Reader Design: Jan's Eclectic Quarters

And just like that, my week of California vacation has come and gone. I know it was hard getting through last Friday without a Reader Design tour to gawk at, but at least you had Chelsea's home update to keep you company! Did you miss it? Check it out here. 

Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming... with Jan's Eclectic Quarters!

Jan and her family live in Upper Arlington, OH in their stunningly decorated home. Fun fact: my boyfriend is also from this adorable area just outside Columbus, so I can vouch for its family-orientation and charm. Those qualities have absolutely carried over to the styling of Jan's family home. 
From Jan:

“I am not able to describe my style simply perhaps because it is not simple. I would describe my style as modern, colorful, crisp, comfortable, and kid-friendly with touches of bohemian. All those words don’t seem like they would mesh, but that is exactly what our home has become. I’ve created this style based around feelings. I adore a space that is well thought-out and styled but comfortable to be in. I want my family and guests to feel this in my home. ”
 
 

She creates that comfort using rich textiles, white space to ensure the colors she uses are really seen and add to the space, and meaningful pieces. 

“In my living room, I could not live without either my live-edge coffee table or geometric rug. I love the meaning behind my coffee table, as my father-in-law made it for us, and the warm feeling it brings to the space. And the multi-colored geometric rug just encompasses my style to a tee!”

Let's break down this space in Jan's kitchen. It almost perfectly illustrates the meshing of all those styles Jan mentioned - bohemian, modern, crisp - and even some she didn't - traditional, Scandinavian, rustic. I am a total sucker for beadboard paneling. I will have it someday, somewhere, somehow; and I just love the way Jan uses it to anchor the dining nook. Paired with the light fixture (quick aside, how refreshing to see something other than brass!!), it's the perfect spot for the kids to tackle homework or to enjoy dinner together. 

Clearly, Jan is quite the style mutt; but just because you're a mutt doesn't mean your design identity changes on a whim! No, Jan definitely knows who she is and what she likes.

“I do get a lot of inspiration from trends but will find myself always asking these questions: ‘Will I love this in 5 years?’ and ‘Does this fit my style?’

I try to look at all design inspiration as an option, but I have learned what to weed out based on what works and does not work with my style. A trend that I have fallen for in the last year is greenery. I am a new plant lover and appreciate the life, texture, and color plants add to our home.”

Jan, we think you're navigating this crazy, inspo-ridden world of design we all love like a champ. What a beautiful home to raise your family in! Follow Jan along on Instagram @spicysaltysweethome and her blog, and while you're at it, check out her awesome photographer @loribaskinphotography.

See you next week! 

StyleMutt Design: Chelsea's Updated Home Tour

What?! Where is our usual Friday Reader Design home tour, you ask? Our booty kicking intern, McKenna, is taking a much deserved week off, so I'm slipping in to share a little tour of my own! Hope you guys don't mind! We've got a fabulous line up of Reader Design tours that will resume next week, though. Promise!

A LOT has changed in our main living spaces since last fall; a result of HGTV coming to photograph our home and then casually letting me know our home can't be shared on our blog or social media until after it's printed next Fall....unless I change it all. Challenge accepted, HGTV! The day after the shoot I sold rugs, chairs, tables, swapped things from one floor to the other, deconstructed, redesigned and reconstructed our pipe shelves, and redesigned our main living spaces. It's been such a fun process but I sure am glad it's over. It's time to kick back. :)

We're going to go ahead and just call this tour 'moody', as opposed to, 'it started pouring cats and dogs during the 45 minutes I had to prep and shoot this thing before the kids came home from school, so I had no time to manually adjust the light settings on my camera before each shot'. Moody has a better catch, don't you think?

Well, come on in!

It helped me tremendously to lay the plan for this space out in a 3D rendering, (which I posted about here). Seeing it come to life confirmed that the shelves really belong in the living room, rather than the dining room where we built them originally. Along with moving them to this wall, I also wanted a bit more desk space. Matt cut two boards on the upper left side to make room for a piece of art, and we transplanted one of those cut pieces off to the right hand side as a desk!

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With the pipe shelves busy with books, plants, art, pottery and photos, I really wanted the rest of the room to caaaalm down but still be interesting, you know? This jute rug by Plush Rugs was the perfect unboring plain rug to compliment the space. The soft thick cream braided fringe on the ends adds that character I was hoping for, but the simplicity of the overall rug doesn't beg for attention, (linked here if you want to check it out).

Our coffee table here was previously in the basement - the two rooms agreed to swap coffee tables and they've been the better for it! This piece was a WWI army cot in another life. It made a rickety bench; too wobbly for the babes to use, so I cut it down and turned it into two coffee tables! One table sold, and the other has been serving our home ever since. Once in the service, always in the service!

While finding pieces around your own home is fantastic, it doesn't hurt to keep your eyes peeled out of the home as well. While taking a few bags of old clothes to Goodwill several months ago, I noticed this beautiful old Persian rug rolled up and left by the dump. It was dirty and stinky, but I brought it home figuring I could re-purpose at least some pieces of it, just like the rug I made the tree skirts from. After airing out for nearly two solid months I cut it up, using one piece to cover this, (also found in a neighbor's trash), bench!

It's not an impeccable job; I wrapped that thing like a Christmas present and used a staple gun to attach the fabric underneath, (after stuffing in some batting I had on hand). But you know what? It's a sturdy little piece, my kids use it as a pirate ship, and it's a solid homemade job using totally free supplies. Ahoy, matey!

Let's meander to the dining room, shall we?

Of all the rooms in this home, our dining room is by far the most temperamental. We just don't get along, period. Every single move I make, it counters with something contrary. Here's a sample of our ongoing dialogue over the years:

Item 1: I replace a very wide table with a narrow table so we can reach across to help our, (then), three toddlers during meal time
Counter: NOW THERES TOO MUCH SPACE.
Item 2: I try a big dark green cabinet to store all our craft supplies; perfect style, perfect color
Counter: OOPS, NOT ENOUGH SPACE FOR THAT.
Item 3: I remove the curtains in favor of a cleaner look
Counter: MY EYES! TOO MUCH SUN! (says all my kids who suddenly have sensitive eyes)
Item 4: Replace the old thrifted chandelier with something more modern
Counter: MY FAVORITES DON'T WORK ON A SLOPED CEILING. (So I settle for this one that's like a baby size of what this room needs)
Item 5: Center the table with the sliding glass doors.
Counter: THE DOORS ARENT CENTERED WITH THE LIGHT FIXTURE. NOW EVERYTHING IS OFF, FOOL! GOTCHA!

Can you believe our dining room talks that way?! The nerve.

But how about that rug! After selling one of our old rugs I purchased this one for the same amount as I sold the old one for - even stevens! It's an Overstock rug I found here, and is THE softest thing under our feet. I don't mind saying, it's borderline luxurious!

I don't do fussy tables, but I like interesting pieces like this pottery from my grandparents' old lakehouse.

Moving on to the kitchen to finish this marathon tour already! Recognize anything?

I cut a long strip of that dumped old Persian rug to use in here! It's just the kind of excitement this space has needed! I love tossing a bit of unexpected into a space and this rug is just the right dose in here.

That's a wrap, folks! If you made it this far, congratulations; you deserve to start your weekend early! Seriously though, thank you so much for coming by today. I just really enjoy this home and the way it has evolved with our family and it's a special thing to get to share it with you, friends.

Have a wonderful weekend!