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Redesigning our home’s layout ?!

October 5, 2016 by CORINNA HENDERSON

I just can’t keep things simple with our house for long. My brain gets too creative looking at walls, imagining them gone and looking beyond the obvious constraints of the current layout.

It all started with yet another exhaustion met morning where I’m laying in bed unable to sleep in because the sound of the neighbor kids playing basketball is keeping me up. I love that they’re good kids filling their time with exercise, but golly I just don’t sleep so great these days.

I’m thinking about how I wish the bedrooms were at the back of the house. My bedroom has wonderful light and lots of windows, but they’re older windows and they let a lot of noise in.

One random thought to another and I’d been sleepless another hour. I’d dropped thinking of ideas and went about my day just to start thinking about it again. Without taking on the renovations and costs of an addition, how could I get the bedroom to the back of the house?

Well, there’s a room at the back of the house. It’s not a bedroom though. There’s a pass thru to the kitchen, no door, the back door, no closet.

Yeah… but there’s no noise from the street. The room is at the back of the house.

I could close up the pass thru. It’s pretty high up on my wish list to put a window in the kitchen anyways.

And putting in a closet system to section off a bedroom space from the path between the kitchen and back door wouldn’t be terribly difficult. Maybe even look into an IKEA system. That would fix the issue with the closet and the back door being in the space.

And that room doesn’t get morning sun. No instant warming up of the space on summer mornings! No early morning sun peeping around my currents.

This could actually work.

New Bedroom Wish List

Suzani from BlackFigDesigns

Macrame Table from JazzieMenagerie

But, wait. What about all the stuff in that room. You don’t want a dining room in a bedroom. That’s silly. And 4 bedrooms? A bit overkill. Especially without a 2nd bathroom to match those stats. More living space is definitely crucial.

You know, I’d always wanted to take down the wall between the living room and kitchen to do an open concept vibe.

But I’m loving the current layout so much with the TV on that wall!

The wall between that bedroom and the living room isn’t load bearing. And I have friends who deal with electrical work. They could help move the plugs in the wall. The dining room at the front of the house would be nice.
And that would leave a separate “kids wing” – that sounds way fancier than a 1,200 square foot needs to sound on the one side of the house.

And even later down the road a bathroom could be added to the “master” at the back of the house.

I think my 5 year plan was just mapped out.

As for the next 6 weeks? That dining room is getting transformed into my bedroom.

To recap, here’s the very rough before layout of our home:

LAYOUT FOR A 1950S BRICK RANCH

And here’s the very rough plan for the layout:

layout-for-a-1950s-brick-ranch-2

There are $0 and 0 sponsors so let’s see how creative I can get with reusing what I have, very inexpensive and resourceful changes and a fresh new space to work with.

I want to give a shout out and thank you to Linda of Calling It Home for organizing the One Room Challenge. Without it, I wouldn’t have the gumption to get up and make this happen. Check out all of the other participants transforming spaces here.

Pins Inspiring This Transformation:

Retro Inspired Bohemian $1000 Living Room Design

October 3, 2016 by CORINNA HENDERSON

This $1,000 budget living room makeover features one of the more expensive sofas from my favorite sofas under $500. Especially since at the time I’m pulling this mood board together, it’s no longer under $500. It’s still a neat sofa and I love the retro inspired shape. I wanted to try my hand and designing a Bohemian space around it anyways, smaller budget be damned. Today’s sofa is the Remark Sofa from All Modern. And this design is called “Retro Inspired Bohemian.”

I think the trick to making retro bohemian work is putting less emphasis on global elements and more focus on vintage. Ideally you’d want to find some of your furniture or lighting second hand. You’ll likely save some moolah and authentic vintage is always better than replicated. Funky art, unique textiles and furniture that nods to vintage styles brings this retro inspired bohemian room together.

Retro Inspired Bohemian $1000 Living Room Design

Shop The Design:

I personally would use the remainder in the budget to paint the wall a funky teal color. But you can do whatever you want, save the $24 or spend it. It’s up to you!

Modern Bohemian Geometric Brown and Multi Area Rug $68

retrocoffeetable — Owen Retro Coffee Table $62

retropil2 — Indian Black Embroidered Pillow $5

Spruce Up Your Space! These Bohemian pillows are affordable and cute!

A Warm & Cozy Bohemian Home Tour

September 30, 2016 by CORINNA HENDERSON

Hello and welcome to my home tour! Even with a home mostly torn apart for a dozen or so projects, Fall nesting still has to happen. It’s one of those natural progressions throughout the year. My Fall decorating style is very muted, focusing more on the cozy feeling of a room and little nods to the season sprinkled throughout. I’m excited to share with you a bit what that looks like for me as part of the Blogger Stylin’ Home Tours hosted by Lindsay of The White Buffalo Styling Co. Hopefully you’re stopping in from A Creative Day Blog!

