Home Tour
Well this has been a long time coming! The way I figure, our house will never be as pristine as it is right now (now that we will have a puppy to muck it up in TWO DAYS), so I whipped out my camera and went to town.
Our style is very much modern, mid-century, minimal. We like subtle accents of wood and plant life amidst our greys and blues and greens. I shared this photo on Instagram a while ago, and it sums up the aesthetic we go for pretty well.
A little about our casa:
- 1,300 sq. ft.
- Split level - kitchen, dining, living are downstairs, and bedrooms and bathrooms are up
- 3 bedrooms
- 2 bathrooms
- No basement - just a crawlspace
- Laundry located in the garage
- 2 car garage
- Built in 1990
Below, keep an eye out for the links to each room's individual posts where you'll find some before and after photos (I'll be going back and updating the photos for those posts soon). Every inch of our home has been updated and the kitchen was completely gutted a few months ago. Without further ado, let me walk you through our home!
Entryway and Living Room
Our entryway was our most recent project. We picked up those black shoe containers at IKEA and added a stained piece of wood to the top to make it look more finished. It's been an awesome "dumping grounds" of sorts, for our random odds and ends. Our living room is obviously one of the main places we spend time. The coffee and side tables were DIY by Tom, and the rest of the room is pretty minimally decorated. It's bright, clean, and functional. Those floating built-ins have been wonderful for electronic storage. They still need tops to finish them off, and we're on the hunt for a different floor lamp behind the couch, but it's a great living area none the less.
Entryway post
Living room post (coming soon!)
Kitchen and Dining
The kitchen that came with this house was the one major vice for us. We knew we'd have to re-do the whole thing, and about a year later, the task was done... all by US (well, Tom). It's added so much to our lives and we absolutely love using our new kitchen. Hidden storage for brooms or mops is tough in this space, but we've managed to make things work. Also, being a shorty, my handy little step stool/ladder is a must :) We still have to add a backsplash, plus some other minor additions, but overall it's done and we adore it.
Hall and Landing
This wasn't a huge task, but it made such a difference to have the ceilings smoothed out and the walls brightened from dark tan to light grey.
Guest Room
Finding a good shade of green for a room can be tough, but we're pretty happy with this one. It's a calm, soft little retreat for our visitors, and every now and then I'll spend an afternoon working from the bed in here. Just for the change in scenery.
Guest Bathroom
The vanity and upper cabinet color matches the side tables in the guest room... just a little touch to bring the guest spaces together! It's a simple little bathroom but comfortable and functional.
Spare Room aka Wood Room
This room is sort of our floater room. We've had ideas or plans for it in the past, but nothing has really come to fruition. So we use it as an extra guest space. But we're also toying with creating a shared home office! We added the wood wall and feel it adds a neat feature to an otherwise small, boring little room. Maybe you'll see a post on this in the coming months!
Spare room post (coming soon!)
Laundry Room
You know, having the laundry in the garage really doesn't bother me. When our water heater died on us shortly after we moved in, Tom bought and installed a tankless one over in our crawlspace to save room in the garage so he could create this little corner for me. I had no qualms with doing this task in the garage, but I was wishing it felt more sanitary. Husband to the rescue! One of the photos shows how it's in its own little oasis away from the rest of the garage.
Also, I had made that piece of art some time ago, and could never find the right place for it. The words are from Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing (which holds a special place in our relationship) and I finally realized this spot was better than anywhere. Tom made me this little space, but I do all our laundry... so the words are a sweet reminder every time I do this monotonous task each week to remember how blessed I am to love someone so much.
Master Suite
This room is our escape, so the stark white mixed with hints of green life and grey create such a bright place to wake up each morning. We sip our coffee, talk, and get ready for the day together (my desk doubles as a makeup vanity). Our bathroom is the same shade of green as the guest room. We love our suite and will hopefully be updating our furniture in the coming year or so to styles that suit us a bit more.
I hope you all enjoyed the tour! As you can see, we are very much minimalists and find joy in our home's clean, simple aesthetic. It'll be fun to see how this little space of ours might change in the coming months in terms of decor, or with the addition of a giant breed dog. We shall see!
December | 2016
I cannot believe it's 2017! This past year seemed to fly by... was it just me? I know everyone keeps talking about how 2016 was some big dumpster fire, and in some ways I must agree, but in so many others I can't help but wonder if it's what our society chose to focus on that made it so crappy. Frankly, Tom and I had a pretty depressing chapter in our year, but that chapter doesn't make the rest of the year's story a sad ending. I mean, we have a freshly renovated home (I still go ga-ga over our kitchen every time I use it), a puppy to bring home in a few days, fun trips and adventures under our belts, and never ending laughter. In fact, I think I have RBF so many times because my face needs a rest from laughing with my Thomas.
