Inspiration Photos for #dwh2

While hunting for a possible #dwh2  - we kept in mind that we/I wanted a "project".
I think we did succeed with this wee task. Needless to say my inspiration file folder was bursting with photos I liked of traditional homes that fit more of the Midtown Memphis- 4 square build. And as fate would happen, this folder was emptied as of April last year and I started again.  As you can see from previous post in the latter months...#dwh2 is not of the traditional persuasion.

I thought I would share a few of the photos from my new folder of inspiration having had 7 months in the new house.

#dwh2 is not likely to ever have a staircase in it - it is a 1 story show. But our dining room does look out to the pool. It is neat to see that is a commonality of mid century design. 

While I would absolutely love rip out the kitchen and start over. We are not going to do it. At least not for years to come. The photos above are the inspiration for what we do have. Wood cabinets, nearly identical to the two kitchens above - the question is whether to paint them white like the two photos on the top or leave them as they are like the two photos on the bottom.  White marble counter tops are to come as well as new lighting.  I love the fixtures in the bottom right and top left photos above but I think they're a little big for our kitchen. Alas, a beautiful touch. 

Oh my gosh. I love these photos. Have you ever? LAH-VE IT! Alas, I'm not moving to LA for the view. I'll have to manage with the view of our landscaping/fence/neighbors, etc. What I do really identify with in these photos is the interior style, the floor to ceiling windows, and the stone floors.
Our house looks like a very flat, short, ranch from the curb, but past the interior walls, we have mid century design. 

 

The title for this collection of photos actually made me blush. 

The top right corner is from Rachel Zoe and Roger Berman's bedroom from the first season of Rachel Zoe project. I like watching the first season now that we live in a mid - century house. It gives me all kinds of ideas.  And naturally, her house is white...which I love.  The bottom photo has a painted stone fireplace, an element we used for our living room. The fixture next to the fireplace, yep it's also a winner.  White bedding...check. White. White. and more white.

Kelly Werstler (pictured in the bottom right photos with her sons) has the most beautiful home and an incredible sense of stylish design.  She's really an artist. Her home is pictured in the "statement office" section. While I am not using this as the basis for my home office/lady room. I do enjoy the combination of color and textures. I like white, on white, on white. So you see, this is helpful.

Mid-century pool design is of interest as we make plans to style up the indoor pool at #dwh2.

It is hard to find actual indoor pools (believe it or not) but this general style will do to inspire.

Decorating is always the fun part. Painting the interior walls, placing furniture, etc.  This is on going - as the months and seasons change. We have now been in the house long enough to start talking about some larger scale options towards renovation and some larger scale projects. But for now, talk is what we're doing.

Photos Via : Paloma's Pinterest Page

Which will then take you to her fabulous blog : La Dolce Vita and a guest post by Small Shop Studio

Two of my favorite spots for inspiration - you must check them out!

#dwh2 : Entry...After

 Remember the before and during photos of our entry way?

Now that you've seen the before and the during...

here comes the after! 

 My mother thinks we now need sunglasses because the walls are so bright....thanks Ma! 

There's more to come - furniture to be placed and art to be hung.  When a space is newly painted it takes me a while to hang something up on the fresh walls - so time shall tell what goes up on these babies.

Until then - white walls, yay!

#dwh2 : Wetbar

Over the holiday break, 2 more portions of our house received attention.  One of which, the wet bar.

When we were looking for a new house, a bar was actually on my "wishlist"...kind of strange yes I know. But alas, I thought it would be a fun thing to have in a house.

We have a lot of wood paneling in our house and because it is so dark we decided to paint some of it. 

The wet bar and entry were the first to get paint.

 

^

 bar before 

v

And drum roll to the before/after combined photo............tica tica tica tica - CHING!

^

After

v

 

It took a few day to let the paint cure. It took several coats of paint to cover the dark wood paneling. And with white, we wanted it to be smooth.  There were lots of holes to fill before, sanding, priming, painting, fill holes, more paint. It was quite the process.

So after the paint cured - the bar received some decoration. The first chapter of decor is now displayed.  This will be a fun place to decorate as the seasons change.  I think the space needs some artwork perhaps on the other walls...Time shall tell.

#dwh2 : Den Inspiration and flooring

We have an actual den in #dwh2.  In #dwh1 our den was actually one of our bedrooms.  We had a plethora of rooms that were about the same size at #dwh1 and one of them ended up as the den. Not an interesting story, but a story none the less.  So in #dwh2, we have an actual defined den.

I have mentioned before that we have a really sassy green linoleum in our den/kitchen/laundry room/butler's pantry. The big dilemma in this is that the den is next to the pool room so whatever flooring that lands in that room has to be able to handle wet feet. So for now while I ponder this great mystery, the green linoleum stays.  It is in good shape, no big rips anywhere.  I spent a whole hour (or two) during fall break trying to peel back a section of it in the laundry room/hall area.  As it is, there is actually  not one layer, but two layers of tasteful linoleum under there.  SURPRISE.  Bonus fun. I know that's exactly what you were thinking...me too. The cost to have it removed from these areas is rather substantial and not a cost I'm ready to deal with right now, to many other things to do. So for now, I consider options to make do with what's there, or change it with very low cost.

