November 5, 2014

I blame/thank The Nester... and now my hubby does, too!


So last year at the Allume Blogging Conference, I attended a workshop with Chad and Myquillyn Smith.  Sure, I had visited her gorgeous blog, Nesting Place and I knew who she was... to be honest, mostly I knew she was Emily Freemans' sister and I am nothing if not the most non-threathening stalker, ...no, fan-girl, ...no, reader of All Things Emily.

No big deal: I got to pray with Myquillyn before the workshop and then I fell in love with her because of her... not because of her sister, or her awesome decorating mojo, or anything else other than the fact that she is awesomely real.  Like, bravely, boldly real. (Maybe shaky-kneed, sure - but nonetheless, honest!)  Included in all the Swag was a teaser for her new book, The Nesting Place and so the wait began.



I was slow in giving in and purchasing this book but I just knew it would be filled with all kinds of lovely and honestly - the fact that it included tips for RENTERS sealed the deal!  I began to read through this book in late Spring... about halfway through I found a stirring need passion to paint something blue. (Consider yourself warned!) 

My Honey thought he was helping (and intervening) by suggesting we spray paint an old bird bath for the garden.  He wasn't so sure in the beginning of my choice of color - but hello Spanish Garden?

I loved it... I was happy with it, even... and yet... it seemed that it was maybe just not enough painting things blue!

And then, I played Bunco and won this pillow:
Clearly... the pillow is to blame.  (Well, the pillow and The Nester, because, of course!)

With our Girlie all moved out and having given me CLEAR instructions to not touch her shrine room for at least a year or more, I was left with only one option... the Family Room.

Now, we are renters ya'll - but long term ones. We have lived in this place for nearly 18 years.  Our Landlords are our neighbors and they are amazing and so supportive of us making this our home.  The Family Room is the one room my hubby asked me not to decorate when we moved in! At the time, my style was - well, Victorian-ish - and he wanted the family room to look like a bachelor pad rec room from days gone by... you know, like things taped on the walls and posters, and such?  But I agreed.  Afterall, I had several other rooms to focus on and over the years every single one of them has benefitted from a little redo.  After all these years, he had forgotten that I even promised that, but I reminded him nonetheless and somehow still managed to convince him of the 'need' of a little touch up (because, the pillow! Right?)

I can't even say I took 'Before' pictures because the truth is, I hated that room.  We rarely used it and I never wanted company down there.  It was where our tv was and my art space and his music space and our workout area... it was a multi-purpose room and I attempted to keep hidden and never really lived in. It was neglected and sad (and not the best creative space to be working in, to be honest!) The only photo's taken of it would be from Christmases' past... because that is when it looked its' best(ish)...



I hated the floors and the walls and the furniture. I wanted it all to change. I paged through The Nesting Place and the subtitle gave me freedom and grace to go ahead and jump right in! 

"It doesn't have to be perfect to be Beautiful!"

So over last summer, slowly due to the lack of pre-planning and budgeting, we transformed our Family Room into a room that we now Absolutely LOVE

I mean, we can't get enough of it! 

 

 

  

 



On a teeny tiny budget, we laid carpet, painted walls, painted old furniture, made a coffee table, bought new curtains and lamps, made art, changed out the outlet/light switches, found a couch on Craigslist, and bought an area rug... we left the popcorn ceiling and have yet to purchase another chair for additional seating, or new light fixtures above - but without further ado (why do I keep saying that, ya'll?)...

Here is the Big Reveal...















...and see? I still let him tape things to the wall!                       

I know, right? I don't know if you can truly appreciate the transformation but I will say this... we are cuddled together on that Craigslist Purple couch watching movies or tv or just talking... I am making art again with all my painted and repurposed furniture and working out down there and oh my goodness, it's my favorite place! We are hosting gatherings and while that is nothing new, friends are a little shocked that all of the sudden, we have a basement! 

So what about you?  Do you love to redecorate or hate it?  Do you have a room that you would rather no one sees? 

Can I encourage you to consider a few small changes that can open up hospitality and peace? 

