decorating Archives - Arrow Hill Cottage

Cottage Spring Decor | Spring 2021

Today, I want to share the cottage spring decor here at Arrow Hill Cottage. I am always amazed to see how simple changes can completely transform a space for the seasons.

With winter finally melted away, and the official start of spring identified on the calendar, it was time to change up the interior decor of the cottage.

There is something so special about the spring season. It has a freshness, a sense of newness about it. People generally are spending more time outdoors and enjoying the longer hours of sunshine.

As a minimalist family, the amount of decor items kept in our home is small. However, I do like to mix and match the items we do have as a way to change the look of the cottage interior.

Cottage Spring Decor

Our cottage is filled with items that have been collected slowly throughout the years. As I was gathering pieces from various rooms, a theme started to emerge. Green, pale blue, and yellow seemed to be the dominant colors I was drawn to. Natural elements, such as woven baskets and greenery also played an important role in this year’s spring decor.

The living room, complete with the newly reupholstered side chair, holds a couple of cute displays. Above the fireplace, a vintage painted window takes center stage. Although the window recently fell, breaking the glass, my husband restored the wood pieces. I a grateful for that!

In addition to the wood window, an old piece of trim and bird paper-cut art piece are layered. To the right of the frame, a small green tin holds faux flowers. I love mixing textures. The metal of the tin, together with the patina of the trim and wood window, is complimenting.

Next to the fireplace sits a large chalkboard. The black and white typography is balanced by the potted plants, which are placed atop an enameled tray.

I have plans to give this chalkboard a makeover in the near future, so be on the lookout for a post or video about that!

This vintage blanket adds the perfect amount of muted color to the space.

Decorating with memories

Incorporating memories into decor is one of my all time favorite tips. This little display features quite a few, including the pedal sewing machine that was my great grandmother’s.

The typewriter is another cherished keepsake passed down to our family from my husband’s great grandma. Just seeing these types of items sprinkled throughout the cottage brings us a sense of connection to the past.

Similarly, an old window sits atop the piano. We added a chalkboard panel behind it, and attached metal clips. These clips allow me to change out photos or mementos to display.

For the cottage spring decor setup this year, I chose photos that showcase special memories that our family has experienced during the spring season through the years.

Natural elements in spring decor

When it comes to spring decorating, I especially love incorporating natural elements. Since nature outdoors is showing the first signs of blooming, it only makes sense to bring the magic inside.

In the Midwest, tulips are a tell-tale first sign of spring. I picked these up at Aldi of all places! Because they are potted, they can be transplanted outside when it warms up a bit more!

On the dining table, an arrangement of faux greenery and candles sits inside a small crock. Coupled with a textured art piece, woven basket and a sweet little deer figurine, the entire table centerpiece anchors our simple white oak table.

Isn’t this little guy just the cutest thing?

In comparison to the rest of the main level, I didn’t spend a lot of time decorating in the kitchen. I think that adding decor in this room will become easier once our floating shelves are installed. Until then, I love having the large window ledge above our sink as decorating space.

My tin collection has grown a little bit, and soon I will be planting spices and possibly a few succulents in them! These clay pots are also just waiting to be filled. I am getting particularly excited for garden season this year!

Thanks so much for stopping by our cottage. I hope your spring season is going well so far, and that you are anticipating great things ahead!

Decorating Arrow Hill Cottage

Watch as Arrow Hill Cottage is transformed for the new season.

More Spring Decor Ideas

Need more inspiration? These blog posts offer swoon worthy content!

Cottage Style Spring Decorating Ideas | The Lettered Cottage

Simple Spring Decorating | Fox Hollow Cottage

Refreshing + Minimal Spring Cottage Tour | Pine + Prospect Home

Shared Girls Room | Bedroom Tour

Today I am excited to give you a tour of the shared girls room at the cottage. Though far from fully decorated, we have done quite a bit in the space already and would love to show you around!

Our newly built cottage has a total of three bedrooms (technically four if you count the basement bonus space). The master suite is on the main level, and there are two additional bedroom upstairs. One for the boys and one for the girls. Our entire family appreciates the simplicity of this arrangement. Truthfully, our kids do not mind one bit that they share with their siblings. In fact, they prefer it!

Shared Girls Room | Basics

We covered the entire upper level ceiling of the cottage with pine tongue and groove boards, which were then painted white. My husband recently created a video which documents the long process of installing them.

As a result of our hard work, we are extremely happy with how the ceilings look. Because they are vaulted, the natural daylight that comes in through the single window bounces around and really brightens up the entire room.

Oak flooring creates a beautiful, neutral backdrop for furnishings and decor. In addition, the all white walls and trim have the same effect.

When I designed the girls room, I was careful to create a space that would serve the girls for years to come. For example, although the girls currently enjoy having their beds close together at night, they might not always prefer this set up. The dimensions of the room were worked out so that each girl could eventually claim their own ‘half’. There are two closets in the room as well.

Sleeping Space

One side of the bedroom is designated for sleeping and quiet time. The two antique metal beds found on this side were an absolute labor of love for my husband. He painstakingly restored the beds over the course of several months. Although the beds spent many years in a friend’s barn, you would never know it now!

