Turquoise: To do or NOT to do

So in my perusing of pintrest I have come across the idea of using the color turquoise. Specifically in my laundry/Mud room. And I like the idea, but it also scares me.

I like looking and seeing bold color and pattern choices, and of course I PIN it, but when it comes down to actually doing it in MY house....I'm terrified. So I play it safe, and go with a white or a grey, or some other neutral. But I'm really tempted to do something fun, and I think the laundry room might be a safe place to do that in. 

What do you think? Is this just a trend and I'll hate it in 5 yrs? Or is turquoise a classic that will keep me happy for a long time?

Check out my inspiration post on my Laundry/Mud Room here

Decision: Wood stove and fireplace

For the past two weeks Kyle and I have been trying to choose which wood stove and type we want for the new house. Being residents of the PNW we like our wood stoves and the way they can heat our homes. Especially when we loose power during a wind or snow storm. We had a wood stove in our last home and loved it.

This time around, thanks to good 'ol pintrest I have some ideas how I want this whole area to look. I like the look of a traditional fireplace, but with a wood stove inside. We at first thought to just do a wood insert stove. But the problem is, if something broke (pipe) or the stove just needed replacing (they tend to need that every 15+ years so Kyle says), any stone or tile work around it would have to be ripped out too to remove the stove or access pipe. Kyle gets a scrunchy face with that thought. So a freestanding stove seems easier all around.

The problem though is clearance, obviously you don't want the walls and such catching on fire. So you use "non-combustible" materials like brick and tile, etc. Also the opening has to be so high and so wide. All stoves have difference 'requirements'. For example, one stove said the height opening had to be 84" tall, that's like 7 feet tall, then a mantle and then the TV above that. Um, no that is ridiculous looking tall. We would all be at the chiropractor for neck issues. 

So we found a few stoves that allow us to have a lower height clearance and still achieve this look that we like. 

Ok, the fun part, here is the "look" I'm wanting with the opening 

So cute right?! Our ceilings are vaulted here and the fireplace area would be centered on the peak. And I love a good thick rustic mantle beam like this

I think I'd like to do the surround with some steel, and brick or tile on the inside like this

And these are my stove choices. Which do you like? Look wise of course, because that's what matters.

Decisions, Decisions, and more decisions. I do love it most of the time. 

Inspiration: Windows & Doors

I have never really paid attention to windows. Yes I know there are solid windows, ones with grids, etc. I know you either open them or don't. But now that I am actually having to pick windows for my own home, I didn't realize how many options there are. And then I was of the mind frame they all have to match, but apparently not.


So I thought I knew what I wanted, but then I didn't, and then Sue (MIL) has her ideas which I had never thought of and now my brain feels like mush. For example, we had all our windows being 5 ft in height. She pointed out, well if you have 9ft ceilings, I think they need to be 6ft windows. ohhhhh....that makes sense, shit.


Then there's the issue with I like the "look" of crank windows, because they are more open, non-view obstructing. Kyle hates them due to the fact too many parts to break. Always so rational.


I feel like the only thing I know for certain is the windows will be white...except sometimes I dream of black. But Kyle has vetoed that, so they will be white.


Then there is doors. You can see my original Door post here. Well I had my dream door picked out...but now I'm considering grids. Ok. Then I was for certain my laundry room was going to have a dutch door, but now its not and I forget why. Then I was for sure not going to have a door going to the patio off the dining room, but now I probably am.

Are you keeping track of all this or have I lost you too?

Possible Laudry door option: House of Turquoise.

Possible Front door option- mine will have windows on sides & top

Window wants...don't know if its gonna happen

Window "look" I love.

If you have any tips, suggestions or alcohol to help me with this please speak up! Thanks.

Inspiration: Master Bath

I am actually a little stumped on this one. One minute I like large marble tiles for the flooring, or tile that looks like hardwood. And then there is cabinet color, I like white or I like grey- light or dark. So...I feel I have no real focus yet for this room. I do know I want a pedestal tub, and we will have a walk in shower (no door thing).


Here is the layout of our bathroom:

And here are photos I'm inspired by, again you'll see I'm a little all over the place. What's your favorite?

Inspiration: Master Closet

Oh the master closet, its every girls dream. And every husbands headache. Though I was surprised at how much Kyle did not gripe about the size once it was drawn out. Maybe I'm rubbing off on him. Kyle and I are closet people, in the sense that we don't like dressers and such in our bedroom. We like everything to be in the closet. So we are big "system" people. And we are big slobs. So if we can keep all our mess in a room where we can close the door, perfect.

