Thursday, July 27, 2006

Blog Tour of Homes

Welcome! I've been expecting you...which is to say that I tidied up because I knew you were coming. If you care to, you may click on the image to see the fingerprints, dust and dog hair. I said I "tidied," which is a different thing than "cleaned," isn't it?

This is the house, built in the late '70s, that we bought when baby #3 came along four years ago. Who knew such a tiny body would require us to double our square footage? Actually, it was the homeschooling and the new baby that sent us searching. The Lord was gracious. We used to be on a main road, but now are wound in so tight that friends have trouble finding our home twice!





This is where I blog if I have pictures to post, or if I'm just checking real quick during the day...hmph! yeah, right -- just checking! I sit in the far left corner and someone almost always follows me into the room. The decor somehow doesn't reflect my style, but I like the room nonetheless -- it's very peaceful, and it's usually the tidiest room in the house. Yes, the violins are real (student caliber) violins. Not all 3 are in use right now. Fifi has outgrown the middle one -- it's waiting for Dumpling to reach size.

The bookshelves are the best ever built! Scandia from The Container Store. You can stand grown men on them and they will not bow -- ever.






Below, is our family room. In the evenings I'll blog on that couch with Husband's hand-me-down dinosaur of a lap-top (though I'm glad to have it -- it serves the purpose).

Y'all think I'm crazy to have 3 young children and white couches, don't you? *shhhh* Come close, I'll tell you all a secret. Those are $6/60-inch yard canvas slip covers that I sewed to place over Cort Rental Center returned rejects for cheap, cheap, cheap! When they get dirty (and they do...and they are) I take them off and wash them -- bleach them if I have to. No Sharpies allowed though!

The legs on the coffee table used to be just stained, but our first dog (who doesn't live here anymore) chewed one of them off, so Husband sculpted a new one with Bondo and spray painted to cover the fix. Go ahead and laugh...at me, with me, whatever! I'm amused by it myself.







Here's our kitchen. Husband painted the cabinetry white and we laid wood floor ourselves last December. Gotta love that drop ceiling!








Oh No! That's the wrong door. You don't need to see that -- that's just my laundry room. Ha ha ha...ahem...


Thanks for stopping by. Can you stay for awhile longer? I want to tell you about how I met this wonderful Man (not my husband, though he, too, is pretty wonderful) a few years ago...



But if you really must run, you can click here to find more homes on our hostess' page. Thank you, BooMama.

83 comments:

Trisha said...

Thanks for inviting us in! Great house and don't worry the dustbunnies are what make it a home!

Anonymous said...

Love all your colors! Beautiful home!

~Jennifer said...

lol! lovely tour, and your laundry room looks pretty good to me~

Blackeyedsue said...

Your home is so lovely. I love how crisp everything looks.

Do your kids play the violins in the living space?

Mama Duck said...

Beautiful couches!! What a great idea!

Mississippi Girl said...

Love your living room- looks so pretty and welcoming!
Jennifer R. in MS

Sarah said...

What a beautiful home! The couches are beautiful - I love the white with the bright pillows. I've got to learn to sew so I can make some slipcovers for our comfy but ugly couches.

PastormacsAnn said...

Beautiful home! Love that kitchen floor! Great idea with the couches!

Anonymous said...

i love the white couches. my bed duvet is white and i love it. it always looks so clean and inviting.

Val said...

Those couches look like a million. Who would have guessed your secret. Not a secret now though!

Thanks for showing us your laundry. I hadn't thought of that toom.

Michelle- This One's for the Girls said...

Wow--Even with bleach I can't believe the white couches. I love it though. Gorgeous!

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous house. You blessed lady. I love your family room with the white sofas. We went for chocolate brown leather and I spend every evening scrubbing off the finger prints. Lol. Actually that makes me sound more dedicated to house work than I am...I shall rephase to say I spend every evening looking at the finger marks.

What a lovely house.

HORIZON said...

How do you keep your couches so white??? I'd never manage that with my three.
Beautiful home, love the music, books etc.
Thank your for the peek:)

Unknown said...

Cute post. Great photos. I love your home. I'm a kitchen gal, and I love the kitchen.

Much Ado said...

gorgeous home, I especially love the room with all the books!

kpjara said...

I love your home, especially the place you blog (filled with girls)!

Wendy said...

I love it, such pretty big trees. Thanks for sharing! Great to read the profile about you since it is my first time here.

Anonymous said...

I LOVE your living room!

Stephanie Appleton said...

White? It looks so nice. I don't know how you keep it white slip covers or not. Thanks for the tour

Carole Burant said...

I so enjoyed "walking" through your home...it's beautiful and I love the way you've decorated it!

Sarah said...

The couch idea is great! And I love that picture of your girls in the room with all the books:)

Randi said...

Love your house!

the lizness said...

are the violins in working order or just decor? I love that room too. how family friendly are your couches!!

owlhaven said...

Love the house!! Esp the big trees out front!

Mary, mom to many

Michelle said...

Love your home! Thanks for the tour!

Nancy Murphree Davis said...

Loved the laundry room quip... made the tour authentic.
I love your shady front yard and the white sofas look terrific. I'm not up for the challenge though! Great house. Thanks!

Angela said...

You have a very nice home. Your girls are soo cute too. Thank you for sharing your home with us:-).
Have A Great Weekend!!!

Anonymous said...

Love the tour, sorry about peaking where I didn't belong. But your laundryroom looked great too. Beautiful home, it looks very big.

Anonymous said...

So does everyone play the violin in your home *looks at them on the wall* :)
Ah those bookshelves, I love them... My husband and I just got a new one to take some of the load off our overstuffed other one.

Kim from Hiraeth said...

thanks for inviting us into your beautiful home!

Dianne said...

