{Home} Accent pillows?

24 Wednesday Sep 2014

Posted by Karen B. in Accessories; details, Collections & Accessories, Decorating, House and Home

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I grew up with ~~throw~~ accent pillows on the sofa in our family room so I followed my mom’s lead and have had my share of pillows adorning chairs and sofas. Most of the time I love the added pop of color and the cozy feel they impart in a room, but I have noticed that guests often seem uncomfortable with too many. They’ll carefully place them aside. The fabulous styles and fabrics available today have me rethinking some of my existing pillows.

I have collected some examples of rooms that benefit from pillows. Share with me your thoughts on the topic.

First I’ll share my pillows…the room below is our reading room. This picture is older as we’ve changed out the rug. The window seat seems a natural for pillows since very few people sit in the window. The ladder back chair has a kidney pillow that I usually remove before sitting with my feet up.

Our love seat in that room has a couple of pillows and then Madison, who is convinced that this is her sofa. This room receives little use, except by me when I want to read in relative quiet.

Lastly, this is our family room sofa, the pillows are a chennile fabric and down filled, so they are comfortable but most guests place them aside. I confess, after a long day, this is where I relax in front of the television, head on pillow, prone position. 🙂

Pillows are definitely eye candy that add to a room, but maybe they do less for a comfortable sit than we like to think?

I love the symmetry of this room from the twin lanterns over the kitchen table to the matching pillows on the wonderful sofa.

I really like the pillow with a bit of vintage silk on it. In fact the pillows that are made with vintage/antique tapestry and other fabrics always catch my eye.

I love the room below, wall gallery, side table accents and the day bed made useful by pillows. We’re shopping for a day bed for Olivia [granddaughter] visits. I will probably do something similar so that when she’s not visiting the day bed can look a little more like a sofa. Does anyone truly sit on a day bed? Without plenty of pillows the seating is usually too deep for me. I end up looking like Lily Tomlin’s Edith Ann (does anyone out there remember her character on Laugh In—did I just date myself?)

{Charles Faudree}

This Nate Berkus room has a variety of pillows and an eclectic look…I really like the doors and giant mirrors. I digress, the pillows on the sofa are all different, in this room that seems fitting.

{Nate Berkus}

This is my kind of comfort, earth tones, rich leather chairs and plenty of light. Again, there are pillows in all but the wooden chair on the right.

{Photo by Roger Davies}

For the room below the accent pillows are the icing on the cake. Visualize the room without the accent pillows…boring, right?

{http://billybesonco.com/portfolio/lakeside-living/ via http://www.talkofthehouse.com/for-the-love-of-red/}

I appreciate the simplicity of the blue and white—used in traditional stripes for the pillows. It fits the location of the home (look through the French doors, a bay or shore line is the view {heaven}).

{Ferguson & Shamamian Architects}

This lovely living space is in the home of Jill of forever cottage. If you’ve never visited her blog, prepare to be inspired. I love her use of accent pillows, and pretty much everything about the room.

{Jill Hinson}

So, what do you think? Are you a fan of accent pillows? I sure am, even if they might be in the way occasionally.

Enjoy the rest of your week.

{Home} Small spaces

17 Wednesday Sep 2014

Posted by Karen B. in House and Home

≈ 43 Comments

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Small spaces

House Beautiful annually devotes their July/August issue to small spaces. Sometimes these spaces are practically closet-sized small.

We live in a single story 1,725 square foot home. By most standards, this is considered small. I used to think we’d remodel and increase the size, maybe go up, we never did. Now the house seems to be the right sized home for our needs and really always was a comfortable size as we raised our family. Our youngest son, now an adult, was born within a year after we moved in 30+ years ago! {Time flies, doesn’t it?}

Any time there are articles on small spaces I’m sure to pay particular attention. Not just for the ideas on maximizing storage, but for design inspiration and guidance on the best way to create the look and feel of a larger space, while enjoying the comfort a smaller room brings me.

Here are some of my favorite small space rooms.

The large painting below makes the space feel larger. The raised, beamed ceiling also gives you the feeling the room is larger than it really is.

The Brooklyn studio below is only 425 square feet of space. Zach Motl, a window designer for Ralph Lauren, said his goal was to make “one room feel like five”.

I love the look of a well-placed banquet. It’s always pretty and practical for smaller kitchen nooks. If I had a space for this arrangement I’d copy it exactly.

