Inspiration: Living Room

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I Figured I would focus on this room next, since its in the main area of the Kitchen and dining too. We have a large open concept as you will be able to see from the layout on the floor plan page.  So everything needs to flow together well. Not sure how I will pull that off, but I'm gonna try. Again our walls/ceiling will be 9ft and vaulted. So it'll have a nice big feel. I've seen pictures with a big lighting piece in the middle...and I like that sometimes. Kyle will most likely want to just go with can lights, and I'm ok with that too. My "not gonna budge" platform is pedants above the island in the kitchen. So I could spend more there if I don't get a big light above the living room.  Also, there will be a big light hanging down in the entry way, and you will see that from the LR. So I don't want to over-do it (can't belived I said that!)

One feature that Kyle and I agree on is the patio slider. We were originally going with a 16'w x 8'h slider. Kyle consulted with some GC's he works with and they don't love them. They said for some reason the 16' tend to have leak issues, and if you go down to the 12' they just haven't seen that happen. So we were like "eh, 12' works." So it will be a 4-panel 12' slider. Like this, except no upper windows on ours, these are most likely 10ft walls/ceiling:

Now, as far as furniture goes, I'm all over the place I feel. I think I really want a sectional couch. This way a lot of people can sit in the LR, its comfy, etc. I also like chairs with fun patterns and a rustic/industrial sort of coffee table. I don't feel I'll need lamps, or a bunch of tables for knick knacks- not my thing. But side tables are good for beverages.

So I am a visual person. And I have found it hard to find pictures of living rooms without a fireplace as the main focal point. We will just have a wall with a TV mounted on it. Might do a built-in cabinet, might not. The wall is not a full wall, there will be an opening to go to the hall to the kids rooms. This one picture seems to be an exact replica of what we'll have, just flip flopped (opening to hall on left, not right)

Okay, now side point- What is the story with all this white boards/planks for walls and ceiling?! I get that its part of the farmhouse look. But I just don't think I can make that design commitment. All I can think about is how 30 years ago cedar/wood paneling was big, and now it looks horrific. And in every remodel show people are ripping that off the walls. So would I be doing that with the white boards? HELP! What do you like in your living room? Is it all about comfort? Style? or just a hodge podge of sutff?

 



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2 months! and still boring

Things are boring because everything seems the same! The well drilling truck is still sitting there. He drilled for a few hours over 2 days. Then had a vacation planned. Geez, doesn't he know I'm dying for some progress here?! So hopefully today or tomorrow we'll hit water and be done with that. Until I have to see the bill and write the check, scary.

Kyle finally finished the drawings and gave me the OK to have copies made. So I'm doing that today so we can get copies to the Truss company. Also, pass a copy on so we can get the permits started. September sounds like its going to be super expensive. Our house has turned out a little bigger than we planned. Which means more $$.  We talked about it and feel that there's nothing we want to change, and if thats the sqft it came out to be, well we will just bite the bullet and do it. Grand total:4054 sqft. The main level is 3092 sqft and the bonus room is 962 sqft. We will most likely build with the bonus unfisished at first. Saves money in the permit process and when the county assess the hosue for taxes purposes. Then we'll finsih the bonus room after we move in, if we have any money left! :-) 

As far as life goes on the Camus compound its been busy. Ellie has cheer M T and Th. So we aren't home until 8.  I had book club Tuesday night, love catching up with the girls. Our book this month was The Vactioners. It was a quick light read. We had a breif discussion about it, but we are really bad at staying focused and end up discussing personal stories that relate...which I love.

Thursday was a fun day. Ellie and I both got to go to the salon and get haircuts. A little bonding time. Then we came home and I was asking Sue how her interview went (interviewed for a new para job at another elementary school). Of course she was saying "I don't know, it was weird and akward. I don't know what they thought" blah blah blah. As she's telling me all this, the phone rings, and shes like "its the school!!" They offered her the job of course. She was so funny, jumping and sqealing. So we congratulated her and ran out the door for Ellie to go cheer at a scrimmage match.

Saturday was Kyle and I's 11 year wedding anniversary, and honestly we did nothing. He was sweet and told me "happy anniversary" about 20 times. It was just too crazy to plan something. He had 2-a-day football practice, I had to go to a cousins bridal shower. So I'll just save that "did nothing" in my back pocket for something. 

