We Took the Road Less Traveled: Our Home

Showing posts with label Our Home. Show all posts

Sep 1, 2016

Heidi's Southwest-Inspired Nursery

I really should stop saying I'm going to do so and so on the blog on a certain date because that date always ends up passing by without my promise coming to fruition. I am the blog procrastination Q-U-E-E-N these days. Lucky (or unlucky) for me, little miss is now 4 days past her due date (KILL ME NOW) and I'm frantically trying to fill my free time with anything but thoughts of why this little babe is so darn stubborn! With all this waiting time, I finally have a moment to share Heidi's nursery with you all (silver lining?). Maybe she's been waiting for this post and NOW she'll make her grand entrance to the world? Wishful thinking, I know. This girl has a mind of her own and seems perfectly comfy with her current set up. She really should read this post and see what goodness is waiting for her on the outside...am I right?

Friends, this nursery was a true labor of love. One that I toiled over via Pinterest and Instagram while on our 3,000 mile road trip...making pin boards and trying to envision something stylish, yet girly, for a room I'd never stepped foot in. I knew what sort of nursery I wanted in our Florida house, but this rental in Cali, my mind jumped from theme to theme. I was all over the place (both literally and figuratively). Thankfully, a dear friend created a private pin board of fun things for Heidi's nursery and it was full of Southwest-inspired touches from Aztec-patterned blankets to cactus prints and boho rugs. I wasn't sold on the idea until the moment I saw THE room and found THE rug. It all fell into place from there.

A sweet, feminine take on Southwest style for a new start out West. Seemed super appropriate for this new chapter of life and now this nursery has easily become our favorite room in the house! Not hard to see why, it's the only room with new everything...and everything all in its perfect place. I love to sit in the glider, morning light streaming in, and think about the sweet sounds that will someday fill the room. It's where I come to pray for Heidi and the kind of person she'll be, the kind of life she'll lead. It'll be the place where lots of beautiful memories will be made. Gives me chills just thinking about it all. But on to the details!

The crib and crib mattress were the only two pieces of the nursery we brought with us from Florida (thanks, Mama B!). The rest, well, I had 7 weeks to scramble and shop for once I'd landed on a theme. Needless to say, most of my third trimester meltdowns were nursery-related. Amidst unpacking boxes and trying to get the rest of the house functional, all my heart wanted to focus on was this tiny 12'x13' room. I ended up hating almost every decor option at stores like Babies R Us and BuyBuy Baby, so most everything I ordered from places like Etsy, Target, and Amazon. Because of that, we spent a good amount of time waiting for nursery mail to arrive week after week. Talk about frustrating! I got to be REAL good friends with the UPS, USPS, and FedEx men. They probably thought I was a hoarder with all the packages they were delivering. As we rounded the corner into week 39, all pieces were delivered and tiny details hung and polished. Nursery complete!

**the Moses Basket is a family hand-me-down...my mom used it for me and my sister, my Aunt with her daughter...and now our little Heidi. :)

Moroccan Pouf: Maison Marrakech | Glider: Wayfair | Pillow & Throw: Target| End Table: Nate Berkus for Target | Heidi Book: Amazon

I'm not sure why I felt the need to get this room 100% finished before Heidi's arrival. Part of me thinks it's because I had a beautiful home ripped out from underneath me (dramatic, much?) and I wanted this one room to be PERFECT. She deserves it...heck, I deserve it. The other half of me was nesting so hard I couldn't see straight. Either way, I'm so happy it's done and that it all fell into place so much more seamlessly than how I typically decorate a room. Totally a God thing. Probably ridiculous to say out loud, but He's been in the details of every aspect of our move and this pregnancy...nursery was no exception.

And now we wait. Wait for girlfriend to drop it low and make her grand debut into this crazy, crazy world. I'm BEYOND ready to see her face and snuggle the crap out of her. And ready to be done being pregnant. Am I allowed to say that? Who knows...but I am. We've tried ALL the old wives tales and "labor-inducing" foods ever suggested and big fat GOOSE EGG to it all (for my next trick, I'll stick my thumb up my rear and whistle Yankee Doodle from a mountaintop--that should do it!)...so save your comments. Sorry, that's sounds harsh, but the sheer quantity of unsolicited labor advice I've gotten these last couple weeks has me wanting to murder well-meaning humans. Baby rage is still alive and well in me...save yourself! I've decided all those who've gone into labor after eating eggplant parmesan or spicy food or getting pedicures have done so out of pure coincidence. Their bodies were already ready for baby and mine's just...not. Not yet, at least. She's gotta come out by 42 weeks, so come hell or high water I'll be birthing a babe before long. I just need to not psych myself out during the agonizing wait. Easier said than done, right, mamas?

Custom Book Ledge Shelves: Dunn Rustic Designs | Hanging Wall Planters: Amazon | Yarn Wall Hanging: NW Urban Cottage Shop | Ivory Striped Swaddle Basket: Pottery Barn Kids | Woven Rattan Book Basket: Target

Oh, and I should mention, that ADORABLE Aztec Alphabet Print was designed just for Heidi by my amazingly talented graphic designer of a cousin. I found something similar on some website wanting a bagillion dollars for a wrong color print, so I asked and she worked her designer magic. Couldn't be more in love with the result! Don't worry, we won't teach Heidi from that alphabet, but it's one of my favorite fun details of her nursery. Had to shout it to the world. Thanks, Linds! Another BIG shout out to the husband for putting all the furniture together and hanging everything on the walls. There's a special seat for you in heaven, I just know it. ;) D also hung the pendant light after a heck of a fight with it. He's come a lonnggg way, folks. Proud wife right here.