Kitchens, at least for me, are a critical area when finding places for all the stuff. I’ve pared down many times, but when you have the dish collecting challenge disease, taking advantage of every inch of possible storage is essential.

The Amy Meier kitchen below makes use of hanging a few plates on the wall, this room has always been a favorite. Great work on a small kitchen.

Another favorite designer that seems to know how to bring out the best of any space, but especially smaller spaces is Dan Marty. One of the first introductions to his work (for me) was his bungalow in Corona del Mar. It remains a favorite where ideas and inspiration for my own home emanates from.

This dining space was in a later Marty home. I like the double duty the armoire is providing.

The kitchen must be a little short on space based on the proximity of the kitchen table to the cabinets. I think it’s stunning because of the beauty of the table and chairs.

{Photo by Frances Janisch}

This sweet bathroom in a Balboa Island cottage, is a great example of how a light-filled room helps with minimal space. Our bathrooms are tiny as well. Maybe in the late sixties builders didn’t think bathrooms were important?

{Photo by Victoria Pearson}

This is the guest bedroom of a 1,440 square foot bungalow. Designer Stephen Shubel said in his interview he wanted the house to feel like you were on a boat. The bed certainly carries off the idea of a berth. I really like this room, I don’t think I’d enjoy making the bed each morning. 🙂

Tommy Smythe, Sarah Richardson’s trusty cohort in design, has always managed to make smaller spaces live large.

This mirrored door does what designers have always told us mirrors do for a smaller room…it creates an illusion of a larger room through reflection.

A great collection on display always makes me heart sing, and it makes the size of a room irrelevant to me!

Another clever use of a mirror in a cottage kitchen.

I like the job this display shelf serves…a place to display family photos and architectural interest for the wall.

This is a wonderful way to extend storage space when a piece of furniture wouldn’t fit on the wall. You have it built into the wall. The vintage/antique shuttered doors make it appear to be a piece of furniture while proving great display and storage for the room.

{Tidbits and Twine}

How do feel about smaller, cottage sized homes/rooms? For some they can be claustrophobic, I have always loved the cozy feel of a smaller space.

{Garden, Home and Party} A return to the party. Outdoor Rooms

10 Wednesday Sep 2014

Posted by Karen B. in House and Home, Outdoor living

≈ 37 Comments

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outdoor rooms

I’m back and ready to pick up where I left off. Some of you read my post about (and were so supportive of) my hiatus from blogging [read: writers block]. Its surprising what a little mindless relaxation and rest from a hobby will do for you. I was so touched by all of your kindness and encouragement. Thank you! ♥ Karen

The Real Work

by Wendell Berry

It may be that when we no longer know what to do
we have come to our real work,

and that when we no longer know which way to go
we have come to our real journey.

The mind that is not baffled is not employed.

The impeded stream is the one that sings.

Thank you, Anita of Castles, Crowns and Cottages, for the introduction to the above quote. It truly made me feel better about writing and the ideas required to feel creative.

My vacation gave me time to ponder what I want the blog to be about and I’ve decided I really do enjoy writing about home interests. Nothing all that deep, I’m more about the fluff of it all. I tried imagining me writing about other topics but it always came back to the uncomplicated fact that when asked, “what interests you?” the answer was elementary. Gardens (both working in and learning new things about); my home (making the occasional improvements and tweaking, always tweaking, this and that); and entertaining friends and family therein. These are what brings me the most pleasure. Simple, right?

So…for a new post after a long vacation I decided to share some inspiring garden rooms, as I refer to them. Summer is near its end but here in Southern California we will ~~suffer~~ experience heat through September.

When I was growing up I don’t recall there being the vast array of options for creating rooms outdoors the way they exist today. Did we have a patio? Absolutely. Did we have a table and seating for outdoor dining? Yes, indeed. My dad grilled all through the summer months. But would you have looked at this space and imagined some of the additional comforts and decorative bits and pieces we now include in our ‘outdoor dining rooms’? NO.

{T&G}

So, these are a few of my favorite dining spaces and a few outdoor living spaces as well. I’ve included an image of my current patio and the newer pea gravel space under the cooling shade of two very large Ficus Benjamina trees. (Are roots an issue? Yes they are. My gardener takes great pains annually to cut off the roots that creep out from about a 5′ radius of the trees base and that seems to stem their destructive ways). He also strongly recommends that we prune the 2 trees often, this gives them a reason to put new growth at the top, not at the roots.

