Hellooooo friends!
I’ve been absolutely dying to show you what I’ve been up to these past few months! Call it nesting…getting settled…or maybe it’s just my kind of playtime. There’s just no getting around the fact that I love “interiorizing”, and my current slate has been putting my own spin on our new 1920 house. I’ve had such a blast this summer pulling out all the stops and just going crazy with painting, thrifting, and moving things around. So I thought I’d take a few blog posts here to give you a little tour.
Welcome to our home!
It’s hard to see, but the color of the stucco is pink! Very very light, and totally dreamy, but not-at-all-Mediterranean-or-Southwest (I’m insistent!) pink. Is it even possible for a pink house to take itself too seriously? I think not. It’s so me. I might play around with the color of the shutters at some point, but that’s a different post. Today I want to share about our living rooms, which span the entire front side of the house, and are what you see right when you walk in the front door. We spend a ton of time in here! It’s our #1 hangout space. Movies, games, music, reading, crafts, schoolwork, forts, and chatting with friends (I’m sitting at the coffee table as I write this, actually!).
So here’s this area BEFORE (those are the previous owners furnishings, because crazy pants McCited, yours truly, forgot to take photos of the empty rooms!).
And here it is moving week. I’d decided the old splotchy yellow wallpaper needed to go before I could set up the furniture, because I’m what my daughter Nora would call an “action girl” – aka I’m spontaneous and impatient. The time period between when I decide I want to do something, and when I actually start doing it, is, on average, about 1.2 minutes.
So we basically did this on day 1, and who would have guessed that my 5yo’s turned out to be wallpaper-removing ninjas. No soaking, no scraping…just pulled it right off, and they were totally committed to seeing it to the end! Note to self: kids love destroying stuff, so asking them to actually destroy something is like a dream come true.
Here it is post-wall paper, but pre-paint.
And here it is now.
For reals…EVERYTHING in here is a thrifty treasure. Bird urns? Goodwill. Mirror? Goodwill. Candlesticks & rug? Estate sale. That’s 80% of the fun for me- the hunting for treasures. If I could, I’d do it all day, every day. I’m addicted. Someone please tell me how I can make a career out of treasure hunting!
This gallery wall next to the fireplace is one of my favorite spots in the whole house. Many of the pieces are from my sketchbook, and the rest are- again- thrifted treasures I’ve accumulated over a the years.
Here’s the front entry that opens into this living room.
On the other side of the house, to the left, was originally this very red dining room. Wait- did I say ‘very red’? I meant VERY RED. (Again, these are the previous owner’s furnishings because I had the great foresight to not take any before photos.)
This wallpaper went away the first week as well, but this time it was a little more tedious, a lot more messy, and somehow we couldn’t see to escape the endless layers of red.
Nothing a couple coats of fresh paint couldn’t remedy though! Here’s that room today.
Paintings by my grandfather on the left, paired with a painting on the right that I rescued from someone’s trash! I think they look pretty swell together. Also, I got this Broyhill sofa set at Goodwill for $40…don’t ask me how someone came up with that price…I couldn’t get the cash in their hand fast enough.
The braided rug is another estate auction find…no one else wanted it so I think I might have bid $30 for it. I spend some evenings repairing the joints that have become loose. I don’t mind, because I really love it!
So there are the living rooms! Cozy and comfy, feeling like home, and they’re calling my name right now. Well, more accurately, it’s Russell, sitting in the living room, who’s calling my name, so I think I’ll wrap this up and go join him for a beer and another episode of that new Jack Ryan series on Amazon (who knew Jim from The Office could be so stealth!?).
Thanks for popping by to take a peek at what I’ve been up to! Until next time…
XOXO
I love your vintage style! This is absolutely gorgeous, Amy!
Thanks Heidi! It feels great to be settled! 😊
Love, love, love it! You’ve given me some picture-hanging ideas……especially what you did around your television set! Awesome! I know you’re a busy mom/wife, but sure have missed your blogging! ~Mindy
Hi Mindy! Thanks so much! The collage around the fireplace was fun to do! Very improvisational…just started hanging things! Have fun with yours! :)
Ohhh looking good! You’ve made it so cozy. I have a question though, since you’re using as a tv room what they used as a dining room, do you have another dining area? Is there also an eat in kitchen?
Good question. Our 6 person dining table fits in the kitchen so we eat in there. Keeps the mess contained, so I’m enjoying that!
You’ve been busy! Everything looks super cozy and beautiful! Great job!
Thanks Jera!!! 😊
What a beautiful house, and such great vintage style! Yeah, that room was VERY RED! So much better now.
Thanks!!! Yeah, that red was hardcore! Whew.
Great job! Everything looks so cozy and “nested”. :-)
Thanks Pat! It sure does feel nice to hang out in. :)
Oh I love it! We moved into our house about 15 months ago. And we have exactly 2 rooms semi-done. Not even totally done. It drives me crazy but we also have a 1, 2, and 3 year old (the 1 & 2 yo arriving unexpectedly about a year ago) so it is what it is right now.