My husband documented the process of restoring the beds through a series of videos. I am so impressed with how they turned out. Most importantly though, the girls love them.

A small table is positioned between the beds. It is the perfect size for a reading lamp, and a few books.

I chose white comforters for the beds. They are easy to clean and provide a neutral base that can be changed up easily with accent bedding and pillows. For now, the accents of pink, aqua, and yellow are fun and girly, while not being age specific. One thing I am still on the hunt for are matching quilts or duvet covers for the ends of each bed.

Play Space

The opposite side of the room is set up as a kind of pseudo mini house – every little girl’s dream! It is complete with a small play kitchen, table, and two pink chairs. In addition, a sweet doll crib – made by the girls’ great grandpa – holds special sentiment.

The girls have literally spent hours creating make believe scenarios with their stuffed animals and dolls.

Their play kitchen is something I posted about a couple of years ago. It was made using a vintage dresser as the primary structure. More information about the process of building the play kitchen, and links for many of the accessories, can be found in THIS POST.

You may recognize the small red table from this past year’s Christmas decorating. I recently found an enamel top table at a local antique shop. This new table is a bit larger and more useful for our annual winter puzzle endeavors. For this reason, we moved the little red table up to the girl’s space – and kept the enamel topped one on the main level. These two tables will definitely be moved around the house throughout the years, depending on the needs of our family and my seasonal decorating desires.

Other Furniture + Decor

The only other piece of furniture the girls have in their bedroom is a dresser. It is, yet again, another special hand me down item. Purchased by my grandparents, the dresser was mine as a little girl. The perfect size, it has four drawers – two for each daughter. We have it organized so that each girl has one drawer for their shirts, and one for their pants/shorts/skirts.

Atop the dresser are a few special and sentimental items. A beautiful watercolor print, which was purchased on Etsy, provides a bit more color to the room. The small wooden box holds the some of the girls’ cherished special items. Lastly, the pink bunny was hand sewn by the nannies at our older daughter’s orphanage. They gave it to her as a gift on her adoption day.

Though I have more decor ideas for the room, there is no rush on getting everything implemented at once. Kid spaces have a tendency to evolve and change as the occupants grow. The girls bedroom will be no different, I’m sure.

Girls Shared Room Video Walkthrough

Sometimes, it is easier to see a space in video format. I’ve created a video tour of the room for just that reason.

I hope you enjoyed this little tour! Stay tuned for more space reveals, as we continue to decorate at the cottage!

Antique Shopping Finds | Winter 2021

Today I want to share with you my most recently collected antique and thrift store treasures. These antique shopping finds include a variety of items that we have added to our home for both decor and functional purposes.

With our cottage build complete, we have moved onto a new phase. Decorating! I don’t claim to be an expert interior decorator, but I do know what I like when I see it! With Pinterest picture references, I am constantly on the lookout for unique and special items to add to our rooms. Most definitely, I prefer a ‘collected’ look when it comes to home furnishings and decor. To me, spaces just look and feel more personal when the pieces in it have a story.

Although it may take me years and years to finalize the decorating of the cottage, I am up for the challenge!

My Antique Shopping Tips

I live in a town that is known as a bit of a tourist destination. In addition to its many lakes, it boasts a vibrant downtown area, complete with multiple antique stores. With all of these beautiful shops so accessible, it would be easy to spend hours each day shopping. However, I prefer to limit my browsing to every few months.

This spaced out shopping is helpful for a variety of reasons. First, it allows plenty of time for item turnaround. The workers at these antique shops are constantly attending estate sales and picking up items to resell. That means that if I step into the stores less often, I am more likely to see many new items each time. Secondly, in order to make room for new merchandise, items that haven’t sold in a couple of months may be offered at a discount. I have seen pieces drop in price over fifty percent from one outing to the next.

It is my preference to always shop with someone else. I generally do not enjoy shopping, even casually. Having another person with is more fun, because we can visit while walking through the stores. Many times, one of us will see an item that sparks a memory, which adds to even more conversation. In addition, if I am questioning whether to buy something or not, I can talk it over with my shopping buddy.

Shopping As A Minimalist

When designing our home, we purposefully made the decision to not include a lot of storage. We saw it as a way to ensure that the items we have are used on a regular basis. In addition to that, neither my husband nor I like clutter. For these reasons, we are very intentional about the items we bring into our home.

In order for something to ‘make the cut’, so to speak, it needs to be either useful/ needed or something we love to look at.

An item that is offered at a good price but is the wrong color, size, or shape will not be a purchase of mine.

I try to make it a habit of walking through a store first, without picking anything up. If something catches my eye, I will go back to it for further inspection. Many times I have left the store, with photos and measurements of an item in hand, and thought about it for a few days. If it is a piece that I can’t get out of my mind, I will go back to purchase.

Winter 2021 Antique Shopping Finds

Are you ready to see what I decided to bring home? Great! I’m excited to show you!

Enamel Top Table

First up is this white enamel topped table. Based on the construction techniques used, our best guess is that it is from the earlier part of the 20th century. Perhaps somewhere between 1910 and 1930, when having a small baking table in the kitchen was common practice.

