Adding Character to your home {Furniture in the bathroom}

Oh I have missed writing on this little ole blog! I guess August is just the month for crazy life. I am hoping that September will give me a little more time for projects and writing. I am excited for fall to come...time to slow down a bit!

A couple of weeks ago I found this inspirational picture on the web:

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It really got me thinking about how an unique piece of furniture can really add some major character and style to a bathroom. We are so use to seeing regular vanities, stand up showers and garden tubs that really don't add much character at all. I really love the idea of taking either a vintage or industrial piece and adding it to the bathroom, whether for storage purposes or in place of a regular vanity.

Take a look at some others I found:

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Atlanta Homes Mag

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What do you all think? Do you have room in your bathroom for an unique piece? Could you swap out your existing vanity for something that adds a bit more character?

Fabulous Feature Friday {Atlanta Home with Character}

Hello All! Can I get a Woot Woot? It's Friday! I hope you have some wonderful things planned. We have birthday parties and a food truck rodeo event this weekend. I am looking forward to being outside. You can follow along as I am sure going to post some pics on Instagram {@eatsleepdecor}!

Today's feature Friday is extra special because I am featuring a family member's home. My Aunt and Uncle have lived in Atlanta for many years. They have lived in four different homes throughout the Atlanta area. I get so excited to visit each time because not only am I greeted with warm hospitality (as well as my Aunt is a fantastic cook...bonus!), but their home is amazing. My Aunt was an interior designer for many years and you can see she has an amazing eye for every detail.

These pictures were taken by my father when they were down to visit. My Aunt and Uncle had just moved in at the time so there are rooms that weren't quite put together, but you all don't care! It looks amazing anyhow! After these photos were taken, the screened in porch was painted, new light fixtures went into the kitchen and plantation shutters were placed throughout the home. Enjoy the Tour!

This home has so many incredible features and upgrades like the details above the windows, the built-ins, the chunky crown molding and wainscoting as well as the beautiful triple tray ceilings in the master.  

I wish I had a better picture of the kitchen because they just added some industrial pendants above the island as well as a fabulous chandelier in the eat-in kitchen area. They also created more cabinetry for extra china and kitchen items. I will be sure to snap some pictures of those areas when I visit next. 

 My Aunt also likes to garden. There are layers upon layers of beautiful flower beds and gardens throughout their outdoor space. The stone work is amazing too!

I absolutely love the details they have put into their home. It is fun to see how they mix vintage pieces with modern art and lighting. I adore seeing our family heirlooms throughout the home as well. I can picture exactly where these pieces were in my grandparent's home years ago. Our homes should tell a story of our past through pieces we have collected as well as photographs and art. That is exactly what my Aunt and Uncle have done with their home and I hope someday my home has a story to tell.

I am so excited to be able to visit Atlanta again this July while at the Haven Blogging Conference. I will be sure to update you on some pictures of their kitchen and amazing basement while in town!

Thank you to my wonderful family for letting me feature your gorgeous home! Love you all! XOXO

Adding Character to your Home {Lighting} Part 1

Last week I introduced you to my builder grade home and let you in on a few molding secrets that added a little character to my once blah home.

Today we are talking about lighting. I am very excited about this topic because I have a slight obsession with chandeliers and pendants! I would buy out whole stores if I had enough rooms to put them in.

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By now most of you know about the infamous "boob" lights that are in like every newer built home. I still have a few hanging around mine as well, but have really tried to phase them out. They are a good staple if you are staying in your home for a short period of time or in our case, they are cheap enough to help save money on our flip homes. BUT if you are planning on staying in your home for the long hall or just need to add some class to your home, you need to get rid of those "boob" lights sweet hearts! OR disquise them just like my friend Beth did HERE.

Depending on what your entryway is like, that is where I would start. Do you have tall ceilings or a two-story entryway..how about a show stopper when your guests walk in?

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Pottery Barn

Maybe you don't have a very large entryway or foyer but still want that big impact. Apartment Therapy put a list of some fabulous flush mount or semi-flush mount lights that will give you that "bling" you might be looking for.

I love that they mixed some modern lights with traditional and industrial. Each decorating style is pretty well represented. If you want to know the sources you can click here. These lights would also be great in a upstairs hallway or guest bedroom.

Another place in your home where you can make a big impact with lighting is your kitchen. The kitchen seems to be the heart of the home doesn't it? I always think guests will hang out in our dining room or family room, but everyone seems to congregate in the kitchen. Why not make a statement in there as well!

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We took down our boring builder grade pendants and added these West Elm Pendants to give our home a little industrial feel. We also added this drum pendant from West Elm above the eating area in the kitchen. I love the texture it brings to the space.

Sorry for the stinky phone pic!

Lighting can be expensive, but you can also find some great deals on craigslist or your local habitat store. Experiment with adding some spray paint, changing out the frosted glass for clear glass or adding some new shades.

Have you thought about changing out your light fixtures to add a little character around your home?

Next week we will talk about adding character with lighting in the dining room and bedrooms.

Happy Thursday All!

Adding Character to your home {Molding}

Today starts a new series here at Eat.Sleep.Decorate! One day every week I am going to talk about how you can add character to your home. We bought a builder grade home 5 years ago and I am still trying to make it feel homey. Do you know what I mean by homey?

{Can you believe this is the only pic of the outside of my house that I have!? Before Painted Door}

Track builders build homes fast just to get them on the market and get them sold for their company. They will do minor upgrades here and there, but they don't take the effort to make a home stand out from the rest. That is where a little DIY or help from a local contractor can help add some character to blah and lifeless homes. I am very lucky to have a brother that is a contractor. I throw out an idea and he rolls with it.

When we moved into our home 5 years ago, I thought it was such an amazing blank canvas from which I could start making it "my home". We have added a little character here and there without breaking the bank or losing our minds. Because it was a brand new home, I didn't HAVE to make any changes, but who wants to live in a blank canvas forever? Not me!

Today we are talking about Molding or Moulding (however you want to spell and say it)...Yep! Crown, wainscoting, chair rail, planked, coffered, board & batten, boxed...whatever! Molding is what gives a home so much life by adding some texture and architectural charm!

One place where you can make a statement is on your ceilings. Adding Crown Molding can make the room look taller and more grand. I think the bigger the better when it comes to adding crown molding. It will then make the room stand out!

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Another great type of molding that could be added to an office space or dining room is a coffered ceiling. Coffered ceilings are usually boxed and give the ceiling a 3-D effect. We installed a coffered ceiling in our dining room so we could add a chandelier without going through the mess of tearing into the walls to run the electrical wires.  It has become one of my favorite rooms in the house because of its charm!                                     

A great way to make a statement with guests is to make a show stopper with boxed, board & batten or wainscoting in your entryway. 

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We also added some wainscoting to our entryway and what a difference it has made.

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Stairways are always the place that gets the most wear and tear and damage. How about adding some molding up the stairway that is pleasing to the eye and easy on the scrubbing!?

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Have short baseboards that really don't make an impact? Stack some molding on top to add some height and class without breaking your budget.

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My friend Brenda made her baseboards pop by adding casing to the top and shoe molding to the bottom of her existing molding.

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House of Smiths had a similar idea, but extended a new piece of molding above the existing molding then painted in between to make it look a lot chunkier than it was. Genius!

There are so many fabulous molding and trim ideas that you can add to your home to really give it that character that it deserves. During this series we will be talking about a few other places in your home where molding can be added. 

Are you inspired? What areas of your home could use a little molding to add that extra charm?

Linked up: Liz Marie Blog