The magic of the Nook

I absolutely love small spaces.  I love the intimacy and the closeness of a small space.

The little nook in our little blue house was magical. 

When we moved into the little blue house 16 years ago the nook was all dark wood, with two benches on each side covered with a mustard colored, pizza parlor material.  The nook stayed that way for about 14 of the 16 years.

I never really cared for the dark wood and the functionality was limited.  The U-shape didn't exist until the remodel, therefore anyone who slid into the "booth" type seating would be stuck up against the back wall. 

In the early days, prior to kids, getting stuck in the back was a really bad thing.  Often referred to as the "drinking nook" friends would come over to play cards and games.  The person stuck in the back could never escape and always seemed to feel the worst the day after!

The nook remodel was phase II after the kitchen.  The original kitchen was just as dark as the nook and the cabinets were said to be disintegrating when the contractor began demolition.

We decided to take the kitchen down to the studs.  We were trying to save the cabinets but it just wasn't going to happen.  Dave and I try to do a lot of projects on our own but there are times when DIY just doesn't suffice.  This was one of those times.  I enjoy quality craftsmanship and this house deserved to have quality.

We selected custom ash cabinets, granite countertops, classic subway tile and stainless appliances.  A piece of tiger maple was selected for the coffee station to add a bit of variety aside from the granite.  Granite wasn't my first choice, but a compromise with my husband.  While the kitchen looks simple.  It was far from simple to create.  I spent years reading design pubs and books.  I researched colors, style and materials.  In the end, however, the design was just a gut instinct.

Pantry space was limited.  The custom moss and turquoise cabinet was designed with storage in mind.  I though my contractor was going to have a heart attack when I selected those colors, but in the end he did a brilliant job.

The wall color was by far the most difficult decision.  The kitchen was connected to the nook and the family area and the color needed to allow for light to reflect at all times of the day.  Through the years that space had been difficult to keep bright and cheery.  The goldenrod was an ideal selection.

The mosaic lighting wasn't selected until the end of the remodel and I have to say it added an eclectic talking piece to the kitchen area.  When illuminated they resembled beautiful art.

While we loved the kitchen, we knew the nook needed a remodel as well.  The kitchen had exhausted all our money and the nook would have to wait.

Two years after the kitchen remodel it was time to conquer the nook!  The entrance was originally two open doorway entrances.  A beam ran straight through the center.

I found an amazing restoration specialist.  Fortunately, he was able to see my vision.  I wanted a U shape nook to utilize the entire space and an open entrance. 

In the end I also determined I wanted to paint the woodwork of the windows to offset the goldenrod walls and blend with the colors of the kitchen.  Fabrics were selected last and added a tone of whimsy.

 

I can't even begin to tell you how many enjoyable evenings were spent in that nook.  The nook was perfect for gourmet breakfasts, crafting, homework, long talks, cups of tea and moments of clarity.

I mentioned earlier that the kitchen was connected to the nook and the family area.  I decided to stay consistent with the color scheme and them in the family area as well.  The end result was an extension of the magical nook.

Toward the end of our stay in the blue house I enjoyed every last meal we made in the kitchen, every last craft we created in the nook and every last laugh we shared in the family area.

I don't intend on recreating this look at the farmhouse in Wisconsin as I feel it deserves a story of it's own.  Perhaps elements of this magical space will reappear.

The old farmhouse

We bought an old, white farmhouse. It has great bones.

It's hard to believe we moved out of our little blue house almost 6 months ago.  The girls and I moved in with my parents in Dayton, Ohio in order for them to finish out the school year in Ohio.  Recently I've come to the realization that finishing out the school year in Ohio sounded better than me having to admit "I'm not ready to leave...not ready to start over!"  Dave has been living in the old white farmhouse since November. 

The time is drawing near, reality is setting in and the girls and I will depart Ohio for the great state of Wisconsin in June. I'm still not quite sure that reality has set in for me as I consistently refer to my Wisconsin home as my "summer home." 

The old white farmhouse is 103 years old. It sits in the ideal town of Lake Mills, Wisconsin.  For those who have been following my blog you may remember the trip the girls and I took last July to Bartlel's Beach in Lake Mills.  I instantly fell in love with the scenery, the people and beautiful Rock Lake.  Of course, I wasn't really house shopping that afternoon but once I saw the farmhouse it was an instant bond.

Much like my instant bond with our previous little blue house, I spotted the farmhouse and envisioned a future.  I saw beautiful gardens, Ava and Cate playing in the front yard on the existing swing and cool evenings on the front porch.  I fell in love without even stepping foot through the front door. 

The girls and I left the beach that evening knowing we would return.  To our excitement the return would happen the next day with Dave and a realtor. 

We stepped foot on the old, painted porch and prepared to step in through the large, welcoming front door.  Once my feet hit the beautiful wood floor of the foyer I was "home."  

I often ask people what drives them to buy a home. Size, color, new or old?  I'm driven by the bones and the history of the home.  If it has a good foundation and story to go along with that foundation I'm interested.

We walked into the foyer and room after room was just lovely.  Everything flowed and there was a peace and tranquility to go along with the flow.  The front rooms of the original farmhouse are pictured below and include a sun room, living room and dining room.  The floors are gorgeous and the natural lighting is simple and elegant.