December itself accurately summed up our year, though. It included good food, time with family, new endeavors in our professional lives and in our personal adventures, lots of love, and yes... puppies! Can you guys tell how excited I am about our bernese mountain dog? Because I'm really, REALLY excited. Not to worry, he has a separate Instagram account to house my overload of puppy photos (I'll share the account with you soon). Anyways, here's a summary of what happened this month along with a few photos...
- We got to watch the Christmas concert at our alma mater via live streaming, and had some friends who were actually attending, wave at us. It was a fun way to start the month.
- I participated in The Bloom Workshop's December Instagram photo challenge.
- Tom and I finally bought a Chemex coffee maker and have been using it as our primary brewing method each day.
- We finished our small entryway with some functional storage, a large mirror, and minimal decor. Love it!
- We attended our second Christmas parade in Helen, GA purely for the sake of seeing the bernese mountain dogs that walk it. We saw familiar faces and pups and had a grand ol' time.
- On our way home from the parade, we stopped by what is currently the nearest Culver's (hour drive) for dinner. Lo and behold, just yesterday, we discovered a new one being built only 15 minutes up the road from us. Jesus loves us!
- I did my first photoshoot! Possibly more on the photography topic soon...
by BRC
- We prepped for the puppy (including his GIANT kennel) and I've anxiously awaited his arrival day by day.
- We enjoyed lots of hot, homemade drinks (lattes!) and Christmas cookies.
- To end the month, we spent the holidays in Idaho with all of Tom's family. It was nice to see some snow! And also ride weird motorized animals through a mall.
Cheers to 2017, my friends. May it bring you health, happiness, and if nothing else, a grateful heart for all that is good.
Also, thank you sincerely, sweet readers and followers, for your devotion and support on this little place amidst the great big interwebs. I hope what you find here inspires, lightens, relates, or offers some sort of comfort, escape, or joy to your life. I absolutely love hearing from you and I'd love to know if there's anything in particular you'd like to see more of in the new year. Comment below, on Facebook, Instagram, via email, my contact form, whatever floats your boat... but let me know what brings you back here time and time again! Want to see more food? More everyday adventure ideas? Marriage posts..?.. what topics in particular? Posts on Atlanta? Encouraging life posts? Puppy pictures ;) ? Interactive positivity challenges? Photography?
Seriously! Tell me what you'd like to see, and I'll try my hand at it!
Choosing A Camera
So you're looking for a new camera, huh?
Well, don't ask me about specs or my "professional opinion." I'm just your little amateur hobby photographer friend.
That being said, my husband and I (okay, mostly my husband) do a lot of research before we make a significant or semi-significant purchase. I've talked about our intentional shopping habits before (read here) and this camera was no exception. It caused some healthy back-and-forth between two people trying to come to one conclusion together.
This hunt started for us (and maybe you too) when we just felt like our phone photos weren't "cutting it" anymore. Phones are easy. They're convenient to carry, fast to capture, and are improving with each new update to the technology. But for my work here on the blog and elsewhere, I was growing increasingly desperate for distinctive photos and more capabilities.
Soon into our hunt, we found ourselves on the teeter totter between Mirrorless vs. DSLR. Tom was very pro-mirrorless because it's a growing technology, and I was pro-DSLR because I like the look and feel of "old school" cameras. I think making that decision was half the battle. However, once you can at least decide that, you can narrow yourself down more easily. Instead of giving you all the pros and cons of different cameras and types, I'm going to give you a list (similar to my prepping for a puppy list - haha) to help you ask yourself the right questions. I'll include some of our answers so you can see why we ended up with the Canon T6, but mostly to give you food for thought. It's honestly such a personal preference, so my pros could be cons to you, or vise versa. Below the questions I'll also share with you the lenses we purchased, and a really helpful blog post that SHOWS you the differences between three of the most commonly used lenses.
Questions to ask yourself:
(Our own answers are bolded as reference)
- What will this camera primarily be used for? Personal and work
- Who will primarily be using it, and will they realistically carry it regardless of size? Joy - yes
- Are you looking for something more portable, or something larger but with good ergonomic handling? Good handling - already had a smaller version and it didn't make portability any easier
- Is battery life a deal breaker? No - we're good about charging
- Are you planning on buying different lenses? Some brands/types of cameras have more and cheaper lens offerings than others. Yes - would like plenty of lens options in various prices
- Is a viewfinder important to you? Yes. No more looking at a screen to take shots!
