houses

holiday decorations

Posted on by mommyinthemidwest

The living room in our house is 20×30 and has cathedral ceilings with these massive, substantial-looking dark wooden beams.  Our living room is also super ugly because we haven’t had the time, money, or inspiration to do much with it since we moved in just over a year ago. One thing I couldn’t stand about our house last Christmas was how tiny our skinny, 7′ tree looked in our giant room.  We were determined to get a 9 footer this year.  I also wanted to get all new decorations. We say this every year, with plans to raid Target the day after Christmas for markdowns but at that point I really don’t want to spend another dime, regardless how spectacular the deal.  The problem with choosing a theme for our tree is that I have to choose a theme for our tree.  I kind of decided against it.  I just want to buy ornaments that I like. That we like.  So I picked out some multi-color glittery unbreakable balls.  Theo picked out a Darth Vader.  Dexter picked out a Captain Hook.

Our theme is us.  Whatever we like.  Done.  Maybe we will be more sophisticated one day but it’s not looking good.  We have multi-colored lights, after all, and we like them.  So there.

Christmas card tree on the wall.  Since we have no other decorations there.  ðŸ™‚ Why not go all out tacky this year?

Vintage Disney ornaments.

My pinterest-inspired (pinterest fail) hand Santas.

Our beast of a tree.  I’m desperately hoping I have a mantle to decorate before next Fall. And something besides a brass fireplace screen. And some better window treatments. And painted walls. Oh, I could go on for years.

Obligatory bokeh.

Vintage 12 days of Christmas bell decorations – painted by Ryan’s grandmother.

Looking in from the foyer.  Don’t mind the mess.  That’s just life happening.

Ceramic Santa & Reindeer, also painted by Ryan’s grandmother.

Vintage Felt Advent Calendar, made by Ryan’s mom. The boys LOVE choosing an ornament for the tree each day.  It’s become one of their favorite things about the holiday.

A few of my baby ornaments on the old tree (currently in our bedroom).

The tree in our room – just disregard that unfinished paint job.

A few decorations in the boys’ bathroom.

When we chose the color scheme for the boys’ bathroom with a sky blue paint on the walls to compliment the hot air balloon theme, I pictured this exact thing – a sweet snowman shower curtain we could use throughout the winter just for a change of scenery.

Light blue lights on a mini-tree.  I need to find some tiny snowman or snowflake ornaments for it.

Oh, and Dexter talking to Buzz.
xo,
~C~

our home: the boys’ shared bedroom

Posted on by mommyinthemidwest
Looking in their room from the hallway.
The canvas print you see when you first open their bedroom door.  From Target. I love it.
This is looking to the left when you walk in the room.  
Looking back at their bedroom door from the opposite side of the room.  The changing table… I rarely use it.  Dexter is pretty much too big and the thought of putting Theo on there is hilarious.  But it’s where we store diapers, wipes, sheets, some blankets, etc. We’ll keep it until we are ready to sell all of the nursery furniture as a set.
Their messy but large closet.  It could use a lot of reorganizing.  Theo’s clothes are on the right and Dexter’s are on the left.  Tubs of toys and clothes.  So. Much. Stuff. 
Dexter’s bed. Opposite of their bedroom door.  The hamper gets used for stuffed animals now since we have a laundry chute. It will be a sad day when we no longer have a baby in a crib…that day is probably coming sooner than later!
Toy storage between Dexter’s crib and the dresser.
Just another view. Dinosaur canvas print from Target.
Cutie pies over the dresser in the corner.
Nursery furniture is from Burlington Coat Factory/Baby Depot.
Curtains from Target.  Curtain rod, holdbacks, and finials from Pottery Barn Kids.
Cute kids by me & R.
Theo’s big boy bed and the inspiration for the paint colors in the room.  My mom painted the room.  She did a fantastic job, didn’t she!?
Bedding from Target.  Canvas print from (SURPRISE!) Target.
Closer to how it usually looks. 🙂  I feel like this long wall needs something on it. Maybe a better way to display their art (than taping it to their closet doors), but then I worry Theo will mess with it.  Have to be careful what we hang above his bed.  I think their room turned out super cute.  I love the colors.  I can’t imagine having this large of a room for one child.  Sharing a room has been great for them so far!
What’s that you say?  Not impressed?  Maybe I should have showed you the “Before” photo first.  I just wanted to save the best for last. 
I can assure you — this is the same room in the same house in the same decade. 

xo,
~C~

our home: the boys’ happy little bathroom

Posted on by mommyinthemidwest

I have been waiting until the last finishing touches were added to the boys’ bathroom before posting before and after pictures. You can see a couple of pictures of their bathroom before we took possession of the home here.

These were taken after a little bit of work had already started:

Gray cabinets and countertop. Blue sink and bathtub.
Detail:  Hardware, cabinet doors, and CARPET!
Extreme close-up of the lovely coordinating towel ring.
And on the mirror/medicine cabinet — remember this for later!
STUNNING blue bathtub + handicap accessible grab bar + track from shower doors.
Track from shower doors is gone.
I’ll spare you the five billion DURING pics.  Ryan’s dad worked tirelessly on this bathroom.  He spent several work weeks in this little room while Ryan and I were at work.  
We saved the original gray tile bathtub surround, the medicine cabinet, and the cabinets.  That’s about it. 
AFTER!!
Looking in from the hallway.  My husband laid the beautiful versailles patterned flamed granite floor from Tile Shop (as well as the laminate in the hallway).  Adorable hot air balloon vinyl decals from The Custom Vinyl Shop were those finishing touches I mentioned before.  I’m obsessed with how cute these turned out and I have been holding onto them for a few weeks, scared that I would mess them up somehow.  So easy!
Overview of vanity.  New and improved!  I stained the cabinets black.  We replaced the gray formica top with white cultured marble.  Ryan’s dad added the tile backsplash surround.
New lighting.  Also, notice the framing around the mirrors on the medicine cabinet.  Ryan’s dad built them.  Threw away the ugly swirly patterned ones above and BUILT these new ones.  That saved us a fortune!
New sink faucet.
Extreme close-up of the tile backsplash surround.
Another overview – notice the new brushed nickel hardware.
More of the decals!  And a new brushed nickel vent cover. Painted all the baseboards white.
Our beautiful shower curtain!  I fell in love with the simplicity of this and had to have it.  Painted the walls a sky blue to add some color to the room.  I purchased the shower curtain on clearance from Urban Outfitters. 
Original light gray tile with new accent stripe and toiletry shelves/boxes, no grab bar, and new jetted tub! New towel bar.
New tub faucet.
This custom tub apron was the source of a lot of discussion and agony for us.  It held up progress while we were trying to determine how to combine the old gray tiles with the new.  This is the design that Ryan and I finally came up with and Ryan’s dad put it together for us.  I am so proud of this and love that it is totally custom.  Every time I bathe the boys in this bathroom, I’m happy.  One of the smallest rooms in the house, and definitely one of my favorites.
Another angle.
While I felt somewhat compelled to go with bright colors, I like that the room is whimsical and fun without being too childish.  This bathroom also serves as our guest bathroom and I think the colors/design will grow with the boys’ changing interests.  I’m not crazy about the idea of characters but if that’s what they want one day, the tile is neutral enough to look nice with a variety of themes.  I can’t even believe the transformation this little bathroom has gone through.  Now we just need to work on the rest of the house.  
I’m excited to hear your feedback!
xo,
~C~