Tag: farmhouse style

Cultivating a Peaceful Home Life

There was a lot of uncertainty in 2020 but the one common thing we all experienced was home. We worked, schooled, and played from home. And things don’t seem to be changing as we enter 2021.

And while I will never claim to be an expert on home, I do have some systems and techniques that I’ve learned through trial and error to make my home a place of peace and enjoyment. Because let’s be honest, without a plan or system in place, the walls can begin to close in pretty quickly.

Tip #1

Shift your attitude.

This tip is 100% free to do and requires no supplies or equipment. Ha But this is a key step. Whether you struggle being at home because you are an extrovert or you don’t like where you live or the type/style of home you live in, we can all find reasons for why we don’t like being cooped up in our houses.

But contentment and joy is not about circumstances, it’s about choice. We can choose to see the beauty in where we live. We can choose to be happy where we are.

Tip #2

Address your stressors.

Being content doesn’t mean you can’t improve the things you CAN control. If the wall color of your living room makes you angry, that’s a $30 fix! If the clutter makes you claustrophobic, take a week and declutter your house and donate what you no longer need. If the layout of your bedroom isn’t flowing, change it up!

I have found that viewing my home as my field of work changes my mindset from one of victimization to one of purpose. If I was working an office job, how would I handle systems that weren’t effective? Would I continue to do the same thing over and over at my job if it was ineffective? If it ain’t working, change it!

Tip #3

Create rhythms instead of schedules.

I am about as “type b” as they come, meaning I do not thrive under rigorous schedules and I’m generally pretty laid back when it comes to organization etc.

And as much as I wish I was super organized and scheduled, that just isn’t my thing. But all of us, no matter our personalities, need order in our lives.

I’ve found (through much trial and error) that I stick with rhythms in my day and not time set schedules.

So what do I mean by rhythms?

For us, it’s a general flow of the day. I try to get up a little before the kids and do my bible reading, they come out of their rooms at 8 (they have clocks in their rooms), we eat breakfast and do our read aloud and character cards.

We work on schoolwork and chores after that, in whichever order work best for that day. After lunch they sometimes do quiet time in their rooms, or will watch a movie in my bed.

Our afternoon is spent either catching up on schoolwork we didn’t get to in the morning, or playing outside.

What’s nice about rhythms if they are so adaptable. On days where the weather is pretty in the morning but it is supposed to rain in the afternoon, we shift it around so that they have outside playtime in the morning, etc. You get the gist.

But I’ve found when I don’t box myself in my a strict schedule, but rather a general list of things that need to be accomplished at some point each day, I feel less stressed and stick to it on days where it all hits the fan.

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That’s about all I have for today. I have so much more I could share, and I may compile some more tips on creating a peaceful space through your decor if that would be helpful? Having a beautiful space that reflects YOU really does help a lot and it isn’t as hard as you think!

Anyways, I hope this helped and encouraged you guys. I hope home becomes a peaceful and sacred place for you guys.

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Farmhouse Foyer Update

The foyer is one of my favorite spots in our new house. The staircase and the original flooring and beadboard has so much charm.

The stained glass in the front door is so unique and I love that this is the first room to welcome guests when they visit us.

The wallpaper that was in there when we purchased the house had been installed by the previous owner. She chose it to bring out the colors in the door. I didn’t dislike the wallpaper pattern, but I didn’t feel like it was a little too busy and some of the historic details got lost in all of it.

I wanted to save some of the wallpaper since she chose it with such care and use it as some artwork in the foyer in a nod to Miss Patti and Mr Bob who had saved the house 10 years previous. I am so appreciative that they took on a massive project and brought this beautiful house back to life!

I chose the color Contented by Sherwin Williams. I feel like it brightens the space but also has enough color to bring out the woodwork and trim.

I have an antique schoolhouse light on its way to replace the light hanging there now and I am so excited! I love a good vintage light. 😉

I’m very happy with how this space turned out! It makes me smile every time I walk through it. Still can’t believe this is our home!

If you missed my home tour, check it out here.

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Farmhouse Dining Room

If there is a room in our house that brings me unspeakable joy, it is most definitely our dining room. The natural light that floods through the window, the beadboard that adds charm, my new black farmhouse chairs…it all puts a big ole smile on my face. I think I appreciate it so much because of what it used to look like…scroll down if you dare. haha

 I tried to warn you! This room was a blast from the past to put it lightly. And that wallpaper was a NIGHTMARE to remove. I tried all of the go-to remedies: vinegar, fabric softener, Parana spray from Lowe’s.  

What finally did the trick was this steamer I got for $40 from Lowe’s. I got the top layer off in about an hour and a half and then Carley and I worked on the layer of glue for two nights. That was the worst part for sure. haha But we finally got it done and that’s all that matters! Buh bye 1970’s! 

Chris and I then spent the entire weekend…and I do mean the ENTIRE weekend hanging the beadboard and trim. Getting the perfect cut on the sheets of beadboard was no easy feat. We definitely got a good workout in! ha 

Once it was all hung, we stepped back and knew this was exactly what we had been dreaming about. This once awful room was now starting to feel brighter and more welcoming. 

I painted above the beadboard my go-to color of course: Repose Grey by Sherwin Williams. So far out of the 5 rooms we’ve repainted in this house all 5 of them have been Repose Grey. At least we are consistent right? 😉

I’ve been dreaming of farmhouse chairs to go with our table for years now. And one of my friends on instagram posted about Wayfair having a sale on some chairs and I instantly had to go look.