There is evidence suggesting that the table used to have two drawers. The drawer fronts are still present, but they have been nailed to the frame and the drawer boxes have been removed. My husband is thinking about re-creating the drawers. He also has plans to remove the paint (we think it is probably lead based) and refinish the wood legs.

For the moment the table is being used as a surface for puzzles. In the future, I envision switching it out with the little red chippy table seen in my Christmas decorating post. Depending on the season and decor needs, both tables will come in quite handy.

Woven Basket

This little basket was found at a local thrift store for a few dollars. I’m not entirely certain that it is old, but it does appear to be hand made. I love all of the little details on this piece, including the ‘x’ shaped ties, and the teeny tiny pins around the top. At approximately 6″ x 12″ , it is the perfect size to hold a few books.

We have been keeping the basket next to the fireplace. It currently holds our family Bible and devotion materials, so that they are within easy access to pick up for a quick read.

Knit Throw

I am drawn to cozy, neutral textures. This cream colored knit throw caught my eye with its beautiful pattern and smaller size. It is not a full blanket, but it has just enough material to wrap up in.

After bringing it home and giving it a good washing, I layered it on the back of our couch. Atop another vintage blanket, the texture of the throw really pops!

Metal Spice Tins

I have recently started one of my very first collections. These little vintage metal tins are so fun, and each so unique. They were found in many different shops, at various price points ranging from one to five dollars. I find the font and color choices on each individual tin so interesting.

I have seen some very unique ways that vintage tins have been used as decor. My absolute favorite, and the thought that is guiding my collection, is to use them as little planters. By taking the tops off of the tins, I can fill them with soil and plant small succulents and spices of my own. Chives, cilantro, maybe a some dill? The large window ledge above our kitchen sink will be the perfect place to display them, during the spring and summer months.

Original Oil Painting

My absolute favorite recent find is this original painting. When I saw it, while shopping with my mom, it stopped me in my tracks. I loved the colors and composition immediately. The winter scene depicting children ice skating on a frozen pond reminded me so much of our own property here at Arrow Hill Cottage. However, the hefty price tag gave me pause, and I walked away. Once home, I did a bit more research on the artist because I was curious why the painting was priced so high.

It turns out that the painting was done by a local artist named Ellen Eilers. She is best known for her ‘Calico Country’ series of artwork, which includes various stylized landscape scenes. However, she mentioned in this video that she particularly enjoyed painting winter scenes. I believe that enjoyment was transferred to the canvas when she made this piece. The details are stunning!

After thinking about it for a few days, and with encouragement (and birthday money) from my parents, I happily went back to the store to purchase it. It fits just perfectly here at the cottage, and I am excited to enjoy it for years to come.

That’s everything for now! I hope you enjoyed these antique shopping finds. I’m hoping to do a post like this every so often, when I have new purchases to share. I always think it is fun to hear the stories behind some of the items that are in a person’s home, and I hope you do too!

Antique Haul Video

More Antique Shopping Tips

If you’ve been thinking of adding some vintage charm to your home, but the thought of sifting through antique stores scares you, check out these resources! The ladies who wrote the posts are seasoned antique finders with beautiful homes filled with collected items. They each have their own personal styles, but are all very inspiring!

Farmhouse On Boone | Farmhouse Antique Shopping Tips

Emily Henderson | Thrifters Guide On What To Buy (And Skip)

Pine + Prospect Home | Antiquing For Beginners

Christmas Decorating at the Cottage

This was the first year of Christmas decorating at Arrow Hill Cottage! It was an exciting moment in time, that I wanted to be sure to share with all of you!

Although we were living in our new home last year at this time, it was still very much a construction zone. We had only one working bathroom, exposed subfloors, and a house covered in tyvek. With the mess of the building process, we made the decision that the Christmas tree would be our only decoration.

Christmas Decorating this year

This year, we were determined to make our space festive and cozy. There is definitely a more settled feeling overall here at the cottage, which we are thankful for.

You may remember from a couple of years ago, I did a massive Konmari Christmas decoration declutter. This process really helped us determine the decor items that were most important to us. These few remaining pieces, which fill two vintage suitcases, are what we used for our Christmas decorating this year.

Setting up the living room

The first step in the Christmas decorating process, for me, is determining where the tree should go. Last year, we had it set up in the basement. This year I wanted it moved up to the main level, where the lights could be enjoyed from inside and also seen from outside.

I had a few locations in mind. Of course, each option involved moving the living room furniture around. My older boys helped out, but were a bit frustrated with my indecision. In the end we opted to position the tree in the corner of the room, next to the fireplace. The couch was moved away from the wall, and anchored in the room by our antique sewing machine. This setup defines the living room, within our open concept main floor.

Sitting on the couch, you get a fantastic view outdoors, toward the woods and pond. When the snow is gently falling, and the fireplace and tree are both lit, it is definitely a cozy and relaxing spot.

