Step Inside: Becky’s Cozy Cottage & Secret Garden

Today’s “Step Inside” home tour is such a treat. I hope you are as charmed by this cozy cottage and its owner as much as I was.

When I drove up to Becky’s home, not only was it my first time there, it was my first time meeting Becky too! A mutual friend connected us, and we quickly set up this day to meet and shoot her home. The whole experience was extremely uplifting – Becky is so warm, and easy to talk to. A few hours after I got there, I left with a new friend 🙂

In addition to being completely charmed by Becky, her home and surrounding property transported me to a fantasy world with fountains and gardens. As you’ll learn in the interview below, Becky and her husband moved here 30 years ago with barely a bush or plant in sight. I could not believe it until she showed me an arial photo of the property when they first moved in. What you see in the pictures below is a generation of lovingly adding the greenery that you see. One by one. Year by year. The result is a well-loved home tucked into a woodsy property full of beauty and surprises.

Hope you enjoy your “step inside” this cozy cottage.

Becky’s Cozy Cottage and Secret Garden

Step Inside: Becky's Cozy Cottage & Secret Garden

Step Inside: Becky's Cozy Cottage & Secret Garden

Who lives in this home and how did you come to live here? My husband Duke (and Lilly, our 14 year old jack russel terrier) live here with me. This piece of property was part of an original ten acre tract of land owned by my husband’s parents. We built this home thirty years ago and it is where we raised our three children. It seems like yesterday they were posing for preschool pictures by the front door. Ten years ago, our daughter’s wedding reception was held in the back yard … and these days our four grandsons rule the roost! 

What was your vision for the house as you were preparing to build? Duke and I were both so young when we built this house and our vision at that time was one of pure elation at just being able to build our first home! We built and bought what we could afford at that time and have added on twice through the years.

Step Inside: Becky's Cozy Cottage & Secret Garden

Step Inside: Becky's Cozy Cottage & Secret Garden

Step Inside: Becky's Cozy Cottage & Secret Garden

Step Inside: Becky's Cozy Cottage & Secret Garden

Step Inside: Becky's Cozy Cottage & Secret Garden

Step Inside: Becky's Cozy Cottage & Secret Garden

You own a foliage and landscape business. How has that impacted the way you live?  Duke and I share a love of plants, and given our business, plants have always been a huge part of our personal and professional lives. When we first built our home there was one large live oak located in the back, and about 793 cacti scattered throughout the yard. Duke spent many a weekend digging up each cactus that first year, and we have spent many a weekend since planting, growing, and nurturing. Truly, a labor of love!

How does adding plants/foliage impact a home’s feel? I always say that adding at least one healthy, live plant to any room is the difference between a vacation rental property and a well-loved, well-lived in home. We love bringing the outdoors in, and by doing so, create a more natural style right off the bat.

What do you splurge on in your home? Where have you saved?  In our recent renovation we splurged on the cabinets, appliances, light fixtures, etc. All of the “bones.” I save by bargain hunting for the rest! 

What is one thing you think every house should have? Every home should have a comfortable, inviting area for the entire family to gather. Since remodeling the kitchen, the banquette seating area has become a landing spot for family and friends. I love to cook, but food preparation now is so much more fun because (at any given time) I’m surrounded by those I love.

Step Inside: Becky's Cozy Cottage & Secret Garden

Step Inside: Becky's Cozy Cottage & Secret Garden

Step Inside: Becky's Cozy Cottage & Secret Garden

Step Inside: Becky's Cozy Cottage & Secret Garden

Step Inside: Becky's Cozy Cottage & Secret Garden

Step Inside: Becky's Cozy Cottage & Secret Garden

Step Inside: Becky's Cozy Cottage & Secret Garden

Step Inside: Becky's Cozy Cottage & Secret Garden

Your home has so much character. What do you think it says about you and your family? My home is a true reflection of what and who we hold most dear. So many of the pieces and collections that surround us are family heirlooms and things we’ve picked up through the years while traveling. Our faith, family, and friends are central to our lives and I believe our home strongly reflects this.