I showed them to Chris and he was on board and I’ve never been so excited for 3 huge boxes to be delivered to my door before! It’s usually diapers so this was a pleasant change. 😉

I am in love with them! They are pretty comfy too! Also thanks babe for putting together all 6 of them. *dramatically blows kiss* 

I went to an antique store after work on Tuesday and I found SO many little items that were perfect for what I was going for in this room. 

I love this little knick knack shelf I found to display oils and succulents.

I also found the 1920’s mirror that’s in the pictures above and I’m obsessed with it. 

I hung my all time favorite drop cloth curtains and it’s amazing how curtains just finish off a room perfectly. I want to add these to our front den too.

I got these plants and hangers from IKEA.

And this is my favorite accessory to my table, my three little loves. Aren’t they pretty?! As long as they are around my table, this room is complete. 

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Farmhouse Playroom Tour

So yesterday I went to Hobby Lobby and was so excited that their wooden wall art was 50% off. The empty wall above the kids’ book shelf was driving me crazy and I knew what I wanted to do in there, I was just waiting on the right time (i.e. Someone was watching the kids…) and for us to have the money for me to get the things I needed.

Well yesterday was the day! Carley let me run to Hobby Lobby and our tax return money came in, so it was go time! I texted Chris with a picture of my buggy (that’s southern talk for shopping cart) slam full of stuff and made sure he was okay with what was about to happen. (Ha)

Our playroom is technically the foyer in our house. But with three children and 1,500 sq. feet to work with, it has to have a dual purpose. This was really the only space that would work for the kids to keep their toys, since the living room is really tight.

The table my mom got for the boys’ birthdays last year (from IKEA) works perfectly in the corner. I found Rhett sitting on it yesterday reading books…I think he likes to sit places where his two younger siblings can’t touch him or mess with him. Bless him.

Also confession time…that plant does not live there nor do the pens in the mason jars. These were for the pictures only…and were quickly cleaned up after I took them. Multicolored wainscoting and a destroyed plant are not gonna happen…today. Ha

Carley and I found this shelf at Goodwill for $13. It was a brownish color and I just painted it with a basil green paint that I had on hand (well technically I stole it from my mom…love you momma!).

I think it fits well here and the kids love being able to get their books themselves and Elliot can play with the stuff underneath it. She loves to attack that metal basket and growls at it all of the time (and no Elliot is not our dog…she’s our child. Ha).

As I mentioned earlier, I had a game plan for the wall above the shelf and I wanted to do a “truth wall.”

I love having Scripture on the walls of our home and so I wanted that area to be something we would see every day and be a reminder of what is meaningful to our family.

I found these little houses at Hobby Lobby too and I looooooooove them. Rhett has a weird obsession with them and is always attempting to stand on his chair and get them. “Maybe I can touch them?” he said this morning while smiling strangely at me (that’s what he does when he knows he’s not supposed to be doing something but he’s hoping his smile will distract me from that fact).

The truth wall consists of:

– Psalm 91:4 which was one of the Psalms we clung to when we went through everything with Eli.

– Psalm 121:1 that our friend Danyelle from Danyelle Woods Designs made for us also during that time with Eli.

– 1 Corinthians 16:14 I love this verse because in the mundane duties of life I need to remember to do them with love. Love for my Father and love for my family.

– John 13:34 again a reminder to love as Christ has loved us.

– “Enjoy the little things.” It may seem cliche and cheesy, but it’s something Chris and I are learning to do in the monotony of life.

– the chicken plate is from my sweet sister-in-law, Ashley. It is one of my favorite things!

– the “Welcome please come in” sign was cross-stitched by my Aunt Christy and given to my Granny who had it in her house for years. She passed away and it’s nice to have something to see of hers every day.

– a picture of cotton because…well I’m southern and I love the dang stuff. Ha

– an “M” that is so pretty.

– “Great things take time to grow” is a lesson the Lord is really teaching me this year. I keep seeing reminders of it everywhere so I thought it was perfect.

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And that’s it! I am in love with the way it turned out, and I’m so glad to have that space finished.

If you are on Pinterest, here are some images you can pin and be sure to give me a follow here! 

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Farmhouse Style Bathroom Make-Over

 
Finally the first room in our house is complete. I am notorious for biting off more than I can chew and I love starting projects, but struggle to complete them (which is why there are three half-way done rooms in my house at this moment).  So I am proud of myself for finishing this one! GO MEEEEEE.

Our master/guest bathroom was a dark burgundy color when we moved in, but as soon as I saw the original beadboard and white cabinets, I knew this bathroom was going to be ADORABLE.

Now I don’t hate burgundy, but it is just not my style. I love all things bright and cheerful (much to my dark-color loving-husband’s dismay. ha). So the red had to go!

I first bought what I thought was a nice grey color, but as soon as I started to paint it on the wall, it was a brown color and I freaked out and texted my sister who then recommended Repose Gray by Sherwin-Williams. AND I LOVED IT.

I was amazed at how much just a change in paint color brightened up the room. I didn’t even realize it was that dark in there because we have a window up above our shower that lets light in. But Chris and I couldn’t get over how different the room looked because of the grey.

I added a few touches of “farmhouse style” to the cabinets and added an old window above the toilet. If you are wanting to add that farmhouse feel to any space, go for wooden tones, grey metal tones, and lots of white. Add greenery to make it not seem so “sterile.”

I am so so happy with our little bathroom! It’s super small (as in, when you sit on the toilet your knees hit the cabinet in front of you, small) so it was a little hard to get pictures of, but now it’s a cheerful little space that makes me happy!

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