Overall Christmas Decorating theme

If I were to characterize the ‘vibe’ we went for this year with our decorations, I would say it is a casual and comfortable. I really wanted to make this first Christmas in our new home cheerful and vibrant for the kids, especially after the year we have had! The classic red and green motif is highlighted by natural elements such as pinecones and twine.

Our Christmas tree

One fun fact about our Christmas tree is that it is the same one that my parents used in our house when I was a little girl! The tinsel found on its branches were placed by myself and my sisters many, many years ago. I am strangely sentimental about things like that. And, although it isn’t pre-lit and sheds little pine needle pieces during setup, we love it. We have no plans to trade it in for a newer model.

Next to the tree, on the fireplace hearth, I set a small basket and filled it with family favorite Christmas books. This is the season when we most enjoy sitting together and reading through stories together.

Red table

The furniture in our living room is a hodgepodge of items collected throughout the years. We are taking our time finding the perfect items for our home, and for now are happy to use what we have. The little red writing table is a perfect example. I spotted it at an antique store a few years ago for a great price. Although I wasn’t sure where it would go, and didn’t have a specific purpose for it, I brought it home.

The color and character of the table makes me so happy. In fact, I had my husband cover it with a clear sealer to preserve all of the chippy paint and scratches. For now the table functions as a place I can set up my laptop or write Christmas letters. I can also envision it being used for family game or puzzle night.

Cozy Textiles

The holiday themed pillow covers were custom made out of vintage flour sack material. Again, I found the flour sacks at an antique store in our town and knew that the interesting and vibrant pattern would be perfect for Christmas.

The great thing about using pillow covers to change things up for the season is that they don’t take up much space in storage. I have a set of three plain square pillows that I change the coverings for depending on the holiday or occasion.

This red and black buffalo check blanket is so snuggly and soft. Perfect to curl up in when reading a book.

Next to the chair I keep a basket full of additional warm blankets. During a Minnesota winter, you can never have too many!

Mantle Decor

Of all the spaces I was most excited to decorate in our new home, the fireplace was my number one. There is something special that a fireplace brings to an interior, especially this time of year.

I used an antique window pane, and a framed piece of fabric as the backdrop to my Willow Tree Nativity Set. This is a set that I absolutely cherish. Each piece is finely detailed, yet the set has a serene simplicity about it.

As Christians, this symbolizes what our family holds most important during the Christmas holiday. Joy to the World!

Christmas Decorating Details

Though the living room was where we focused much of our decorating efforts, I did make a point to add a little Christmas spirit to a few other spaces on the main level.

Dining Room

I made some changes to my wooden crate centerpiece, by adding leftover branches from our tree. Battery powered candles and pinecones help to pull it together.

Kitchen

Our farmhouse sink got a seasonal update with a garland made of leftover fabric bits, a lantern, a small Christmas tree, and a few other accessories.

Of course, the vintage scale had to make an appearance as well!

I love this view looking into the kitchen, peeking around the restored built in cabinets. Certainly, these cabinets add a level of vintage charm to our newly built home.

This burnt orange/red pitcher sits atop the other built in. In addition to visual interest, it also adds a pop of color to our mostly neutral kitchen decor.

Mudroom/Back Entry

A set of french doors leads to the back entryway/mudroom space. A simple garland frames the opening and highlights the decorated piano.

Next year, I will probably try to do a new chalkboard art design. Something with a bit more of a seasonal message. I didn’t quite have the courage to erase this sign just yet.

This little brass bell was part of my husband’s grandma’s collection. She passed away last year, and we cherish the memory of the impact she had on our family. She is greatly missed.

I hope you enjoyed taking a peek inside the cottage and seeing it all decorated for Christmas. It was fun trying new things, and I look forward to many more years decorating this home.

Christmas Decorating Video

Want to see the entire process of us decorating our home? Check out this video!

Pin these decorations

Keep these ideas handy for next year, by pinning them to your favorite holiday board.

SIMPLE FALL DECOR IDEAS

Gather inspiration from these simple Fall decor ideas. They will have you ready to celebrate the season!

It’s officially Fall here in the Midwest! It honestly feels like there was a switch that turned the weather from warm and sunny to cold and rainy. The change just happened so suddenly!

Fall is probably my absolute favorite season of all, and I am genuinely bummed that I likely won’t be able to decorate this year. With the building of Arrow Hill Cottage nearing completion, our time is split between site visits, choosing finishes, and packing up the rental house. Add in school activities, and we essentially have no spare time anything for extra, including decorating!

But, if YOU have time to decorate, I have some ideas for you today! Though these ideas have been on the blog before, I thought they were worth another share. Click on the link below each picture to read more details about the decor.

SIMPLE FALL DECOR DIY

Looking to create something unique to decorate your home? Try one of these simple DIY ideas.

Natural Centerpieces

These natural Fall centerpieces would be the perfect accent to any tablescape, from now through Thanksgiving!

read the post

Pleated Table Runner

Even though it looks like a detailed and complicated piece, this pleated table runner can be made in just minutes. And for less than five dollars in material costs it is definitely worth a try.

read the post

‘Be Thankful’ Printable

The start of Fall means that Thanksgiving is right around the corner. One of the most simple ways to decorate this Fall might just be printing out this sign!

read the post

SIMPLE FALL DECOR IDEAS

The internet is an absolute wealth of ideas when it comes to simple fall decor ideas. Below are some of the favorites I have found!

