DREAMING OF: LEISURE SUITE

Dear Olive,

We are soon to embark on our bedroom renovation.  It all started when Ella began to outgrow her toddler bed.  We deliberated for some time on which room to relocate her to, since her present room is too small for a twin.

Option one was our guest room with the on suite, but since it also has a balcony, we worried about safety.  Ella picks locks like a hardened criminal.

Option two was our present bedroom.  This seemed more likely since it adjoins the jack and jill bath, so the kids could share and we could have our own space.  The problem with this move; however, was that we would lose our three closets out of the master.  And the small bathroom is in a state of disrepair with a terrible fiberglass shower.

In trying to solve this dilemma, I solicited the advice of many friends and family members.  It was my mom who eventually suggested that we create an entrance to the small bedroom from the master to create a walk-in closet.  We decided to go for it and to recreate the footprint of the bathroom while we were at it.  Enter: Leisure Suite.

Here are some specs on the dream:

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I either want to go really light:

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or really dark:

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We've got to figure out the chandelier and the seating area:

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Perhaps with a deco spin?

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Since seeing the movie The Intern, I have been obsessed with marble fireplaces.

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I hope to find an antique mantel and then do an insert like this:

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I'd love to makeover the bathroom for more functionality and luxury.  

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We are going to blow through one of the closets to enlarge the shower.  I'm crossing my fingers for a mini clawfoot tub as well.

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Stay tuned!

PARCEL POST: BUSY BAG CLOTHESLINE

Dear Olive,

As I mentioned here, a few years ago I made some special busy bags that I brought out only when I fed the baby or when I needed the toddler to play independently.  I'd put on Pandora and tell him, "play for two songs and then it will be your time after."  Since you're in the transition way, I'm sending you our busy bags to use with Violet.  Here is mailing number two:

View Master Busy Bag: 

Get an old View Master at a garage sale... put that situation in a bag.

 

Clothesline Busy Bag:

Cut up some felt into clothing shapes (they especially like underware).  Add some clothespins and ribbon for the clothesline. 

 

Enjoy the solitude.

FAMILY ROOM MAKEOVER

Dear Olive,

Whelp, I pulled the trigger and painted the back room molding.

It all started with our vintage side chair, which didn't jive with the 80s edition molding.  

I planned to paint the trim over the summer, but then I found this gem of a granny sofa at a local vintage shop.  It is actually the exact sofa my grandma had when I was growing up.  I removed the skirt to unearth some keen mid-century legs.  After that, I knew that I had to start painting to keep my ugly couch ironic instead of just ugly in the space.

Unfortunately, while I was taking down our very heavy wooden blinds, I crashed into my beloved blown glass lamp.  A few days later, I found this one at Goodwill for $6 and paired it with a black linen shade.

I finally assembled the Ikea cart that had been waiting in my attic and organized our picture book collection.

Recommended by Joni of Lay Baby Lay, I have loved this union rug from Pattern Society for some time and am pleased by how it works in the space.  

The builder-grade windows actually didn't have any panes in them.  I purchased this product to outfit the windows above the couch and used L brackets to overhang a century old sidelight window over the picture window.

The kids had painted these canvases as a Christmas gift and I love looking at them everyday.

Now I look forward to starting our day in the family room.  

Instead of an afterthought, it has become a favorite space!

PAINTING HISTORIC MOLDING: DO OR DON'T?

Dear Olive,

I have been contemplating painting our dark molding for ages now.  It seems such a historic house sin, but how can that be so when you could go from this:

To this:

I can't get over how Jordan of Oh Happy Day has transformed her turn of the century space into modern vintage with a mere coat of paint.  Maybe it is for us?

PUPPY LOVE FOR VALENTINES DAY

Dear Olive,

This year for Valentines, both of the kids wanted to make boxes in the shape of dogs.  Puppies are a major thing around these parts.

Our dogs thought so too.  Hamilton and Burr may or may not have eaten the loot out of their boxes at the end of the night.  Dogmatic irony.

INVITING SILENCE

Dear Olive,

I have decided to permit winter to enfold me.  To cease in trying to lurch myself into high octane productivity and to instead slow into the grey stillness of the season.

Each winter, I rally against the quieting of nature and the bleak months ahead.  What if, instead of trying to pursue my to-do list with ragged exhaustion, I used the time as a reset.  To read, and rest, and to be still.  To contemplate instead of motivate.

Everything needs silence.  Maybe silence is what I need.

PLAYHOUSE: INTERIOR TOUR

Dear Olive, 

Right before winter, we made some updates to the playhouse interior. 

We painted and added curtains from a vintage sheet, added hooks for some child-size folding chairs, and a table for a garage-sale toy stove I found.

Immediately after the house was built, our neighbor; an antique dealer, put a damaged octagonal inlaid tabletop on the curb for trash pick up.  I hauled it over, certain that it would be the perfect floor for the playhouse.  Alas, the dimensions were too small, but I begged our friend into lending me his miter saw and cut down 2x4s to rim the table and fit into the floor.  We now have parquet flooring in the playhouse.  

PS... I seriously almost cut off my thumb using the saw.

 

The kids and I regularly play monster in the house and have dog tea parties.

There is a loft above with pillows and I have grand plans to wallpaper the ceiling with this paper, and of course to install a chandelier.

There is nothing lovelier than sitting in the house with the windows open and the breeze blowing the smell of our vegetable garden through the space.  

And Ella makes the best tea on the block.

She has a cup waiting for Violet and Johnny.