So, without further ado…here are some wonderful outdoor spaces that can give us one last relaxing sigh as summer heads out and fall comes into focus.

{BHG}

{Libbey Ranch, Ojai}

{Enchanted Home}

{Emily Followill Photography}

{Providence Design}

{Enchanted Home}

{unknown}

Finally, truth be told, I wouldn’t mind this outdoor experience as well. I know I’m being naive, I’ve never lived where it snows and I’ve been told by some with experience in such weather conditions, that it would only take one brutal winter in the east to cure me of the romantic notions I have about snow!

Do you have outdoor room(s) you enjoy during the warmer months of the year?

{Garden, Home and Party} A designer to love…Melissa Ervin

09 Wednesday Jul 2014

Posted by Karen B. in Designer, House and Home

≈ 37 Comments

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Melissa Erwin

The internet facilitates a lot of happy connections for fans of any particular activity or subject. As a design enthusiast, I’m always excited to be introduced to a new [to me] designer. Sometimes the way I stumble upon them is surprising, although by now it shouldn’t surprise me what can be found online.

That is exactly what happened the other day. I started my morning with my “must read blog favorites”. Talk of the House is one that always entertains. Kelly does a fantastic job sharing wonderful places to visit, things to do, and in this particular post, shared 21 beautiful window boxes. One of the homes she featured caught my attention and I left my comment with Kelly and went to visit the source for this charming home.

{source}

That link took me to another blog site. Holly Mathis Interiors. There I learned that this particular home was on the cover of Southern Living Magazine this past March and Holly provided the link to see the article. It turns out Holly has been helping the owners with the interior of this home. If you’d like to see the inside of this charmer, visit HERE.

While viewing the slideshow at Southern Living of this home (above), I found another cottage that looked interesting… {still with me?} I followed that link and met (figuratively speaking) Melissa “Missi” Ervin of Charleston, South Carolina {thank you, Southern Living and all involved on this magical tour of great cottages and a wonderful designer}.

Melissa a native of South Carolina, earned a degree in design from Clemson University. After graduation, she earned her architectural license while working in the field. Her passion for interior design deepened while working for several significant interior design firms for a decade before starting her firm, Melissa Ervin Interior Design in 2008.

With her architectural background and her years of design experience, she has a talent for creating timeless beauty in the homes she works on.

For Charleston, South Carolina, Designer Missi Ervin and homeowner Sam Cato, renovating a former horse stable and carriage house in Aiken meant returning the historic cottage to its equestrian roots. – Southern Living

A Horse Stable Turned Cottage from her portfolio and the Southern Living feature is my favorite. I invite you to visit her site for more wonderful design inspiration. Enjoy the tour…

I hope you’ve enjoyed meeting Melissa Erwin. Be sure to visit her site for more of her work.

Karen

{Home} Essentials…a mailbox

25 Wednesday Jun 2014

Posted by Karen B. in Accessories; details, House and Home

≈ 31 Comments

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mailboxes

Sometimes it’s the little things, the essentials of life, that can surprise us with a punch of unexpected design beauty. Such is the case with the utilitarian mailbox. Here in Southern California, in the newer housing areas, mailboxes are built to house several boxes within one structure, usually situated street-side, in the middle of a row of 4-6 houses. If you’re lucky enough to live where your mailbox is on your property, sometimes you are required to situate the box curbside to afford the mail man/woman) ease of delivery without leaving his/her vehicle. We live in an older housing tract where you still have the option of having a mailbox near, or even installed in your front door.

{source}

As reported of late, the U.S. Postal Service seems to be struggling. A detailed feature on this topic can be found HERE.

Their [USPS] model has changed with 1^st Class mail volumes down over recent years as we simply mail fewer letters and pay more bills via the internet. The cash cow was dying, and farmer Donahoe came up with plans to ‘trim the herd’ and reduce services, post offices and days of service to reflect living within their revenue stream as required by Congress. –Analog Sherpa

Certain this will date me, I’ll be sad to see mailboxes go away. Maybe they never will, but if they do, the enjoyment of the written invitation, thank you note, and birthday card will be one step closer to their demise as well. Don’t get me wrong, I love the ease of email. Even texting has served me well. My longtime friend, Linda, lives on Bainbridge Island, WA while I live in Irvine, CA. We used to write letters to each other to stay in touch, now hardly a day goes by when we don’t catch up with each other via email. A great comfort to me as I enjoy her friendship and would be sad if I couldn’t talk to her as frequently.

