2015 New Year Re-Design

Our home is an example of the 1980's at its finest! It was built as a retirement home on the husband's family's homestead. In case you missed that story, this property had been owned by the same family since it was homesteaded in the 1850's...we're only the 2nd owners. The original farmhouse is long gone.

This home is not exactly our style; but, somehow none of that really matters. This land is what we love!

I know it's not the forever home here, and hopefully we will start building at the end of this year. But, even if it takes forever or never to build out here, I want to make this home shine to its full potential and beyond.

My family admitted they were all nervous at first, as to whether or not I could make this place feel like "us". I'm not sure if I should be offended or not, LOL! But, I think I have made it feel like home. I've moved things around, what feels like a gazillion times; but, that is my personality flaw anyway...always redecorating.

So, what a better time to move things around than after the New Year? Clear out all the Christmas decor, and start fresh!

I thought I'd share some pictures of different angles, in our living areas...{the bedrooms are the same}. But, the sunken living room, I KNOW...can you say RETRO? Yes, the sunken living room, has proven to be slightly challenging, and charming, all at the same time. The kitchen is a galley kitchen, and quaint...yes, that's a clever way of saying small. The dining room is huge, and works very nicely for our needs of a homeschooling space.

Here is the house tour...

I want to find a different mirror for over the fireplace; but, for now it will have to do.

I have a desk in my bedroom, but I really needed one in the living room. The one in my bedroom is to deep, as I needed something more narrow. I took a removable shelf from an armoire that wasn't in use, and placed over a wine rack we had, that had a removable granite top. This worked out really well, for an additional desk space. We actually use it quite often.

This is our homeschooling corner, in the back of the dining room. I keep all my teaching materials in this bombay chest and armoire. I like that it's hidden from the direct line of sight of the entrance. I moved out the round ottoman from under the piano corner and replaced it with the rectangular coffee table ottoman. It now works as a bench.

Since there wasn't a dinette table light to begin with, I put up a candle chandelier from our old house, that was for outdoors. I decided to replace the outdoor chandelier with our old bird cage. I put some candles inside and VOILA, a new dinette chandelier!

Our galley kitchen...

My family wants me to redo the chalk drawing to a Charolais cow...now for the time to redo it.

My guys got me these blue mason jars for Christmas. I wanted to tie in the blue, so I switched out the table topper to a blue & white gingham blanket, added a light blue crocheted pillow to the bench, and a light blue table lamp.

I had these canisters on top of the dresser on the other side of the backdoor and moved them here. The green glass bottles and vintage bottle carrier that was here, is now in the kitchen to the right of the cooktop. I wanted all creamy whites here. I added some moss balls and the silver pedestal bowl, for a little color and variation.

Since I moved canisters that were here, I replaced them, with the vintage scale and rolling pin from the kitchen. I added some fresh lemons, the milk bottle candle and mini jar.

• Clear out your room!
  
• Start over with your accessories...{ I call it shopping your own home. You can use the same accessories in a new place and get a whole new look!} As I mentioned above, I swapped my two coffee tables. I also brought in a balustrade from the front porch, put a tray on it, and it's now a table between the 2 chairs in the living room. I switched around a lot of accessories, you can look back at the original house pictures and see a lot of swapping!
• Sometimes, the smallest change can make a biggest difference.
• Bring in greenery, fresh fruit or fresh flowers to bring life into your home...especially during the winter months. I brought in lemons, green apples, and some white carnations.

Now your room feels fresh and NEW!

"I hope you like the changes".

Here is to a New Year of Fresh Beginnings & Experiences!

And as always...Happy Decorating!

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