- How much would you like to spend on a camera body? No more than $400
- Are you willing to learn the capabilities of a better camera? Yep
These are all pretty basic questions, but I thought maybe they'd get your wheels spinning in the right direction. Tom was leaning towards mirrorless, but we decided that even though the body is more compact, it actually made handling sort of awkward. Plus, once you put a larger lens on a mirrorless, it's still going to be bulky no matter how you cut it.
I personally appreciate an actual mirror image view. We differed here because Tom liked the digital viewfinders. I found them laggy and choppy. When push came to shove, we realized I'd be using it more often and we knew we could trust the ol' DSLRs. This was just the second camera we've owned and decided it would be a good stepping stone. We can go a different route in the future, but for starters, the T6 would treat us well.
Here's a (slightly odd) video that explains some of the differences between mirrorless and DSLRs. Granted, mirrorless cameras really are catching up to DSLRs and are increasingly more competitive across all areas, so give them a look!
What ended up breaking the deal for us was... well... the deals. We were able to get a DSLR body and two lenses for nearly the same price as a mirrorless camera and kit lens. We went for a 50mm lens and a 35mm lens. I wanted to avoid the kit lens because after doing plenty of research, I knew it would never give me the depth of field I was looking for in a new camera. We only used a kit lens with our previous camera, and it ended up just gathering dust. We didn't want to make the same mistake, so we ordered some super cheap lenses to try. If they break after a few months, I won't even be mad - they're too cheap to get upset over! I'll tell you, though... so far, so good.
Check out this great post to actually see how different lenses shoot the same objects. It helped me a lot in trying to decide what would be most fitting for us.
However... the only thing I would change, going back, would be to get a 24mm over the 35mm, only because the 50 and 35 aren't all that different in terms of the range they capture. Other than that, we've loved our new camera and lenses. I am in no way being paid to say any of this, but we put so much time into this, I thought I'd share our thoughts and end results with you lovely readers! We've used it significantly more than our phones and have even joked that we may need to buy TWO cameras because we're starting to fight over it - haha!!
P.S Though I'm not being paid for anything in this post and these opinions are my own (as always!) any Amazon links you find on my blog are affiliate. By purchasing through my links - whether the actual item purchased, or something else in the same session - I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep this blog a-runnin' and supports someone's dream. Thank you to those of you that shop my affiliates! It never goes unnoticed and is so appreciated :)
Prepping For A Puppy
If you haven't heard by now, Tom and I are getting our first puppy. We have been waiting to get this specific puppy/breed (Bernese Mountain Dog) for over three years now, and it's been occupying my mind almost constantly since we signed the contract to get this little guy (and yes, it's a boy). We are so overjoyed!
In all honesty, it took us this long because...
1) we thought our life would look a little different than it does - but God's plan is not ours
2) I needed to mentally prepare for the shedding of this breed
3) we needed to be sure we could handle the financial and care responsibilities
Since we have no control over number one, we asked ourselves a few questions and worked out a few logistics in our minds before going through with getting this giant breed dog. Once we made the decision that we were ready, we needed to take some action on prepping for this little bundle so we'd be well-prepared for his arrival. To be honest, everything aligned so fast, and so perfectly, that our three year wait suddenly diminished practically overnight. So our prepping went into hyper-drive! Today, I'm sharing some of the questions you may want to ask yourself before getting a puppy as well as some products we've purchased for his arrival that may be helpful for you too.
Questions to consider:
- Does your home suit a large or hyper dog?
- Does your lifestyle suit the breed you're looking at? (ex: if you're active, are you looking for a running partner like a lab? Or a lazy dog like a berner?)
- Will you be able to handle excessive shedding?
- Do you own a lot of high quality/expensive items you'd be furious over being chewed or ruined by a dog?
- Does the breed you're looking at do well alone for hours, or will it become unhappy being alone for 8+ hour work days? This can sometimes lead to destructive behavior.
- Is this breed good with children or other pets?
- What kinds of health issues might this breed run into?
- Will boarding this breed be reasonably priced?
- Can you handle the basic needs of food, time for play, time for potty breaks, grooming, etc...?
- Do you understand the financial investment? Some breeds cost upwards of $2500 just for a puppy.
- Are you willing to become more limited in terms of travel?
- Can you afford to replace anything it might destroy or perhaps a new vacuum?
