I mean, there are an alarming amount of dog walkers around here! Not to mention all the teenagers walking home from Dunkin Donuts on weekend mornings. And then the biggest privacy invasion of all on Halloween night when we actually heard someone say “oh look, they’re watching Paranormal Activity!”

So yeah, we needed some shutters. Shutters are the perfect solution for an old home and we absolutely love the thick white ones we chose for our three living room windows and one dining room. The downstairs already feels much cozier. There’s still plenty of light, we have softness with the one curtain panel on each side, and we still show off those beautiful rosettes that adorn our windows and doorways.

I’ve always been a fan of the shutters on the old homes in Charlestown and all over New England. They somehow both nod to the past while looking modern with their clean lines. It’s the perfect choice for our old/new home.

ARE YOU READY FOR BUILT IIIIINNNNS?

I can’t tell you how exciting it was to finally get to display all our books and collectibles that I’ve been scavenging for the last few years. Antiques, fun finds, beautiful books…

Photos of Jared and me…

The log slice that acted as our wedding guest book for friends and family to “log in”…

We love our home and all the work we’ve done but somehow that gaping hole in the dining room really drove us nuts. Thanks (again!) to Dad for working so hard on these lovely lovely built ins. They add so much to the house and make us smile every day.

There are tons of guides out there for styling bookcases and built-ins but one of my favorite blogs- the Glitter Guide- has assembled some of the key points.

1. Group books by color or hue. It’s simply more pleasing to the eye. If your books happen to be all over the rainbow, try this trick you’ll see in Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware catalogs- flip your books binding side in. It may be a little harder to find them but they sure do look purdy! And if that’s the case, you could group by subject and then you’ll just have to remove one stack to find the book you’re looking for. And besides, we’re talking about pretty shelves like for a dining or living room, not so much functional shelves for an office.

2. Paint or cover the back of your bookshelves with a contrasting color or texture. For our built-ins, we will be painting them white but the back of the shelves will be painted the same deep navy blue that we’ll use in the half bath. The color is Newburyport Blue by Benjamin Moore.

3. Choose a style, theme, or color scheme and stick with it. I love these blue tones or the combo of ivories and pale greens and blues.

4. Create balance with books, large pottery pieces, and small accessories. Nothing is more boring than a packed shelf of books all in a row. Place your large items in first and compliment with smaller pieces. And just like everything in your house, don’t keep it unless you love it. Sherry over at Young House Love is famous for her collection of quirky ceramic animals. Check out their perfectly balanced built-ins and see of you can spot the rhino, bird, horse, squirrel, frog, and fish!

Disclaimer: Virtual shopping involves no actual money, exchange of goods or services, or legitimate currency of any kind. Enjoy!

This canopy bed is so so lovely. The gold tones add such a sophisticated element to room and you know me with my whites and creams! Fab!

Nothing stuffy about this chaise lounge done in a casual denim. And who doesn’t love a collection of vintage mirrors?

I just think this room looks oh so cozy with all the fleece blankets, shag rug, and over-sized plush chair.

A leather Eames-inspired chair is always in style but this one is extra playful with it’s distressed baseball-glove look.

I’m a sucker for minty-aqua but what caught my eye in this room was the great use of storage! Talk about a place for everything! Even the bed legs act as a bulletin board. Genius!

And finally, my favorite room- hello rustic luxe! Exposed barn boards and distressed metal lanterns along side poofy beanbags and stylish surfboards. I could hang out here all day!

And it is crooked. The photo below is taken from the door frame as you exit the back of the house.

To the left is a door leading to the backyard.

And to the right is a pretty significant slope to the far wall.

The windows aren’t in the best shape. The floor has parquet linoleum panels just sitting on a sub-floor. The color is hideous. I just kind of hate it. In a perfect world it would either not exist or be a clean, level space I can work with.

But alas, this is what we got. So- until we rebuild and/or demo it in a couple years time, let’s talk temporary solutions.

Solution #1 = Paint. A fresh coat of paint on the walls, ceiling, and floors should make a world of difference.

Solution #2 = Curtains. I think if I can cheat a curtain rod level the entire length of the porch, it would balance the slant. These canvas and linen curtains below look so light and airy.

And Solution #3 = Get rid of that eyesore of a pool out the window! As you may recall from this confession, I took a screwdriver to the pool liner back in April so all that needs to be done is a little dismantling before it’s off to the scrap yard. As for the rest of our yard, we have big plans. But for a sneak peak at those, you’ll have to tune in tomorrow.

