john hancock

I won't bore you with all the crazy acronyms, number crunching, and comparison lists but lets just say buying a house, like legit paying for it, is no fun. I go cross eyed about three pages into the forty page contracts. I feel anxiety trying to read and understand all the lingo so I know what I'm signing. We have been elbow deep in signing more contracts with the bank, collecting supporting documentation, and all that jazz for the last few days and will be for the foreseeable future. bleh.

from here

sitting, and wishing, and hoping, and praying

We are still patiently VERY IMPATIENTLY waiting on permits (and a yard).

my version of fancy

So the "formal" living room is a decorating conundrum for me. I'm not formal. I want my house to be a comfortable place where strangers feel at home kicking their shoes off and tucking their feet under them as we chat on the couch. Unlike many homes I've been in I want to use my living room and not have it become a museum.

My parents have been threatening to give us everything that was remotely mine as soon as we move into a house big enough... something about downsizing/decluttering. phesh. I thought parent's home was synonymous with free storage locker. One of the things my mom has been hinting at passing along is the upright piano that my grandparents showed up with in the back of their truck one night as a gift for me when I was four. I would love to have it but its shiney cherry finish isn't really my style. I thought about maybe painting it  in the future but right now I think working with the original finish would be easier WAY EASIER.

I feel like this inspiration board is the perfect combination of formal-ish pieces with more comfortable casual finishes. I feel like the antique brass finishes (because polished 80s brass is a BIG no-no) mixed with the warm wood tones of the cherry piano and nesting tables balances the whole room. And that blue velvet couch. Be still my heart. I might have to freeze my credit card so I don't pull the trigger on that baby until we move.

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ps- mom and dad you don't have to give up the piano.

bloglovin'

Have you ever heard of bloglovin'? With Google Reader coming to end I was looking for new way to keep up with all the blogs I follow. I wanted something that was prettier to look at than Google Reader, easy to access from my computer or phone, and easy to navigate. While you are checking it out be sure to follow remember to wipe your paws on bloglovin'. 

like I need more inspiration to eat...

We are anxiously waiting for news about the building permits for our house this month. I'm an impatient person so I know these next few weeks/months are going to be an excruciating wait. In the meantime I continue to window shop and get inspiration for the house. Here are some ideas I have for the dining room...

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Since the main level is very open I'm hoping to keep all the rooms cohesive by picking a cool toned color scheme (blues, greens, grays  etc). I love the idea of a large rustic table with lush chairs that would encourage lounging. That built in is made of two Hemnes armoires from IKEA but looks so much more expensive. I would love to paint out the back a navy blue or add a beautiful navy patterned wallpaper which would really make my milk glass and bronze/antique gold chachkies pop.

Do you have a large open space? How do you keep the flow through your home?