We have driven up north of us and looked at possible locations for years.  I realize that sounds ridiculous, but things have happened each time we were considering that kept us where we were at and as the saying goes- “All in good time.”

With all of our moves, things have just felt right.  This move was a little different for me because it’s the first time I have moved with kids and that added so many emotions to manage that I have definitely been overwhelmed! But I planned out the best ways to get them settled in as quickly as possible, which I will share soon to maybe help others.

So blah blah blah… you want to see pictures, right?! Well today I am going to show you some bare bones pictures and then a vision board of where I’m hoping to take this new home.  It was a spec home, which means the builder built it in a new neighborhood to get the ball rolling and when we found it, it was nearly completed.  So I didn’t pick any of the finishes in this home but I do really love them because I wanted neutral and they did a great job of making it all very simple and classic.  But y’all know I love an old feel so my challenge will be adding in my own details to knock down a bit of the “shiny new” and make it feel like us!

Top of the list of what sold us on this property was that it was on a half acre and backed to woods.  The view out of the back of the house is priceless and with HUGE windows and sliding glass doors, I could just sit and stare out back all day long! (iPhone pics for the win here)

We back to a small creek and woods- more privacy than we have ever had! And still in a neighborhood with a school in it.  So you can see in the above picture of the back of the house the windows.  Those are out family room, kitchen/dining, and master bedroom and above is the playroom.

So let’s start in the kitchen! These photos were taken while work was still finishing up so there is still paper over the hardwood floors.  The kitchen opens to a 12×14 dining area and it is the only dining space in the house- no formal dining room which was fine for us as we only used it a couple times a year:)

So much light! And more storage than I could have ever dreamed of as I used to have to keep pots and some pans out on my stove in the old house because there was simply no where to put them! I have a lot of ideas for that dining space but am still playing around with it all.  I need to live in the space for a bit- I will say though that my oriental rug from the old family room has been put down in the dining space and I looooovveee it in there!

Next up is the family room- super simple but I love how the fireplace is grand and while the tiles are a little more modern than I am, the woodwork contrasts it enough to bring in some traditional.

The sliding glass doors out of the family room are my favorite.  It will be indoor/outdoor living here for sure! (there might be a pool post coming soon!)

Off of the kitchen is a nice nook that I will make family planning central! And I love that the granite is carried over to it.  Such a nice neutral.

The playroom upstairs also has the beautiful views and large windows…

And a cute little barn door leads to a fun media room that will remain empty until my husband can’t stand it and breaks down and gets a screen for in there:)

And the last spot on this first tour is the master bedroom which is where the final gorgeous windows are.  I have so many ideas for this room that I really need to start narrowing it down!

This has been an exciting, albeit bittersweet, move for our family! But we aren’t too far from where we were and plan on forcing our sweet neighbors to come see us often.  The boys are adjusting and we are excited to meet some new friends and explore the beautiful trails and ponds around us… I sang the Green Acres theme song the other day and it fell on deaf ears around here but I thought I was funny and clever so it’s good to know that some things don’t change

And here is your first sneak peek and my first stab at where this new home will go decor wise… lots of color and bringing the outdoors in…

Can’t wait to share this journey with y’all! First up will be figuring out widow coverings because while I love the view, we also need some privacy options and to block some of this Texas sun sometimes too! What would y’all do? Plantation shutters, curtains, blinds, nothing?

xoxo

B

The post New Home: Time to Dream appeared first on Windgate Lane.

The reality that my boys are getting older is not easy for me.  I will always call them my babies and they will always roll their eyes, but I don’t care;)  But the playroom is needing to evolve as they do so I’ve been working on some inspiration!

Out with the ‘baby’ toys and in with the cool games and legos and of course a basketball hoop!  And let’s not forget a couch that can withstand the two of them and their friends… and them growing at a ridiculous rate.

I am going for a comfortable feel with grays, blues, and some orange and just enough design to make this designer Momma happy too!

I am also working under my BossHog/CFO so we all know I gotta pinch my pennies!  But you also know he wants to be able to lay on that couch in comfort while they all play video games too.

The wallpaper is the biggest splurge, but I am pretty much obsessed with it and it comes in removable sheets which will make doing just the nook super easy! It is by Hygge and West and is called DayDream in Orange.

The couch I am still pondering but this one at Nebraska Furniture Mart looks nice and the price can’t be beat!

The HOME Pillow is from Eleventh Avenue and is available in any state and for $12!

I need to do a major toy purge in there before any make over can take place, but I’m excited to put some new elements into the room.