{source}

Rather than give any attention to the gloomy prospect of mail actually going the way of the Pony Express, I decided to embrace the beauty of the mailbox. I’m here to share with you some of the prettiest, and one or two most interesting, if not comical, mailboxes found online.

I have to start with this one…if only there had been one of these in our neighborhood when our sons were wee lads. They might have written more letters to their grandma in Arizona!

{source}

This is my all-time favorite, in part because it’s red, and because it’s found in my favorite travel destination, England. The classic British mailbox. What’s not to love? You can buy similar mailboxes on line HERE.

{source}

I digress, back to the mailboxes here in the U.S. I like the dual purpose of this mailbox, it handles mail, newspaper and bonus, a pretty box of flowers. I’ve planted vines around posts that hold mailboxes for clients before, it always dresses up the mailbox a bit. Maybe even the postman/woman appreciate a pretty mailbox.

{source}

The mailbox below is not what first drew me to this image. Don’t you love the arched door and transom, stone pediment, stone facade, urn, wooden bench and boot scraper…not to mention the little door-side mailbox?!

{source}

This door, painted a pale Tiffany blue, and the mailbox within the door are great. One little personal note on mailboxes that go into your house…I’ve always had a just a tiny ~~fear~~ phobia that someone would put something in the slot, like a snake or something. Maybe I had a ~~dream~~ nightmare about that once, but I’ve always been timid about putting the slot for mail into my house.

{source}

I like the idea of the mailbox being painted the same color as the door. Even though you cannot see the full mailbox, this box looks homemade, appealing for what looks like a stone cottage. {*sigh}

{source}

No words, aside from “yes, please”…

{source}

The take away is, there are some gorgeous mailboxes out there. You may have one. If not, you can buy one. This one is available on Amazon.

{source}

What does your mailbox look like? I’d love to hear from you.

{Garden, Home and Party} Front Doors, a curbside welcome

04 Wednesday Jun 2014

Posted by Karen B. in Architectural elements, House and Home

≈ 46 Comments

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front doors

{source}

Is there anything as inviting as a great front door? I use the word great because to my way of thinking it doesn’t have to be a grand door to be welcoming. A simple door to a country home holds as much appeal for me as an European, hand carved beauty {almost}. Still, I find that when I pass a home with a pretty front door, I begin to imagine a welcoming interior. I realize this may be a complete fantasy, but it works for me. {According to my husband (who I met while working at Disneyland) I live in Fantasyland all of the time, he’s right}

{source}

I love the idea of a screen door to let the cool breeze of summer in, but this screen door is one of the first I’ve seen that looks like it was custom made to enhance this beautiful entry. In our home we installed a Dutch door to allow the westerly breezes in, fortunately we don’t get too many bugs!

{unknown}

A stone facade would be pretty terrific. Unfortunately, here in Southern California, unless you build a custom home, most of the tract homes, even when semi-customized, don’t have stone surrounds. The other feature I find noteworthy on this pair of doors is the centered door pulls. The symmetry of the pulls and panels remind me of the doors you see in London.

{source}

I like the contrast of the pretty orange door with the white trim and side lights. I also love the door knocker. Notice the boot scraper to the right of the front door? The side lights and dormer are leaded glass, pretty spectacular, don’t you think?

{source}

If you’ve read my blog for any length of time, you know I lean more towards a cottage over a mansion. Not that I don’t appreciate a good ol’ historic mansion and would take the opportunity to live in one if offered, preferably in England, please . The arched door and stone fireplace insist on a cozy interior…could this be Bilbo Baggins home? I love the roof line.

{source}

This door has the “wow factor” in spades. From the fresh apple green paint to the pillars flanking the door, highly polished brass essentials, and the arched frame set in a brick facade…yes, please!

{source}

If I had a beach house, this is what the door would look like. It’s a Dutch door, but I love that it has a doggie door in it as well as great looking door hardware. No doorbell needed, just ring the string of bells tied to the right of the frame.