I mean, our homes are our refuge, right?
We may as well love them!





* SOME AFFILIATE LINKS INCLUDED.  ABIDING LOVE, ABOUNDING GRACE IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR SITES TO EARN ADVERTISING FEES BY ADVERTISING AND LINKING TO AMAZON.COM.


P.S.  I'm linking up with these lovely writers:

Holly Barrett for #TestimonyTuesday



Jennifer Dukes Lee for #TellHisStory

Holley Gerth for #CoffeeforYourHeart


18 comments :

  1. Karrilea - I loved seeing this room transformation. Know why? You made it all personal to you, reflecting you & your family & in that, it is precious! We can so look at pictures &/or books & magazines & try to make our homes like what we see. The point is to have our homes reflect us. Then others will feel welcomed & comfortable. Enjoy your new room!

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    1. Thanks so much! I have always been a huge fan of decorating that makes it personal... using family heirlooms and lots of photo's, homemade art, using pieces purchased on vacations, etc! I am so pleased that you could tell this just from the photo's! How great would it be to sip on something yummy, face to face, in my family room? xoxo

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  2. Karrilee! I love it! Way to go! haha I so wish you could come do my house. I have been in it for almost 3 years and still have very few things on the walls. Decorating is daunting to me....but you make it look easy :)

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    1. Cindy, while I LOVE to decorate, I completely believe you can do it! I think we get caught up in thinking it has to look like the magazines, or be perfect, and so we don't even start - but I have to tell you, I love this room now and can't believe I waited so long to tackle it! (Reading through The Nesting Place helps... fyi!) ;)

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  3. How awesome is this!!! Love it!

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    1. Thanks so much Elizabeth! I love it too (and actually use the room now... All. The. Time.)

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  4. "friends are a little shocked that all of the sudden, we have a basement! " Love this, Karrilee! You did an awesome job with this space! The little birds, the owls, the artwork, the blue!!!! It's fabulous!

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    1. Aw... thanks June! I love it and it's true... we entertain all the time but you would have to be considered a VERY good friend for me to have invited you down to the basement! ;) Now - anyone is invited! ;)

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  5. I love the painting of the peacock. It is so pretty and all the unique things you found. It is so beautiful! I didn't get to meet the Nester this year at Allume but I heard her speak.

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    1. Thank you Mary! I am super proud of that peacock! I love it too... it's my favorite piece! Myquillyn is pretty amazing... so glad you got to hear her speak! (Wouldn't you just LOVE to go hang out at The Barn with her and her family? One day, maybe!)

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  6. Redecorating is one of my favorite things to do. I'd rather re-do a room than buy groceries. Such a fun space.

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    1. Me too... if only it was the same budget, right? ;) Although... sometimes it is! Some times it just takes one piece to transform a room! (My husband read the post and felt badly that I hated the room all these years! I suppose hate is a strong word... we did use it, ourselves... but I rarely wanted to entertain down there! At any rate - we are ALL loving it now!) Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  7. From one renter to another: you go girl!!!!!

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  8. Oh my gosh! That peacock painting!!!

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    1. Thanks! I love it too! It's hard to pick a favorite piece - but I find myself looking at that instead of the tv, sooo.... (Oh and I loved your girlies' vlog... hope she finally packed! ;) Praying for you all in this new season!) xoxo

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  9. I know, I know, I LOVED Nester's book, Karrilee. I was inspired and yet soothed at the same time. I felt motivated, yet kind of gently. I gave it to my girls for their birthdays and gave away a couple of copies to my readers last month.

    Her message is just too priceless not to share. What a gift she's given us.

    After all, we're all so weary of trying to be perfect, yes?

    ;-}

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    1. Yes! I love this, Linda! (I hope you wrote a review for the book on Amazon and GoodReads!) And Amen to all being over trying to be perfect! There is so much freedom to be had when we finally let go of that, right?

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Thanks so much for stopping by! I always love to hear your thoughts! Remember to: Speak Life - Be Love - Shine On!
~Karrilee~

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