House & Bounty

I’m finally sharing my living room progress. I’ve been dragging my feet because, well, I’m still working on my photography skills. The room feels so good in person, but I can’t seem to capture the right images. I’m trying to be patient with myself as I learn the right height, exposure, and settings. I used a wide-angle lens for all the shots, which I think contributed to some of my problems (some of the images look a little distorted – like the proportions are off). I also think I should have tried to capture photos on an overcast day, as I was battling bright light for some of the pictures. Nevertheless, let’s talk about and celebrate the progress of this room. It makes me very happy, and I just like spending time here.

Let’s start with the before pictures because it’s always fun to see how things have changed. This first photo is from the real estate listing. The room was bright, painted white, and had wood trim. This room is not large by any account. It opens up into the dining room and has a doorway into the entryway (you’ll see that in some of the photos below).

Right before we started demo, I snapped some quick photos on my phone. They are dark (it was a cloudy day), but it gives a good sense of the overall room size. The first photo looks into the dining room, and the second one looks into the living room from the dining room.

Here is a quick shot after we removed the carpet and prepped it for the hardwood flooring installation. I had also painted the walls (Asiago by Valspar) and trim (Ultra Pure White by Behr). These small changes started to make it feel like a different room.

We installed the white oak hardwood flooring, and I was over the moon excited. Sadly, this is how it sat for a couple of months while we worked on the dining room and all the trim work.

After some delay, we finished it off by installing larger baseboard trim and quarter round around the perimeter.

And now the official after photos – all furnished!

We had all the furniture and accessories before the demo, so we just put everything back into place. These two chairs are from HomeGoods (one is Charlotte style by La Z Boy, and the other is from a manufacturer I’ve never heard of). I had the two chairs flank the window and put a small table between them. I searched for months for the right table because I needed something relatively short as I didn’t want to block the window. The floor lamp is from Target (years ago), and the wicker basket under the table stores some board games.

You can also see the doorway to the entry at this angle. Don’t mind our shoes (hey, this is real life!). You’ll also see that the entry has old hardwood floors and unpainted wood trim. We are installing the hardwoods room-by-room, so the entry will eventually get the new floorings/trim, but for now, it’s in an in-between phase.

Here is looking into the living room from the entry. Our XL DIY art is on full display here. The coffee table is from Hayneedle (no longer available), and it’s topped with a large blue woven tray. Of course, it’s full of magazines. They seem to be taking over the house these days. The rug is from Overstock.com, and I love it. It’s textured, soft, and has two different weaves that create a nice striped pattern. Quick disclaimer – I ordered an 8′ x 10,’ but the dimensions are slightly smaller. I ordered the “bleach” color.

Looking into the living room from the dining room, you see an old console table (I think it’s 10 years old!). We bought it for our first house, and it has moved with us everywhere. It’s starting to show its age, so I may replace it or do a DIY makeover. I use it to display a bunch of family photos. I’ve talked about this before, but I’ll repeat it. Kate Spade’s home tour really inspired me. She had a table just crammed full of family photos, and I thought it was so sweet. It’s not necessarily the most “beautiful” thing, but it’s probably one of the happiest moments in the room. We also have some baskets which store my son’s craft supplies. I threw blankets on top for a little more grown-up look.

As I said, the living room is pretty small. With a different layout, I could have included a full-size sofa but decided to use a loveseat (also a HomeGoods find) instead, so it could float in the middle of the room and face the chairs. I wanted this space to feel intimate and be an area for people to have conversations and play games.

It’s always fun to take a few detailed shots. I love snails (you’ll see them throughout the house). This little wood snail is from Target (many years ago now).

I really like the piping and texture on this blue pillow.

This room is done for now. Eventually, I’ll change out the blinds for a bamboo shade, replace or refinish the console table, and layer in more art on the walls (I already have a ton that I just need to frame and hang). Also, let’s do a sneak peek of the dining room because it’s almost done, too! EEK!

My family and I visited Myrtle Beach for the first time this year. It’s such a great, affordable beach vacation with lots of things to do nearby. I wanted to write down our favorite sites, so others could check them out if they are looking for something to do.

1. The Beach

Obviously, we need to start with the beach. It’s clean and super easy to get to. There is consistent and easy access every block or two. Likewise, they have showers and foot spigots at every entry/exit point (at least of the ones I visited). The only thing I wished I knew before is that there is a layer of shells when you walk into the ocean, and it can hurt your feet. You can get past it if you go out far enough, but I recommend swim shoes. In addition, you will get bits and pieces of seashells everywhere, and some seem embedded into your skin! It’s a wonderful place to take a walk, and people are out there all hours of the day.