Decorating Ideas From Instagram Part 1

Great ideas from fellow Instagrammers. Such inspiration!

read the post

Decorating Ideas From Instagram Part 2

More ideas from Instagram.

read the post

Cottage Style Fall Decor

These decorating items from Amazon can warm up your home this Fall.

read the post

I hope you will gain some inspiration from these simple fall decor ideas, and that you will enjoy the season!

SIMPLE LIGHT FIXTURES | Minimalist Home Lighting

In today’s post, I share the simple light fixtures we have chosen for our new home. The clean lines and basic color palette of these selections make them the perfect compliments for the minimalist home.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full disclosure here

This has been a very exciting week at Arrow Hill Cottage. The interior framing is just about complete, the house wrap is on, the windows are going in, and the mechanical duct work has started! Now is the time to begin ordering the light fixtures for each room.

Over the past few months, I have been searching various websites and stores for simple light fixtures that would complement the overall feeling we are trying to achieve with our home. Classic, clean, and minimal, with a bit of a vintage industrial vibe.

INTERIOR LIGHT FIXTURES

We will be using quite a few canned light fixtures, especially in the open spaces – such as the dining/ living room and basement family room. However, in many of the other rooms there will be a need for various types of task lighting.

If you are interested in any of the light fixtures we have chosen for our home, be sure to click on the links below each picture!

Flush Mount Ceiling Fixture

This ceiling hugging fixture has sleek lines, and gives off a good amount of light. We will likely install in the downstairs office and possibly in the upstairs mudroom/ back entry space.

Lanros Round Modern Flush Mount Fixture

Semi-Flush Mount

In rooms where we want a bit of an upgraded look, we will be placing these semi-flush mount fixtures. The master bedroom will have one, as will the main floor powder room.

vintage style semi-flush mount

Dining Chandelier

We searched for a special light fixture to be used above our dining room table. This eight light pendant fixture is the perfect fit for what we were looking for. The linear design will mirror the long farmhouse style table we will be building custom, from trees felled on our property.

Savoy House – Burgess – 42″ Eight light pendant

Vanity lighting

In the master, basement and upstairs bathrooms, this simple wall pendant will give just enough character. Using the same light fixtures in multiple rooms will help keep the continuity throughout the house.

Above Vanity Light

We are also considering this fixture in a few locations around the house, perhaps in one of the bathrooms.

Vintage Black Wall Sconce

Accent Pendant

This pendant will be perfect, hanging above our large cast iron sink in the kitchen. In such a clean and minimalist space, this accent will really shine.

Stone & Beam Vintage Ceiling Pendant

Large Room Pendant

With the vaulted ceilings upstairs, we will be using larger pendants. These farmhouse style industrial pendants have long cords, which will bring the light lower into the room – allowing for better coverage.

Three identical pendants will be set upstairs. One for each bedroom, and one for the hallway space.

Millenium Lighting Farmhouse Pendant (17 inch)

Master Bedroom Side Lamps

On either side of our master bed, we will be placing these swing arm lamps. Perfect while reading in bed!

Globe Electric Swing Arm Lamp

Boys Sleeping Nook Lamps

In each of the boys sleeping nooks, they will have small reading lights as well. The multi-directional quality of these trumpet style lamps is really nice.

Trumpet Flare Wall Sconce

Closet lights

In the closets, we will be using smaller wall mounted fixtures. This is a bit of a splurge perhaps, as some of the closets really don’t need any lighting. However, the larger closets in the kid’s rooms will benefit from the extra illumination – especially in the dark storage space behind their hanging rods!

Wall Bar Light

EXTERIOR LIGHT FIXTURES

The light fixtures for the exterior of the house will follow the same style as the interior of the house. There are two different styles we are going to incorporate. Barn lights, which will be placed in feature positions – above the front door and above the garage doors.

Industrial Barn Light

These other simple flood lights will be placed on the side garage doors and near the walkout door.

Black Flood Light

MINIMALIST HOME LIGHT FIXTURES

Feel free to pin these light fixture ideas for reference!

GIRLS SHARED BEDROOM TOUR

The girls shared bedroom in our rental house is a small and simple space, which both our daughters love. Today, I want to give you a little tour and explain a few of the ways we made the room functional and fun!

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full disclosure here

Of all the rooms in our rental house, I am pretty sure that the small girls shared bedroom gives me the most joy. It is full of fresh colors and simple details and, even with it’s tiny footprint, offers a lot of functionality.

GIRLS SHARED BEDROOM

As I mentioned in my post about the boys shared bedroom, we like to keep our sleeping spaces simple. The main purpose of a bedroom is to promote sleep and relaxation. As such, we tend to minimize distractions.

This particular bedroom is the smallest in the house, at only 8 feet by 9 feet . At first, the room as a nursery for our daughter {M}. But when we were in the process of adopting our older daughter, {K}, we looked at different options on how to make the room functional for both girls. Because {K} has a joint condition, which hinders her mobility, we were faced with a few additional challenges.

THE BEDS

When looking at bed options, we knew we needed both beds to be accessible. Bunk beds, though space saving, would not be appropriate for our daughters because of our oldest’s needs. Our solution was to convert our Jenny Lind style crib into two toddler sized beds. This was a relatively simple DIY project that turned something unusable into the focal point of the girls shared bedroom.

The girls absolutely adore their beds and how close it allows them to sleep at night. Since our girls are both relatively young (and small), the toddler beds have worked well. They will be getting twin sized beds for their room in the new house, however. You can see their new room design for Arrow Hill Cottage in this post.

Between the bed sits a small thrifted nightstand, which I painted in a soft blue color. The shelf serves as the perfect spot for extra stuffed animals.

Because the beds are small, we were able to use toddler bed sheets from Pottery Barn. The sets were purchased as a gift from the grandparents. A white queen sized blanket was cut in half, the edges sewn, to create two bed covers. Each girl also has a special quilt, decorative pillow and stuffed animal to complete their bedding.

THE DECOR

The girls shared bedroom features plenty of special decor items, including a pair of decorative birdcages filled with paper cranes. Twenty-one origami cranes were created by me during our first adoption wait. Each individual crane represents a month that {M} lived without us by her side. They now serve as a cheerful reminder of the importance of family.

The other side of the room features a mirror, turned art piece, above the book case. A collection of art, created by the girls older brothers, hangs on the wall near a rocking chair. This chair used to be Craig’s grandfather’s and has special sentimental value for that reason.

THE STORAGE

The main storage pieces in the room include a book stand, and the girl’s dresser. The book stand was once in the Carnegie library in our town. When the library closed, they sold off most of the shelving and decor, and I was able to pick up this unique piece for a great price. Although we store most of our children books in the boy’s bedroom, we rotate some onto this stand on a regular basis.

Having the books arranged facing out makes it easy for the girls to choose their favorites for story time before bed.

The wooden dresser that sits in the corner of the bedroom was mine when I was a little girl. A gift from my grandpa, it is a special piece that will surely move with us to the new house. We keep the girls pants and shirts in the dresser, and they each have two drawers apiece.

The shelf above the dresser is both functional and decorative. While the baskets contain extra bedding and blankets, special artwork, including this fabulous art print, adds sentimental value to the room.

GIRLS SHARED BEDROOM CLOSET

Because of the way that the rental farmhouse was built, there is quite a bit of storage in the eave space. The girls ended up with the largest closet in the house. Though they definitely don’t need this much space to store their clothing, they love their closet.

Removing the drawers from this old dresser and using baskets makes it easy for the girls to find what they need. The baskets are filled with socks, undergarments, and pajamas. On top of the dresser, the girls like to keep their special jewelry boxes and play ‘make up’ station.

They definitely have plenty of dresses and shoes, most of which were received as hand me downs or gifts from friends and relatives. I think that at some point in the not too distant future I will need to sit down with the girls and determine which of these hanging items are their most favorite.

Though they will have a small walk in closet at the new house, it isn’t our intention to fill it the the max. Keeping our favorite clothing items has been very rewarding for both Craig and myself, and I am sure it would be great for our kids as well.

GIRLS SHARED BEDROOM TOUR

I hope you enjoyed the photos of our girls shared bedroom. If you’d like a more in depth view of the room, be sure to check out this video tour!

ADDITIONAL GIRLS SHARED BEDROOM IDEAS

These stunning girls shared bedrooms are very inspiring. I’m sure any little girl would love to spend the night in any one of these rooms!

Sisters Garden Bedroom by Ellison Made

Pretty in Pink Big Girl Bedroom by Stage + Style + Stra

Girl Bedroom Makeover by The Tattered Pew

PIN THESE GIRLS SHARED BEDROOM IDEAS

PLEATED TABLE RUNNER DIY

This simple table runner is striking, yet inexpensive and easy to make! If you have 30 minutes and a few dollars, your table can be dressed for success!

I love staple decorating pieces that can be re-used season after season. To fit that bill for me, they generally need to be neutral and quite basic. But nobody said that basic had to be boring! While this table runner would be the perfect compliment for a Thanksgiving table, it could just as easily dress up a Christmas or Easter table setting.

The best part of this do-it-yourself project is that it can be made inexpensively and quickly!

SUPPLIES YOU WILL NEED

A roll of Kraft brown paper. I used a 30″ wide roll

sharp scissors

pencil

sewing machine / thread

straight pins (optional)

DETERMINE A RUNNER SIZE

The first step in this project is to determine the width of table runner you will create. Because working with the full 30″ roll of material would be difficult, I decided to cut the kraft paper in half. This left me with a finished table runner that is 15″ wide.

Feel free to play around with the material a bit to determine the size that will work best for you.

If you do decide to cut the material down, try to maintain as straight of an edge as possible. Having a straight edge will be helpful when folding the pleats. Don’t fret if you can’t get the edge perfect though, as any unevenness can be trimmed later.