If you’re new here,
Hey, What’s up? Hello! I’m grateful to have you here today. My name is Corinna and I am the designer at home and this is my boho abode. I’m passionate about creating beautiful spaces meant for living in with a lot of bohemian flair. I share my own home’s journey, tips for yours, mood boards with shopping lists, my thrifting adventures and a splash of other interests from my life. I love nature, laughter and creating. After you’ve toured, if you like what you see please follow me on your favorite social media platforms and sign up for email updates!

Let’s tour, shall we?

To set the tone for the tour, light up the Leaves Bath and Body Works candle and tune in to 3 gymnopedies (arr. a. miolin): gymnopedie no. 1. This is what you can expect when you walk into my home on most days. Oh, and my little black and white barking fluff will insist he greet himself and attempt to woo you.

You may notice right away that there’s no entry way. We’re right in the everything space. Last time I did a home tour, I think we had finally pared the number of purposes for this room down to entry way, living, and play space. But then a whole slew of discombobulation started. And it’s back to being the everything space.

eclectic bohemian divided living and dining space

The space is divided into a family gathering/playing/TV watching space and an eating, chatting, working space. There’s a basket for shoes to get kicked off into and a cube divided storage unit full of regularly played with toys and a surface for placing keys onto.

My nod to the season here is the candle you’ve mentally (or literally ;)) lit as you walked in and a small foam pumpkin I pressed brass thumbtacks into for a bit of bling.

Looking back into the space you’ve just stepped into, you’ll see all of the impromptu dining space I pulled together temporarily. The former dining space and a bedroom are getting flipped. I’ll pop in and explain all of that better next week.

Eating right beside such a bright window is really nice. I pulled in my Craigslist world market bench, peacock fanback chair, small round dining table with brass capped feet, and one of the chairs I had to rebuild a seat for. Beneath sits a woven hemp rug and a Mexican blanket layered for that cozy feeling.

A simple centerpiece works best for our family. It leaves us plenty of space to sit down and have some tea while we catch up. I achieved that neat finish on the lantern with hammered finish copper spray paint with bursts of random gold over the entire lantern. I feel like it adds just the perfect touch of rustic warmth.

I even swapped out my usual teal or navy scarf of the back of the peacock chair for a piece with deeper, richer colors.

As we sit and enjoy our tea, you can let your eyes wander. I’ve carefully chosen and placed every item because I want your eyes to enjoy their visit. I like my guests to wander and ask about the various pieces, feel refreshed with all the greenery, and at home with all the layers.

I’ll invite you to take a load off and relax on the couch with me. By now you’ve probably started to notice a faint secondary smell. Incense. From the other end of the house is a stick of nag champa burning. The two smells blend into a deep, complicated cinnamon, woodsy, musky kind of smell.

In this space, I swapped out some cooler toned textiles for darker, warmer ones. The mid century swivel rocker got wrapped with a bit of rusty orange fabric and topped with this cute marble pillow. You may start to notice as your eyes wander that there are little pumpkins and gourds spread about. I nod to you Fall. Thank you for your pumpkins and pretty colored leaves.

We can chat, play pentominoes, watch a movie, listen to music or flip through one of my many favorite books to refuel our creativity and spirits.

My solution for a fireplace-less home? Lots of candles. I can almost convince myself the room is warmer when they’re lit. I know it’s all in my head but I enjoy it nonetheless.

I filled in the gaps of my soda crate rock collection display with more foam gourds.

I like to keep the bulk of my decor the same year round. I don’t normally overhaul a whole mantle, bar cart or shelves. But I do like to add in fun little surprises. A bit of fun pom pom garland for added texture, a metallic pumpkin in line with my usual trio of bells, and a DIY mercury glass pumpkin in place of the usual brass trunk.

Before you head onto your next stop in this Fall home tour series, here’s a look at the whole space:

If you haven’t yet been there today, make sure you go visit Kristin from Bliss At Home. She’s a seasonal decorating genius and I’m always blown away with her use of colors and finishes to set the mood for a seasonal space. You click visit her Fall Home Tour here.

And please, don’t mind the paint all over the front porch and sidewalk. I would have preferred the opportunity to share my simply Fall decorated front porch. But alas the sweet 4 year old who’s been talking your ear off during your visit put paint all over it all while I prepped lunch 2 days ago. Next time I’ll have a proper porch to share!