And you can Shop the List of other Sources below!

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My husband and boys, bless their hearts, look at a pillow or blanket on the couch as an invitation to throw said pillow or blanket on the floor.  Surely I am not alone in my battle to keep a pretty throw pillow on the couch! But I am outnumbered… so I decided that at least I could try to enforce a place to throw them off too… I know… but maybe it will work once or twice.

I decided a rolling basket would be great for a multitude of things like toys, etc, even if the pillow plan doesn’t pan out.  But wasn’t finding what I wanted.  And decided to make my own.

I found this plant stand at Ikea that has wheels that attach easily to it- and then found this basket at Walmart that has a board in the bottom so I knew I could easily attach them together.

Plant Stand: $10

Basket: $11

I simply attached the wheels (easiest Ikea assembly ever) and then screwed 4 small screw through the bottom of the basket into the plant stand!

I have to say- I haven’t been in Walmart for awhile and I was pretty impressed with several of the Better Homes and Gardens products I saw- I’m thinking of buying one of their lamps as well- and great prices!

I kind of want to put everything on wheels now, but since my 5yr old already tried to get in the basket and he is not a small child… I’m rethinking having too many things that could be construed as a vehicle of any kind.

Hope you are having a great day!

xoxo

B

Linking to:

Think and Make Thursday Party

The post DIY Rolling Basket appeared first on Windgate Lane.

I had just completed my 5 Days/ 5 Rooms Challenge and was ready to sleep for the next 10 Days in One Room!

And then this past weekend I attended an amazing conference in Atlanta, called Haven, which I will give all the details about soon:) Awesome time- awesome peeps, awesome tools, learned a ton that I can’t wait to share with y’all!

But today I want to recap the projects and let you in on some more details.

Day 1 was the Gallery Wall in my Playroom.

This looks simple enough- but involved painting the wall (Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter) and then hanging these blasted Ikea frames.  Such a love/ hate relationship with them- LOVE the price and look, HATE hanging them with their wires across the back.

Yes, I have seen different tutorials on making it easier, but I just decided to wing it and then tighten or loosen the wires to make sure they were all even.

Day 2 was the Gallery Wall around my tv in my master bedroom.

Keep in mind that most of these projects involved hanging things… if you are a psychologist you might read into that and think that I put off things that have to be hung on walls… you would be right!

I will have a DIY horse graphic up for you later this week~

Due to the walls in our house being made from cottage cheese and also as level as well… something really not level, it is a drive you to drink job!

But I always remind myself that worst case scenario is having to fill a little hole in the wall- and to bring down my stress a bit- I had my 3M filler and paint ready to go incase that happened.  and it may have happened… twice.

Day 3 was my oldest son’s new shelves over his dresser.

By utilizing more of the vertical space- we were able to remove his bookshelves on the other wall and now he has so much more space in there! Which, let’s face it- boy’s just want space to run!

Day 4 moved into my little boy’s room and was a closet clean up and organization and then a new DIY valance.

This shoe holder turned daily clothes planner is really more useful for me during school- but he loves it already and is getting us in a good habit.

This valance- which I will be sharing a tutorial on later this week- was so simple and replaced one that was thrown together too quickly and just kept falling down all the time!

Day 5 was making our family room look a bit more summery! I have been collecting these vases sporadically and finally got enough to have two pretty groupings on top of our entertainment center.

I love all of the blue and green tones in them- makes me long for the ocean!

And then a summer wreath for our front door completed the 5 Days of Chaos!

I already had this drift wood wreath from Hobby Lobby and when I saw this ribbon there- I knew the two together would be awesome, yet simple.

I hope you enjoyed and stay tuned for another organizational challenge coming up soon!
xoxo
B

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Because we are Broncos fans, the John Elway #7 is a big fave- my Mom is smiling down on that one:)

And yes, you may be getting a sneak peak at some striped walls there too! Will share that tutorial soon enough!
I hope y’all have a great day!!
xoxo
B

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I’m a bit obsessed… and blessed that Velvet Finishes, a fabulous paint company out of Atlanta, sent me some of their gorgeous, no prime, no sand paints to make my green dresser a reality!

