I get a lot of emails on painting furniture, but I’ve noticed over the last year, I’m receiving A LOT of emails about my style–and how to infuse that into some of your homes.
I have this pinboard, My Style-Home on Pinterest & it’s where I keep up with spaces that just scream, “that’s me!”
I thought it was time to write a post on my style–and practical ways to infuse some of that into your spaces–if you’d like.
This was our living room a little over 2 years ago–I’ve written about it before, but I honestly had no style. We decorated it about 10 years ago, and all of a sudden, it just wasn’t cutting it for me. It’s not that I didn’t like what we had at the time when we chose it, but I didn’t love it. I didn’t think about space planning, or spaces I was drawn to. I went to the local furniture store & bought a sofa and chair we could afford…and that I liked well enough.
Fast forward a few years.
This is us now. I realize it’s not for everyone…but it is a COMPLETELY different space and evokes a completely different feeling.
As a matter of fact, our whole home is different now. Matt and I were talking to a cabinet/countertop company the other day (I hope to introduce you to them soon!) about possibly renovating our kitchen a little bit…and we realized our laundry room was the only one we haven’t touched at all in the last two years.
There’s still plenty of changes that are happening, but we’ve mostly begun on every room-and completed the projects we could afford at the time.
My style has always been a little difficult to describe, even for myself. One day I’m digging Layla’s cottage & the next I’m craving Kate’s elegance. I’m sooo 50/50 with this, that somewhere along the way, I decided I would stop following rules, and infuse both cottage + farmhouse and elegance in our home.
Our living room, dining room, and guest room are some of the most dramatic before and after’s. That doesn’t include our ground-up attic addition of the writing room, playroom, and home theater.
Point being, I know what it’s like to want to change it. And not just change it–but to change it all & avoid bankruptcy in the process.
So, I think we’ll have a My Style post once a week until we cover different spaces, and random topics.
To kick us off, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite spaces of all time…and I’m sure you’ll see them again in the following weeks.
It’s probably not difficult to see what I love about this space, but here goes with the gushing. The architectural interest–all that woodwork, trim, reclaimed ceilings + beams, columns, built ins….they make for such a captivating backdrop to everything to come. I love the contrast of more tailored, elegant dining pieces amidst the rusticity of the frame.
I’m a huge fan of contrasting elements. Period.
This home (this shot in particular) is one of my favorites of all time. I love (again) the architectural detail of the under-stair built ins & woodwork. This home is neutral…but colorful. Color is my favorite done this way–do you notice how your eye moves from the plant/pot in the first built in all the way down the bookcase styling to the coffee table to the throw pillow to the mantel decor & painting?
It’s this beautiful, subtle dance of color…I love that.
via–source??
Maybe I should stop talking and leave it at architectural detail. The white space + dark windows…that’s one of my favorite combos of all time.
So, in light of the order we began changing our house…and focusing on the major elements that will transform your homes and what worked for us, we’ll start our series with the living room next week.
If you’ve sent me questions in the past via email or you have one today…ask away in these comments–it will be a wonderful way for me to see which rooms you’re interested in the most or what specific areas you need the most help in!
Can’t wait to chat about lighter and brighter living every week with y’all…
I have been repinning your pins for quite a while now on Pinterest so I was thrilled to find your blog. It is lovely.
LOVE your inspiration pictures… I think we have the same style taste. I could move into any one of those pictures. I do love your sharing on all things painted furniture, and am eagerly awaiting to see what you do with that grey cabinet… but I am super excited about this new series too! Thanks!!
A little off the subject.. But I tried ASCP this weekend and am TOTALLY hooked! I am a mom of 3 (4 y/o, 1 y/o, 2 month old) and do not have much time (or energy) to do long projects. With ASCP I still can do projects since it dries so fast and has no oder! Plus it has beautiful results. It is totally worth the price for me ten times over. With no prep work it’s super fast. I have a gate into my kitchen so when my kids are playing in the livingroom I put a small piece of furniture or whatever I’m working on in the kitchen and paint away! I am so happy I can do my hobby still. On another note I love your house and your wonderful ideas. Thank you!
We have totally changed our house in the past three years too. Mine was darker, colorful, full of carpet and had wood cabinets and plaid green sofas. =P I knew I wanted lighter, brighter, more neutal but we were waiting to do some renovating so finally we did and I could not be more pleased to be living in a home that suits me better. And I am still gradually painting a lot of my furniture and adding more neutral accessories that I like. Here’s a good question…I have a ton of Longaberger baskets that I still want to keep but don’t like the yellowish color. I painted a couple white. =O I know! But have you or anyone you know ever tried staining them a darker stain? Or have you painted them? Just curious. 🙂 Love your blog and your pins. 🙂
Hey Gina! I thought one week we could cover reworking your current accessories–send me a pic, and I’ll try to work it into the post!
