It's been a while since my last home post so I'm sharing what little update we've done to our space. I'm horrible at remembering to take before shots of anything, but I am working hard digging up old photos from our pre-DSLR cameras. Planning on a couple of proper before and after features of every room in our house, but like anything these days - that won't happen for a while.
A little background on our home: we are living in the same house my hubby was born and raised in. It was built in 1979 and I guess you can classify it as "ranch style". We moved in and started cosmetic upgrades in 2008, right before Natalie was born. Five years later, and we are still fixing up parts of the home. All I can say is - any total remodel can be completed in a snap if you have an unlimited budget. But for us, we had neither the budget nor the time to do everything at once. Not to mention the irony of designing spaces and weddings - you kinda end up neglecting your own pad! We got the most important stuff out of the way before Natalie arrived: ripped off the wall-to-wall green shag carpet all over the house and replaced it with blonde hardwood ( all done by our uncle Romy!), replaced cabinets in the kitchen, painted walls, replaced appliances and windows...etc.
Just like every other newlywed out there, it was a bit hard finding our "couple style" or marrying two totally different aesthetics. I'm happy to say that after 5 years of marriage we have figured it out ( or maybe hubby has just learned to let me take the reigns!). This house was filled with outdated furniture from top to bottom - left untouched from the early 80's retro glam era. To be honest, I hated it all. I wanted to throw everything away and start from scratch. But, I realized certain things had way too much sentimental value for my hubby and we compromised and kept a few. I have not only learned to like some things that used to make me cringe - I really love them now. Sometimes you just need to mix things up with some fresher pieces to see its potential. I'm actually sad thinking about the items we sold or donated. Most would have been so on-trend right now (aka brass anyone?). If we only had a huge storage space to keep all the "what ifs and "maybes".
Over the years I have been collecting bargain finds I'd come across at Target, Home Goods, flea markets, thrift stores, Craigslist, and consignment shops. I prefer buying what I love over time, rather than instantly decorating a space with one trip to Ikea. This house is pretty big for our needs (at the moment) - 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 2 living spaces. It's got a very open plan considering its age. There is no formal dining room, so our only eat-in space is a nook in between the kitchen and family rooms. Like I said, I will work on a proper before and after post of what this home looked like before all the upgrades, but for now - here is what this nook looked like before and after my current refresh (only revealing a tiny bit since we are still working on the adjacent kitchen!):
Just like every other newlywed out there, it was a bit hard finding our "couple style" or marrying two totally different aesthetics. I'm happy to say that after 5 years of marriage we have figured it out ( or maybe hubby has just learned to let me take the reigns!). This house was filled with outdated furniture from top to bottom - left untouched from the early 80's retro glam era. To be honest, I hated it all. I wanted to throw everything away and start from scratch. But, I realized certain things had way too much sentimental value for my hubby and we compromised and kept a few. I have not only learned to like some things that used to make me cringe - I really love them now. Sometimes you just need to mix things up with some fresher pieces to see its potential. I'm actually sad thinking about the items we sold or donated. Most would have been so on-trend right now (aka brass anyone?). If we only had a huge storage space to keep all the "what ifs and "maybes".
Over the years I have been collecting bargain finds I'd come across at Target, Home Goods, flea markets, thrift stores, Craigslist, and consignment shops. I prefer buying what I love over time, rather than instantly decorating a space with one trip to Ikea. This house is pretty big for our needs (at the moment) - 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 2 living spaces. It's got a very open plan considering its age. There is no formal dining room, so our only eat-in space is a nook in between the kitchen and family rooms. Like I said, I will work on a proper before and after post of what this home looked like before all the upgrades, but for now - here is what this nook looked like before and after my current refresh (only revealing a tiny bit since we are still working on the adjacent kitchen!):
BEFORE
Pardon the iPhone photo. The dining table is vintage and the only piece in this space that we kept in place after the remodel. It was my mother-in-laws and has a lot of sentimental value to my hubby. While it all looks fine, it sort of just ended up neglected and whatever bargain finds I'd collect (ghost chairs, Restoration Hardware chairs, World Market banquet - all on sale of course) ended up here. Since this is the first space I look at when I enter the house, it constantly bugs me. I've been wanting to do four things:
1. Find mid-century modern chairs
2. Change out the rug (this one is super old from Target - first rug I ever bought)
3. Have a custom oval white marble top made to replace the glass, and
4. Update the chandelier (not shown, coming soon I hope!)
Well, I have done 2.5 of all that:
AFTER
The wishbone chairs are amazing reproductions, a Marshall's score. The rug is Threshold from Target - a great affordable alternative to a Beni Ourain rug that I've been lusting for years (it had me at "stain resistant"). And the table got a super bargain update with a white lacquer top from..... Ikea! Yeah, no budget for a custom oval marble top at the moment.
Hubby and I are still debating on whether we like the "lacquer" over the glass. I'm leaning towards the white. However we may just keep both and switch them out depending on our moods ;)! What do you think?
UPDATE: Here's a photo of our newly refreshed chandelier. It was a quick DIY - make sure to check out the post for details.
SHOP THIS LOOK: