the plan

Click this link to see my floor plan for the family room...http://urbanbarn.icovia.com/icovia.aspx?projGuid=89719A62-BCE2-4A8D-8B5A-FA65A5F2D588

I really don't like corner fireplaces. I really wish mine was centered on the wall. But it's not and we aren't going to be moving it, so I have to design around it. We plan on mounting the TV above it. Right now the TV is on a cabinet next to the fireplace and it just doesn't look the way I want. So it will go above the fireplace. That way the fireplace will be the focal point.

The couches I have in the plan are from Pottery Barn. See here. I don't neccessarily have to have those, but that is the basic style I am going for. Something to note is that everyone keeps telling me that if I am going to get new furniture then I should get leather couches b/c I have children. I don't really love leather couches, so I am torn. I prefer soft, inviting cloth. Leather is cold, dark, and I slide off it when I sit down. But it does seem to withstand the test of children. What do you think?

Now I am trying to devise a creative storage system for the toys. Ahhhh, toys, how they seem to clutter my life so quickly!

sneak peak

Remember how I said that I have big plans for my house? Well they are staring to sort of take shape.

I found this awesome website that lets you design and decorate a room so that you can get an idea of how things will fits. The site is www.urbanbarn.com/the-make-room. It is the coolest site and I have lots of fun on it.

The front room of our home needed help. I think it was originally intended to be a formal dining room, but I didn't want to use it as such. Because of its original intended use there were two large archways; one from the entry and one coming from the informal dining room (the one we actually use). That meant that when you walked in the front door you had a lovely view through the living room of my dining room table and the kitchen. That is where we live the most and thus usually the most cluttered area. It wasn't awesome! Plus with both openings it made the front room way too accessible to the kids, who had adopted it as there unofficial playroom. I need at least one room in my house to remain tidy and that was to be the room!

So over the holiday weekend Scott was much obliging and started in on building a wall. It is already a vast improvement and I am so excited. Here is the work in progress. Now I just need to buy the paint and then I can start on the front room (the other side of the wall will have to wait; I haven't made up the plans on my cool new website yet).

the view from the kitchen/dining room side

the view from the front entry...see what I mean about seeing the kitchen through the opening. LAME!

Progress!!!

The next fun thing is my pseudo-mudroom in progress. We have a long hallway of unused space that leads to the laundry room and half bathroom. It is right as you walk in from the garage. This will be a mudroom someday with built-in lockers and such. But for now Scott has built this great six hook hookboard. Isn't it cute? And it is functional; we each get a hook (which as you can see, mine and Scott's are already being put to good use). It has been the best. The next step is a little shelf for the shoes...Then next year maybe we will get to actual built-ins. We will see!