🙂
shaunna
I think your real house looks just like your favorite pictures, great job, I would move right in!
What a sweet thing to say, Amber! Very, very sweet.
🙂
shaunna
Hey Shaunna
I love your blog and thanks for starting these post! My question would be…..How to ease into a lighter cottage style when I have really nice pieces that were not extravagantly expensive but enough that I don’t want to put them in yard sale? 🙁 I have a coffee table and 2 end tables that I think would look great with some ASCP,(they are a medium cherry color) but I can’t take that step to do it or convince by sweet husband either;) He really probably wouldn’t care but he did ask me if I planned on painting everything with ASCP!!
I have painted several things but they were auction finds that were good buys. Help me get over my phobia of painting “good” furniture….hehe!
Love your blog and God Bless
Lynn
Thank you, Lynn! These are GREAT questions–can’t wait to address them!
🙂
shaunna
Hey Lynn, I know what you’re talking about!! I have a side board that was one of my most expensive pieces of furniture. It was red which looked great in my house for years but I “lightened and whitened” 😉 everything in my house so it just didn’t go anymore. I finally bit the bullet and painted it white with ASCP and I could not be happier!! 🙂 It made a world of difference and I wish I had done it sooner. So, I say, “go for it!”
Amen, Gina.
🙂
shaunna
Beautiful. Love your light, airy style. Also love how you had contrasting elements. I love your home and your style photos.
Thanks Shauna for this post, I too go back and forth on the style that I like, but my Pintrest Ideas for the Home board is full of the cottage, white, neutral serene spaces. Well just like your home and all the inspirations pictures above, by the way I absolutely love your blog and love to come back and re read all your posts, but anyway my house has very heavy woods, dark colors, tuscan style and I just don’t seen to know where to start!! Where do you suggest starting?
I love your blog, decorating, ideas, faith, and your children are adorable! I also have a fear of painting furniture. I remember all the work that went into stripping the paint off 20 years ago :). My question is what can you do in a dining room of dark wood and no windows to lighten it up? I’ve tried putting all of my white and cream pottery in the corner cabinet and I’ve hung the platters on the wall. I have apothecary jars filled with lemons, limes, and artichokes. Hope you can find a picture or come up with an idea that will work. I want to use lime green to tie all the rooms together. Blessings, Terri
Hey Terri! Send me a pic of your room and maybe I can talk specifically about those issues!
🙂
shaunna
I so understand the over abundance of style love. I love so many different styles that I don’t know where to begin. I don’t exactly know what I want, but I’ll know it when I see it 🙂
So glad that you plan on sharing ideas with us…can’t wait. Lori
How wild! My husband and I were talking about this very subject a couple of hours ago! We were speaking in particular about the extra large area rug in our den and our entire living, both of which changed about 9-10 years ago. I said to my husband, “What were we THINKING!?” He said, ” I don’t know, were we going for color or WHAT?!” We started laughing hysterically in the midst of all of this “yuck” and then decided to work on the kitchen first because we’ve hated it the longest! Isn’t it amazing what a few years can do to our tastes?
Dear Shaunna, I a, so excited about this!
Yes, I am one of your followers that uses your house as inspiration!
I have been slowly doing projects to add some color (blue, gray) in my so brown and beige house.
Your dining room inspired me to paint my paneling but so far I did not have the courage… One step at a time! I have to say my place already looks much better than it did before!
I look forward to reading about your style every week!
Hi Shaunna,
I love your style. Your dining room is wonderful and I love the table you made. Your blog has been a favorite of mine for quite a while. The my style post weekly post will be great. I am really wanting a change in our house. We have lived here for 21 years and raised 3 boys. After that amount of time you accumulate a lot of (guy stuff) and look at it now as being a lot of clutter. I am craving a clean, white Scandinavia/French look. I am wanting to sew some slipcovers and lighten up all the woodwork on my home. I would like to achieve the Jeanne D’Arc style. One of the first things I know I need to do is to not spend so much time on pinterest dreaming and start doing.