Sunday was a fun and busy day. We woke up early that morning. Ellie asked "what day is it?" I replied Sunday, so shes asks "why do I have to be up so early?!" Cheer Ellie, always cheer. Sunday was the league's jamboree. And Ellie was schedule to cheer at 9, but we had to be there at 8.  So we scrambled and ran out the door. We spent the morning watching her, then hit Costco for some dog food. I got out of there only spending $45! That never happens. Must have been because Kyle was with me.  

We went home for the day and I spent a few hours cleaning Ellie's closet and drawers. We are going school shopping Friday and I needed to see what still fits and what does she really need. Kyle and my BIL Josh began the process outside of pressing apples to make hard apple cider. This was an all day process of course. But they enjoyed it. It is so messy, and luckily the bees weren't out really. Papa Ron waited for high tide then took the kiddos out on the boat to go set out a crab pot. They weren't sure what to think of that and got on the boat reluctantly. They were gone about 2 hours and came back with huge smiles on their faces. They caught 12 crabs! They thought that was so cool.

We ended the weekend tired but lots of fun times. My goal this week house wise is to 1) get copies made; 2) get new bid for windows- since the house has changed from the last bid. 3) stay on top of kyle to get permits started! 4) get some water in that well. 

Inspiration: Dining Room

So last Thursdays inspiration post focused on the kitchen, I though this week I would share the dining room since they are connected. As you read last week, I will have a black and white kitchen primarily. And I like the industrial pendants, and barstools. So with my dining room part of me was thinking to soften that look a little, and then I also like the farmhouse looks too. For me the big investment should be the table. Something I will love and will last through style changes. Chairs are a huge desgin factor, you can add color texture and everything between with chairs. Chairs also get stained and worn, so I have to get something that will possibly be changed 5 years later. Here's my top 3 looks so far:

As you can see, I like the fabric chairs and a different chair for the ends. Such a defining seat. A Dining room should feel comfotable and inviting, with a touch of WOW. For me anyways. Also, I want a kickass light. Statment piect. I really like the idea of a bench too at the table, along the backside. Kyle hates it, says how will people get in and out easily. I don't think of that, just that it looks cute. Idea #2 has a bench with it:

What's funny, I'm really curious to see if we ever eat in it! We had a "nook" in our last house with a small 4 person round table. We probably ate at it a dozen times the whole 9 years we lived there. We are a bar family, always up at the counter eating. But there is definetly a purpose for a dining room and if this is going to be our forever home I will eventually be hosting Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, and you need a table for that. Thats what I tell Kyle anyway.

Thoughts? How do you like your dining room styled?

View my enitre dining room inspirations on HOUZZ.

7 week itch

Yes week 7 of our new lifestyle. And whats happened.....Monday morning began with discovering that Tubbs our dog had tangled with a porcupine in the night. He had 6 or so quills in his lip. So Kyle was kind enough to pull them out. Let's hope Tubbs has learned his lesson.  Ellie also started cheer practice with TCYFL. Oh how it keeps us busy, but oh how she loves it so much. It was like 97 degrees that day, and then clouds rolled in making it muggy. We are Washingtonians, we don't do muggy. I had a maxi dress on, and it was still too heavy. I'm not sure who had it worse at practice, the moms sitting on the sidelines watching, or the girls jumping around. Everyone looked gross. So I worked all day, then got to go sit in the sauna outside for 2 hrs. The plus to this: I didn't have to cook dinner OR clean the kitchen after family dinner! A plate was waiting for us when we got home. Ellie has practice M W and Th nights, so I'm liking this no cooking or cleaning scenerio. Oh we had to stop by the old house to pick up a package that accidentally got delivered there. So Ellie's with me and gets out of the car too, she sees on the porch this bicycle planter thing. Well appearantly she had got it for me last year on mothers day (totally forgot), and I had left it behind for the new owners to plant something in. She was mortified "MOM! I got that for you!" So I said, oh really well...I guess we can take it back. So I awkwardly took this planter off the new owners porch, that was mine..but now isn't. Not sure what the rules are on that. (Sorry Chantelle!) Oh, and as we left Breve was there laying on the sidewalk. He looked good, we petted him and told him how much we miss him. He did not care.

