow completes the look (find it here).
See the adorable little sign on the nightstand? It was made by the very talented Jillian Comeau (@houseofboysandbeauty on Instagram). We’ve had the lamps for quite some time, and I love how they look with our new items (available at Target).
Are you due for a little master bedroom refresh? Here are some things to keep in mind!
1. If you’re like me and neutral is your THING, lean on textures and patterns to provide interest. When mixing patterns, try 1 small pattern (the duvet cover here), 1 medium pattern (red check pillows here), and 1 large pattern (the area rug here).
2. An area rug is always nice. Even if your room is carpeted (as mine is), a rug is a great way to inject additional pattern & texture, it’s an extra cozy feeling underfoot, and let’s face it, it’s just PRETTY!
3. Treat yourself to some new lamps for your nightstands. Switching out lighting is a super inexpensive way to update your look!
Thanks so much for popping by to see the mini-makeover! If you need me, I’ll be IN MY ROOM! 🙂
Ohhhh friends.
It was so much fun working on this new construction project with M&S Resources and Craig Evans of Crown Real Estate Group. From the beginning, these guys let me dream about shiplap, barn doors, subway tile and modern farmhouse charm. Yesterday, we hosted an open house to showcase the finished product…and if you didn’t make it out, I thought it would be fun to share some pics! Sound good?
This house is unique, as you enter on the main level, and there’s another entire house downstairs in the daylight basement…perfect for dual living! People were surprised to find out how spacious it is, since it doesn’t look that big from the street (the house is over 4200 sq ft).
Ok, come on in!
This fun shiplap wall is the first thing you see when you enter…setting the stage for our shiplap touches throughout. And OF COURSE, a darling sign, painted by my sis, Julie at Signs of Serendipity! 🙂 The beautiful furniture used throughout is from Ashley Furniture here in Salem, Oregon…and boy, the furniture really made the house come alive! So cozy!
Ok, see that little hallway to the left? Let’s turn there.
The first room to the right in this hall is the powder bath…shiplapped on all 4 walls. Hello, glorious powder bath. I love you.
To the left are 2 bedrooms, and straight ahead is this hall bath, or as I like to call it, the kid’s bath. Shiplap makes another appearance on the feature wall behind the sinks, painted Sherwin Williams “Snowbound.” The mirrors are AMAZING…they look like reclaimed wood, and you won’t believe where I found them! HOME DEPOT! My heart skipped a beat when I spotted them. The blue cabinets are so pretty next to the black & white floors, and in case you were wondering, they’re painted Sherwin Williams “Waterloo.”
Down another hall to the right is the master suite. The pics just don’t do it justice…the view outside is just stunning, and it literally feels like you’re standing in a tree house. What a perfect retreat!
Ok, and now…one of my favorite things about the house. The. Master. Bath. Ready? No, wait. Let’s just take a minute and enjoy the barn doors. Ok. Now we’re ready.
The shiplap. The tub. The view. How in the world can we focus on one thing in here? I need that tub in my life. Like yesterday. And I’m not even a bath girl.
If you’re more of a shower-taker, just look at this huge walk-in shower…with, wait for it…wood-grain tile set in a herringbone pattern. I die.
This shower makes me happy I’m not a tile setter. God bless our talented tile-master, Julio. And yes, I know I owe you about 46 dozen donuts, Julio. Thank you for giving a week of your life for this shower! 😉
Just one more peek into the master bedroom, from the bathroom. 🙂
Ok, now into the heart of the home! The living room/kitchen area! Guys. The open concept here is just soooo much fun. Talk about a great place to entertain! And hi, are you noticing the darling accessories? These are from Real Deals in Salem, Oregon. So much to discuss in here, really. The beams, the stone fireplace, the shiplap, the lighting, the pretty furniture, the floors, the view…it all works together to make one big welcoming space.
And from this side of the kitchen, we can see the double pantry, complete with barn doors and chalk board wall. Oh man, I want to stay for dinner. I mean, I don’t even cook but I bet it would taste good if it was made in THIS KITCHEN. Wanna see it?
Oh hi there, glorious white kitchen. I adore your oversize white subway tile, your quartz counter tops, your beautiful appliances, and your fun island pendants.
Aaaaand you know me. An island vignette was definitely happening here. P.S. Can you even believe the view outside? Just gorgeous green trees and a view of downtown Salem…STOP IT RIGHT NOW. So good. Right behind me is THIS: (just to give you a point of reference)…the view back out to the entry. And why yes, that entry bench IS SHIPLAPPED to the nines! 😉
Downstairs there’s another kitchen, living/dining area, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, a second laundry room, and a theater room. YES PLEASE.
This kitchen. SO CUTE!
