Not House Beautiful But...

I have said many times before, that I am not a Martha Stewart. My decorating gifts don't run in that way. And yet...

From the time I was very young, I longed for my own area on which to place my stamp. To decorate in a way that reflects me and my personality. As a preteen and teenager, I had knick-knacks galore, and wall hangings and other odds and ends.

But then I grew up and grew practical. I became more concerned with child proofing than decorating. My semi-minimalist nature sprang out out a desire to dust less and to not clutter up a smallish house. And yet...

When I see Design Mom's Living With Kids posts it becomes very obvious that kids and decor aren't mutually exclusive. It is possible to have a beautiful, kid friendly home. It is possible to have a beautiful smallish home. It is possible to have a beautiful, non-cluttered home. It is possible...

I said on Monday, that homemaking is our art and our canvas is our house. And I realized that I am ready to add more brilliant touches to my canvas. My heart is yearning not for a showcase, but for a little less practical. Here's what I am dreaming about, planning and moving towards...

-Living Room...this August I am taking the bull by the horns, and I am getting my living room up through my upstairs hall painted-ceiling, trim and walls. I am hiring it out. I figured that with a Meres around, it would be more worth my while to pay someone else to paint, than for me to have to keep her out of the paint for several long days. I am going with a rich sage-ish green for the living room walls. I am going to do a shade or two darker for the stairwell and upstairs hall. It is going to be darker, but I think the contrast with the white trim and ceiling will make it not overbearing.

That is my big "house beautiful" make over for the living room. I also am going to do some needed cosmetic things-clean the carpet, recover the recliner sofa cushions (white seemed like a good idea a few years ago...), and put new, unbroken blinds on the windows. I am going to invest in the thick blinds that hold up well and clean easily. This is my nod to child proofing.

These little fixes pack a punch. They show we care about our space. It is good stewardship.

After the painting is done, I may get some Pinterest inspiration for rehanging photographs, art and clocks. I may go for a more gallery look or something. Maybe I will ask my more artistic friends (Hannah and Ann...I'm looking at you...) to help me out.

-Dining Room. My dining room has always presented a bit of a challenge. It is a relatively small room. And it doubles as my school room. I painted the walls 2 years ago, and my wood floors got refinished this past winter. My dining room chairs also got a face life. I made new curtains. I hung some big art pieces. It is worlds better than what we started with. But...

looking for something like this...

The only furniture in there is the table and chairs. And I am ready to change that up. I am on the hunt for a corner hutch. I am either going to get a nice wood one off Craig's List or we are going to order up a custom hutch from our local Amish furniture store. My new hutch will accomplish two or three things. It will be a focal point of interest and beauty. It will provide a place for me to put some knick-knacks that I have been collecting. My awesome Schlemertoff, and a new stoneware pitcher. The solid door bottom, with shelves, will provide an out of sight place to store school books and supplies. Totally functional and practical, but with a nod towards ascetics and beauty.

I also am making the room less school-ish. I am putting the flags elsewhere. And I am keeping a table cloth on the table. It adds some gorgeousness and class.

-Other Areas. For the most part, the other areas of my house are the way I want them. I spent a lot of time on my bedroom until it became the haven I was looking for. The bathrooms are pretty good too. I may rethink some of the accessories I used when we moved in 8 years ago. I was really into wicker and baskets back then.

I spend a lot of time in my kitchen and I love it...

My kitchen is a delightful (I think) space that is decked out in ceramic and wrought iron. It is probably the most decorated room in my house. And I love it. Each piece is one I have found at a garage sale or second hand store or clearance rack. It has all combined to make the most colorful room in my house.

I just realized that the two least decorated rooms in my house are probably the two most visible to visitors. That's what dusting you house does for you...points out ironies.

Decorating doesn't have to be expensive. I shop at thrift stores and on Craig's List. The key is to shop often and to be patient.

I am hoping to have my new look before the start of school. New areas to be studious in. New ways to celebrate my longing for beauty.

What dreams and plans do you have for your house canvas? How can you start to economically make some changes?