Love your style and especially your sense of humor. Thank you for such an informational and entertaining blog- I imagine it is quite time consuming. You must feel pleased to have found your gift! I too am trying to lighten up my house- this, after purchasing a humongous black entertainment center within the last six months (boo!!!)No way is hubby going to let me paint it yet 🙂 So in the meantime I’m trying to accessorize it with light colored objects- any other ideas? also- what are your thoughts on leather couches- make a room to dark? We are getting ready to purchase a new couch. Finally, how do you “control” the current trend of having sayings or signs wit words (all the wordage stuff). I feel like every where I turn in my house I am faced with something to read- “bistro”, “bon appetit” “laundry”, etc. How much is too much cuz I can’t stop buying it!!!
Good questions!! I’ll be sure to post on accessorizing, too! I have some ideas for your hutch–let me think on them a bit and I’ll either post or get back to ya!
🙂
shaunna
Love it!!! Both your new spaces AND the inspiration pics. Just what I like too. I should email you a photo of a wall in our family room I’m having trouble with. I feel like I have a plan in my head, but I’m tired of re-executing it over and over again!! : / Great stuff here! 🙂 thanks for the post!
Do it, Denise!
🙂
shaunna
Love your style…it is similiar to my (emerging) style! So many of your pins are things I’ve already pinned, or pin from you!!! I also am so excited to see the change in just 2-3 years that you have accomoplished, and your dramatic shift in style. I’m undergoing the same thing now. We moved into our builder boring house 4 years ago and I bought what I could afford (and then some). While it’s nice, it’s not cohesive and not really what I’m going for anymore. I especially an BORED of the tan that I painted most rooms in and am dying for a white/grey/something change. I would love to know more/see more about your accessorizing (did I spell that right?) Most specifically…the lamps on your sofa table…is there a plug in your floor? I want to put a sofa table behind our sofa that is floating in the room, but don’t want the cords all over the place. What did you do?
Hey Erin!
There is a plug in our floor, but if not, I would run an extension underneath the sofa table to the closest plug (in our case, it would have been the wall to the right of the sofa table). You can tape the cord down so it doesn’t shift. Hope that helps!
🙂
shaunna
Love this! I am so inspired by your blog. I have featured it on my own blog and have recommended it to many people! Thanks for the inspiration.
-Erin Spain
DIYOntheCheap.com
I just simply love your style! Your inspiration pics are fabulous! I’m repinning. It is crazy how much our tastes can change over a few years. Your home has made many inspirational changes! We just began the reno of our new home was built in the 1880’s. The first thing we uncovered were beautiful natural old timbers on our 10 foot ceilings! I am desperately trying to convince my husband that we need to leave them exposed.
Love your home!! I love the playroom/office/living room!! I was wondering where did you purchase your slip covers for your living room? Also, I have a different question….I have a cedar chest that is scratched up and needs a new look/purpose….got any ideas what I could do with it…right now it is a cherry stain color…I would love to change it to a bench and use it in our garage for the kids to sit on and put on their shoes and for their storage…what do you think?
Each of the rooms are beautiful. I love the ways that you changed up your rooms, bringing in lighter colors, but still giving a farmhouse feel. It all looks beautiful!
Your style is just the description I have been looking for. My husband, country, GA boy…cowboy, rustic…me, country but dying to be chic, fancy, french and elegant. Mixing these two styles is so hard to find in stores. I love, love, love your dining space. Thank you so much for this blog and helping me determine the “name” of the style of what I’m looking for. Can’t wait to read more and see more views of what you have created! Simply perfect!!
Oh how I love your dining room now! Its my favorite spot in your home because it reminds me alot of ours…the layout anyway.
I know what things I like but my problem is this(cue the violins I know, but its a real concern in my life). Our home was built in 1860 and is chock full of character on its own(tons of original millwork, corner fireplace, french doors, yadda yadda. But there are 22 windows on the first floor alone and the rooms dont have alot of flat walls to decorate. There are angles, doorways and windows EVERWHERE! It really frustrates me because I have no clue what to do to make my rooms flow functionally and look stylish at the same time.
Wanna help a 30 somethin girl livin in a super old home? 🙂
I just found your blog and I LOVED seeing how you’ve managed to transform your house into something that feels like home. I was wondering how you developed such a professional eye for style? My apartment’s style doesn’t really feel like me, because it’s full of cheap newlywed furniture from IKEA and gifts from relatives. But I’m not really sure how to start changing it. I look forward to more “My Style” posts!
I love your style and everything about your blog. We moved into a great house almost a year ago where everything is light brown (as opposed to tan:-) ) with a very light ivory trim. Lots and lots of beautiful trim + plantation shutters all in the same color. I have always been more of a gray loving gal…not so much the tans and light browns. In your opinion, could I keep my light ivory trim and go for light gray walls, or do I have to paint it all bright white?
I love your style it’s so inspiring for some of my designs! Keep it up!
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