- Are you sure you're not allergic?
- Will it be an inside dog or outside? Will it spend the day barking at the neighbor's dog and driving other neighbors insane?
- You want a puppy, but what about an adult dog? (It will grow!)
- Are you settled, will you move, or bring children into the world soon?
- Do you have the time/patience to train?
... just to name a few. It was these sorts of questions and more that had us thinking. It wasn't until the last several months that we finally answered positively to all these questions. Two years ago, our travels were too important to us, but now, we're more settled and not as likely to hop a plane to Fiji on a whim. Now, we genuinely want to add this little pup to our midst and give up a few niceties. However, I am a bit of a tough critic on these sorts of topics. Perhaps not everyone needs to mull over so many scenarios or questions, but I'm a planner and I like to be prepared, so these were all important for me to feel confident about before diving into puppy ownership.
Now that you've decided on your breed, and you're ready to handle shedding and dirty paws on your floors, where do you go next?
Well, we sought out reputable breeders, but maybe you're into rescued pups. Either way, that's the next "prep-step." Find your dog and confirm a date when he/she is coming home.
Once that's underway, I suppose it's up to you to decide how much or how little to prepare for your new pal. Like I said, I don't like to be caught in a lurch, so we've already ordered and received most of our puppy necessities (and he doesn't come home for nearly three weeks). Here's the list of items we purchased... all from Amazon. These are affiliate links, FYI, but of course, they'll cost you nothing extra should you decide to purchase through them.
We also purchased a collar and ID tag elsewhere, and besides perhaps a blanket, food, and shampoo, we're pretty well set. I'll be sure to circle back after a few months with our pup and let you know if any of these have been problematic or useless, or if we discovered some better products along the way.
The one that I must admit has been nearly impossible to find, is a decent dog bed for a large breed like a Bernese. Everywhere I've looked they've seemed too flat to support such a big dog, or the cover isn't washable (idiotic). We'll stay on the hunt, but it's been a no-go thus far.
I hope this little informative post can help you along in bringing home your new four-legged family member. Or maybe it's caused you to think twice about whether or not you're ready for all a pup could entail. I urge you to research breeds and dog care as much as possible in your own time before deciding to make the leap. I know this time of year can be especially tempting to gift a puppy to a loved one, but please re-think that idea if you're not ready for a possible 15 year responsibility.
If you found this post helpful or you think it would be helpful for a friend, give it a share!
And now, what you're probably here for... puppy pictures! These are the puppies from the actual litter we're getting our little guy from. They were five weeks old, and the most adorable balls of happiness. Enjoy!
Things You Probably Don't Know About Me
New here? No?
Regardless, I thought it might be time to let you in on some of my life secrets. Okay, well, not exactly secrets, but a few things I bet you don't know about me. Unless you really know me. So, did you know....
- In 2011 I interned with "the world's largest music festival" (Summerfest in Milwaukee). It was one of my favorite jobs because of the adrenaline it required. Working from 9am-2am, a forty-five minute drive, for eleven days was insane and amazing.
Once, at a pre-festival concert, Tim McGraw walked right past me - like two feet in front of me - and he smelled amazing. - I'm the youngest of seven children - I feel like I've mentioned this before. But have I told you all our names start with "J" ?
- For a long time I wanted to be a photojournalist in war zones.
- My first year in college, I majored in graphic design. I met my now-husband in my art classes! I changed majors the following year to PR, Business Comm, and Marketing.
- I sang several solos growing up, and participated in honor choirs. My voice was one of the first things Tom liked about me, actually. Freshman year as friends, I was casually singing in my dorm room with the door open and he walked in and hung out to hear more. That sounds a lot creepier than it was.
- My biggest pet peeve: the feeling of cotton (like from a t-shirt) between my teeth, or seeing someone else chew or hold a piece of clothing in their mouth. It makes my teeth hurt just thinking about it - blah! That dry, squeaky, cotton feeling on one's teeth just drives me crazy.
- I have worked at at least three places for only a single day before quitting. Bed, Bath, and Beyond was one of them. I had to climb a ten-foot ladder and swing my leg over the top. It was terrifying.
- Coldplay is my all time favorite band and I daydream about meeting them. Seeing them in concert over the summer was magical.
- I've had eighteen jobs since I started working at fifteen years old. And I only disliked five of them!
- I don't care for meals that are all one texture, which is why I don't care for pasta - it's too soft! It's a flaw in my being, I know. Though, I am not picky in any other way with food.
