My husband and I are in the midst of building a home. We’re not only first-time home builders, but we’re also first time home buyers! I know. We’re very ambitious!
The most difficult part of the entire process has not been the actual anticipation of moving in, believe it or not. It’s actually been the frustration of not being able to buy anything yet. We need to keep the money in the bank, so to speak, until we close. Unfortunately, once we close, we have the keys. That is great and all…except we are planning to buy lots of new furniture. A new, empty house is not really ideal for welcoming guests to our humble adobe!
However, I am keeping my eyes out for “must haves” since we are now less than 2 months away from the big move. During my blog stalking and idea planning, I ran across a fabulous website called Joss & Main. Every day this website features FANTASTIC must haves for your home:
The best part? The prices are seriously discounted – upwards of 50% in many instances! I highly encourage you to join and start squealing at the daily emails you receive for fab finds at fab prices.
I love wine storage units – there are so many unique pieces from which to choose. I recently looked through of the more popular, nationwide home decor stores and found the following options.
Row 1: Modular Bar System from Pottery Barn; Soirée Wine Bar from World Market
Row 2: Verona Bar from World Market; Glascow Entertaining Bar from Pottery Barn
Row 3: Parsons Buffet from West Elm; Wine Bar from West Elm
After finding these fun storage units and bars, I was on a quest to find interior design projects that included wine storage when I stumbled on what might possibly be some of the best modern entertaining kitchens by Ernesto Meda!
Ernesto is a young, Italian designer who clearly has a passion for the entertaining component of home kitchens. I love the wine storage built within these modern spaces and the abundance of storage not only for wine glasses, but for dishes and cooking ware. Sign me up for one of these!
Kitchens are very important to both my husband and me. We love to cook, and we love fine wine. That being said, I liken the kitchen to the heart of the home.
Although we currently live in an apartment, I look forward to the day when we have a large kitchen for entertaining. I imagine bottles of wine and delicious appetizers across the counter top, lots of laughs and the company of great friends. When we finally purchase or build a home, I can guarantee a spacious kitchen will be at the top of our list…if we’re not so fortunate, a large remodeling project will be the first thing we do upon moving into our new home.
In honor of cooking and fellowship, I’ve selected some spacious kitchens that would serve as perfect space to gather and chat while the host and hostess simultaneously entertain and cook.
Row 1: Styled by Amanda Nisbet Design
Row 2: Photographed by Matthew Niemann of Aberdeen Studios
Row 3: Photos courtesy House Beautiful
Row 1: Styled by Amanda Nisbet Design, Photo courtesy House Beautiful
Row 2: Photographed by Matthew Niemann of Aberdeen Studios
The transformation is finally complete! Melanie spent the weekend sewing pillows not only for Maihar Design, but also for my lovely new office.
Below is the before shot – a drab, colorless space with much to be desired. Our vision was to create a space that had personality and some femininity, without pink covering every space of the room.
The result is below. The steel blue color of the walls quickly transformed the room before we’d even brought in any new furniture or decorations. I adore the paint color, and what’s more, it takes on different hues throughout the day as the sun rises and falls.
When redoing the space, we were budget conscious. We used furniture from throughout the house and our collective storage units. Total cost for paint, shelves, frames and some new accessories was roughly $350.
One of my favorite parts of the room is the space around my desk. The shelves frame my “L” shaped unit – which is actually comprised of a simple desk and console, two pieces never intended to work in tandem! Check out the unexpected piece of furniture for my printer – a mirror-plated nightstand – proof you can have fun when designing your office space.
These twin wing-backed chairs were pieces we grew up with at our parent’s home. Both were in our formal living room as children, but had subsequently made their way to the storage unit. Although they could use refurbishing, these two pieces work perfectly for my office redesign on a budget. Colorful pillows sewn by my sister add the splash of color drastically needed to make these chairs look modern and inviting.
Redoing your office doesn’t have to break the bank. A fresh coat of colorful paint goes a long way for the transformation. And for new furniture or accents, try shopping at some second hand stores for pieces that can be refinished by hand or spruced up with colorful pillows. Lastly, browse your digital photos and have them resized at a cost next to nothing. Personal photos in the form of artwork are a quick way to infuse your personality into your new space. Have fun!
The office redesign painting process, though surprisingly quick, reminded me how quickly I forget that painting is not fun. While the prospect of a new space is always exhilarating, there is always that moment that feels as though the unpainted walls are closing in.
For me, it was after a few hours of painting when my arms and legs were beyond tired that I took notice of all the white spots and gave in to the reality that a second coat of paint was inevitable. It was the dreaded, “What have I gotten myself into?” Similar to a half-eaten pancake glaring back at you as your stomach begins to bloat in agony. Rats – defeated again!
Fortunately, the paint fumes have long since passed, though, and the fun part has finally kicked in – my spectacular office is almost complete! A few little accessories are left to wrap up, but we’re hopeful this weekend should mark the near completion of the details. After all, it’s the little details that make any space uniquely special.
As I pack to head out of town for a few days, I couldn’t help but snap a few photos. Enjoy this little sneak peek at my new office!
Comments (0) 