Upon initial glance the house was stunning, actually breathtaking.  At the same time this wasn't our fist dance with an old home.  The little blue house was a 16 year labor of love and money!  We love the look and feel of an old home, however, many times you get into these old houses and you realize that the investment is substantial.  I can remember waiting to re-do our kitchen in the old house.  I litereally collected pictures of countertops, backsplash, paint colors for a long time.  10 years to be exact.  We neeeded to gut the kitchen but there was never a good time and there was never enough money.

Not only does the white farmhouse have beautiful features, the fundamental features of the home are all up-to-date.  New windows, new heating and air, new plumbing, new(er) electric.  Dave and I felt like we were at the casino and we had hit jackpot!!  The underlying and unseen expenses in old homes can make it difficult to ever touch the surface from an aesthetic point.  While we didn't get this house for a steal, the updates that had been done made the price point worth it.  We're excited to focus on putting our mark on the house and picking up where previous owners left off.  It's a collaborative work in progress.

I mentioned that I was distraught leaving the old house because we had waited and saved to do two major areas of the house.  10 years for the kitchen re-do and 15 years for the art studio.  Retrospectively, I believe we could have done both projects sooner but I believe if you're going to do something, do it right and do it the way you want.  I wasn't willing to compromise on either project.  It's all in the details, baby!

After walking through the main rooms of the original farmhouse I noticed a room off the dining room connected to the kitchen.  Immediately, my head began to think "studio space."  The kitchen is quite nice, however, the kitchen is where everyone hangs out so it has to display personality and character.  Both rooms were blank canvases upon first glance.  They weren't horrible by any means, just waiting for a touch of color and some energy to be moving through,

In addition to the kitchen the original butler pantry is connected. It is absolutely stunning! As of now, a wall separates the pantry from the kitchen.  However, that wall will be coming down very soon!

After seeing the kitchen and potential studio the allure didn't end.  The back door of the kitchen led to a delightful, small sun room next to the original limestone basement (the house has an updated basement as well as a new addition basement).  We are moving to a really cold state so I was seeing myself sitting in this area in the winter sipping hot tea and summer sipping crisp cocktails, windows open of course.

As if the house needed more, an addition had been built on to the main level.  On the opposite side of the foyer a family room space had been added as well as a functional second basement area.  I wasn't exactly sold on these two areas, but I saw the potential.  The family room is spacious and houses a second, gas burning fireplace.  Carpet has to go!  The previous owners were brilliant and were using the basement as a yoga/music hangout area.  Currently brainstorming the plan for this space.

At this point it's a bit exhausting because we haven't even made it to the upstairs as of yet!  Dave and I laugh at the enormity of this home.  It's a bit over the top.  Our last house was around 1,900 square feet and we loved the intimacy and cottage-type feel we had there.  We had three bedrooms, a bath and a half and lovely little cottage gardens outlining the exterior.  What more do you need?

Well, our biggest fear of moving (and moving to a lake) was that we wanted to have enough space to house family and friends.  The last thing we want is to invite someone to Wisconsin and not be able to give them a comfortable bed and a gourmet meal.

The farmhouse compliments our need for entertaining and hosting our long distance guests.  At the same time it fills a 20 year goal.  Dave and I had always dreamed of being Inn owners at some point in our lives.  The new house allows us to have an Inn "like" aspect and the bonus is entertaining those we love.  Potentially even hosting artist retreats down the road!

So now we have this space.  Around 5,000 square feet.  5 bedrooms and 4 baths and guess who's the maid!  It's a bit overwhelming, especially for the detailed oriented person.  So I just keep compartmentalizing my design thoughts, in a cohesive manner, of course.

All of the bedrooms reside in the upstairs.  A couple of the pictures posted here represent the previous owners spaces.  Ava will probably have the best room in the house.  The bedroom boasts a second floor nook area surrounded with windows and a connecting bathroom with a clawfoot tub.  Right now Ava and I are trying to decided on a color scheme for her room.  I think you'll want to stay tuned for that exciting blog entry as we don't exactly see eye to eye!

Aside from the 2nd level of bedrooms and baths there is a third floor space that just needs to be worked on and completed.  I am hoping to make this space into the art studio by adding dormers and natural ceiling lighting via the roof.  It would be phenomenal.

Last, but certainly not least, we are surrounded by absolute beauty outside.  Rock Lake resides not far behind us and the landscape is irrisistable.

I will say it.  The gardens and landscape to the farmhouse need work.  While it's naturally beautiful, the curb appeal can be so much more.  Dave and I are gardeners.  We built our last masterpiece and I hope we can do it again.

 I know this was a long entry.  I had been waiting to feature the house until we were closer to moving in.  June is right around the corner and some changes have already occurred.  I absolutely can't wait to share the updates with you.

The difficult (but fun) part now comes from basic decision making: do we use Home Depot or Lowe's, do we wallpaper or paint, do we do it ourselves or hire out.

Follow our journey...it's just the beginning.  Bonus, we have a zip line~

Photo credits to my exceptional fine art photographer, Tom Lolan. a.k.a. Dad