]]> http://whereweareblog.com/2013/08/14/thoughts-on-the-sun-porch/feed/ 0 julierswanson 8680356747_cd884c70dc_o 8681468506_381aecf4a6_o 8681468526_9218d704af_o Sun Porch 3 9781588167392_int_012-029.qxp Curtains Sun Porch 2 http://whereweareblog.com/2013/08/05/hm-home/ http://whereweareblog.com/2013/08/05/hm-home/#comments Mon, 05 Aug 2013 12:00:48 +0000 http://whereweareblog.com/?p=1376 ]]> Have you heard?! H&M has just launched their first U.S. e-commerce site with not only their fabulous clothing and accessories but now… wait for it… wait for it…

Home goods!

I remember H&M’s home goods sections in their European stores but I’ve never seen them here in the U.S. The thing I love about H&M is how trendy it is but at such affordable prices. So why not get that studded top that you’ll probably only wear for one season when it’s only $9.99?

So when I heard their home goods were launching in the U.S. I knew I had another go-to store for our new home. Check out the entire collection at http://www.hm.com/us/department/HOME. Here are some of my favorites like this black and white map duvet cover for $24.95!

Or this fantastic sugar sack pillow for $17.95.

This collection of bathroom accessories is so sweet and vintage. Too bad it’s NY Transit System and not the good ol’ MBTA!

These Parisian bath accessories are just darling especially in that cool peppermint color! One towel for $17.95.

1. Chenille throws and cotton blankets create warmth- not just literally! The tone-on-tone texture when overflowing from a basket near the couch or folded and draping over an arm of a big comfy chair add depth and comfort to any room.
2. Classic contrast is my favorite design trick. Blending old and new or rough and slick is something I try to achieve in every room. I have a glass lamp that I’ve paired with a burlap shade. The glass once held coffee beans and sat in our kitchen in Virginia. Now I intend to fill it with big chunky fishing rope like in the beautiful glass bowl above.
3. A glass jug as a light fixture screams re-purposed-vintage charm while it’s single Edison bulb gives it a hint of minimalist modern flair. We’re hanging this one from Shades of Light in our entryway. Large enough to feel grand but the clear glass gives this smaller space a wider illusion.
4. In that same texture vein, I’m obsessed with Sisal Rugs. Simple and classic, these durable rugs anchor a room and look gorgeous on a slick dark wood floor.

This post was not sponsored by Pottery Barn. These thoughts and opinions are solely my own.

I think it’s pretty distinct. I don’t stray far from the colors and textures I love. And that’s in all aspects of my life- my clothes, my design style at work, my choices for our home. It’s all low key yet lush. Quality but not quantity. Simple and sumptuous. And then it hit me- Rustic Luxe.

Well it didn’t hit me as much as I pulled it from the mailbox. The latest Pottery Barn catalog introduced their Rustic Luxe collection. They describe it as “The art of creative mixing. Unexpected pairings of colors, textures and patterns make a home distinctive and inspiring.”

I’ve always loved Rustic Luxe but never knew my style was branded. My whole wedding was Rustic Luxe! A majestic barn, lace gown and tailored suit under a birch arbor, s’more favors with luscious satin ribbon, champagne in a simple wooden bucket. The perfect balance of comfort and sophistication.

But enough about our wedding – forgive me, I’m still a newlywed and in my eyes, it was perfect – but back to Pottery Barn. As I flipped through the catalog, it cemented my belief that this was the perfect term for my style. Key elements included wood, leather, simple glass light fixtures, and soft neutral colors.

Stay tuned tomorrow as we catalog all the Rustic Luxe core pieces and fun accessories we’ve already chosen for our new home. What’s your design style? Asian Contemporary? Hamptons Chic? Modern Glam? Country Cabin?

I’ve always been a fan of minimalism and monochromatic design. I find it soothing. We’re blasted with so much sound and light during the day – and especially working in advertising, I feel like I’m constantly having color and messaging thrown in my face. Isn’t it nice to come home to peace?

Two of my favorite simplistic monochromatic designers are Candice Olson and Sarah Richardson. Here are some samples of their gorgeous work. At the end of our renovation, I sure hope you can see the similarities.

From Candice…

And from Sarah…

Here are some of my favorite Navy Blue design pics…

All the rich wood tones look gorgeous with this Navy wall though I think the choice of just one dark wall is a good one. The white ceiling and other white walls keep the room bright and fresh.

Continuing the Navy walls up onto the curved ceiling is so bold and dramatic but I think you can get away with drama in a dining room. The framed tall white wainscoting compliments the dark tones nicely.

You know I’m obsessed with a Navy Blue powder room. Holla!

One of my favorite blogs, Young House Love describes their built-ins as “tall, dark, and handsome!” Their white books and ceramics pop in front of Navy walls.

And finally, not a home decor choice but I wanted to prove my love for Navy with a glimpse from our wedding. Check out these lovely ladies…