i can’t help myself with all of these room tours. i seriously hope you aren’t sick of me. once, when i was fresh out of college, i sent my bff a letter. i included a couple of photos of my new apartment – i thought she might like to see my surroundings as it was the first time we’d ever been separated in different cities. i thought i was being clever and she lovingly thought i was a total dork. i keep thinking about that as i post these images every week of our new digs. it sort of cracks me up but i like it anyway. so, here we go. this week it’s our dining room…
lucky for us, this room was already painted this soothing color when we moved in. and we were also super lucky to score this table (loving the bench on one side) from my sister-in-law who needed to store it in our house. the windows on the right bring in a lot of natural light which is so nice here in seattle (speaking of windows, this is how they’re tied. cute, no?). the heart on the wall was made by anthony hansen from old recycled metal. i love everything he creates. the little birdie sculpture underneath it was made by friend stephanie lee (another artist who creates magic with her hands). these are two of my favorite artsy pieces in the house. oh how i adore them!
i love how the items in our homes have stories. this weathered piece was the first piece of furniture i bought in portland when we moved there in 1999. and the window box, which holds our paperweight collection, was constructed by a carpenter who sold his unique pieces each week at portland’s saturday market (i can’t remember his name) – a really fantastic market with artists galore. the frames, made by reclaimed wood, were bought at the home rebuilding center in portland many years ago. they hold some of our most treasured photos. so, i suppose this little corner is all about portland, each piece being born there with fond memories attached.
this is a view/peek into the living room. the yucca tree on the left has traveled with us everywhere we’ve ever gone in the last ten years. it belonged to john well before he met me and he insisted that it make the move with us from florida to oregon in a tiny honda civic hatchback – that was the summer of 1999. we traveled and camped our way across the country for weeks and weeks. just the two of us and the yucca. it reminds me of the plant in that movie the professional – the one where the hitman takes his beloved plant with him everywhere he goes. if you’ve seen that movie, then you know what i’m talking about. we love our yucca. it’s been with us through so much.
i haven’t found any good junk stores in seattle yet, but i did fall in love with this repurposed wooden column thingy that is now used as a giant candle stick – found at a local antique store called antika. oh how i loved this the moment i saw it. john has a strict rule which is this: only buy the things you are deeply in love with. period. and this certainly fell into that category. the trays in the background are vintage metal tv trays. so cool, adore those things.
you can’t really tell in the images above, but these vintage ornaments atop glass candle sticks (an idea i had after seeing these at my mom’s house) sit in the window sill. loving how they look in the light, the color brightening up the room.
and finally, our collection of rusty tin that sits on top of our pie safe. the rocking doggie is one of my most favorite pieces in the whole house 🙂
oh please don’t stop with the photos! i just love looking at your home and how beautiful it is – so inspirational. i would love to see more pix. thanks for sharing with us.
laura
I love the home tours, your house looks so inviting and the art pieces are gorgeous. Whenever I moved houses or towns my mother would always be restless until they came and saw where I was living and then she was happy. Part of it was the protective parent thing and the other part was so that when we talked on the phone she could “picture” me.
And now I can picture you.
I take pictures of my house too, and I love seeing photos of other people’s homes! Yours is gorgeous. I love the french doors and the white trim, as well as your eclectic accessories.
Thank you for welcoming us into your home!! Stop by my blog for a little surprise!
Really loving your tours! Your decorating style is amazing, I hope one day I have a house that is decorated as well as yours! Colors, paintings, love it all!
you have the knack of making a place so cozy and inviting. if you weren’t such a successful artist already, you’d make a darn good interior decorator!
A bit north of you in Edmonds you will find a store called “Salvage Studio”. I love this store, and the gals who own it are such fun women! The store is only open on Fridays and Saturdays. It is full of little vignettes and I can spend hours in there. It’s not messy, but I still feel like I have to lift everything up because I might miss something if I don’t. They offer some fun classes making jewelery and treasure boxes, etc, out of “repurposed” things. Paw through the coffee cans full of game pieces, stamps, buttons, etc. Look on the wall and see how they made shelves out of old skis. There’s just so much, and everytime you go in, there’s new stuff. Like I said, the women who own it are great, and have written a book, so they are kindred spirits. I hope you’ll visit their website and go visit them in person.
your home is so warm and inviting…. cozy AND stylish. they are great fun to look at……. as well as inspiring!