Tuesday was Miss Ellie's 8th birthday! I can not believe how old she is. Every year I lay in bed and make Kyle listen to me remeber going into labor. And us having no idea what we were getting into. Ellie woke up and asked for a bagel with cream cheese for her bday breakfast...OK. Then I called her at 10:43am to tell her "officially" happy birthday. That night she had cheer again, and now it was raining..so still muggy but not as hot. The cheer girls sang her happy bday, and she ate cookies all the way home that Sunny (alternate mom/nanny) made her. We ran home, grabbed Peyton and headed to my parents for the kiddos to have a sleepover. Nana made her her favorite dinner of Chicken and Dumplings. I than went back to the compound, where Sue had ordered a new Fax machine/Printer and I was asked to install it. Sue was at Bunco (I love bunco BTW) so I kicked Ron out of the office, he was not a good assistant. He was as bad as Peyton, kept moving everything I was taking out of the box...I have a method! So, I spent the next hour hooking up this new wireless contraption, and did so successfully.  I asked if this covered my rent for the month, the reply was barely!

Miss Ellie August 12, 2006

 

Wednesday was a mellow day. No cheer that day, and no where officially to be. Peyton and Kyle went down to the Columbia River to go Salmon fishing with Ron and Sue. So Ellie and I had the entire house to oursleves! I splurged and got us our favorite pizza from Brewery City Pizza- Cheese with Asiago sauce. We ate the whole thing. It was so good.

Thursdays adventrue involved a deer. While Ellie and I were at cheer practice, Karlye came over to the main house to use the grill for dinner. As she's outside grilling, she notices a deer laying in the grass in the side yard. Obvisously shes intriqued by the fact the deer is just laying in the yard. Upon further examination she discovers its dead. Yes, just appearently keeled over and died in the yard. Josh looked it over, no gun wounds, or vehicle wounds. So either it had a heart attack or something. Anyone ever heard of something similar? Anyway, coudln't leave it there, so he drug it off with the 4-wheeler.

Ellie and I had the house for 2 nights to ourselves. I made sure to clean up Friday so my laziness wasn't so obvious. I was watching Bailey for the day, and Ellie had her bday party at painted plate.
It was a little busy. First, I completely spaced and in my head was thinking it was Saturday, so being downtown and parking I didn't pay the meter and got a nice $15 parking ticket. Oopps. After the party I was craving some nuts, so we went to Farmers market. I was just "running in" so I carried Bailey in with me. OMG, there was the whole stinking family in front of me sampling every signle nut the lady had. "oh this one is spicy, oh this one is sweet, blah blah blah". I was like I know what I want and I"m holding a 30lb baby, HURRY IT UP! I swear we were there 20 minutes waiting for all of them to decide which nuts they wanted. Of course when I get up there, Bailey immediately knocked a box off nuts over...yeah. I forget babies can do that. I got my large bag of coconut-lime almonds and was happy to escape.

We finally made it home, and to my surprise the well drilling truck was sitting on our property!!! YEAH!!! finally. No drilling was actually taking place I learned, but they are starting that today. My estimate is $12k for this. This will be our first major expense, in a long line of expenses I'm sure. We may not have a house yet...but we will have water!

Kyle finished most of the exterior drawings this weekend. Tried to take some pics to show you guys. He says he has ONE more to do and promises it'll be ready to send to the engineer tomorrow. Let's get this show on the road! So this top picture here is the front of the house. I like the look of two story's but ours is not a 2-story. So, this large dormer will have windows that are open inside, high ceiling thing. Does that make sense?

View of Garage/Bonus room. That little door in the middle goes into the laundry room.

Inspriation: Kitchen

So on Thursdays I'm going to start doing house inspirations posts. This is a house building blog, in addition to document our living arrangements. I'll break it down by rooms, and I welcome all feedback.

The area of my main focus has been the kitchen. The cabinets, its all I ever talk about right?! My want is to have a black and white kitchen. To me, thats a classic. I can change the bar stools, I can add color with bowls and accessorys, but the staple of black and white will always be the backdrop. Seems easy. The idea is...now its which cabinets, which countertops even! ugh. So here are the photos that are inspring me now...until I find one I like better.

