Mixing in Some Mid Century Modern Goodness

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I don't think it's any mystery to those of you who know me or who have followed my blog or other social media outlets...that I love me some mid century modern design. It inspires me, intrigues me, and it makes me happy. I love everything about it...the lines, gestures, textures, colors, and forms. I get excited when I see mcm chairs sprinkled throughout today's modern interiors. But as much as I love this genre, I think what I love to see even more is it mixed in with other styles in the home.

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How great are these wide planked floors? I love how clean this space is. So fresh. The Arne Jacobsen Egg Chair and Naguchi table look so great with the rustic floors and traditional fireplace. The pops or orange are fantastic. I want to be here!

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At first glance, I get a more "traditional" vibe coming off this space. But wen you start to take a closer look, there are a lot of mod pieces being used. Proof that these modern classics work well in any interior, and can even flourish in a more conventional setting.

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What a fun space. Oh so Scandinavian.  The crisp white walls are the best compliment for bold and bright pops of color and texture. That chair is perfect.

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Yum. I love orange. I love how they have mixed the funky metal chair with the rustic old desk and newer plastic ikea chair. So many different levels of design being mixed.

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Look at that lamp...not too modern at all huh? Or the cozy slip covered sofa...But that Bertoia diamond chair fits in perfectly. And that acrylic coffee table cart? Yes Please!

Hall Bath Makeover Featuring a Custom Countertop

This project definitely evolved over time. At first, I was simply going to paint the vanity, change out the hardware, and add a new light fixture. In a perfect world we would gut the space and start over, but with all the work we wanted to do on the house before we could even move in...that was not an option. But when we started working, we thought of a few more changes that could be made that would help this space be more suitable for us until a complete renovation could be made.

We painted the space in a light grayish blue that matches the tile which helps the tile kind of fade into the walls. It seemed like the best way to work with the tile until we can rip it out. We also painted the trim around the window and door frames as well as the doors. We also ripped out the blue toilet and nasty floor vent and added a fresh white toilet and shiny clean vent. It really helped freshen up the space.

A new shower and bath will be great...but while we are waiting to take that plunge there is no reason we have to stare at the etched swan sliding door. We pulled out the doors altogether and added a curved rod and this shower curtain from Dwell for Target. 

A custom shade in this great fabric softens the window.

There was no mirror or wall light at all, so we added this vintage walnut framed mirror from Stanley furniture that is actually a part of our bedroom suite that we weren't going to use (which you will see why in the future post on our master bedroom). 

I found this simplistic yet modern light at a discount store here in Memphis.

The ceiling light is a vintage piece my mom had thrifted and set aside for me.

The biggest change comes with the vanity. My husband, who started a concrete company when we moved to Memphis in the Spring, created and produced this amazing counter top. It was a labor of love...and I definitely love it. We have received a ton of compliments. I love the thickness of it and its rough and raw characteristics that contrast the sleek vessel sink and faucet. We added the piece of walnut as a backsplash after we decided that the tile toothbrush holder and soap dish had to go as they were just so bulky and took away from the vessel sink and faucet. The walnut conceals the void in tile, adds another texture, creates a nice juxtaposition of forms.  I painted the base an ultra dark chocolate and added some simple, modern hardware from ikea. The rug is a funky, chunky wool rug that has a shag feel in a nice blue that again works with the existing material.

 

I love the exposed aggregate in the countertop.

The last little detail are the bottles of sand in the window sill. I have had these sense college, they are glass bottles, each filled with sand from different beaches I have visited. My sister gave me the idea to add them to the space and I l think its the perfect final touch.

It is not "perfect" but we do love the  'temporary final' which will more than do until that big renovation can happen.

Our New Home...My Big Blank Canvas.

This post is long overdue. But you've got to start somewhere right? Back in the summer, when we thought we would never find the right home, we found this amazing house that had just landed on the market. We looked it the next day and were completely wowed. It was in the middle of Bartlett, a small town right outside of Memphis, but set back on a small quiet road filled with older homes on large 1-2 acre lots. The home had so much character and tons of potential. We put in an offer the next day and a month later it was ours. 

I started planning right away. The house was in great shape but was dated which was just fine with us.  I took dimensions, drew floor plans, and created 3d models. We spent months working on it and are almost done with the main first phase. I can't wait to share the progress posts with you. But for now here are some before's as well as some of the yard. We've got big plans for that as well! 

The entry foyer heading into the kitchen.

The living room facing the entry foyer.

Kitchen

The kitchen opening into the dining room

The dining room opening down into the den and the living room to the right.

The den which steps down from the dining room.

Bedroom 1 (which will be Karmyn's).

Hall Bathroom

Bedroom 2 (which will be the baby's nursery).

Master Bedroom

Master Bath

 Our lot goes back past that barn in the far back right of this image above.

There are three levels of patio/deck space in the back and tons of gorgeous plants. the past owners were avid gardeners.

The past owner built this deck by hand with a Arkansas field stone base. And how awesome is that huge tree the deck is built around?

You can't really tell from the front but the view from the back shows how big the house is... the bottom level is the basement!

One of my favorite elements is the amazing elongated bricks that the exterior is composed of. There is even an interior wall in the den with this material too!

So that's it for now...But stay tuned. The first before and after space post will be up soon! I really do promise.

Levi's Christmas Photo Shoot

Happy December 1st! Today we had a little photo shoot with Levi for Christmas! It wasn't his idea of a perfect way to spend the afternoon but he is a little trooper and did a great job. He's so cute and makes the funniest faces. Even when he's upset he's adorable. Here are some of our favorites from the day!

  

Back to Blogging

Well, I have been away from my blog for about 9 months now and wow, have things changed! While I have been extremely busy, I have really missed posting. So once again, I am recommitting myself to posting on a regular basis. But for now I will get you caught up on what's gone on in my life since the spring...

 We decided to pack up and move over 600 miles away to my hometown of Memphis, TN.  We put our house on the market and a week later had an offer! To top that off we found out that very same week that we were expecting our very first baby! Excited is an understatement. By the end of April, we were relocated and transitioning to life in Memphis. We found out in June that we would be having a baby boy.

After searching for months for the perfect place, we found an amazing house and closed on it the end of July. 

It is a fifties ranch that was a one owner on a quiet little street sitting on a 1.5 acre loot with tons of potential, just needing a little attention.  (There will be many posts on all our projects here in the near future!)

Meanwhile, my baby boy was getting bigger... and so was my belly.

(photo by Pictures of Silver Photography)

(photo by Pictures of Silver Photography)

And on Friday,  November 1 (his due date!) at 9:09 pm, Levi Davis Wilson, entered our world and we are so in love with him.

(photo by Pictures of Silver Photography)

(photo by Pictures of Silver Photography)

So that's where we're at now. Stay tuned...