Some pics of closets I look at are just over the top. I like pretty and functional. But mirrors galore is not my thing. Some of my main wants are: 1) Shoe wall (hellooo!) 2) Jewelry station 3) bench 4) Display hooks.

So this is the layout of our closet. I guesstimated at the measurements. I could be off a foot or so. But its close.

I really like the idea of having a pretty wallpaper, and a fun light/ chandelier. Kyle will hate that.

This closet if from a blog I follow Honey We're Home. I really like her displays and layout.

This closet is from the YHL Show house. I really like what they call the "Vestibule". Its this space between the master bath and closet. We have this space! and So again I want a fun light and this is where I'll place my large full length mirror. 

Love these great door knobs as hooks to display that days outfit. Must have!

 And a shoe wall of course. Not sure if I have enough to fill a wall. But I can quickly fix that.

What are your closet must haves? Do you have a closet system?

Inspiration: Laundry & Mud Room

Never in my youthful dreams did I ever think I would be getting excited about designing a laundry room. That room that becomes the catchall for STUFF when you get home from work and school and everyday activities.

But the truth is I'm not youthful, I'm an adult with mommy dreams. And mommy must have an amazing laundry and mud room to deal with all her family's shit. Can I get an Amen.

My HOUZZ and Pintrest boards have so many configurations of this room it's a little ridiculous. What is the exact perfect flow? How many hooks, baskets, cabinets is just right? There are laundry rooms out there that are the size of my master bedroom. We will not have that, that is silly (secretly I would totally have that). But when I was designing mine, I kept telling Kyle..more sqft, little wider. I'm feeling content with how it looks on paper. And I hope that it will feel just right when the beams go up, otherwise Kyle will just have to fix it.

If you are an avid follower- I know you all are- You will see I have linked to the Sunny Side Up blog a few times. I'm kind of stalking her because I LOVE her style and she's super organized and well she's already done this building thing so why not copy a good thing.

I know my room is 10 ft wide. I am guessing at the exact length, but its roughly 20 ft long.

So these are some of my must have features:

1. Built in laundry baskets.

2. Drying rack

3. Back-pack shoe station

How smart is this! Charging station in cubbies for kids electronics.

 

4. Cute lights

5. Fun upper cabinets

6. Chalkboard wall with the weeks activities, etc. I see this going on the back of the pantry wall

7. Drop off counter. I don't have a pic for this, but you get the idea. Its where when I open that door I can fling my purse, the days mail, etc. Charging station for phone. Pin board above for important notes etc.

The pictures for 1, 2 and 3 are all from the Sunny Side Up Blog. You can see her full laundry room and Mud room tours on her blog.

Tell me about your rooms! What is your favorite feature, or what do you feel is a must have?!

Inspiration: Office

Last weeks INSPIRATION:FLEX ROOM was successful. I'm not sure how this all works but it says 99 of you 'viewed' the post, but only 7 took the survey. I don't understand how all 99 were not tempted to give me their opinion. So 5 of you said the flex room needs to be the Beer/Wine room, 1 vote for craft and 1 vote for gym. Clearly I have to go with such a strong vote for the beer-wine room.

 

I realize this post title says "inspiration: office". I'm getting there.

I post on the YoungHouseLove forums and sometimes I get responses. I posted about the flex room and got some good ideas like:

     Do three things with it - use the banquette and some great old piece of secretary to do a beer and     wine thing, but also put in a long counter and storage for homework / crafting on the entry wall - I might make that wall like 54" high so the space was more connected to the foyer . . a place where you could set up a romantic dinner for two at a round table at the banquette, but a place where happy hour can happen before you entertain . . but day to day, where kids do homework, where you might craft (get a wall of storage that looks good and not kitchen-y, a banquette in the far corner under the window with a small round table, and some great vintage looking piece full of wine and cocktail serving stuff ..-LibraDesignEye

     I'm not sure about your lifestyle, but for me, an extra "flex" room would immediately become a place for my overstuffed, extra wide chair, matching ottoman, console desk, maybe a live (or faux) plant, and a pile of books (actually, I only read kindle, so make that a USB charging station). I would call it "The Reading Room" and it would be super fancy and people would assume I am cultured and magnificent (instead of overly romantic and famished for a new-cheesy-Harlequin-read). But maybe that's just me. What are the dimensions of this room? Are you open to knocking down the wall between the door and the room, thereby making it into a larger foyer area-- or leaving it partitioned off and creating an area for shoe, coat storage. Maybe add a bench and some hooks? I guess it all depends on the dimensions of the room-- I love the idea of a study there. In the past, I'm sure it was meant as a formal dining area or formal living area-- somewhere visitors got to sit, where no living actually took place. -MrsG_103.