This is the pic that started the black and white idea. This kitchen is more modern than what i'm thinking. But overall, color and lights, is what I like. 

But of course there are other photos..with different things I like with rustic touches.

Beyond color is also the details. I like the shaker cabinet look the best. I don't want too many grooves. Also, function. Subway backsplash is a must, as well as super fabulous bar stools.

And then countertops. Whats a girl to choose. I really like the idea of Absolute black honed granite for the white perimeter cabinets. I hear those who hate black..always looks dirty. Then when it comes to the island, I just don't know. Marble is too pourous. I don't want just plain white. But if it has movement it has to be just right, becasue there will be a seam. Such hard decisions. And there are pros and cons to them all. I wish one would jump out and have a flashing light saying "I'm the perfect top!" That would be too easy though. 

And to top it all off, literally, is height. Do I have the cabs go to the ceiling with molding? Or Stagger? Or just leave space? My ceilings are 9ft...so either way works, just depends on how much $$ we want to spend.

To see all my kitchen ideas, because there are a lot, check out my HOUZZ Kitchen idea book as well as my Pintrest Future Camus Street Home.

2 weeks and nothing crazy

I'm feeling a little pressure. Several of you have said how you love my stories, so funny, etc. Well I think this post might be a little boring. Something funny may have happened, but its all a blur.

So last Monday, my typical posting day, the WHOLE Camus clan was camping- with no cell service! So no post was written, so let me try to remember what happened the week before that. Its sad, my memory is getting terrible, I might need to carry around a little notebook.

Okay, so that week, the last week of July, whatever funny story may have happened in the Camus house I have totally forgotten. So nothing too dramatic must have happened or I'd remember. The highlight of the week... BEYONCE! Yes, my siblings and I, oh and Nicole all went to see Beyonce and Jay Z at Safeco field. It was amazeballs. My life dream is to dress and dance like Beyonce everyday. We started the evening at this Cajun-Louisana restaurant, Marcela's Creole Cookery. OMG, my mouth waters just thinking about it. It was SO good. I literally licked the plate. I had a blackened Chicken creole creme pasta (Calories: 1 million). It was the best thing ever. And to top it off, a Hurricane beverage. I must take Kyle back there, it was just so delicious. So if you are headed to a Mariners game, or Seahawks, its just a few blocks from the fields and is worth it. Then you can walk it off headed to the game.

   

House status this week: Drawing and drawing and drawing.

So last week, August 4, the whole family went camping. There is property in Montesano, WA that has been in Kyle's family for like 100 years on the Wynoochee River. There's 10 acres, no electricity and no cell service. Everyone brings their trailers and RVs, I bring my tent. Yes I am a true camper and tent it. I don't mind it actually. Though I totally use everyone elses fridges. I was good and did not use their bathrooms, I didn't want to get blamed for filling their tanks. So I used the two-seater out house. Never know if you need to take a friend with you. The weather was perfect. I layed out and got too much sun, everyday. We walked up to the waterfall, this place in the river where the water falls over some rocks, we float the tubes over it and float around in this whirlpool for an hour or so, then float down the river back to camp. I ate way too much. It was nice and now I'm back to the grind. We had a little family bday party for Ellie, who turns 8 tomorrow! Crazy. Aunt Karlye made her a special "camping" cake. It's was fabulous.

Also, Peyton finally ditched his training wheels on his bike. It took a whole 2 mintues and he was flying around the camp. Uncle Brandon also brought up some little quads, and he was flying around on that too. Makes me so nervous, but of course he loved it.

 

And yep that's it. Like I said nothing too exciting. Kyle is pretty much done drawing the exterior and I hope that we are able to ship the newly drawn plans off to the engineer this week. The discussion has been all about: dormers or shed dormers...two, three, one big one, etc. I think we made a decision.  Kyle did start clearing the site on the property. It looks really open and there is a huge brush pile to burn. That ought to be interesting.

Oh and he's found yet another cabinet place for me to go get a bid from. Seriously, this cab thing will kill me or make me stronger. Right now just having plywood boxes is really appealing.