Kelly would you stop by my blog HeLives for a little award I’m passing on to people I thing have a great attitude and gratitude…thanks..Bevie
Pssst. love your blog!!! Awesome!
I’ll have to share that window box picture with some friends. I was just at their place this weekend, and saw a wonderful yellow window that could be created into a beautiful box like the one you have!
I love your beautiful home! It looks so warm and cozy, like you. love from texas. nance
Hey Kelly Rae,
I’m loving your book Taking Flight and can’t wait to try some of the projects and exercises (one of my new year’s resolutions is to do three exercises from every craft book I buy, instead of just dreaming about it). The figures you create are so unique and compelling, and, well, soulful.
I’m writing cause I just mentioned the book on my blog, which focuses on the connection between creativity and healing. Hope you’ll visit it, http://crafttoheal.blogspot.com, and post.
I’ve also written a book, Craft to Heal: Soothing Your Soul with Sewing, Painting, and Other Pastimes that you might enjoy (www.nancymonson.com).
Best wishes to you!
Nancy Monson
just discovered you, your art and your blog. I love it all! I have listed you on my blog list http://pammcknight.blogspot.com/
thanks for such inspiration.
Just wanted to say please do keep on posting images of your home – I love having a good look at other people’s homes and yours is so cute…I love it. I have recently started my blog and am starting to show a few images inside my house – if you look hard you will see your work that I’ve purchased in a couple of rooms ! I don’t know how to add those little things you do to highlight a part of your image so you may have to have a real good study but they are there! If you or anyone fancies checking out my blog and home it’s at
samanthajenkins.blogspot.com
it would be nice to know someone’s has checked it out, as i’ve only told my husband about it and have sworn him to secrecy!
It is an excellent rule to buy only things you love. I believe in surrounding yourself with things that bring you joy.
I hope you find wonderful junk and antique stores soon.
Linda
Lovin’ the tours. Don’t stop. Your bedroom view is amazing! Queen Anne is such a sweet neighborhood.
There’s at least three places that sell salvaged building materials in Seattle. They get some good stuff.
Antika is a great store. One of my favorite Mexican places is just around the corner from there. The burritos are enough for two and the salsa is amazing!
What a beautiful new home!
Enjoy your time off…..
love all the photos. thank you for sharing them.
i moved to the area 3 years ago and love the feeling of a fresh start, the newness and discovery of it all.
enjoy
Love your art! Love your new home! I, too, am a collector of things with histories and stories. The little rocking horse just speaks to me because it’s the little things in life, right?
I’ve tried to contact you to see if you design blog headings. Would love to know. I have an idea but need some artwork.
I love seeing photos of your space!!! It gives me great inspiration, i love the vintage homey feel of it…makes me want to declutter and start all over, but i think i will wait until imove, which will hopefully be by the summer!!! Thanks for the tour, keep the pics comin! Have fun at CHA!!!
love the pix! glad you are digging seattle. you simply MUST check out Deluxe Junk in Fremont…. and Great Stuff in Georgetown.
peace & LOVE.
I love home tours and seing other people’s places… if you haven’t figured that out by my weird blog (it is based on rooms in my house and each room houses different interests… art studio/playground/kitchen, etc.)
So I am all about the tours!
You are teaching at that Nest retreat? How fun! I have heard it is good times- you’ll have to give all of us “trapped-on-island-types” the update on how it goes.
Yep, lovin the tour! Your house is my dream house, I swear. I’d love little bits and trinkets everywhere with a sense of old and new. Your bungalow is perfect!
Have fun with the creative, scrap experts. You’ll gain so much!
Hi Kelly,
I love seeing where you live…and I love that all your things hold so much meaning…thanks for sharing!
don’t stop touring us around!
i LOVE to see what people’s houses look like
it’s inspiring:)
I for one love seeing people’s homes! I am amazed at how put together all your rooms are after just moving in!
Good luck with all the art retreats…I’ve been looking for near my state with no luck whatsoever.I guess they dont do these retreats in the middle of the country 😉 have fun!~ And enjoy your time off!~
LOVE your house!! Keep those ‘tours’ coming. 🙂
Have a wonderful weekend. peace and blessings…
Just dropping a quick comment to let you know I love the blog & am looking forward to CHA. Yours was the first class I signed up for, and I think it is just what I need to get jumpstarted on creative collaging. See you bright and early Sunday.