How would you describe your aesthetic/style? My style has evolved and been sifted through the years, but the core elements have remained the same. Antiques passed on from our grandparents and great-grandparents coupled with art found while in a boutique or specialty store. My aesthetic has always leaned toward a cottage farmhouse style. Not too formal, always relaxed and inviting.

Which room/area in your home do love the most? My kitchen is my favorite room in our house. We remodeled several years ago and I love the open floor plan that we ended up with. Everyone always ends up in the kitchen and it’s so nice to have areas within the kitchen that encourage the gathering of family and friends.

What traits draw you to other people’s homes? Even as a small child, I took notice of my surroundings. I am a visual person and appreciate good design elements. What draws me to any home, however, no matter what the style — is the feeling I have when I’m inside. My favorite home is one that tells a story about the people living there.

Step Inside: Becky's Cozy Cottage & Secret Garden

Step Inside: Becky's Cozy Cottage & Secret Garden

Step Inside: Becky's Cozy Cottage & Secret Garden

Step Inside: Becky's Cozy Cottage & Secret Garden

What are some of your favorite places to shop for your home? I’m not a buy “brand new” person … it’s why I’ve never been able to buy online either. I need to see it and feel it in real life to really have a good idea of the impact it could have in our home. My most favorite places to shop? Antique and thrift stores … though, it’s true … I could get lost for a few days in Homegoods!

Where do you find home inspiration and ideas? I find inspiration in nature, in the creativity of others, and in design books and magazines. None of our windows have window treatments for this very reason … the light and landscape of the outside drives the (natural, laid back) aesthetic within our home.  

Where do you like to find art? I find art anywhere from small gallery shops while traveling to something tucked into the corner of the attic to my grandson’s preschool painting. We don’t have anything to “fill a space” … everything has meaning.

How do you hope your children and grandchildren will remember this home when they are older? This is the only home my children have ever known. Duke and I want our home to be a sanctuary for our family, and we always have. This is a place where love abounds and peace lives. I want my grandchildren to remember it as a place of love and fun. I want them to remember the cookie jar on the kitchen counter (that wasn’t around when their parents were growing up – ha!), the child size furniture in the kitchen and living rooms … I want them to remember ice cream on the steps of the pool in the summer and the twinkling lights all around during the holidays. I want the legacy of this house, of our family home, to be one of love and belonging. 

Step Inside: Becky's Cozy Cottage & Secret Garden

Step Inside: Becky's Cozy Cottage & Secret Garden

Step Inside: Becky's Cozy Cottage & Secret Garden

Becky's Cozy Cottage and Secret Garden

Becky's Cozy Cottage and Secret Garden

Step Inside: Becky's Cozy Cottage & Secret Garden

Step Inside: Becky's Cozy Cottage & Secret Garden

Step Inside: Becky's Cozy Cottage & Secret Garden

Step Inside: Becky's Cozy Cottage & Secret Garden

Step Inside: Becky's Cozy Cottage & Secret Garden

Step Inside: Becky's Cozy Cottage & Secret Garden

Isn’t it magical?!?! Although most TV shows would have us believe that transformations happen in a snap, that is just not the case. Over the span of 30 years, Becky and her husband have intentionally crafted a home that fully represents their values. The reason her home exudes warmth and love has nothing to do with the furnishings. Those are just their values shining through.

“Even as a small child, I took notice of my surroundings. I am a visual person and appreciate good design elements. What draws me to any home, however, no matter what the style — is the feeling I have when I’m inside. My favorite home is one that tells a story about the people living there.”

I could not agree more, Becky. That’s what it’s all about. If you ever feel down that your house doesn’t look like the ones on TV, remember that your home is your unique story. Don’t focus on emulating others’ styles. Use that energy to uncover yours!

If you liked this cozy cottage, find more “Step Inside” home tours HERE.

Photography: Ale Cretul

Posted by & filed under Home Decor, Home Tours. This post has 9 comments.

The Power of Ceiling Lighting & Some of My Favorites

I am a fairly recent convert when it comes to the impact that ceiling lighting can make in a room. Before, I used to just focus on what was happening down below. But the past few years, I have definitely come to realize that it can make all the difference in the feel of a room.

Good ceiling lighting is like wearing a really good pair of shoes. Without them, you look fine. But, when you add just the right pair, it can make all the difference, right? That is the same impact that a great pendant or chandelier can have. Just thinking back about some of the home tours we’ve done here on the blog, take a look at how the ceiling lighting affects the overall feel of the space. Most of my favorite shots involve a beautiful lighting fixture.

The good news is that in the big scheme of things, lighting is not that expensive of an update. Certainly less than changing out your flooring or even buying a large rug. It’s totally doable. Especially if you switch out pieces slowly over time and take advantage of sales. For a few hundred dollars (or less), you can completely take a space from “meh” to mesmerizing.

Types of Ceiling Lighting Fixtures:

There are 3 main categories of ceiling lights: flush mounts, pendants, and chandeliers.

  • Flush mount – A flush mount is a light that butts right up to the ceiling. It does not hang down. Flush mounts are more commonly used for rooms with low ceilings, or any where that a hanging light might not be convenient. Here’s a sample of a lovely flush mount fixture:
  • Pendant – Pendants hang from the ceiling and typically have one main body. They may have more than one bulb in there, but they read as “one”. You often see them used in a group of two or 3 over a kitchen island, or maybe a large pendant over a small eat-in table. This is an example:
  • Chandelier – A chandelier also hangs down from the ceiling like a pendant, but it is usually made up of multiple lighting sources. I would generally categorize chandeliers as a bit larger, but that is not always the case. Sometimes the difference between a pendant and a chandelier is hard to tell. Below is a typical chandelier:

Tips for Choosing a Ceiling Fixture:

Think about your sight lines. When you are looking to add or replace a fixture, think about how the fixture will hang into the space. Will it block a beautiful view? If so, you may want to veer towards something that is open and airy. If not, then you can go with something more sculptural.

Figure out the right size & scale. Depending on the size of the room you are lighting, you will want to pick one that is the appropriate size. For example, if you have a big 10-foot dining table, you will want to stay away from a small pendant. You will need to look for something that is bigger and takes up more of the size of the table. Or…if you do choose pendants, maybe you go with two of them to take up more visual weight.

Use lighting for balancing the style of your room. You may think that your lighting fixture should match whatever “style” the rest of your house has. While I don’t completely disagree with that, I do think lighting is a great opportunity to help you not go overboard with one particular style. For example, let’s say you have lots of cottage elements throughout your house: frills, painted furniture, checked fabrics, etc. Instead of choosing a Cottage style fixture, try out a traditional or even industrial lighting style. You may be surprised how it makes the rest of the room pop!

Determine how much light you need. When you are scanning the web for just the right fixture, you can easily get caught up in the look over function. Take into account how much you need this light to do for you. Is it just for looks? That may be the case in rooms that also have recessed lighting. But if this is the sole light you will be relying on for overhead light in a room, you need to pay attention to the number of bulbs and wattage.

Where to begin?

I have been changing out the lighting in our home here and there in the past few years and love the transformative effect. I’ve also been helping several friends look for the right lighting for their remodels. So, if you think it’s time to get a new ceiling light, where should you start? There are so many gorgeous ceiling lighting options out there at ALL price points. I thought I would do a roundup for you of different ceiling fixtures from a several different online sources to get your juices flowing. I included a variety of styles and types. Maybe one will strike your fancy? Click on the numbers on the caption to go directly to the source.

Ceiling Lighting

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10

 

Have you ever swapped out a generic light for a room-changer like one of these? What kind of impact do you think lighting can make in a home?

Posted by & filed under Home Decor. This post has one comment.

October Favorites

October has come and gone! We celebrated Halloween yesterday. At first, I was a little worried that it fell on a Monday this year. I was thinking it would not be as fun on a school night. But it turned out to be one of the best ones yet! I think we simplified the preparation so much that we actually got to enjoy ourselves more than when we plan a big party with games, elaborate food, etc. Hmmm…good to remember for future celebrations.

After all the September favorites, I was wondering if I would have anything new and notable to share from this month, but it turns out I do! I have been into a lot of new things lately. Care if I share?

Giant coloring sheet from Caravan Shoppe.

Giant coloring sheet from Caravan Shoppe.

October Favorites

  • Have you ever taken the Myers-Briggs personality assessment? It has been a good 20 years since I took the Myers-Briggs. When I first took it, I came out an INTJ. I have always wondered if the outcome would be the same so many years later. Cup of Jo recently shared this personality test on their site. It is very user-friendly to take, and the results were extremely accurate. Turns out I am still an INTJ after all these years. The insight they provide into your personality type is extremely enlightening. Try it and see if it comes out accurately for you.
  • For a while now, I have been digging around for a way to incorporate collagen into my diet. Yes, I am a bit of a nutrition nerd, I admit it. Collagen is an essential protein that is derived from animal connective tissue. Bone broth is one of the best ways to consume it, but the problem is that I am too lazy to make bone broth.  When I stumbled upon Vital Proteins, a few weeks ago I knew I had found what I was looking for! They have a small but mighty line-up of clean, high-quality collagen products. I have been making smoothies in the morning with 2 scoops of THIS collagen powder for the past 2 weeks with good results. I feel like my skin looks better. Maybe more hydrated? I am all about it and curious to try the Collagen Beauty Greens and Beef Liver Pills next 🙂 Will keep you posted!
  • So last month I shared how i was enjoying the Headspace App with one of my kids. This month there is another app I am using with them. It’s the Duolingo app. Have you heard about it?? Apparently millions of people are using it, so I am way late to the game. It is a FREE language-learning app. My mom has been using it for months to learn Italian. Our youngest son Max is using it to learn Spanish. The design of the site is simple and effective. They incentivize you to get on it every day. You advance through the lessons with a variety of teaching styles which keeps it interesting and fun. I noticed they also have a program available for schools. Anyway, if you have ever wanted to learn a language, I would definitely recommend it!
  • Another thing I have been loving lately is Beautycounter products. Even though I try to eat clean, up until recently I had not put too much effort into using clean skincare and beauty products. Eliminating toxins is important to me, but I am taking baby steps. When I heard the Diane and Liz from the Balanced Bites podcast talking about the Beautycounter line, my ears perked up. I have been learning about wellness from these two knowledgeable ladies for about 3 years now and I really trust them. Liz specifically is an expert on clean skincare and cosmetics. So when she started singing the praises of Beautycounter, I was curious to try them out. What makes them unique is that they have banned 1500 harmful or questionable chemicals from their products. The part that I find super scary is that they European Union has banned 1300 of these chemicals also – but the U.S. has not 🙁

I have been super pleased with everything I’ve ordered so far. If I had to recommend a few products, I would say the charcoal mask and the dew skin tinted moisturizer are my very favorites. The shampoo has been fantastic too! For my next purchase, I am eyeing the concealer and the lustro shimmer oil for those pale leg days coming soon.

  • One last little thing I want to share with you is a trick I have for keeping holiday celebrations fun and festive, without the fuss and expense of buying tons of stuff. Have you heard of Caravan Shoppe? It is the coolest little online shop for inexpensive printables you can use for parties or family celebrations. Yesterday (Halloween day) I decided at the last minute I wanted to have a kids’ activity at our Halloween get-together before trick-or-treating. I found this adorable giant Halloween coloring page on Caravan’s site and a fun poster for the wall.

Here’s how their site works: they design adorable digital products for holidays and celebrations. You pick what you like, and pay an extremely low price. Then, they email you the files for what you picked. From there, you just send it to your local printer, and for a few bucks, you are on your way!

I think what makes them such a fantastic option is that they are such talented designers. Both Alma and Melanie were my teachers at one time – Alma teaches online Illustrator classed, and Melanie teaches Photoshop and Web Design. I definitely plan on using some of their Christmas products for the class party I am heading up.

So those are my October favorites. What new products, apps, books, websites have you been into lately?