Well? What did you think? Thanks for stopping by, touring the house, and hanging out with me for awhile!
If you’ve been following along for awhile, no doubt you’ve seen the barn door. A million times. Ever wonder what’s behind it? After a few people asked if it’s actually functional, I thought I better show you! It actually hides the smallest, and maybe the BEST, room in the house…the pantry. Ready? Let’s go in!
You would THINK I would have done some grocery shopping before I took pics for this post…but aint nobody got time for that. This is real life, people. 😉 Don’t wanna burst your bubble, but this mama is NOT a cook. Don’t get me wrong, we make tacos and spaghetti like everyone else in America…but there’s also a lot of stopping by for take-out and sandwiches on the run. ‘Tis the season of life. This entire paragraph should be in parenthesis. It’s not earth-shattering news, but apparently my lack of kitchen skills are a vulnerable area that I feel I need to explain. And I know I don’t. You’ll accept me anyway, won’t you? 😉
Soooo, ya. The pantry. It holds food and stuff. But wanna see my FAVORITE “secret-to-clean-kitchen-counters” feature?
Cue the Hallelujah chorus. Seriously. This little counter top is a life-saver! It’s usually littered with the mail pile, keys, sunglasses, and who-knows-what-else. But guess what? That’s great! Because then THE KITCHEN COUNTERS ARE CLEAN AND TIDY. Just roll that barn door closed, and voila! Clean! (Aaaaand now you know why the barn door is usually CLOSED in every other pic you’ve EVER seen of the kitchen, haha). Now let’s talk about the window. It’s fun to have a high “privacy” window like this…it doesn’t even need a window covering, but you know me. I’m a total tension-rod-lover (isn’t everyone?)…so I picked up some outdoor fade-resistant fabric (this window gets blasted with light) and whipped up a quick valance. And then I labeled it because at some point I might forget what room I’m in. Just kidding. I labeled it because I label everything, so we better not make the valance feel “left out.”
The hooks are the perfect spot to stash your purse and jacket. Again, leaving the kitchen CLEAN. 🙂 Oh man. Now you know all of my secrets.
This DARLING stool came from TJ Maxx, one lucky day. It even adjusts up and down…so farmhousey! We found the bin at a vintage sale, and then added some casters to the bottom. Perfect storage for the unsightly odds and ends.
The upper shelves hold serving pieces that don’t get used super often, but they’re still in sight so we don’t forget about them.
Ok, buckle up for the “NOT-CUTE” side…but hey, it holds the chest freezer, which is so convenient!
And here’s the view from the pantry…just to give some perspective.
In case you missed the “video tour” on Instagram, you can watch it here.
Thanks for stopping by the pantry! I won’t offer to make you any dinner, but cookies? Now we’re talking!
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Penny Johnson - It was so much fun seeing the change in these rooms! You brought light and life into these rooms! Love the accents…the soft rug is so welcoming in the family room. My favorite corner is the club chair and pillow and table, lamp and what a fun touch to have the succulents and grass plant. I could go on and on
Thank you for bringing joy into their hearts and mine.
Jessica - Girl. Love this. I can’t imagine the joy of seeing their faces when they see the potential their home had all along with the right eyes looking at it 🙂 Also, I just bought a set of two of those IKEA pillows with the wreath on them after seeing this post…. but I had to get them on Ebay as they no longer have them in stock in the store… so I am going to blame you when my husband asks, okay? 😉
yellowprairieint - Ha ha, love it! Blame me all day long, sweet girl.😂
Raven - Hi, do you have a link to the track arm sofa? Thanks!!
yellowprairieint - Here’s the link! 🙂 http://www.rifeshomefurnitureonline.com/item/358-sofa/1260123361
Jennifer Herring - Ok, I need to know….how are you plugging these lamps behind the sofa? I see you do this a lot. Are there outlets in the floor below, or are you just running it over to the wall? I love your style. I follow your blog and Instagram 🙂
yellowprairieint - Hi Jennifer! Great question. 🙂 I use the area rug to hide the cords, so that the lighting can be plugged in at the least conspicuous spot. Good eye!
Ksail - Beautiful rooms, thanks for sharing! I would love to know your source for the window panels and rug in the living room. Thank you!
yellowprairieint - Hi there! The window panels are from Wayfair, and the rug is from rugsusa.com. Have a great day!
Lisa - The rooms look so beautiful!!! Love the choices! Do you have a source to share for the lattice area rug in the first room? It is exactly what I am looking for!
Thanks for sharing! 🙂
yellowprairieint - Yes! The living room rug is from rugsusa.com. 🙂
Mallory - Do you mind sharing if the IKEA furniture is white or is it a beige?
Thank you!
yellowprairieint - Hi Mallory! The IKEA sofa is beige. 🙂