:: leaving our nest

The Wren's Nest...a HOME tour...

Well, it's official we are leaving our nest soon....see my little perch hanging under there. I'm excited for the change, but also a little sad to leave my home of 10 years. I can hardly believe it's been that long, my children were just little little's when we moved in, now they are teenagers. We've had so many good times in this home...it's bittersweet leaving it all behind.

Many meals with friends & family have been enjoyed in this kitchen. I can just see my kids propped on the bar building gingerbread houses, making cookies for Santa & dyeing easter eggs.

Cozy fires, Christmas morning, and beautiful sunrises have been the highlight of this living room.

The dining room like most sees action only on special occasions such as holidays & parties.

The kid zone....hodge podge furnishings, cartoons & movies, drums & guitar, games & sleepovers...many many memories.

One of my favorite spaces to create has been my sweet Punky's apartment

I put in the bookcases & gate to create a little playhouse area when she was little & also to hide all the mess/toys from the door , now it's her personal sleeping space & hideaway & she has a little living room instead. Time is marching on, and toys are giving way to boys {uh oh... well not quite yet} clothes is more like it.

My little mister has gone from a giant playroom bedroom to his personal pad including private bath. Gaming system & computer station required.

Our oldest chick is off to college and this has become a landing zone & dumping ground for her more & more infrequent visits as she enjoys her new found freedom.

Movie central, family hangout & guest quarters complete with private bath & workout room.

My fun studio with it's amazing vaulted ceiling, I'll miss you too...at least when you're clean

{ Our Dreamy Master Bed & Bath }

Many talks & cozy sundays have been spent in front of this fireplace in our Master bedroom.

Kids sleeping on the sofa at the foot of the bed, and snuggled in with us too. Those days too are fading away as everyone grows up and into their own...ready for change & a new move.

Proof that things are what you make them, those are simple wire shelves. A little organization makes things much nicer. Though it is a big closet,  it doesn't have to be big to be tidy & pretty.

Just a simple laundry room, but I sure will miss my little window. 

In my personal opinion this could have very well sold our house all on it's own...

{ THE PANTRY }

Is it crazy that this is probably one of the things I'll miss most about this house....my new pantry.  I just had it custom designed to my specifications not even a year ago now. The best part is that my family finally keeps it neat & clean too. What more can a mother ask for?

Hmmm did I leave anything out? Besides bathrooms? 

A Foyer? A lovely staircase, what, did you say two staircases? Done.

Front Staircase

Back Staircase from keeping room.

Goodbye my lovely home with 2 tons of new rock borders installed just last fall by yours truly. I can't believe we are actually moving. I hope the new owners will enjoy all of the hard work & love that have gone into making this house a home...it's been good to us for 10 years.

Mostly we'll miss all of our friends & wonderful neighbors.

WELCOME HOME

{tears, sniffle sniffle}

{peace, love & hugs}

Carrie

P.S.  stay tuned for our adventures in moving & our new home.

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{ laundry heaven...it does exist }

It worked, it worked.

Sharing my unsightly and unorganized laundry with you did help motivate me.

So here she is in her clean and organized state, I may want to come back here periodically

just to make sure that this really did happen.

I'm so glad it's documented.Thanks for all of your encouraging comments.

You are all too funny, and it's  great to know I'm not alone in this.

I actually had quite a good time organizing and decorating my laundry.

I looked online for fun things to buy to add to my room,

then I ran around and shopped my house.

I had the baskets along the back of the washer and dryer in the cabinets above. 


 I decided to put them along the back to help 


keep things from falling behind into no mans land.

They also serve as a place to sort socks, there is one for each family member.

Now instead of one big basket of socks, I can hand everyone their own basket,

and they can sort their own.  Score for mom.

I rounded up the vintage travel iron, old shoe form, a bottle, 


and today, I added the lovely milk glass vase found at goodwill 


to hold my pretty little Ikea plant.

I'm really happy with the way it all looks grouped together on top,

and I still have plenty of space to fold clothes.

I brought in the little lamp by the laundry sink from another room,

and I added some glass jars, all found at thrift stores,

The tall one will hold a collection of old clothes pins 


I ordered them last night on e-bay,

the vintage ball jar holds loose change { moms spending money }

and the little vintage jar is perfect for holding extra buttons.

I can't wait for my clothespins to come so I can put them in their home.

On the other side of the room, I cleaned off the top of my basket cabinet,

and brought in some vintage wire gym locker baskets

also recently purchased on e-bay. I just adore them.

I filled them with vintage linens, extra hand towels, and my dust rags

{ papa's old t-shirts cut up into squares - yes...I throw the sweaty parts away }.

There is one for each family member if I should ever need to repurpose them,

but for now they line up perfectly, and add just the right look.

Lastly, I went out today to my favorite antique store in 


search of an old enamelware basin...and woo hoo,

I found one and it was just the right price too.

I was so happy { insert happy dance }, 


I came right home and hung it on the wall.

I think it's the perfect finishing touch.

So there you have it, a laundry makeover in a day...

minus a little shopping today { shhhh, don't tell papa }

Whew, I'm pooped....and I still have three more loads to go.

Uggg....Calgon...take me away.

* peace & love *

Carrie

p.s. I can't believe I forgot to say that the lovely vintage window was hand painted by my wonderful mother { I just love it }, and it so lovingly hangs above my cabinet hand crafted by my sweet daddy...I love having an artsy family. Oh yeah, the rose painting above the sink, that's just a little of my handiwork from several years back { it was the cover photo of a Martha Stewart magazine....I was a huge MS fan back in the day. }

p.s.s. don't forget about my giveaway, there's still time to name my baby.

p.s.s.s. I'm going to be getting rid of the school bus yellow soon, and I'm open to suggestions...do you have a favorite cream, white, or taupe? Or maybe you have an even better color suggestion. Let me know what you think.

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