Missed a tour this week? Get all the Fall home decorating inspiration you could ever need with the stunning line up of bloggers Lindsay has pulled together:

Impromptu Eclectic Bohemian Dining Space

September 29, 2016 by CORINNA HENDERSON

Hey there! Sorry about so much radio silence lately. I promise I’m still alive and kicking. I’ve been busy tinkering about my home but there hasn’t been much to show. As usual, most of the rooms are in shambles. Because of that, I’ve gotten a little creative with my current living room arrangement.

I’ll keep this short and sweet and just breeze over the big details because tomorrow you’ll see all the nooks and crannies for my Fall home tour!

Since it’s a small space, I pulled this tiny round dining table from the garage. I paired it with the bench I thrifted a while back. Originally I’d put hairpin legs on the bench but swapped them back out for the original legs. I’m itching to switch them back… We’ll see.

I have a total of 3 chairs for the table. My beloved ornate peacock chair and a Bertoia-esque chair I made over last year. It has a pair, but that chair is elsewhere right now awaiting paint touch up. The third chair is off to the side because my front door is right in this space. With only 2 of us home most of the time, there’s no need to have more furniture in the way of the entrance.

I’m thinking I’ll pop in next week with a post detailing all my ideas and plans leading up to why there’s a dining room in my living room and why I’m not using the dining room you’ve all seen before.

Time for MY FAVORITE #thriftscorethursday entries!

Wanna Play? Here’s The Rules!

We want you to participate! Hit up your local thrift stores, craigslist, yard sales, estate sales, side of the road, anything! Thrifty doesn’t necessarily mean from a thrift store. We want to see your good deals, wacky finds and treasures.
Don’t feel like you need to save those finds for Thursdays! Yes, features are shared on our blogs and Instagram on Thursdays, but we’re all checking in on (and using!) the hashtag all week long. So, when you see/find it, feel free to share it!
Want to get featured? Add the #thriftscorethursdsay hashtag, Follow the hosts (@the_gathered_home, @cassie_bustamante, @adesignerathome and @maggieoverbystudios) and tag a friend to play along, too!
Each week, Cassie from Primitive and Proper, Brynne from The Gathered Home, Maggie fromMaggie Overby Studios and Myself (A Designer At Home) will pick a favorite thrift score or two to feature! So please note that by linking up with #thriftscorethursday, you are giving us permission to share your finds via social media or on our blogs.

The best part? There are 4 regular posts to check out every Thursday! Yup, you’ve got more thrift scores to look at. I know you’re not disappointed. Ha. Click on my beautiful cohost’s faces below to check out what they’ve scored and featured.

Fall Season Prep- keep utility costs down as the temperatures go down

September 24, 2016 by CORINNA HENDERSON

Have you been on the internet lately? I have and I’ve been getting bombarded with pumpkin, fall, sweater weather everything. A sun loving gal like myself isn’t the most thrilled but I am getting excited. Before I dive into the prettier aspects of this new season upon us, I wanted to do the right thing as a homeowner and make sure my home is actually ready for the inevitably cooler weather coming. Fall prep will save us all a few headaches later in the season.

How To Keep Utility Costs Down As The Temperatures Go Down

Service Your Furnace

Easily the most recommended project this time of year is having the furnace serviced. And you really should! Just like a car and oil changes, having a pro come out and service your furnace helps it run better, more efficiently and extends it’s life. This post is in partnership with Rheem, a manufacturer of furnaces, air conditioners, hot water heaters and more. If you need a new furnace, here are some tips for choosing a furnace from Rheem.

Reseal Around Doors & Windows

This isn’t a set it and forget it task. Ideally with every season, you’ll inspect the caulk and seal around your windows and doors. Ensure the caulk is still in good condition and that any seals are still functioning properly. Do the same with weatherstripping. Don’t have any? It’s time to install some!

While you’re doing this, also give the exterior of your home a good inspection. Cracks and gaps around doors and windows aren’t the only places cold air can creep in and warm air out. Here are some places to check:

Around heating and/or cooling units.
The seal around room air conditioners.
At corners formed by siding.
Openings around drain pipes in bathrooms and kitchens.

Inspect Your Roof

I don’t want to find out I have a problem with my roof when there’s a few inches of snow atop it. And I don’t want you to find out that late either. While the weather is still pleasant, pull out a ladder and get on your roof. Make sure the shingles are still in good condition, that none are missing and that everything is laying flat as it should. If you don’t know what you’re looking for, most handymen will take a look for a small fee.

Clear Gutters Of Debris (and ensure they’re working properly)

I’ll attempt to scare you again with the idea of snow destroying your home. Imagine we’re halfway through winter, warmer weather should be here in just a short bit of time but we’re getting hit with a snow storm at the present moment. If your gutters are blocked, all that snow will have nowhere to go when it starts to melt. This is very bad!