I have about 8000 projects I am imagining with all of the gorgeous colors they have and will be show casing a few more in the next couple of weeks- but let’s start with this gorgeous green lady, shall we?!
She came to me pretty dinged and a dull off white- but she is dull no more! I chose the Baroque Green from Velvet Finishes and it is a gorgeous emerald, kelly green and needs to be everywhere!
It went on smooth and took a few coats as all deep colors do- but no sanding, no priming and because this was an older piece of furniture, I wanted it to look a bit uneven in places.  Perfect was not the plan, and if you can’t tell, I couldn’t be happier with this baby!
Here is the sad before…

Without further ado… My Green Lady…

After about 2 and a half coats of paint, I simply used gold rub and buff and a gold leaf pen on all of the pretty details- those two products are amazing!
Thank you again Velvet Finishes!

I hope everyone has an amazing weekend!
xoxo
B

Linking to:
East Coast Creative
The Dedicated House

Featured at:
Furniture Flippin’

The post Green fingers, green hair, green dresser Don’t Care! appeared first on Windgate Lane.

 

I also added some fun new hardware from Hobby Lobby to his dresser to tie in to the brass nail heads on the chair…
Old…                               and New!

Such a sweet boy… by bubba enjoying his space…

I am using a larger picture ledge frame in my older son’s room as well and I can’t wait to show you that project!
Hope your weeks is amazing!
xoxo
B

Linking to:
Twirl and Take a Bow

The post Books Books Everywhere! A Reading Nook~ appeared first on Windgate Lane.

But his room needed some sprucing up and it all started with a map! I was in love with the huge wall map canvas at Ikea but not in love with the price tag.  So that got me thinking, where else could I find a large map? Craigslist of course! And it didn’t fail me- I found a listing for a large 1950’s USA school pull down map…. squeal! I kept my cool and called and offered $75 on his $100 listing and he flat out shot me down and said he would not accept offers… tear.  That tear was only half way down my cheek when he called back to say that he changed his mind and would take it! (His wife told him to do it… smart lady:)

I did my happy dance and raced over to get it and it was beautiful!! The colors were amazing and just the character of it was so fun.  It inspired me to paint his small blue stripes and his clock an orangy red color and I got him a new lamp shade.  It’s amazing the difference it made in his room.   Such small things but I think it makes it all come together!

Picture mania…

These cog looking things, I found at Hobby Lobby and just to put you all at ease, they are plastic and hung up with a tac! I am crazy, but not that crazy! It’s a little boy’s room!  And you can see the start of the orange stripes which I will share more about tomorrow…

The post Give the Baby the World! Ok, a Map! appeared first on Windgate Lane.

Of course we all know how many small toys and books, and blocks, etc., etc… littles have.  It just becomes never ending sometimes- so I tried to pick those types of toys and start grouping them together.

And I also wanted to divide the room into some separate zones- art, reading, blocks, kitchen, and tool bench.
So- without further ado here are the After pics! So much fun- I hope they love it- just need to finish hanging their pencil/ crayon cups and the curtains- and do the labels for the different bins.
I have to say my favorite part is the reading nook, with the big, green leaf hanging overhead:)

The little bags on the wall above the tool bench are from Ikea and they are so durable and hang so easily from just some command hooks- I have found with my little guys that sometimes just being able to throw some toys in a bag seems easier.

Such a fun project!

Hope you are having a great day!
xoxo

B

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To this (and you can read all about it here)

That was a first major step in bringing in the Maroon and Brown and animal print!
Today I am going to show you some of the smaller touches that I brought into the room to add a personal touch and also the inspiration that I found prior to starting the Room to help give the homeowner an idea of where my crazy mind was going!

Got most of these accessories at HomeGoods… gottta love it… isn’t the inside of this lampshade to die for!?! and at $40… Shut the Front Door!!

Assorted boxes to let little fingers put little treasures in with paints and fabrics to customize them!

a little whimsy with this oversized alarm clock… and fabric inspirations with our room colors- for recovering existing couch pillows

to be honest I would have bought this no matter what I was doing in this room! So awesome- and what you can’t totally see is that it is hanging with a chain- so my plan is to hang it from the ceiling with a plant hook over the reading nook:)

And an affordable rug (8×10) in either a zebra or giraffe print like this one…

So- that was the long version of my mood board.
and today’s sneak peak will be the cute boxes and Read sign that I coordinated and made to place in the reading nook area- basically I just painted them and stenciled either numbers or letters on them- and the two zebra print ones were mod podged with fabric before the stencil.  The Read sign with stars on it was painted and then wood glued to a scrap piece of wood and then I mod podged over the whole thing to give it a nice shine-

Coming right along!
xoxo
B

Linking up to:
Savvy Southern Style
Thrifty Decorating
Simple Home Life
Remodelaholic
Social Salutations
Beneath My Heart

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