{source}

Isn’t this amazing? I imagine this door, and the ~~house~~ mansion attached is located in some incredible, estate-strewn area. I love the door surround and the subtly of green and white plants. Curb appeal is taken to an entirely different level in this neighborhood.

{source}

To prove my point about cottage vs. mansion. I could be content in this Southern Living Cottage of the Year. I’d have to remove that palm, which doesn’t belong in this yard {in my humble landscape preferences opinion}.

{tumblr}

Pretty vibrant color but I like the details on the surround that ties it all together. I don’t remember which tumblr I got this image from but I suspect the door is on a home in another country. I like the address, painted into the stone crest above the beautifully carved doors.

This is the front door to our home, photographed in the winter. I’m thinking there might be a dark blue or black door in our future. Should I leave the side lights white or paint the doors and side panels, if and when we paint?

{Garden, Home and Party} A new friend

21 Wednesday May 2014

Posted by Karen B. in House and Home

≈ 20 Comments

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Blog Friends

I have been more than a little surprised at how welcoming and warm people who visit my site seem to be. In more than a few instances, I feel as if these people are people that, if they lived near me, would be close friends. We’d antique and share ideas over coffee, tea or wine. I consider many of them friends even though we’ve never met. If you are a blogger, I know from reading your posts that I’m not alone in this.

I continue to find new places to visit in blog land. Sometimes it comes as a reference to a photograph with the source linked, other times, when its one of those aforementioned “friends” that I feel a kindred spirit with, I’ll click on their blog roll. I want to meet their friends and see what other wonderful talented people I can learn from.

With that, I would like to introduce you to If It Were Mine blog site. The title alone is clever but what Vicki does with If It Were Mine is to my mind, pretty amazing. In her own words,

I like to browse real estate sites and imagine how I would decorate the rooms. Even though this is imaginary decorating, I still am budget-minded, so I focus on furniture placement, scale, and carrying a similar aesthetic throughout a house.

Besides the fabulous rooms she finds to share with her readers, she actually finds examples of rooms that are similar in architectural specifics. As a blogger who has spent seemingly endless hours searching for an image that reflects an idea, I’m always surprised and pleased with how Vicki shows us remarkable ideas for the rooms of each home.

If I were a Realtor I’d want to hire Vicki to give buyers ideas for the homes listed. One of the features that I always enjoy is that initial picture that Vicki shares from the listing of the exterior of the home, done like a water color. I don’t know if she uses Waterlogue, but it makes almost any home look appealing and charming.

Montclair

A fairly recent post featured a home near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Vicki, like so many of us, had read Miss Mustard Seed’s blog post about looking for a new home that would accommodate her growing business. If It Were Mine presented what Vicki does best, a home for sale in Marion’s area and furnished it in her style. As I was touring the home via Vicki’s post, I felt it was certainly reflecting Miss Mustard Seed’s style. If you haven’t ever visited Marian at Miss Mustard Seed you’re in for a treat.

If you like before and after examples, and who doesn’t, this site shares the best of this daily. Here is the ‘before’ living room of the Montclair house.

before ~ Montclair listing

after ~ Nancy Fishelson design

Vicki even did her Photoshop magic for the kitchen that “would be” Miss Mustard Seed’s kitchen and hung a favorite painting of Marian’s over the range.

Vicki does a great job of linking her finds to the source. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed seeing Nancy Fishelson’s design work and was happy to spend some time perusing her rooms from the link provided.

Briar Hill ~ Syracuse, NY

Earlier this year If It Were Mine introduced us to a home in Syracuse, NY. Briar Hill captured my interest by name alone. Wouldn’t you love a name like that for your home? The foyer Vicki selected to “design the space is that of Hal Williamson and Dale LeBlanc’s home {below}. It epitomizes Southern beauty with its soft lighting and elegant chest, flanked by a pair of velvet upholstered Bergere chairs.

Attention to architectural design of the home is noted and the selections for the home are fitting, like the dining space at Briar Hill. As Vicki explains describing the Wendy Meredith designed room, “It’s respectful to the era, but not stuffy”.

{Wendy Meredith}

The final example of the great work Vicki does with her blog is a home in California called Sunset. {I forgot to mention, Vicki lists the designers and the states she’s used for her posts on the sidebar of her site}.