While you’ve got that ladder out from checking on your roof, clean out those gutters. Make sure the downspouts are working right too.

Drain and winterize outdoor faucets, hoses, water storage containers, sprinkler systems, etc.

Water expands when it freezes, did you know that? Water in garden hoses, pipes or water collection barrels will expand when it freezes. These containers will crack or burst at any weak points when this happens. A busted pipe is not the kind of repairman bill you want to see. Let’s not see one, okay? Drain and store it all.

Winterize Lawnmower

This is a new one for me! I had wondered if I was missing something for my lawn mower. I use a lot of manual lawn tools but I do use a gas powered lawn mower. I knew that gas sitting was bad, but that’s as much as I knew! Apparently best practice is to drain the fuel or add a fuel stabilizer.

Prepare Air Conditioners for Dormancy

Vacuum internal parts of air conditioners. Take down window units or cover outside box with a tarp or plastic air conditioner cover in order to prevent rusting of the internal parts.

Prune Landscaping

Preparing your existing landscaping for the colder months will make getting the beds tip top condition for spring easier. Plus, you’ll want to make sure everything is cut back so animals and bugs don’t have an easier time making your home theirs.

Hopefully you’ve found these tips helpful! I know in my research I found a few new things to add to my routine. What’s the first thing you’ll be tackling?

What I Look For In Thrift Stores

September 22, 2016 by CORINNA HENDERSON

I’m taking a break from sharing what I’ve thrifted to share with you what I look for in the first place when I thrift. It’s Thrift Score Thursday though so I thought it would be fun to work in some fabulous finds from you all from the #thriftscorethursday feed on Instagram.

Textiles

I may be 0-0 for finding textiles at the thrift store but that doesn’t stop me from trying. Especially when thrifting prodigies like @thebohemianfleamarket are showing off their fabulous loots like this one.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Bohemian Flea Market (@thebohemianfleamarket)

Interesting Art

They just don’t make them like they used to! The time and effort that went into the intricate embroidered and hand woven pieces of the past are totally rad. It’s a fun way to bring in a blast from the past.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sandra Rosen (@sandras_second_act)

Peacock Chairs

I’ve been obsessed for years and I will continue to be obsessed for many more. I would add one to literally every room imaginable if I had my way. They’re a perfect piece to add instant texture and interest.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Boho Cottage (@thebohocottage)

Design Books

I enjoy reading them, I enjoy learning from them and I enjoy dissecting all the pictures for inspiration. If we don’t keep things that excite and interest us around, things would get pretty boring wouldn’t it?

Baskets

Whether for storage or for wall decor, I never skip browsing the baskets. Sometimes I find some really cool ones, sometimes I find nothing. But that’s part of how thrifting goes.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKkwZTdDm6P/

Shelfie Decor

The most interesting of shelfie games always includes a good mix of thrifted and gathered items. I like to keep a healthy rotation of pretty and unique items to play around with in various vignettes to keep things fresh.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKYrE26jiZJ/

Furniture

I always have an open mind when I look at furniture. The chances of exactly what I’m looking for showing up are slim to none so I browse and consider possibilities for everything. You really can’t know when you’ll stumble across something truly perfect for your space.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKb91tPgRD6/

Unique Plates/Trays/Dishes

I love using plates as wall decor, but they also make for really good layering pieces for a pretty shelfie. I also use salt and pepper shakers for holding incense and glass cups for candle votives. Trays are perfect for pulling together little vignettes, too.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKZuNZTgeWW/

Wanna Play? Here’s The Rules!

We want you to participate! Hit up your local thrift stores, craigslist, yard sales, estate sales, side of the road, anything! Thrifty doesn’t necessarily mean from a thrift store. We want to see your good deals, wacky finds and treasures.
Don’t feel like you need to save those finds for Thursdays! Yes, features are shared on our blogs and Instagram on Thursdays, but we’re all checking in on (and using!) the hashtag all week long. So, when you see/find it, feel free to share it!
Want to get featured? Add the #thriftscorethursdsay hashtag, Follow the hosts (@the_gathered_home, @primitiveandproper, @adesignerathome and @maggieoverbystudios) and tag a friend to play along, too!
Each week, Cassie from Primitive and Proper, Brynne from The Gathered Home, Maggie fromMaggie Overby Studios and Myself (A Designer At Home) will pick a favorite thrift score or two to feature! So please note that by linking up with #thriftscorethursday, you are giving us permission to share your finds via social media or on our blogs.