~The gal who is going to set 2 alarms and a wake up call on Sun to make sure her bottom gets out of bed by 6 a.m.!
I’ve been enjoying the house tours too. Here’s a Seattle junk store for you to check out: Deluxe Junk! My husband and I have lots of fun there.
Keep the house tour coming! Love the blue color in the dining room, the French doors, all the great wood in the house–beautiful and cozy! Saw your ad in Somerset. My cat, Katie, wasn’t impressed when I told her you had signed my copy of your book. 🙂
Penny in Missouri
I’m a dork, too. Love the house tour. Love your collections. Love that pic of you sitting outside with a coffee.
It makes me dream of the day when I get my new place and the kids are on a papa adventure, giving mama a day off to just be not-mama.
Great tour!
Next thing you know, you’ll be writing a book on home decorating…
Hey Kelly- I have enjoyed seeing all the pics of your LOVELY home both here and on Flickr. Your home is just sooo cozy. I agree with you that it is so cool to look into other artist homes, it gives such inspiration………
I hope that you have a wonderful time at the CHA. I am hoping to make it out there one day myself. Take Care.
I love the tour too! It looks so you – with all the different vignettes and art everywhere.
So cool that the walls were already painted in all these colors that are perfect.
Have fun at CHA, can’t wait to see what you come up with with ALL of the choices there.
Cheryl
I am wicked super jealous of your fabulous digs!! I love your style of decorating. Every time you post I tour, I make my hubby sit down and look at your photos. I tell him… “see, see… this is what I like… this is what I want to make our home feel like.”
Keep the tours coming.
Your home is the most perfect reflection of you. I love it! I love every little nook and cranny–and your home definitely has nooks and crannies–that's what gives it such charm!!
Thanks for sharing.
Peace & Love.
i am loving the home tour, and all of your wonderful pieces of art, and the way you arrange everything! saw your ad in somerset, too cool!
i lived on queen anne for a couple of years in the 70’s, and i loved it! you and john sure scored a great home!
These are gorgeous, and so inspiring. Right, cleaning this weekend, I think!
l love each peace and every corner of your house! And I love the colors! I usualy very careful with colors in my house, don´t know why. And always jelous about how other people don´t afraid to use it.
I will try to make the photos of my home. The problem is that my camera is not so good:))
Your house is so stylish, yet comfy and cozy. You’ve done a wonderful job – your personality shines through and that’s the key to a home! Great collections – like you, I collect old tin boxes, etc. That rocking dog is really special. Enjoy your art-filled weekend!
It is really wonderful to see where your heros walk, talk, sleep, create, love, and breathe.
I love, love, love the rocking doggie…
I really enjoy the home photos. I’m finding it encourages me to be more daring in my dreaming of how I want my home to look.
You have such an amazing home and a great decorating style. I recently shared some before and after views of my studio after I did a big new year clean up. You can even see a couple of your gorgeous prints in one shot.
http://tinniegirl.blogspot.
com/2009/01/fresh.html
kelly, PLEASE don’t stop the tours. for decor junkies like me, they are a slice of heaven!!! your home is absolutely yummy! more, more, more!!!
I love the home tour too…decorating your home is a very creative thing to do. I LOVE how you’re vintage ornaments…I have huge, beautiful windows and a collection of ornaments…but I don’t think the cat would leave them alone…but maybe, I could find somewhere to display them (and I haven’t packed those christmas boxes away yet!) Look forward to hearing about your weekend!
I’m loving your spaces! Please keep posting them. They’re so warm and wonderful.
Here are a couple of my place:
http://janedavila.blogspot.com/2008/06/even-more-art.html
http://janedavila.blogspot.com/2008/06/more-living-with-art.html
jane
I love seeing your home photos! I was waiting and waiting..hee hee You have such a great decorating style…a great inspiration!
Love the photos! Love the decorations and atmosphere! I met Tim Holtz at CKU and he is the bomb-diggity! Have fun, although I have never been to CHA, one can only hope it is half as fantastic as they say it is. Hold tight to your wallet! LOL…
I’m enjoying the photographs of your new nest. Beautiful photographs- I feel like I’ve viewing a magazine layout in country homes – bungalows of the young and famous!
I’m loving the home tour. Girl, how do you keep it so neat and clean? Maybe mine would look like that if I didn’t have kids… or a husband! Everything is so cute, warm, and inviting… like you could curl your legs underneath you and sip a cup of hot tea and just ‘be’.