You will also need to think about how long you would like your finished table runner to be. Because of the way that the paper will be folded, you will need 3′ of length for every 1′ of finished runner. For example, if you would like to create a 6′ table runner, you will need the roll of kraft paper to be 18′ long.

CREATE THE PLEATS

The pleats in this project are accomplished in a very similar fashion to folding a paper fan, with one important difference. The folds used to make a paper fan are ‘accordion folds’ – meaning they are all even. For this project, we will be using what is called a ‘knife fold’. The pleats for this technique are done at a 2:1 ratio. Learn the basics about the knife fold in the first few minutes of this video.

I chose to make my pleats 1″. That meant that the other fold needed to be 2″. If you choose to do a different size of pleating, just be sure to remember the 2:1 ratio. A 2″ pleat would require that every other fold be 4″, for example.

It helps me when I give myself small guides to work from. You can see in the above photo that I have a mark at 2″, and another 1″ further. I continued this marking pattern all the way to the end of the paper, on both sides.

Pinch slightly at the first 2″ markings on either side, then fold upward.

Pinch at the next two markings, and fold downwards. Continue this process, folding up and down alternately.

Be sure to make the lines as crisp as possible. I like to use my fingernail to get a nice clean line.

When you have pleated a few feet of paper, it may become difficult to keep the folds laying flat. At that point, consider placing some temporary straight pins to hold things together. You may instead choose to move onto the next step.

SEW THE PLEATS TOGETHER

Sewing the pleats down will allow the table runner to stay flat. A simple straight line stitch, set 1″ from the edge, can get the job done.

Or you may want to play around with the settings on your machine to find a more decorative stitch. This zigzag stitch looked really cute!

Finish by cutting the extra thread, erasing any visible pencil marks, and cutting the edge if needed.

ENJOY THE TABLE RUNNER

Your neutral pleated table runner is now ready for action! Layer it over a table cloth for extra dimension or place a bit of lace on top for extra texture. Add seasonal decorations for the final touch to a festive tablescape.

ALTERNATE IDEA

If the idea of creating an entire table runner seems overwhelming, consider this alternate. A smaller version can be created with less material and used as place mats.

PIN THIS PROJECT FOR LATER

LIVING ROOM FURNITURE ARRANGEMENTS

Rearranging furniture is a great way to add variety and interest in your home. In this post, I share the living room furniture arrangements I have designed for our cottage.

Even as a little girl, I enjoyed rearranging my bedroom furniture to give the space a fresh look.

When Craig and I got married, this was an even more exciting adventure as I began to develop my decorating style. I must have come up with about 8 different living room furniture arrangements in our first house.

It is no surprise then, that while designing Arrow Hill Cottage I have had the idea of furniture placement in the back of my mind. With our original main floor layout, there wasn’t much wiggle room in terms of where the pieces could be situated. This sort of bummed me out, but I figured that if I could come up with one great placement I could learn to live with it long term.

I was excited though, once I made the major plan breakthrough that opened up the main level. Not only does the layout have a more relaxed and spacious feeling, it also allows for multiple furniture arrangements!

FURNITURE PIECES FOR THE LIVING ROOM

We have not yet selected our furniture, but I have in mind a few key pieces to search for.

Couch: I would like to find a sleek, tailored back couch – perhaps around 7 feet long. Nothing too stuffed or with a high back. Since this will be the largest piece on the main level, besides our long harvest dining table, I want to be sure that it isn’t overpowering.

A Pair of Side Chairs: Again, preferably not overstuffed. I will be looking for simple chairs with a basic and classic shape.

Coffee Table: This piece may have a bit more visual weight to it. I haven’t decided yet if it will include storage or not. In my mind right now, I envision it with black metal legs and a wooden top.

Small Side Table: To coordinate with the coffee table. A simple place to set a book or a drink.

Area Rug: In the following images, the area rug is an 8′ x 10′ size. Potentially, we could purchase a larger 10′ x 12′ size. I envision this to be a semi colorful or patterned piece.

ARRANGING THE FURNITURE

I love the ease of planning furniture placement through computer drafting. Obviously, it is much easier to move the pieces around and come up with a variety of ideas quickly. I was able to determine four living room furniture arrangements that I think would work well for our cottage.

Arrangement 1

This layout is very fireplace focused. From the front entry, a person can easily see the fireplace and the furniture is arranged to make it a focal point as well. Even though the side chairs are positioned in front of the large wall of windows, I believe there will still be a very open feel and a great view to the woods and pond.

The couch serves as a bit of a visual divider between the living room and the kitchen/dining space.

In the 3D images, you can see that the view from the windows is not greatly compromised by the chairs. One note for this arrangement is that I might want to consider adding a sofa table into the furniture mix, so that there isn’t so much couch back exposed.

Arrangement 2

For this next layout, I used the exact same furniture placement but rotated it 90 degrees. The fireplace is flanked by the chairs, which makes the living room more intimate and cozy.

The flow between living and kitchen/dining is open, with plenty of space to walk.

The couch back is one of the first things a person entering the house from the front door would see with this furniture layout. Again, this might be a good opportunity for a sofa table. It is also one of the reasons that a lower profile couch will be a priority when making the furniture selection.