Posted by & filed under Learning. This post has no comments yet.

Best Podcast this Week: AirBnB’s Joe Gebbia on How I Built This

how-i-built-this-podcast

The best podcast episode I heard this week was AirBnB’s Joe Gebbia on the “How I Built This” podcast. The podcast features “innovators, entrepreneurs and idealists, and the stories behind the movements they built.” The theme of the podcast hits on several of my hot-button interests: entrepreneurship, marketing, and the behind-the-scenes of successful organizations. As I scanned through the available episodes, I decided to listen to the one featuring Joe Gebbia, the founder of AirBnB.

I am guessing you are probably familiar with AirBnB, but if not, it is basically a person-to-person room and home rental site. AirBnB now has rentals available in 200 countries. On an average night, approximately 1 million people are using AirBnB over a hotel. They are huge.

The episode on how AirBnB got its start grabbed me from the very first moment. Like all NPR podcasts, the production value was excellent. The light music in the background, the likable host, and the way the conversation with the AirBnB’s founder sounded like we were all sitting around the same table over coffee. The story of how this now-billionaire started his company out of nothing is fascinating. I will not tell you too many details of how the concept first came about so that you can have the pleasure of listening as I did. I guarantee that you will enjoy it.

Air BnB's Joe Gebbia speaking about designing for trust

Joe Gebbia speaking about designing for trust.

Joe and his co-founders’ idea evolved quite a bit over time. They would experience success and then tumble down again. They struggled with finding anyone who would invest in their company. So they just funded theselves with credit cards. Can you imagine? At one point, they even created and sold novelty breakfast cereal during the 2008 election season. That seemingly random part of their story would later play a part in them getting accepted into one of the biggest start-up seed incubators in the country, Y Combinator. And it was that pivot point that sent them in the direction they so desperately needed.

Joe Gebbia's Novelty Cereal from the 2008 election

Joe Gebbia’s Novelty Cereal from the 2008 election

The best podcast episodes not only tell a compelling story, but teach you something along the way. I picked up a handful of takeaways from listening to Joe Gebbia’s story about the creation of AirBnB.

Key Takeaways from Joe Gebbia’s Story

  • Don’t underestimate the power of design. A large part of the success of AirBnB has to do with the visual experience and ease of booking. I am a big proponent of good design for this very reason. Some people mistakenly think this means to add lots of bells and whistles. But most of the time it means taking out the unnecessary. Clarity is key, as you don’t want people guessing where to click and what to do on your site. I believe Joe Gebbia’s background in design really set him up as the right person for the right site. His captivating TED Talk on “How AirBnB Designs For Trust” shows just how monumental the impact of design can be.
  • Take the time to see the world from your audience’s point of view. One of the recommendations that the AirBnB guys received early on was to get out from behind their computers and go meet the people who were using their site. It wasn’t until they personally went to visit the homeowners and watched them use the site that they realized how it was not serving them. That was a major “a-ha” moment for them. The experience of being with their audience completely changed how Joe and his co-founders did business moving forward. If you are creating a product, service, experience or anything else that people will use, it is KEY to take the time to understand their experience thoroughly.
  • Keep moving forward and making progress, even when times look bleak. Another concept I learned on this episode is the trough of sorrow. Basically, the trough of sorrow is a time in a start-up’s trajectory when they hit a wall or a plateau. They stop growing. People seem to lose interest. It is during this time when most people bail on their ideas and companies go under. However, if you can hold on tight and maybe even double down at this point, you might just make it out even better than you could have imagined.

I highly recommend AirBnB’s Joe Gebbia “How I Built This” podcast episode. After listening, I subscribed to the podcast and devoured 3 more episodes, featuring the founders of Instagram, Spanx and Clif Bar. The Spanx episode came in at a close second to the AirBnB episode.

What types of podcasts are you into lately? Find more of my podcast recommendations and favorite episodes HERE.

Posted by & filed under Learning, Podcasts. This post has 2 comments.

