The Red House

Living Room and Dining Room Before

I have been working hard the past few weeks to get what we have been calling "the red house" in shape for a renter.  The house belongs to my in-laws and has been used for years by my brother-in-law.  But recent life events have taken him to other places and it was time for an update.  I was called in to help with paint colors and general updates for the house.  

Kitchen Before

The goal: to make it brighter and add a modern touch for a young family.  A lot of painting had to be done, ceilings and trim were painted in white and the kitchen cabinets were painted in white as well.  A dishwasher was added, the washer and dryer relocated to the garage and an island brought into the kitchen.  The biggest change was removing a bad addition to the back porch.  The house has been returned to it's original 1950's glory.  It makes me feel good that we have provided a safe and bright home for a family to enjoy.  In only 3 weeks the house has been transformed.

Beach House

We are fortunate enough to get to go away to my in-law's beach house in Neskowin, Oregon every so often.  My mother-in-law, is an artist and designer in her own right.  She has no formal education in art or design, but the way she puts things together is just spot on, I really wanted to share it here.

The Living room at the beach house

The living room furniture was purchased at a local consignment shop and came from a model home. I love that she uses second hand furniture, antiques, vintage and even re-upholster's items.  This speaks to my heart for vintage and for re-use.  I worked with her to add the curtains.  Giving her some needed privacy in the evenings and dressing up the room a bit more.  Next on her to-do list is a new rug.  I can't wait to see how it transforms the space.

Striped Linen Curtains 

Upstairs in one of the bedrooms, I assisted her in choosing a paint color that really warmed up the space and gave it a completely different feel from the cream of the rest of the house.  Then I found this great striped blue linen fabric that I made into curtains for her.  After that she did the rest. She shopped for the accessories, found the incredible deer pillows and gave the room this eclectic industrial meets the pacific northwest beach feel.  And the mix of unique vintage items, the industrial sign and letters liven up the space in a way I just don't see very often.  It's no mistake this woman is my mother-in law, don't you think? 

Soft Wool Deer Pillows

A New Year

The sun setting on my dining room table January 1, 2015

As this new year dawns I finally feel an intense feeling of freedom and gratitude.   It's taken a lot of listening to and following the advice of a trusted mentor to get here.  It's meant cleaning up the past and changing my thinking.  Throughout this process I have put so many other things on hold.  Like writing here on this blog.  Like my dreams of an interior design business.  Like selling on Etsy on a regular basis.  Big life goals I want to get back to.

Little goals must be met along the way and one of those smaller goals is picking up my neglected camera and using it again.  I decided to break it out for our family day up at Mt. Hood.  It felt so good to use it again. To fuss with the settings, having very little idea what I was doing, but doing it nonetheless.  To take imperfect photos from awkward angles and show them to you here.  Because there is a freedom in just trying and being you, no matter how imperfect.

Sam and Henry pose for the camera with the top of Mt. Hood in the background.   The sky was a crisp true blue, not a cloud in sight, fresh fallen snow lay fluffy on the ground and a river broke through the ice and snow in a ravine below us.  

Sledding, snow and smiles were the theme of the day.  Pure joy was found in the simple pleasure of a snowy hill to slide down.  Henry would laugh with excitement and joy as he came down the small slope.  Other people would crash and he would tell them "You're silly!" then laugh at them, like my dad and I don't crash, what's up with you?  But that was there way of having fun, to be messy and crash.  The truth is, we all crash in life, it's whether we get up and climb the hill to try again or get up and go home that matters.  I can already tell that I'm ready to keep getting up no matter how many times I fall and crash.  Bring on the new year, I'm ready for you.