- My top, front six teeth are all fake (though, I tell everyone this fact, so you probably know).
- I actually loved working retail (Gap, LOFT, and grocery work) because of the fast pace and upbeat environment. It's taught me to be more patient with retail workers as a customer.
- I'm a coffee snob. And I'm not sorry about it.
- One of the strangest, most common comments I receive, is on the softness of my hands. Like the skin on my hands is really smooth or something. I've been getting this comment since middle school and I can never decide how I feel about it..?
- I love being outside and camping, but I hate bugs and humidity. Solve that riddle for me, would ya?
Anything here come as a surprise? I may do another one of these down the road, but I thought these were some good basics to start with for you to get to know me. Just for fun :) What else would you want to know?
The Cords of Marriage
Think of a rope. A large rope. One made out of three smaller ropes twisted together. Then look closer at those smaller, twisted ropes. They are made of strands of string. Such a rope is strong... unbreakable, even.
And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:12
This verse is often used in Christian marriage ceremonies. It's incredibly fitting, isn't it?
I think of it this way. Of the three cords of a rope, one is Christ, one is the husband, and one is the wife. Christ is ever present, unchanging. That's a cord that will never break. The husband and wife? Well, their cords might start to fray. All those strings that make up their individual selves and the pieces of their marriage might get cut. Yet with Christ as the stronghold, there is hope and life. The strands may fray, but that threefold cord will remain strong and united.
I also like to look at those strings that make up one cord as the small things. It's remembering to pursue your marriage, even after a bunch of years. It's making coffee every day for your spouse, doing the dishes, not whining or rolling your eyes when they forget to do something for the millionth time. It's folding the laundry, saying thank you, kissing goodnight and good morning, planning a date night, remembering to make that appointment for them, picking up their shoes, cleaning the house, telling them they're amazing/handsome/beautiful, choosing to give them your time and attention, surprising them with a little gift, and all those little minuscule moments in between. Wound up in each cord are a bazillion tiny things.
Sometimes we're better at these things than other times - no one is perfect. Some seasons will be able to offer more attention to our marriage than others. Sometimes, one spouse will be less frayed than the other, and sometimes, they might BOTH be pretty frayed. But by working on those strands, binding them back together, trusting in Christ as the cord that binds, and doing our best to keep our rope wound tight, marriage is utterly rewarding, beautiful, and strong.
I feel my cord start to fray when I've got to much on my plate and my stress levels become unmanageable. I feel those tiny strands start to snap. It shows when I forget to give my husband a kiss when he arrives home. When the laundry doesn't get done. When we're left without groceries because I didn't have time to make a list. But when I start to fray, Tom swoops in... his strands stronger than mine for the time being. He wraps me in a hug when he walks in the door. He gets a load of laundry going. He picks up some food on his way home. And when he is frayed, I do the same for him. I make him a favorite meal and tell him to play video games for a while. I get us out of the house to grab a drink. I'll take the trash out for him.
And when we're both frayed, God's Word holds us up. He holds up regardless of who is frayed and who isn't, but it's in those times especially, that His unchanging strength and promises bind our frayed beings and make us whole... make us a united rope of three cords.
Marriage is hard. We all say it, but no one really expands because it's not hard all the time (maybe in some seasons). It's not even hard in big ways a lot of the time. It's hard in little moments, little moods, little quips, and passive aggressive tones. It's work, but it's the most beautiful work I've ever committed to. I've said it so many times, but marriage is a privilege. It is worth cherishing, worth being psyched about, worth speaking highly of, and worth all the effort to keep from fraying beyond repair. How will you keep the cords of your marriage strong and unbreakable?
Be sure and visit my marriage category for more like this!
Chicken Pot Pie
Like I told you in my last food post, I'm kind of a recipe hoarder. I think recipes are meant to be shared, but when it comes down to it, I suddenly feel a pang of selfishness overcome me. Also, my mom guilts me for sharing "family recipes" when really, I think she just pulled them from other cookbooks and forgot which ones, so she decided to call them her own.
That's all beside the point, because today I am sharing with you my very favorite recipe when you need something homestyle and cozy to the core. Chicken pot pie from scratch.
With a perfect, flaky crust, rich cream sauce, and tender chicken and veggies, it'll be the best home cooked meal you'll have this winter. Let me just dive right in...