They did start MDO today for 2 days a week. Here’s hoping I can use those days to get stuff house-related done!
School definitely makes a difference! Super hard with littles running around all day.
Can I come live with you !! I absolutely love the textures, colors, and joy the rooms radiate!
Thanks Sarah!!!!! We so have similar tastes!! 😍
I like your name: Action Girl!! I could be quite comfortable and at home there! Would love to go thrifting with you – I can just hear the stories from other people’s treasures they once loved. Great job, Amy!
Thanks Linda! Ack, I do wish i could hear the back stories on these treasures! Maybe I’ll have to make some up just for fun 😂
Hi Amy
I was only thinking about you all yesterday and joy of joy there you were this morning in my inbox, which always brings a smile before I have even opened and read your mail.
Your new home looks amazingly beautiful, what a great job you have all done and I love the little peeps helping with the wall paper stripping – great Gibson team effort.
You have such a great eye for design and detail – and are super talented and it really shows on your photos.
Thank you so much for sharing.
K x
Aww, hi Miss Karen!! Thanks for the sweet note!!! It does feel good to finally be blogging again- I’ve missed you guys! XO
You epitomize “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Well done! $40 for a living room set? WOW I envy your ability to do what you do – I simply don’t have the vision. Russell is very lucky to have such a woman in his life that can turn a house into a home on a wing and a prayer. :)
You have a wonderful way of bringing this all together! Love the after pics and coziness of it all. Beautiful wall arrangements. You really have an eye in decor!
looks so restful and happy!
Your decorating style speaks volumns about you and your family. You’ve created a cozy, warm , loving
space for you and your beautiful family to grow in love. 🏠💕
WOW! I was wondering where you had gone to now I know. It is absolutely beautiful!! Cannot wait to see the rest. I’ve missed your posts.
Oh, I love everything about the rooms you shared with us! I am also addicted to thrifting. The fun is in the hunt and I am always so excited to bring something home that deserves another life!! The other day, it was a small quilted pillow. I never bought someone else’s quilted anything before and I adore this small, sweet pillow. I get you, Amy! May you have many years of love, happiness, and laughter in your new home!
Your home is lovely. You’ve put some much love into it and I felt it just looking at the pictures. I really felt as though I was in each room personally. Very inviting. What State do you live in? The style of the home screams “East Coast” to me. I’m a California girl and you don’t see much of the architectural style of your home out here (though I”m living in France right now so it feels odd to say “here”). Really. Lovely.
That should say “so much love….typo.
You have a beautiful home. It’s one fitting for a magazine display. You did a marvelous job in designing and setting up the living rooms. Thanks for sharing.
Hey Amy,was thinking about your blog the other day. Your house is so inviting. Blessings
Can’t wait for part #2, love everything, you have great helpers!
Now that’s what I call decorating. Not a home that can’t be touched but a home full of love and fun. It screams come and sit for a while. Love it.
Absolutely love everything you’ve done to make the house your home. Looking forward to seeing more of your amazing transformations!
Seeing your wallpaper ninjas gave me a chuckle on this suddenly darkened day!! Raining now, thanks goodness. So happy to see your blog too Amy. always welcome back!
Love, love, love it all…. I could so live here. You have a beautiful gift for this. Only one question: Where’s the quilts? :0)
Thank you so much for sharing. It looks so inviting and fun and I could sit in either room for ours and have a feast for the eyes – all those treasures to look at everywhere. You have done a beautiful job making it your home. And who would think of making 2 Living Rooms?! Interesting and so perfect for your family. I love that slight pink house color. It’s just ever so faintly visible and definitely NOT southwest. Way to keep the tradition of the house and still make it your own! Lovely!!!
I was so excited to find a new email from you this morning! You are so inspiring and are such a “real” person. Thank you! I love what you have done with your home. It has given me some ideas on what I should do in my living room.
WELCOME HOME
I love your new home sweet home!
So great to here from you. Your home is so filled with love.I am looking forward to seeing more.
The house looks great! So glad you are putting your talent to use in your “nest”. Thanks for the tour of the living space.
Beautiful! I love your sense of style.
Hi Amy – I know I am just supposed to look at your fabulous house re-design – but my favorite part are your 2 boys- cutie po – tooties – taking down the wall paper!
How wonderful that you make every project a family affair. I see the love in every corner.
Thank you for sharing your lovely home and all the hard work you and your family put into making it nice and comfy. Welcome to Virginia!
In a few years, my husband and I might do the reverse move. Our daughter moved to Denver 3 years ago after graduating from the University of Virginia. She’s a rock climber. We have been looking at real estate in the Boulder area and were surprised to see how expensive it is!
Annabelle, Project Linus Fairfax County Chapter, Northern Virginia, https://www.facebook.com/projectlinusfairfaxcounty/
Love the house, it looks great. So much work! Our living room is our center place too.
Your house is so airy and beautiful!!! <3 As for making a career of it- I would totally pay you to decorate my house with your thrifty finds. You have an eye!
J’adore votre maison, très jolie.