So I thought about the survey, and my lovely responders and here is what I decided: I am going to make the FLEX room the entertaining/wine/beer room. But I really like MrsG and her overstuffed chair. I can read my racy books while drinking a glass of wine. Its a win-win. The room is 12-6x14 (?) so I think I can make all that work.

So now this office room across the way.....

NOTE: The door to the office might get moved to the living room side....undecided.

 

In my head and on my idea boards I had this lovely single desk office picked out. So classy. But Kyle was like...that is so not us. And I agree. So I went back to my flex room idea and decided this will be our office/craft area. And this is my inspiration picture:

And BONUS I found a blog where someone built this exact center table. So that is flagged.

 

And I really want this as the office door:

Kyle said he likes more cabs and counter for his office needs and kids studying. I agree, this is a room for the whole family to use. So essentially I'm getting 2 out of the 3 rooms I wanted.  I'm thinking I can make a gym space in the bonus room. Can we say CAKE AND ICE CREAM TOO! something will burst this bubble I'm sure of it. But I'll take it for now.

So if you'd like to fantasize with me, about a pretty single office, here is a picture.

 

You can also check out my HOUZZ office board for more pics. 

Inspiration: Flex Room

So after you enter the foyer, there is a room to the right. I'm calling it the flex room for now. One, because I'm not sure exactly what it will be. To visualize what I'm talking about here is a pic:

Click here to see the entire floor plan

Right now it's drawn where the room is just open. We are probably (for Truss reasons) going to extend that kitchen wall out, and we can make it have a door. Lots of ideas have crossed my mind for what to do with this space. 1) Craft room and study room for kiddos; 2) home gym; 3) entertaining room aka Beer & Wine room. All are great options I think. It's just picking which one, becase let's be honest I can't have them all. So I'm going to break down my ideas for each option and then you get to take a SURVEY!!! and tell me what you would do with the space. I know you missed the survey's.

Option 1: Craft Room/Study Room

I'm not a super crafty person...but I could be more if I had a special room. Right. I love wrapping paper and ribbon, and I have a nice collection. It's always been stored in that extra closet, and the ribbons fall down on my face when I try to grab one. So If I had a wall and counter dedicated to this that would be awesome. I have attempted scrapbooking, and I have some nice papers and other scrappy stuff. And If I again had a counter and space to do this in and be organized perhaps I would do it more. I do like to sew and I recovered a chair in our living room. Its actually not half bad, I just haven't finished the ottoman. So this would be a space I could do little DIY projects with sewing. See, endless option. Plus I do like the idea of having the family computer in a corner, with a desk for the kids to have a study space. I think seeing what the kids are doing on the computer is important, especailly as they get older (porn surfing, BOYS!) It happens people. By then who knows what the computer world will look like and they'll have screens installed in their backpacks or something.

   

Option 2: Home Gym

I surely would work out ALL THEM TIME if I had a gym right. Well, I would like to think I would. And it would be something Kyle and I could do together. I live out in an area where there is no local gym down the street. To have a membership to a gym is silly for me becasue it would be a 20min drive to and from, and well I don't have 40min I'm willing to give up for driving. And I have I job I work at from 730a-5p so there isn't daytime for squeezing that in. Also, I think if we had a gym it would encourage the kids to exercise. They are getting older and starting sports so they will hopefully see the benefits of that.

  

Option 3: Beer & Wine room

This was my first idea for the space when I considered that wall more open. I thought it would flow nicely to be a space you could wonder into while entertaining. And, that it's kind of off the kitchen. I liked the idea of a corner seating area and then a wall of cabs with fridges for wine and beer. Or a keg fridge for Kyle. My MIL says this is encouraging alcoholism. I say we just like to entertain. And when we had our own home we did.

So those are my options. Whats a girl to choose?! Do you have any of these spaces in your house? Do they get used? Which option just makes sense? Take my survey and tell me! *click NEXT to submit survey.
**As per the promise I made in Monday's post to update you regarding Kyle's meeting with the county- Kyle meet with the permit office Wednesday, and he only has to fix 2 little drawing things. Other than that they said it looks good to go. He planned a meeting with them next Wednesday to submit the whole thing! #miracle. This might be really happening.  



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