Sunset, California

This little bungalow has a foyer that could use some help…

and with If It Were Mine to the rescue…

{Photo by Sandbox Studio}

The living room captures the relaxed feel of California living.

{Muskoka Living Interiors}

I love the bedroom, I know, I know, not everyone likes antlers, but I do and think it looks great on the wall above the bed.

{House Beautiful}

I hope you’ll stop by If It Were Mine and say hi to Vicki. I know I have enjoyed recently discovering her site and I think you will to. Thanks, my “friends” for stopping by.

{Home and Party} Mad for Plaid

14 Wednesday May 2014

Posted by Karen B. in Decorating, House and Home, Misc

≈ 25 Comments

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plaid

As some of you may remember, plaid is my favorite color, and, no surprise, I’m not alone. “Plaid Day” is May 18th, but there’s a new celebration of plaid as well. Plaiddurday is the first Friday of every October, so Plaidurday this year is October 3, 2014. Since I love plaid, I figure I might just celebrate both. It is a holiday, right?

Plaid Day, May 18th, is the day where the sheer magnificence and general wonderfulness of plaid is celebrated around the world. Plaid Day is celebrated by wearing plaid on your person. Those who refuse to adorn themselves in the Sacred Flannel are duly sacrificed. Serious Plaidies indulge in tribal plaid face paint and the ceremonial burning of a kilt. Common phrases used on Plaid Day include, “I’m plaid with that,” “You’re TOTALLY plaiding today,” and “That’s SO plaid.”

{via}

{M A C}

{via}

I used to want to collect Tartanware. After spotting so few pieces at the antique stores I frequented, and noticing the prices, I decided I would do without a collection.

{via Marcus Design}

{via}

I saved the best for last…an old Elle Decor feature on Glen Feshie Lodge. Never did so much plaid look so great!

I realize plaid isn’t for everyone, especially today with our Scandinavian influenced neutral palate with lots of gray and weather worn woods, but a room like this wins my heart every time.

{Home} Home Tour II : Guest Room

06 Tuesday May 2014

Posted by Karen B. in Accessories; details, Bedrooms, Decorating, House and Home

≈ 30 Comments

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Guest Room

I promised to share more of our home with you so…walk this way. I have shared this room before, it was in my post about finally having a blue and white room, thanks to a major remodel my friends Carol and Barry completed a couple of years ago. During their remodel, they bought a king size bed to replace the queen in their guest room. The custom blue and white linens were offered and I was like a kid at Christmas with joy.

The walls are painted Brown Tepee, Behr. {they look like there’s more green to them than in person} My painter talked me into eggshell finish and I’m not thrilled with the glossy look of it. I understand from a few friends that know more about design trends than me, that eggshell is the preferred finish on walls now. Share your thoughts on this with me, I’m curious. Is it just me? Am I the only person that doesn’t care for eggshell finish?

The blue and white toile is so pretty and Carol had a round table covered with a cloth of this fabric, so I was able to upholster the little French chair you’ll see below. The framed prints are from a family art book which I posted about HERE.

I know you will understand when I say almost everything in our home has a story and a memory attached to it. This little French chair was in the back room of an antique warehouse I used to frequent with my friend Carla, back before I was working 40 hours a week. It was dusty and the seat was missing, but as Carla pointed out, it had great detailing and because I had a store credit from a return, I bought it. It’s very sweet and works well in our guest room. A place for our guests to sit and put their socks on.

The same goes for this nightstand…it came from one of my favorite antique stores in San Clemente, Stanford Court Antiques. It’s one of those places where there are many different stalls but the owners are very particular and the stalls are staged and very appealing.

This mirror started in our guest bathroom years ago. When we remodeled the bathroom I decided a mirror in this room could come in handy so we hung it where it can reflect light from the window on the other side of the room and I hung a few of my favorite blue and white transferware plates {which were part of the generous gift of blue and white goodies from Carol and Barry}

On this side of the bed is a repurposed Pottery Barn lamp from Mr. B’s year long job in Northern California. I always liked the lamp and with a new shade, it works in the room.

This French nightstand used to have feet that elevated it, don’t hate me, but I had them removed because I like the height better for the bed. The chair is Ikea, I personalized it for our granddaughter’s visits.

The Beatrix Potter books were well-used during our son’s years of a story before bed nightly. The Van Gogh print was brought back from the Museé d’ Orsay by our youngest son, Kevin, on his trip to Paris during his spring break his senior year of college. It’s “Siesta” and seems appropriate for the guest bedroom, right?

