Posted on

Unexpected Whimsy – Part 4

When we bought our house 3.5 years ago we loved everything about it… except the kitchen. It was seriously an armpit. Tiny and obscure. Plus, you had to roll the dishwasher over to the bathroom to plug it in and run it. 😂We hoped to eventually overhaul the space, but in the meantime I would have to settle for throwing some lipstick on a pig, as they say. I scoured Pinterest and antique stores for clever ways to embrace the quirkiness of the space and just went for it. Mint, red, retro, vintage. We removed cupboard doors, wallpapered the fridge, painted countertops, generally made the best of it. And in all truth, it served us just fine until we pulled the trigger on our major renovation last year.

Now that I have lovely granite countertops, a farm sink, slow close cupboard doors (YES!) and most importantly space to cook and be with my people, I’m continually grateful for how far it has come. But I keep these two little pantry buddies as a constant reminder of what a blessing we’ve been given.

Posted on

Unexpected Whimsy – Part 3

I’ve shared before how I have specific rules around buying serving ware because if I didn’t I would still have all the things in all the colors with exactly zero storage space for it. Now my collection is trimmed down to specific pieces in woodgrain or white… With the exception of accessories where I throw off almost all restraint. 🙌🏻 Picked up these little gold numbers the other day at World Market because they’re so charming and have the cutest phrases on them (how is a copywriter supposed to resist, pray tell!?). Plus, I got them for free by finding the $50 golden llama hidden in the store. (Do you know about this? Happening now through 11/22 check out their website for details. Funnest little treasure hunt you ever did see.) Can’t wait to bust these out over the holidays. Plus, I love the whimsy and warmth they add. I’m sure dinner guests will too! (Not sure what I mean by “unexpected whimsy?” Check out my previous posts here and here!)

Posted on

Unexpected Whimsy – Part 2

This week I’m featuring what I call “unexpected whimsy” and the role it plays in making a space feel cozier by sharing a few of the fun ways it shows up in our home. (Refer to yesterday’s post for more background.) This little vignette is in our daughter’s nursery. It’s full of custom art, bits of greeting cards I received at her baby shower, a felted doe and fawn pair I found at an antique store right after I discovered I was pregnant with her. Did it need a tiny golden penguin perched atop, proudly dancing outside the lines? Probably not. But does he bring me immense joy? You bet. I’ll happily retrieve him for her to play with once she grows out of literally wanting to gobble him up. And what about the fairy door down there on the baseboard? It was definitely not a need, but darn-it-all if I don’t swoon every time I see it just imagining how she’ll lay there on her belly tracing its ivy vines with her tiny fingers.

These little bits of whimsy bring me more delight than I can express – and make me smile at the future we will share watching her grow. I love rocking her and daydreaming about who she will be. I hope she loves this special little slice of our home that’s all hers. (The little blue deer plaque hails from our faves @rebelreclaimed, the print with the coral oval says “Be Brave” and was made by our friend Emilie of @liefdesign as well as the commissioned scripture verse in calligraphy. And of course some framed Rifle Paper Co. stock because always amazing.)

SaveSave

Posted on

Unexpected Whimsy – Part 1

Mantle decor

Someone recently asked me, “Why is there a fox in there?” After I thought a second, the only reasonable reply was, “because I like him.” And that, my friends is a huge key to feeling cozy in your own space. Don’t get me wrong, I’m ALL for minimalism. Decluttering our homes and heads frees us up in all sorts of ways. But, if you happen upon a little something – maybe even (GASP) something you don’t totally need – that brings you an unexplainable tinge of joy? Make it yours. Give it real estate in your day-to-day life. You’ll glimpse it out of the corner of your eye shuffling from here to there and smile to yourself. That’s worth it!

Which leads me to this week’s feature I’m calling “unexpected whimsy.” Anyone can walk into a furniture store and buy a beautiful dining set or tear a page from the Pottery Barn catalog and try to replicate it at home. But what about adding a little fun? What about a hidden element that means something sweet to you and maybe makes very little sense to someone else? That’s the whimsy only you can add, and it just might make your house feel like a home. This week I’ll be sharing a few of mine. What little treasures give you unexplainable happiness?