Posts Tagged ‘apartment tour’
Apartment Tour: Favorite Things
One of my goals for this year is to improve our living space, and I realized I haven’t even posted apartment pics for over a year. The little black rug above is one of my faves – Area rugs are an easy way to break up space and make the ground more baby-friendly. Decorating for a home with a baby on a budget is a challenge but after over a year living here, it’s finally feeling like a home. (I think the baby does a lot for the hominess!) Below are my favorite little things in the apartment.
Bookshelf in the family room – Mama’s reads on top and Baby’s reads on the bottom. He loves to pull all of his books out onto floor and look at the covers.
Sebastian’s baby piano is a family heirloom and he loves to play Mary Had a Little Lamb with Grandma. We got our first land line telephone about a month ago and it makes me feel like such a grown-up!
Kitchen window sill: Tranquility fountain, lucky bamboo, Lucky Cat style dog figurines ♥♥, bamboo steamer, cookbooks.
My husband was born in South Korea and this flag hangs in our stairwell.
This canvas is at the top of the stairs and is one of my very favorite things in the apartment. The photo is from one of our very first breastfeeding sessions, taken while we were still in the hospital. (Bless them, I’m pretty sure they airbrushed out a dark hair on my nipple.) I received this canvas from Bags of Love (visit their site for canvases and other Personalised Gifts) and I will definitely be ordering more from them – I am very impressed with the quality. I can see this portrait from my bed and it always makes me smile.
This tea tray on the kitchen counter doesn’t get nearly enough use. The tin is from an antique shop at the coast and contains random tea bags, including Primula Blossoming tea, and sugar packets. My favorite teas are by Yogi
This is our bedroom – I am so in love with this bed frame and somewhat heartbroken that we have to get rid of it. Sebastian can move around well enough that I can’t turn my back on him in the big bed and he can pull up on the side of his co-sleeper. We have our eye on some cute low-to-the-ground beds from IKEA and will probably just keep mattresses (ours + a twin for Zebby) on the ground in the meantime.
Close up of Sebastian’s bed, an Arm’s Reach Co-Sleeper
And finally, my desk, where I compose blog posts if I’m not doing so in bed. The chair is a hand-me-down from a friend and it is amazingly comfortable. My Sbux drink of choice is a Skinny Vanilla Latte. BlackBerry always on hand. In the picture frame at left are two photos of my husband as a teenager (not shown). The yellow thing is my breast pump – Gotta get those milkies!
There are still parts of our apartment that I’m unhappy with and others that I have ideas for. Our teeny weeny decorating budget combined with the pressing need to baby proof the place is dictating a slow pace getting areas done. We rent so painting walls and installing most types of fixtures is out. I try to stick to purchases that can be moved with us when we leave this place. Hopefully in five years we have a house – I can’t wait to start making a permanent home.
I love to see other people’s spaces so if you have a home tour on your blog, link it up in the comments!
Secondhand Home: New-to-Me Furniture
This furniture isn’t really new to me, as it was sitting in my friend Ginger’s apartment the past year. When she announced she was moving, she assigned me a sheet of paper and instructed me to make note of everything I wanted, like a registry. It’s bittersweet, as she no longer lives close by, but I love the comfort of her familiar furnishings. This also saved our home, as moving from a studio to a 2-bed townhouse, we definitely had space to fill.
We love this old dining table, with sides that drop down. She donated her red napkins, napkin rings, and place mats from World Market. My favorite is the old skool chairs with studs. This dining area still needs a bit more inspiration, and note the artwork we still haven’t gotten around to hanging!
This serving cart is a bit rusted, but very clean, and too fun to pass on. It’s the one time I wish our townhouse apartment was a flat – it’d be so fun to serve tea to the bedrooms!
We are in love with this red ottoman, and we finally have a real living room! (On the other side of the room is our old coffee table & Ikea couch.) The leopard stool is also fabulous. The small round table is from Urban Outfitters.
One of the best pieces is this desk, which my friend hand painted. That’s a Travis Outlaw bobble head on top of the TV. My husband is always watching Food Network.
My favorite new piece of furniture is definitely our new bed. I was married and sleeping on an air mattress last week, which was a very sad state. Luckily, Ginger passed down this fabulous bed frame (I was skeptical, but actually in my apartment it looks so vintage and sexy) along with a box spring & mattress. Secondhand mattresses are iffy, so it was a relief to get one from a trusted source.
Secondhand furniture not only gives a home more character than cookie cutter Ikea pieces (of which we do have a few!), it is also a great form of recycling. Furniture from friends and family can also bring comfort.
Blending new and old works as well in decor as it does in your closet. For instance, we brightened up an old-fashioned bed with brand new linens (Mattress pad, comforter, and sheets, about $80, Ross).
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