One Shot: Hannah Blackmore

If you don’t already know I have taken to Pinterest with a vengeance. There’s something about seeing an image that kind of takes your breath away and being able to make a statement about it.

So welcome to what I am now calling One Shot.  One image, that for whatever reason makes me stop in my tracks and muse over it.

The above image courtesy of  Desire to Inspire has done just that.  I so absolutely love the floor in this room its ridiculous.  This flooring is very similar to what we have chosen for our kitchen so I am über excited. I have a thing for rectangles and offset tiling so the tile on the rear wall makes me smile.  The colors are calming ( to me) and the whole feel is still chic.  I could see myself wearing “casual slacks” and sipping coffee in this space.

What do you think?

desire to inspire – desiretoinspire.net – Hannah Blackmore.

A Step Above

I am really the type of person that should not have too much idle time on my hands waiting for responses. I am pretty resolute at making decisions, though I like to banter about a bit and toss around viable ( or not so viable) options.  Luckily, the designer on our project is receptive to this approach and when I come up with a gee whiz idea and shoot it over I usually get a pretty quick response which will then allow my to give a thumbs up or a thumbs down to the idea and move on.  When I don’t hear back, it just gives me more time to root around for additional options and ideas.  After all, until I get a response there’s nothing that I am doing that will stall the process…

And hence we arrive here today.  We are currently awaiting costing on some items the HUD consultant has mandated be included into the scope of work.  The amount of this additional work will determine if other things need to come off the current scope of work we have. So we’re waiting…meanwhile I got to thinking that perhaps the foyer concept we are currently implementing may not be the best way go.

This currently our idea.  I don’t like that in our Colonial the front door drops you into the living room so abruptly. We like the idea of something a little more defined.  The more I think about it though we are blowing out all the walls on the first floor and I am a little concerned that it will look like a big open space with a foyer and a kitchen island. So during breakfast this morning, I had an epiphany.  “What if instead of putting in the entry space we raised the dining area, while keeping it open?”

Much to my astonishment, the hubs almost immediately latched onto the idea and really liked (dare I say Loved?) it.  Now it will be open on two side and walled( by the exterior walls) on two side, rather than landlocked like in the pictures above and below.

In essence, I see it being a large platform that the dining room set will be on overlooking the large bay window that is currently in that space. As much as I am all for the open concept, something in me cringes just a little at the loss of a formal dining room ( perhaps it’s the realtor in me).  This option gives me a defined space while keeping the open concept. Yay!

This image (above) gives a better idea of what I am thinking. Simple and clean with just a hint of schmaltz 🙂 A cursory search of course showed some of the bells and whistles I shall add to my request. Love the lights recessed into the platform.

The drawers in this option are interesting, but I don’t know if we’d make adequate use of them. What would I store there? Suggestions?

2. Living room | Flickr – Photo Sharing!.

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Lovely To Look At…

 

So after a not so great yesterday, I figured I could easily cheer myself up with the lighter side of the renovation; the furnishings and finishes.

I’ll admit I am a bit compulsive about what the style of the “new” home will be. For the first time in my life, I am actually trying to shake off some of the influences of my dear mom and create spaces that are really much more representative of the personalities of myself and the Mister.

The term “Hollywood Regency” is stuck in my craw.  I love the feel of it, it’s Fancy but I can easily control just how fancy.  “Fancy without fussy” yes! that’s it!  As long as I keep the bling to a manageable level I think the hubs will be happy. He likes the formality of it all and this it looks intentional and finished.

However, we both agree that we want comfort.  We want to flop on the couch in the living room without either of us flinching or raising an eyebrow.   No living rooms that are only for show. If it comes through the front door, its fair game!

This couch really caught my eye I love the tufting and the color and it looks downright fluffy!  Going to an open concept space I am a little fearful of placing pieces that are too big, since we are reorienting the flow of the room and have an immoveable fireplace (which I adore) to content with.  Hmmm… decisions.

Vicky Johnson / Pinterest.