I hope you’ve enjoyed Tour II of Bethany House. I’ll work on another room in the not too distant future.

Enjoy your week and as always, thank you for stopping by, you’re the best.

{GHP} We’re having another baby!

16 Wednesday Apr 2014

Posted by Karen B. in Bedrooms, Decorating, Family, House and Home

≈ 28 Comments

Tags

kid's rooms

If that heading didn’t make you look then I don’t know what would. 🙂

Those of you who read my posts may know we have 2 adult sons, both are married to wonderful women…we really lucked out.

A little over 3 years ago we were blessed with our first grand baby, a sweetie-pie named Olivia. Olivia lives with her parents in Austin, Texas. Her California grandparents (Mr. B and me) visit as much as we can and they come this way at least twice a year, sometimes more. We love Austin and as a plane-ride destination to see your granddaughter, it’s the best.

{Livi now sleeps in a big girl bed (twin) and has Pottery Barn linens in her favorite color}

Our youngest son married in December 2012 and they have just announced that we can expect the arrival of our second grand baby sometime in late October of this year. We’re over the moon with joy!

This got me thinking about nursery design in this day and age, and kid-friendly rooms in general. I thought I’d share Pinterest images I’ve discovered, as well as a few blog and retail sites whose images I was able to gather, for some great examples of bedrooms for children of all ages.

It should not surprise anyone that the newest generation of parents have some pretty amazing ideas for their children’s bedrooms. Gad, I wouldn’t mind having one or two of these rooms to daydream in myself.

Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware have revolutionized the options for the nursery. Sarah, our daughter-in-law/mother to be, selected this crib for Baby B. The bed was “inspired by a French antique”.

{rhbabyandchild.com}

The youth bed conversion is so pretty. I could see using this as a piece of furniture in another part of the house once baby has outgrown the bed.

{RH Belle Upholstered Crib}

The possibilities are endless where nurseries/kid’s rooms are concerned and most of us seasoned [read: older] moms know, babies, all over the world have slept in less stylish digs and thrived. Still, as someone who dwells on feathering the nest, including each and every room of our home, it’s fun to dream of how we would design a baby’s/child’s room in this 21st century.

{unknown source}

{RH}

{Elle Decor ~ photograph by Pieter Estersohn}

From the opulence above, to the reality below…

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…children really only need space to dream and feel comfortable and secure in. As a mom, I can say the years from birth to college years pass by in the blink of an eye. The needs change too, so sometimes it pays to decorate with an eye to the not too distant future to avoid need for costly renovations.

This is a room that, except for the wagon of toys and the trundle bed, any guest would be delighted to slumber in. It’s also pretty unisex, no striking pink or blue touches.

Same with the room below. Although I’d think this might be a boys room, what do you think?

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I love the wallpaper and roman shade in this room. Furnished with a larger bed, or a desk this space could serve any purpose in the family home. I could see it as a guest room, TV room and/or study. For now it’s a great kids room!

{Elle Deocr ~ Photo by Miguel Flores-Vianna}

A cowboy themed room is fun, but you can see that it wouldn’t take too much to convert it to a college age person’s bedroom, right? At least one of our son’s would have loved this and probably would want to keep the carpet with it’s cowboy and Indian images through the college years! Why not?!

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The nice thing about a tepee is you can store it and no one would realize this was a little boy’s room.

I love built-in beds. Especially with a built-in book case. Would I enjoy making these beds, probably not. This is why we’d train the children to make their own bed at a very early age. 🙂

{Catalano Architects}

Whoa. How many will this room sleep?

I really like the idea of a window seat bed…this could easily transition to a room for any age person.

{Peter Dunham}

Just last a couple of weeks ago Belclaire House wrote about this fantastic Brunschwig & Fils wallpaper, “Battle of Valmy”. I love it and could almost put it in a room in our house. I think even a girl would like the horses, soldiers and flags, don’t you?

The nautical themed room (below) might be my favorite. Having boys, I tend to gravitate to something like this.

As I was proofing this post, I realized that nearly all of the images are geared to a boys room. I confess, I think that is my default. Raising two boys does that to me. So, to be fair, and because we have absolutely loved having a girl baby in the family, here are a few amazing rooms for girls only.