First, start with the crust. A good crust recipe will serve you well for years and years. The one I use is good for sweet pies, savory pies, mini pies stuffed with whatever you want, etc... I highly recommend it. via Simply Recipes
Crust Ingredients
2 1/2 C flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
2 sticks unsalted butter - VERY cold and cubed
6-8 T ice cold water
Directions
Mix the dry ingredients together in a stand mixer or food processor. Slowly add the cold butter (sometimes I cube my butter and then toss it in the freezer for 10 minutes or so) cubes and watch them become pea-sized and give the mixture a rough, uneven texture. Do not over-mix. You want those chunks of butter as they'll add nice flaky layers when baked. Then, add the ice water, tablespoon at a time just until incorporated. The dough should look dry and crumbly, but hold together if grabbed into a fist.
Dump mixture onto a clean surface and knead gently by hand until it holds its shape - do not knead too much! Separate the dough into two equal sized mounds and shape them into discs. Wrap each in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 48 hours.
Remove 10-15 minutes before you'll be using it to let it soften enough to make rolling easier.
Once you're ready to get your pot pie going, roll one of your discs into a large rectangular shape so it covers at least the bottom of a 9x13 pan, but try to get it large enough to cover the sides of a 9x13 if you can. Preheat your oven to 325. Line the 9x13 with the crust, pressing it down, along the edges, and into the corners of the pan. Pop the crust-lined pan into the oven for about 15 minutes - just until it's no longer "raw." While it's baking, roll your other disc out into a 9x13 rectangle. This piece will cover the pot pie. Set aside. Bump your oven up to 375 once you remove your pre-baked crust. (The reason you pre-bake the bottom crust is so it doesn't stay raw once you put the wet filling in)
Sauce Ingredients
1/4 C butter
1/4 C flour
2 C chicken broth
1/2 C whipping cream
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 C grated parmesan
Sauce directions
In a medium pot, melt butter. Blend in flour, then slowly incorporate chicken broth, slowly stirring until thick. Add whipping cream and salt and pepper to taste. Should be creamy and not too runny in texture. Add parmesan and cook a couple minutes longer, stirring. Set aside.
Pot Pie Ingredients
3 C cooked chicken (about 2 breasts)
1 12-14oz package of frozen veggies (in a steamer bag if you'd like to save time)
1 10-12 oz bag of frozen broccoli florets (in a steamer bag if you'd like to save time)
1-2 russet potatoes, peeled and diced
Pot Pie Directions
Have your chicken ready to go. When I cook mine a day or two before, I only season it with salt and pepper and maybe a hint of garlic powder. Once it's been cooked, just dice it and set it aside.
Steam all your veggies, except your potato(es) which just need to be peeled and diced. They can be thrown in to the pot pie raw.
In the pot with your sauce, add the chicken, veggies, and potato(es). Mix until well combined. Pour the mixture into your pre-baked crust and spread evenly. Cover the 9x13 with top crust and trim the edges. Bake at 375 until the the crust is golden, about 30 minutes (give or take). Enjoy!
Entryway
Wow - it's been a while since I had a new project reveal for you guys! This is just a little one, but it's made a world of difference.
We have a small entryway. Our living room and foyer sort of morph together and things get even more crowded with a garage entry and front door entry in only slightly different spots. In the following pictures, you'll see the garage entry (complete with a tiny dog door - which our new puppy will never fit through) to the left of the shelf and storage we just added. We still need to update the paint on the doors - maybe even a light pop of color? - and add a lamp, but so far we are loving the minimalist look and functionality.
The top two cubbies give each of us a place to put floater items. If I see Tom's keys or wallet or glasses floating around, they go into his compartment. It's sort of like our own little "internal mail" system - haha! Mine stores my purse and sunglasses and whatever else I may need to grab on my way out the door. The bottom two compartments hold a few pairs of shoes. Just the pairs we can slide on to check the mail or run to the store in. Since our actual coat and shoe closet is in our upstairs landing, a storage spot like this was pretty needed for our little entryway.
Of course, I'mma give you the breakdown:
Trones: $80
Mirror: $16 (thrifted and painted)
Vases: $15 total (Home Goods, Target)
Books: $15 Goodwill
Candle: Gift (Pottery Barn)
Shelf: leftover from previous projects
TOTAL: $136
It's been the perfect place to check my makeup before heading out, and dumping the mail until I have a chance to look it over. Our kitchen counter had become the gathering place for all those random items before this, so I love the storage and minimal aesthetic. These are a great example of something I mentioned in my last post on being a clean freak - functionality. Though this looks clean, that top right cubby is full of old receipts and some plastic shopping bags (Tom's cubby, of course) but unless I told you, you'd just assume this area is spotless, huh?