Arrangement 3

This living room set up gives off a more formal vibe. The couch is placed with it’s back to the large wall of windows and the chairs directly across, with the coffee table in between. The benefit of this layout is that the room feels open from both the entry and the dining space, since the couch isn’t visually dividing the passage from either direction.

Again, a low profile couch will be important so that it does not block any of the wonderful natural light that is sure to spill through the living room windows.

Arrangement 4

This combination is what I am calling the ‘Holiday Furniture Placement’. This layout might be my go-to when we have company. In the living room, the chairs and couch are set up for maximum conversation in a U-shape facing the fireplace. Additional chairs could be brought for more seating.

There is also a bit of a configuration change that could happen in the kitchen/dining space. By rotating the table, the counter space overlooking the windows could be opened up for seating as well.

I can see that there would be plenty of space for a Christmas tree in the corner closest to the entry. This would allow it to be visible, yet out of the way.

I will need to work through my ideas for this a bit more to determine if setting the cabinets a bit might be worth the compromise of less storage. The very valuable aspect of this furniture placement, and why it would work so well for large gatherings, is that it would allow us to seat 14 for a meal. For a house that has a small main floor, that is a big deal!

BENEFITS OF ARRANGING FURNITURE

Rearranging furniture is worthwhile, and not just because it provides a good cardio workout! There are many other benefits that make re-arranging furniture a good idea.

Deep Cleaning: It’s amazing the amount of toys and cracker crumbs that can be found when furniture is moved. By arranging furniture more frequently, those dust bunnies will have no place to hide.

Furniture Wearing Evenly: People have a tendency to find their favorite spot and stick with it. By moving furniture, you just might make someone give another place to sit a try.

Sunlight also has a tendency to fade certain types of fabric. By rotating which furniture has a place in front of the windows, the sun fading will be less noticeable over time.

Appreciating the Space: When a room is always set up in the exact same way, it has a tendency to become visually stagnant. By changing furniture pieces around you can invoke new life into the space. This fresh perspective can allow you to appreciate the room again.

GIVE YOUR SPACE A FRESH LOOK

If you’d like to try out some new living room furniture arrangements without sweating, check out this link from Better Homes & Gardens!

Better Homes & Gardens Furniture Arrangement Tool

Do you have tips on how often you like to re-arrange furniture? Which of the four living room furniture arrangements of the four shown above is your favorite? I would love to hear from you!

PIN THESE FURNITURE LAYOUT IDEAS FOR LATER

TRENDING IN HOME DESIGN & DECOR: BOLD WALLPAPER

There is a saying ‘What goes around comes around’. It’s true in fashion, entertainment, and even home decor. Wallpaper is in the middle of a revival moment that doesn’t appear to be going away any time soon.

WHAT IT IS

Machine printed wallpaper was introduced in the late 1700’s, as a means to decorate interior walls of domestic and public buildings. It is most commonly sold in rolls, with graphics in repeating patterns. These patterns overlap so that they look continuous when installed.

Unlike the wallpaper of years gone by, the newer versions are much more simple to install and don’t require the paste to be awkwardly applied to the back of each piece before being hung. Some types are even removable, meaning that if your style changes, you can switch it out easily.

The patterns and colors available today are so diverse that there is sure to be something that matches your style.

OVERSIZED FLORALS

source

TEXTURED/3D

source

GEOMETRIC

source

WHERE/HOW TO USE IT

Wallpaper is most typically used, well, on walls of course! From the bathroom to the kitchen, homeowners are finding a pattern they love and making a major statement!

FULL ROOMS

Mix & Match Design Company

ACCENT WALLS

Claire Brody Designs

Creative people have proved that wallpaper is useful for other purposes as well! These are some interesting applications:

ACCENT THE BACK OF CABINETS

Practically Functional Blog

LINING DRAWERS

Duece Cities Henhouse

FURNITURE

Salvaged Inspirations Blog

STAIRS

Bower Power Blog

If the thought of installing wallpaper is what is holding you back, read this article from dwell titled ’12 Pro Tips For Installing Wallpaper In Your Home’. It is well written, and the step by step guide proves that this DIY project can be done easily.

WHERE TO BUY

Wallpaper can be purchased in home improvement stores, as well as Interior Design shops. The most common place to find the widest variety of options though, is online.

This a collection of my favorite finds from Amazon

From top, left to right

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS HOME DESIGN TREND

Wallpaper has notoriously had a bad reputation of creating a ‘dated’ look to a home, and is typically one of the first things removed when new owners move into a house, along with popcorn ceilings and shag carpeting. That fact has more to do with the personal nature of wallpaper than anything else. Though one homeowner may find a print that they love enough to make a statement on a wall, or in an entire room, that print might not be a favorite of someone else.

With that being said, I think that wallpaper is a great way to personalize. If you are living in your ‘forever home’ then by all means, go with what you love. But, if you will be selling your home in the near future, you might want to consider something in a neutral tone or with a simple pattern, or better yet with a peel + stick backing so that it can be removed before the house is listed.

If you would like more wallpaper inspiration, check out my Pinterest Board on the topic!

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