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Review of 2012 Home Decor Goals

About a year ago I started blogging in hopes it would motivate me to turn my home from a hodge podge mess to a more cohesive style. Problem is, I like too many styles and needed to fine tune because I’m not that good at pulling together eclectic. So I looked at Pinterest and several blogs for inspiration. I started to notice a theme in what I was most drawn to … soft colors in a bright and airy setting with farmhouse-cottage style furnishings. Anything with a Nordic, Gustavian, or French feel tugs at my heart strings. (Gustavian style is actually a French-influenced Swedish style.) So that’s what I found myself working toward in 2012.

{ THE KITCHEN }

Farmhouse Kitchen Due to built-in cabinets and bead board, the kitchen easily keeps a farmhouse feel.
I’m in the midst of painting it, basically keeping the same colors throughout.
Sometimes a room just needs a fresh coat of paint … even if you don’t drastically change colors.

 

We’re adding additional shelving and I want freshly painted walls before installing them.
I’m increasing my collection of white dishes and ironstone to adorn the new shelves.

 

{ THE DINING ROOM }

Our dining room went from sage green walls to steamed white.
I loved the sage green but am happy to say I love the steamed white even more.
A bamboo script floor mat was added to define the dining space.

 

I added a new buffet to this room and collected a few more mirrors for the walls.

 

Finally, Windsor chairs were swapped out with made-over church sale chairs.
The upholstered seats were covered with drop cloth, with stripes painted for a French grain sack look.

 

{ THE BATHROOM }

After many years, I finally got up the nerve this year to paint our old claw foot tub.
There are simple French touches throughout this room.
This year, I’d like to swap out the basic sink vanity for something a little more special.

 

{ THE LIVING ROOM }

The living room is a work in progress. The only change this year was the addition of another bamboo mat
and new slipcovers because the current furniture fabric no longer matches the rest of the house.
This room is also awkward due to traffic patterns and door placement. More on this in the coming months.

 

{ THE FAMILY ROOM }

Earlier in the year I made drop cloth curtains covered with tulle for this room.
Although I liked the curtains … they just didn’t give the feel I wanted in here.
So I swapped them out for simpler swags made from landscape burlap.

 

The blanket chest got a makeover … probably my favorite furniture re-do this year.
In 2013, this room is getting some new furniture to provide much-needed seating.

 

{ ACCESSORIES }

A few new home decor projects were added this year, too.
I tried my hand at altered bottles … these two are my favorites.

 

I also tried transferring graphics this year. Here’s a little crate I painted and “Frenchified.”
In the summer it holds flowers, in the winter I like to tuck candles inside.

 

Finally, a pair of flea market stools were painted and decoupaged for the kitchen.
I used a French toile paper on the seats, lending just a touch of French in the kitchen.

As I finish up the lower level of our home, I’m thinking about changes for the second floor.
Of course, I’ll try to stick with the soft, bright and airy farmhouse-cottage vibe.
I feel like I’m on track with a style I like now, so 2012 accomplished that goal.
I’m sorry to say that my goal of painting the outside of the house did not happen …
so that lovely project gets added to 2013. Ugh!

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46 Comments

  3. Jennifer I have enjoyed watching you transform your beautiful farmhouse! Looking forward to seeing what you share in the coming year! So glad we met too! Best wishes to you and your family in the coming year!
    xx
    Anne

    Reply

  5. I like what you wrote in your first paragraph, kind of like what I’ve been trying to put my finger on. I hope to take time to study on this about my house soon, examine the rooms I’ve pinned and ask myself why I like them and how can I make mine more like them–without spending a fortune!

    I love your house and what you’ve done with it. And your Christmas tree is so beautiful.

    Reply

  7. It’s amazing how studying Pinterest and other blogs can really show you what you love. Many of the pictures I’ve pinned have common features. Luckily, they are related to the style I’ve loved for awhile.

    Your home is really pretty. I love the light brightness of it.

    Reply

  11. I love the french farmhouse style too. And white beadboard!! I just have to figure out how to make it work in my new home. It’s a 1969 home that is in the middle of forest. Lots of outdoor beauty, farmhouse setting, but not exactly a classic beauty. I’ll be here for inspriation, though.

    Nancy

    Reply

  12. Love all the white. I finally painted the first closet white this year and am planning to paint ALL the other pine(furniture, doors,…) in the house which is a lot still but I’ll have a whole new year for it soon, won’t I? 😉
    Love what you did to your bath tub, makes it so exquisite. And the bamboo mats are sooo beautiful and special, I had never ever heard of something like it.
    Bye,
    Happy 2013!
    Marian

    Reply

  14. Apparently, blogging worked for you! It looks fantastic. I think you have merged your styles beautifully. I have the same tendency. I buy/collect what I like and the styles aren’t always the same. I can’t hep it. Everything you have looks fantastic. I love the claw-foot bathtub. Looks fantastic!
    Karen

    Reply

  16. Jennifer, your home is amazing. What a gorgeous and comfy place you’ve created. The burlap swags make such a great frame for your windows. I love the contrast and softness they add. I look forward to what you will come up with in 2013. I’m sure we will all be inspired in the process just as we were this year!
    Liz

    Reply

  17. You had such a productive year in 2012. Love all your transformations. Your ‘church-sale chairs’ jumped out at me, as I just recovered a chair the same way! They say great minds think alike ; ) – I am looking forward to seeing your 2013 posts. Regards.

    Reply

  25. Well I absolutely love your house and never cease to be in awe every time I see the bathtub . LOL if you’d done NOTHING else all year you painted a bathtub!!!!
    THINK about it. 🙂

    Happy New Year! 🙂

    Reply

  27. Lovely photos!

    __________(¯`•.¸¸.¤*¨¨*¤.¸.¤*¨¨*¤.¸¸.•´¯)_____________
    ¤¸.¤*¨¨*¤.¸¸.•´¯).HAPPY.NEW.YEAR.(¯`•.¸¸.¤*¨¨*¤.¸.¤
    __________(¯`•.¸¸.¤*¨¨*¤.¸.¤*¨¨*¤.¸¸.•´¯)_____________

    Greetings from Ulm
    Stefanie

    Reply

  30. Fabulous changes you have made, each room is lovely! I especially love your kitchen, so beautiful. Saw your link at Savvy Southern, thanks for sharing with us. Mary

    Reply

  37. Your home is so lovely. I, too, like the soft and airy style of country(especially French and the cottage look).I absolutely love what you have done with your home. How wonderful that your home has the built in cabinetry and boarding! We have been in our home here for over 20 years and my plans are to paint the kitchen in some light and neutral color and also to paint the cabinets which are now a honey wood stain. Also, hope to do some flooring changes. My plan is to document a lot of this on my blog. Now to get my husband motivated to help me with these plans!

    Reply

  44. Loved visiting your blog! I just became a follower. I am new to the blogger world and would love for you to visit and become a follower of my blog, Maddiebella Home as well.

    I look forward to visiting your blog and seeing all of the beautiful creativity you share.

    Happy New Year!

    Betty (Maddiebella Home)

    Reply