2. Broadway At The Beach

Broadway at the Beach is a short drive from the beach boardwalk and has basically everything you need to stay busy. They have shopping, entertainment, and many great places to eat (We really liked the Dave & Busters and Yamato Habachi). Most entertainment venues are indoors, so it’s a great place if you need a break from the sun. In addition, they have fun shops, like Broadway Magic or It’s Sugar, that kids will enjoy.

3. Ripley’s Aquarium

While visiting the boardwalk, check out Ripley’s Aquarium. It can be a nice break from the sun or something fun to do when it’s raining. It’s a compact aquarium but has show stoppers like the stingray tank and shark tunnel. The ticket line can grow quickly, so I recommend purchasing the tickets on your phone. It saves you so some time!

4. Mt. Atlanticus Minotaur Golf

Like many tourism destinations, Mrytle Beach has a wide array of mini-golf options. There were tons to choose from, but we decided to go to Mt. Atlanticus, and I was very impressed! It has two courses (you can do both for a reasonable price). The course is easy enough for kids but still fun for adults. It’s designed to keep you moving, which is helpful since it’s hot outside and usually bustling. We did the “Caves” course and appreciated the opportunity to be out of the sun for many of the holes. Lots of fun and you get some beautiful views of the ocean. It’s hard to see, but the picture above has the ocean in the back.

5. Brookgreen Gardens & Zoo

This botanical garden and zoo are located 30-45 minutes away from Mrytle but worth the drive. You pay a single price to access the gardens and zoo, which are on the same property. Also, the tickets are good for 7 days. It’s a nice retreat from the hectic atmosphere of the beach. You can stroll through the gardens and grounds, take in the beautiful landscapes, and even view some art. They have the largest collection of sculptures. The zoo is small and houses animals local to the area. Like the gardens, the zoo has a meandering path, so it feels peaceful.

A Deep Dive Into Claire McCardell: Until last month, I didn’t know who Claire McCardell was. I stumbled on an interesting bathing suit on Pinterest, which took me down an hours-long rabbit hole to read everything I could about the designer. Claire McCardell is an American women’s fashion designer that was prominent in the 1930s-1950s. She was notable because she established the “American” look and emphasized function, wearability, and comfort. Her clothes were well made, comfortable, and stylish. Claire studied at the Parsons School of Design in New York and was well versed in couture construction, fashion, and structure. However, her clothing was designed for the everyday American woman using durable, common fabrics. Her clothes were considered “simple” as they didn’t include a lot of fanciful decoration, but the lines and cut of the garments were sophisticated and interesting. One article even credits Claire with designing the precursor to the ubiquitous hoodie and ballet flat shoes. I find Claire’s designs flattering, interesting and relevant. Her story is equally as fascinating. If you want to learn more, check out these articles: Article 1, Article 2, Article 3 (watch video), Article 4 (Claire’s Time Magazine Article), Article 5, Article 6 (nice pictures). I’m also impatiently waiting for a book about her. It’s out of print but seems widely available at libraries (particularly colleges).

The Time Tax: Why is so much American bureaucracy left to average citizens? This article highlight all the hurdles that citizens must clear to get access to government programs and benefits. It states that government makes the process difficult and time-consuming (hence time tax), so fewer people use the services. It’s interesting and worth a read. However, it makes me think of another article I read years ago. It focused on how companies have essentially put a greater burden on the consumer to do more work (another time tax), so the companies can profit more (this article is a good overview of the concept but focuses on employment). Employers argue this change is “giving customers the power.” But, most times, it gives the customer a headache. This is one of those concepts I started seeing everywhere once I was aware of it.

Three Birds Renovations: Facade & Floorplans (episode 2): Three Birds Renovations is an Australian-based interior design company that produces a YouTube series (I list their YouTube channel as one of my favorites). Each season follows the renovation (or construction) of one client’s home. This season is different. They are working with a home builder to design a “Three Birds Home.” Basically, they are collaborating to create a spec home that anyone can build. So far, it’s been an interesting look behind the curtain. It’s a totally different process than how I would have imagined, but that’s another conversation for another day. Today, I want to talk about a company highlighted in this episode, Lifesize Plans. If you watch the episode, you’ll see the designers go to what looks like a warehouse that projects their floor plan to scale on the ground. It allows them to walk through and make sure the details are right (i.e., hallways aren’t too wide or narrow, kitchen spacing feels adequate). It seems like such a cool service! Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be available in the US (yet).