House Tour: Living Space

Living Room

I don't have much to say about this room. Don't know why, but a big blank comes to mind. Maybe it's from the big, blank wall. Everyone asks what we are going to do with the gigantor wall and we say, leave it gigantor. The only other option is a mural of our family wearing togas, riding dinosaurs , with rainbows and sparkles in the sky. And that we have to save our pennies for. I guess another Disney cruise will have to wait a little longer.

We are eventually going to commit to hanging the media center to the wall about a foot off the floor. Adding a top to it. And floating the TV above it. I also have an idea for some additional artwork to hang around/above the TV. We brought a turquoise lamp home from my grandparents house that is just cool and will make it into the room as soon as I find a shade for it. Adding draperies. Ugh, the draperies I want to add to all the rooms. Wish I could just snap my fingers and have them done. Draperies = winter projects. Much too nice outside to stay in and sew. But for now this room is done. 

I guess I should also mention our flooring. It was a hard decision, but we decided to run the barn wood style, engineered, floating, snap together laminate all throughout the main living space.  We went back and forth on if we wanted carpet in the living room. We decided against it for two reasons. One, it is easier and cleaner, as well as more durable than carpet in this high traffic area. And two, because we felt it would restrict us in furniture placement and it gives the space a nice streamlined look. We love it. And everyone comments on it. Is it tile? Hardwood? I love saying it is laminate. It is softer on the feet and helps keep it nice and cool in there. We will see how much I love it come this winter!

The Kitchen (and lack of dining room)

Aagh, I feel like this room is very misunderstood because I can't take a decent photo. The lighting is finicky in here, but it is brighter than these photos give credit. Along the back of our house we have a 30 foot (?) patio cover, so the light can only come in so much. But thanks to the help of the adjoining room with high ceilings, lots of light seeps into the kitchen and dining. 

Another non-helpful, non-lightful part of our kitchen is the eight foot ceilings. We thought they would seem so low and make the kitchen feel cramped. But it turns out the opposite. On the top of our list when we built, was to have a larger gathering area for get togethers. The ceiling drop in the kitchen makes the large open area feel a tad separated from the rest of the room. Crazily we have found we like that. Those 20 foot ceilings can get loud with kids running ramp-id, so it helps balance that out a bit and give a little, but not too much, room definition as well. 

Here is a quick list of things to finish in this room (most likely this winter):

• Figure how to install our hood.
• Add a tile back splash
• Maybe refinish the bar stools. The vinyl is getting holes and a little worn.
• Fingers crossed that we find or make a dining room table.

Mudroom and Laundry Room

Welcome to our shoe drop, weapon drop, bag drop, drop anything area of the house. Not going to go into a lot of detail here folks. But here is another quick rundown of things we would like to do sooner than later to this little area of the house.

• Take the towel-bar-made-for-a-giant out of the half bath. What were they thinking? If our contractor feels like that size of towel bar is necessary in a half bath, I do not want to know what goes on in their bathroom.
• Add a fun stencil or wallpaper to the half bath.
• Install cabinetry in the laundry room
• Install an in-wall ironing board.
• Purchase baskets for all those shoes under the bench.

Next up, the kid zone and yard! The yard that has taken up every second of spare time over the past few weeks. But it is coming together. Slowly but surely. Damn, we have a big yard. Now I see what everyone was talking about. But we have big plans for this big yard. Can't wait to post. :)