I give you option # 1  - Tory Burch Themed Den. 

photos: via Google images and Pinterest (Tory Burch Stores)

One very noticeable component of these spaces, the use of green.  Our floors are literally the same color green as the carpet in her stores.  The den also has built in book shelves, obviously I'm not going to display purses and shoes in them...though don't put it past me. I have several Moroccan style rugs that could go in there as well as 4 silk yellow curtain panels.  I'd rather have orange but I think the yellow will actually work better.  The walls in the den haven't been painted yet.  Regardless of what happens with the floors, the room is getting painted WHITE (yes I know shocker).  The natural light is so sparse, white is really a good option.  And quite seriously, remember the floors are GREEN.

OPTION #2 : Lay Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring
Apparently there is a very small difference in the cost between removing 2 layers and removing 3. 
So for a small amount of money, I could lay another flooring over the top and be done with it for a while.  No green.  That might be nice.  Then it wouldn't matter what my den theme was, it wouldn't have to consider the floor color into the palate.  How often does that even happen? This flooring rolls consistently between all of those spaces, so whatever we decide it has to be done all the way. There's no threshold to break it up.

I bought a box a few weeks ago and layed out the box on our kitchen floor to see how it looked.  End result...it looks good. Doesn't look like plastic flooring, and totally eliminates the green issue.

The reality is that removing the green linoleum is going to be approximately 2017 (after I finish this degree and can focus on a serious renovation). For the time being...what in the world do we do with the current floor?

Thoughts?

Thoughts as we close 2013

This year brought really good things...

01. We rang in 2013 with really good friends. 

02. Celebrated my 30th birthday in January

03. Many good concerts (attended and participated in)

04. Spring Break in San Fran

05. Graduation from Union University with 2nd Masters

06. Acceptance into University of Memphis Doctoral Program

07. We rented our midtown house (to the most lovely tenants ever)

08. Moved to our new house in East Memphis - A.K.A. #dwh2

09. 4th of July in DC on the choir tour

010. Second summer at Juilliard in NYC

011. Week in Florida before school started

012. SCHOOL STARTED, Yay!

013. First semester of ed doc work - yes it was fun!

014. Great semester of music lessons.

015. Great fall with activities at St. John's and St. Mary's. 

(The hubs and I work for the Saints.)

016. My Family visited from Kansas in June and November. 

017. Geoff's Dad came in December. 

018. Successful programs and services in December.

019. Health and Safety - I should have said it sooner. 

020. Lots of rehab to our beloved #dwh2. 

021. Lots of goodness on the horizon for 2014! 

With that goodness in mind - here is some graphic text/perspective curtsey of Pinterest.

38 hours left in 2013. 

Here comes 2014...and many more! 

(images: via the ol' Pinterest )

#dwh2 : The entry way

I posted a couple days ago about the entry way in #dwh2. Instead of verbalizing a lengthy post. I'll let the photos tell the story.  I went a little crazy using my "Beautiful Mess" app.  It is a good one.  The editing options directly on the photo are excellent.

So...here it is...the entry way mid way through the project.

At this point the paneling has been filled/sanded/primed/filled, etc.  The before/during photo gives me butterflies. I am so excited for the entry way to be finished. The bar is also going through this transformation at the same time.  But for now, let's focus on how much brighter the entry way is!

Can't wait to share more photos when it's finished! Stay tuned.

#dwh2 : Wood Paneling

It is safe to say that we have a hearty dose of dark solid wood paneling in our house. There were actually two positive components to that last sentence (if you can believe it).  1. that the paneling is solid wood and not faux and 2. that it is dark wood. Believe it or not the paneling is pretty, there is just A  LOT of it. 

We have been in the house now for 7 months and it is now time to paint some of the paneling. First up, the entry way and the bar. The entry way is a defined area as is the bar.  Both rooms are near to the living room, which is another space that is covered in paneling.  The bar and the entry do not have as much light, thus they are for sure getting painted as the areas are dark.  So here are some before so we can remember the dark wood paneling in all the 1960s glory.

Thanksgiving Table 2013

It is safe to say that Thanksgiving 2013 as come and gone - we are past Christmas at this point.
#sheesh. This post was saved in my drafts and I never (either/and/or) 1. never finished it 2. remembered that it was there 3. forgot what I was going to say 4. All of thee above.

4 is the likely answer in this scenario. The table was fun. The family was here.  Tasty food was consumed. All good things to be thankful for in 2013. 

Christmas Holiday 2013

Handsome made his annual trip to Kansas. 

He is reporting excellent conditions. 

I always worry he won't want to come back home with us.

 

 

 

It's nice to have a little time for R&R and to celebrate the holiday season.

Happy and Merry to all! 

Here comes 2014.

May he rest...