Target Fall Favorites

Now that the weather is finally creeping towards fall here, I can start getting into the spirit of the season 🙂 I say it incessantly, but Target just keeps getting better and better. I know everyone has their favorite department in there. As you might guess, I beeline it straight to the home decor section every time I go. The fall selection has been SO good. Pretty soon, the holiday stuff will be replacing it and so many of these things will be on their way out.

Here’s a quick round-up of some of my favorite fall goodies from Target right now.

target-favorites-fall-2016

Mudhut Rope Textured Pendant Light – I love the spool detail over the shade and even more the texture added by the rope. I think this pendant would look so good hanging over a small breakfast table. It’s on sale right now for less than $40. Somebody needs to get this.

Marble & Wood Coasters – The combination of marble and light wood always stops me in my tracks every time. These coasters are so beautiful. I think they would make a nice housewarming gift.

Gold Geoburst – The website lists this as a wall decor item, but that is a typo. It doesn’t go on the wall. This gold piece is a great little accessory for a bookcase or built-in. Remember the post on styling your shelves? The geoburst would be a great sculptural item to place on a stack of 2 or 3 books. Because it is metallic, it would work on light or dark shelves.

Madison Task Lamp – I have not seen this looker in person yet, but I absolutely love this lamp. It has nice industrial or farmhouse feel to it, which would be a great addition to a room that is getting a little too feminine. I have a feeling husbands would love this lamp. It’s masculine and classic at the same time.

Nate Berkus Overtufted Shag Rug – I am crazy about the design of this area rug. It is more interesting than just a striped rug and has so much texture. When you are drawn to neutrals, texture is your friend. I could see this in a small living room. I think it would also be a great area rug for a boy’s bedroom.

Leather Oversized Oblong Pillow – I was so happy to see this leather pillow! If you have a light or dark gray sofa, a warm leather like this would look SO good! Your pillows don’t always need to have pattern to add interest. Different materials (like leather) can add interest too. In case this shape doesn’t work for your seating, they have square ones too.

Marble Serving Tray with Brass Handles – Remember how I said the combination of marble and wood stop me in my tracks every time? So does marble and brass (insert heart eyes emoji here). This little serving tray would be a perfect addition to a table filled with appetizer plates and platters. And another great housewarming gift idea.

Nate Berkus Striped Tassel Throw – Tassels are totally having a moment right now. In clothes, jewelry, and in home accessories. A tassel makes everything more fun. And this throw, is the perfect pop of black and white for any space.

Tufted Arm Chair – I die over this chair. It is so well-designed for such a low price. If I didn’t have an excess of extra upholstered chairs hanging around my house I would snatch it up. The color selection is really nice too! I actually like the blush one in addition to the neutrals which is rare for me. I like the idea of getting two and creating a cozy conversation area. Or maybe even 4 with a low round table in the center to create a loungey feel.

Framed Watercolor Abstract – Hanging art can make a world of different. It can quickly add up though, especially after you get it framed. Incorporating a few pre-framed pieces into the mix is a good way to still have art but not break the bank. Most manufactured art can be super cheesy, but this line of indigo blue works with wooden frames are spot-on.

Round Rattan Basket – I know I talk about texture all.the.time. There’s a reason. Texture adds interest and depth to a space. Lots of slick solid surfaces are not cozy and inviting. Baskets are one of the easiest ways to add texture. I admire it every single time I am in Target. You could fill it with magazines, newspapers, extra blankets and pop it on the floor next to a chair or sofa.

Decorative Sculpture – similar to the gold geoburst, this decorative accent would be a great piece to style your shelves with. I love how graphic and simple it is. There are two sizes, so you could also layer one in front of the other for even more impact. Unlike the geoburst, this one would look best on a white/light background.

Home Doormat – Wouldn’t this make you happy every time you walked up to your front door? I love the simple design and the pop of red. If it is too small for your front entry, you could also layer it over a flatweave that has black and white in it to give it more presence.

Have you picked up any pieces from Target for your home this fall? I want to hear what caught your eye! Maybe I will go and stalk that too 🙂

Posted by & filed under Home Decor. This post has no comments yet.