Longest (and most rambling) nursery reveal ever? Likely so. But I want to remember every tiny detail until the day I die, so blog it all, I said! And I finally did. You're welcome, you've made it to the end, and thanks for reading. ;)

Side note: if you've got some good baby vibes, prayers, positive juju, and/or love to send our way, we could use it! I need this baby girl in my arms, like, yesterday. COME ON, HEIDI! We are SO ready to meet you!

Oct 18, 2011

It's Flat-tastic!

The thought drifted across my mind last night that I might not have shown you guys the awesomeness that is our little German flat. To confirm that notion, I skimmed through my posts only to find I was right! I'd only given you guys a little sneak peak into our new home. Shame on me! German housing is SO much different than what we're used to in the states. I'm talking cramped, minimal, no-closet living. But that will come in another post. For now (without further a due), here is our little slice of the German pie we call home!

This is our building! We live on the 2nd floor. Below us lives our landlord and his cute family and above us lives a fellow American Army soldier. I'm in love with how cute this place is from the outside. All the houses on our street look similar to this.

This is the gate into our building. Feels like I'm walking into a secret garden some days. Minus the trash can. The other photo is the view from our balcony out front. This was taken back in the summer, but right now the leaves are changing. It's even more breathtaking, if that is possible!

This is the entrance and the foyer of our home...which is now also the dining room. That bright idea came to me in a dream one night, no lie. You've got to be innovative with your space when it's lacking. To the right is a guest bedroom, straight ahead is the master bedroom, to the left is the living room and behind where I was standing to take the photo is the bathroom, 3rd bedroom, and kitchen. We also like to call this room Grand Central Station.

This is the master bedroom! I love the cutout in the wall, which is exactly where our bed is positioned. I also am in love with the ornate moulding and the ceiling medallions in each room. They are stunning and add such character to our home. Our landlord asked us if we would prefer he put alternate lighting in each room because some people think his chandeliers are pretentious. I said, "NO WAY!" It would be the same flat without them!

This is the living room...one of my favorite rooms in the flat. This room is also where you can find our cherub crown moulding and another beautiful chandelier. The natural lighting is absolutely wonderful. We only ever turn our lights on when it's dark outside, saving us lots of money on our already outrageous electric bill. I seriously don't understand how it can be so high when we have no A/C. And to be such a "green" country. It's mind boggling. The living room also gives way to a small platformed sunroom with attached balcony. We have turned that area into my little home office and reading nook. The almost complete wall of windows was a major selling feature.

Next up is another one of my favorite rooms...the kitchen!! It's all modern and IKEAed out. LOVE it! It's black and white...the exact colors of my kitchen back home, so it matches all my stuff perfectly! And bonus! Check out the cute little balcony that juts off the kitchen. It overlooks the garden. I mean, really...could this place be any cooler? Oh and ahem, please excuse all the moving clutter. I promise, it doesn't look like that now.

Moving along, here are photos of the two guest bedrooms. I know, we're nuts. We brought 3 mattresses to try and squeeze into a tiny European apartment. To be honest, we are expecting a lot of guests. Expecting is the key word. I truly hope to have as many guest as we've been told we will have. We endured a lot of stress toiling over finding a home big enough for entertaining guests, so it would be a shame for it to go to waste. Heck, I might just sleep in each bed just to ease my mind! Either way, "Hotel Coté" is now open for business!!

This guest room is right off the living room and the kitchen. Perfect for those guests who crave a late night snack or need a Jimmy Fallon fix.

This guest room...well...it's...cozy. Right off the dining room a.k.a Grand Central Station and has a lovely view of the...um...house next door. Great for those who appreciate industrial lighting! Did I mention it's cozy? Beggars can't be choosers, right?

Now on to the final room on our tour. I HATE this room. Ok, hate is a strong word. I dislike his room. I'm hoping it will start to grow on me as I make it my own. I shipped 4 boxes full of bathroom storage (because, as I've mentioned before, there are no closets...all my tampons, medicines, and razors are displayed on built in shelves for the world to see!), towels, and decor to doctor this room up. It's a typical German bathroom, but all I can think of is summer camp. Blech.

We are lucky though. We have double sinks and a separate laundry room in our bathroom. Both of which are rarities in German living quarters. Usually, the laundry facilities are located in the kitchen. That grosses me out to no end. That's why this bathroom is starting to grow on me. Our laundry room is in its own curtained off, albeit small, area. When I think of what it could be, I am thankful for what I have.

All of these photos show our flat pre-move in...so, now that our stuff is here and in it's right place, it looks even better. I will post "after" photos when I've finally got it decorated as I want it. That's a whole lotta drama in itself. I'm seriously never satisfied. Stupid type A personality. So, that's it folks! This is our flat and all it's German glory! We truly love it...camp bathroom and all.

Thank's for stopping by! Y'all, come back now, ya hear!