My Home Tour ~ Living Room and Kitchen

The Living Room and Kitchen

These two rooms are where we spend all our time as a family.  Comfy couches, distressed finishes on furniture (aka for perfect when you have 3 boys and 3 dogs) and an open layout were key for our lifestyle.   It is not a huge space but it is extremely functional.  I love having the kitchen open to the living room, it is perfect for our family and for entertaining. 

When we moved in it was in need of a facelift.  It's amazing what paint can do. :) 


Before:

Since moving in we have painted the living room and kitchen (twice), rebuilt the mantle and bricked the fireplace, built a barn pantry door, refinished all our kitchen cabinets in an antiqued ivory, added beadboard to the cabinet sides and island, extended the fridge surround and added corbels, a new fan, light fixtures and trim on the column. 

After:

It's so crazy to see how much it has changed in the couple years we have lived here.   It has been a lot of fun and a ton of work, but it is now the heart of our home.

What is your favorite room and why?

My Home Tour~ Dining Room

Many of you have messaged me requesting that I do a post of a home tour of my house.  So here it is finally!...Well, the start of it anyways.  :)

I'm going to start with one of my favorite rooms, the dining room!   I love so much about this space. It was one of the only rooms that was literally a blank canvas when we moved in, and I couldn't wait to fill it with a big farmhouse table.

Before

After

Our table and chairs are one of a kind, from a man in Woodstock who restores antiques and believe it or not this is not a set, but blends perfectly together.  Distressed finishes, huge pedestal bases and burlap seats-love, love, love it all!   Plus, there is something about having an antique table and chairs that has withstood the years and has been a part of someone's past.  I wish I knew the families that once gathered at this table...I wonder what memories have been shared around it. 

Did I mention how heavy it is? or that the table is one solid piece? Yep, it was interesting to watch them try and get it thru my front door and into this room. Good thing I wasn't attached to my door trim cause it had to all come off to get it inside. :)

The lantern lights with Edison bulbs just finish off the look! Love them!

The curtains are not exactly what I planned for the space, however I had some leftover fabric and trim from the pillows I made for the end chairs and decided to make this until I decide exactly what I want....I still haven't decided ;)

One of my favorite items in this room are my barn prints. Photos were taken by a photographer friend of mine, Jason Pendley, and the windows Ric and I found at a salvage shop. Ric built the ledge at the bottom and the made the shutters out of cedar planks. 

I wanted to have the feeling that you were looking out a window and into a field...one day maybe I'll live on a farm and have real windows with this kind of view. However, until then these are perfect!

Anyone who comes into my house knows I have a love of throw pillows.  They are everywhere, but I just think they cozy up a space. I didn't want a dining room that wasn't comfy.

My centerpiece is probably the coolest thing I own. Ric got this for me for my birthday last year. It is a huge piece of handcarved wood that has been burned (it even smells like firewood). It is one of my most favorite things to fill with seasonal décor.

Lastly, our china cabinet.  In a previous post I shared the refinishing that I did on this.

I originally got this about 9 or 10 years ago at a thrift store for practically nothing. It has been painted a few times but last year I think it found its permanent color. I love how classic it looks! The curved lines were perfect for a little distressing and it looks great with my white china (which I never use cause it is not microwave or dishwasher safe...LOL!)

Okay, one room down....on to the next! :)

How to Host a Pinterest Party

Two post in one day...I know y'all are proud! :)

Over the last few months I have hosted 2 Pinterest parties with the ladies in my neighborhood.  We have all had such a blast at these parties that we are making them a tradition.  Since hosting, I have been asked multiple times how to host one, so I wanted to answer those questions here.

I have hosted 2 themed parties.  They don't have to be themed, but during the holiday season it does make it even more fun.  The first one I hosted was a kick off to Fall theme and the second one I just hosted last week was a kickoff to Christmas.  So here are the steps to get started:

1. The host will pick a project from Pinterest to make, and price out all the supplies so you have a total cost to put on the invite
2. Send out invites for the event with the date and time (I sent out an email message)
3. Host gets all the supplies
4. Each person brings one food dish and money for their supplies.
Tip: As the host, do the project first prior to the party so you know how to teach everyone else how to do it, and how long it will take.

Both of ours were soo much fun.

The Fall theme was a burlap wreath complete with brunch!

 Supply table

 Just a little extra gift from me to them...everyone loves a goody bag

At the Christmas party we make a reversible wood sign, one side was painted with JOY and the other was a chalkboard.  Trying to get everyone geared up for the Christmas season, I brought out a few décor pieces, had hot apple cider and had Miracle on 34th Street playing in the background.

Pinterest parties are such a fun way to spend time with friends, while finally making one of those projects you keep pinning!!  I think we will probably do one more before Christmas...there are just too many cute projects to pass up!!