a problem spot

I have a problem.

It is not particularly big or of great importance, but it has bothered me for, oh, six years now.

Here it is:

What were our builders thinking putting all of these switches, thermostats, outlets on one wall with such random placement?

From the front door, this is what you see going into the living room. Not really enough space to put a piece of furniture on the wall.

And from the living room looking toward the dining/entry. The wall sits at the foot of the stairs.

What in the world do you do with a wall like this?  I’d love any suggestions!

And while we’re at it, please share any problem spots that you have in your own home. Maybe we can brainstorm together to find a simple solution.

Posted by emily | 195 comments

new curtains for the entry

Like many new construction homes, our front entry has a nice tall door and sidelight windows on either side. These are great for letting in natural light during the day, but not so great for privacy in the evenings.

It was Ryan’s idea to hang curtains – brilliant!

We originally hung white IKEA panels, but I decided to play musical curtains and move pretty much all of the window coverings from one room in our house to another.  With all the moving around, our front door was left bare.

And then I remembered this gorgeous fabric I had ordered months ago:

It’s called Westminster in Aqua from Calico Corners {and happens to be on sale right now!}

Because the fabric was fancier than I usually go for with long drapery panels {I’m an IKEA girl} I really wanted them to be sewn correctly – and lined. So I followed these instructions and surprisingly, they turned out beautifully.

Curtain tiebacks are not usually my favorites, but they work great in this instance – keeps the curtains out of the way when pulled back during the day.

Here’s how they look when pulled.

They add a nice dose of pattern and color to an otherwise neutral area in our home.

Want to see more of our house? Click below for the tour.

And for the winners of the art print giveaway:

Each will receive one of every art print in the shop!

Thanks again for all of you who purchased a print this weekend. Your support for my artwork and business is encouraging, humbling and a great blessing.

Posted by emily | 42 comments