Lovely home! I especially like the slipcover I idea. We just redid our kitchen, but after over 19 yrs! Take care. : )

Anonymous said...

Your slip covers look so nice! Slip covers usually look so tacky. You have a lovely home, thanks for the tour! The school room was my favorite.

-gena

Anonymous said...

very pretty...I enjoyed my tour

Shawna said...

Very pretty. You certainly did a great job on the slip covers & hard wood floor. Very nice!

Barb said...

Your family room is so bright and cheery. And how crafty are you? I'd have done the white covers, too. Thank you for this little peek.

Tammy said...

Your living room looks so spacious! You have a beautiful home!

Anonymous said...

Very beautiful home!

Tammy said...

Thanks for the tour...too funny about the laundry room door...:)

Mrs. Shannon M. Herren said...

Your home is beautiful! Thanks for sharing. I like the way your living room decor goes so well!

Lana said...

i love your couches and your home! Thanks for sharing

Eagles Wings said...

Love the White Sofa's and hardwood floors! Love your website also! Restoring the years!

Ms. Kathleen said...

What a beautiful home! Warm and welcoming. I love the living room. Wonderful!

Susan said...

Dear Grafted Branch, Your house is great, just what I'd have if we had the space, room for more books, and I miss my polished floor boards that we had in the other house.
Great idea for the sofas too.

Ashley said...

you have such a beautiful home!!

TJ said...

what a clever gal you are...I would have never known about the slip covers.
:-D

Anonymous said...

I am in awe of your beautiful living room! Thanks for sharing your home with us :)

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful home!
And... Your laundry room is CLEAN!! Have you seen mine? Oh... I would NEVER take a picture of it, so of course you haven't seen it. HA HA HA!!

Blessings! ~Beckie
(LittleEblingsAcademy)

Sandra said...

Oh I LOVE your family room, it's gorgeous :)

Thank you for sharing your home, I've loved looking through it :)

Southern Girl said...

What a beautiful home you have! I love the family room -- it looks open but somehow cozy at the same time. :)

Thanks for the tour -- stop by my place if you like.

Kari said...

Had you not said it I wouldn't have believed it... "cheap, cheap, cheap"... GB that has to be the most beautiful ensemble I have seen. Your house and family are beautiful and I'm so glad I dropped in to visit!

Brenda said...

What an awesome living room! I love the white furniture on hardwood floors, and it's so spacious! Oops! sorry, I peeked into your laundry room. I don't have one of those, so you understand, I'm sure.

Wonderful tour, GB. Loved your narration.

sarahgrace said...

Thanks for the lovely tour!! Your house looks great- I couldn't see any dog hair anywhere!

Meira{FB} said...

Oh how grand your living room is! Fantastico!

Mines up too, come visit if you can!

Anonymous said...

Hmm, you may have to do a post about slip covers because I'd like to know how you made them too. I have never seen homemade look so natural. You can copy me on that other email if you want :) thefraleyfive@adelphia (why not try, haha)

Cheryl said...

Love the exterior, it's so inviting. Such an interesting idea for the couches, looks great, especially with all the colorful pillows. It's a beautiful home and so cozy looking.

Heather said...

LOVE the couches!!!! Handy aren't ya?

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the hospitality. I wish I could sew, I love your slip covers. I don't like the loose fitting ones, and I need some desperately! I loved your "last strand of the tapestry" entry. It was beautiful!

~TaunaLen
www.xanga.com/taunalen

GiBee said...

Wow! I LOVE the couches! I just love the white with the colored pillows!

Beautiful!

Blogger profile name said...

You have a lovely home, and that's a great plan you have for keeping those white couches. They look great!

Carol said...

I love the colors in your family room! Looks like something out of a magazine!

Free In Christ said...

I love the crisp look of your house. Great pictures. ALso, I look forward to reading your testimony. Check mine out, it is April 18, 2006 post. Sorry, I don't know how to link things like you did. Maybe I'll learn someday.

Big Mama said...

Great idea with the couches. They look beautiful!

Mrs. Darling said...

Oh you have my colors in your house! Lol I have painted in yellow white and red too.
Gorgoeus Living room and I love the study area thingy. It looks like a page from Little Women with the girls sitting there like that. It just needs marmy in the pic! ;)

Free In Christ said...

I thank you for your comments. I just popped back to your blog. I read you "info about me". Calvinistic/Reformed. You my friend are a women after my own heart. I am definately the same. There is no other way to explain why I am saved, other than GOD CHOSE ME FIRST!!!! I'll definately be visiting your blog again. However, it is late, I must get sleep tonight. Thanks also for the linking info. I will try it.

Tori Leslie said...

Your home is simply lovely!

ruth said...

Loved your cozy home. The laundry room looked so familiar, for I momment I thought I was in mine.

Alice said...

Thank you for the tour - and I love your front yard, too. Nice big trees.

Zephra said...

Lovely. I wish I could have a white sofa.

Deannna - Younique Presenter said...

LOVE the living room!! very fresh!

terrible speller said...

great job on the coffee table. I love the punch of color on the couches!

Robin said...

I appreciate the older homes so much more now that we have one. Love the pics and your home!

Unknown said...

I can't believe you sewed those slipcovers yourself!! How many needles did you break? teehehehe

Lovely home. Thanks for sharing.
Pam

Katherine@Raising Five said...

Our 70s homes must be siblings. I recognize that floor plan! Love what you've done with it.

I enjoyed poking around your blog. You have such a powerful testimony - totally the opposite of mine (I'm a believer today in spite of having been in church all my life!). I'm so glad you are sharing it.

Joy @ SAH Missionary said...

Love it! You house is organized and lovely! Thanks for sharing!
Blessings.

Sarah said...

Your living room is my style! Can I pay you to sew me some white slip covers? :) I can't sew for nuthin'.

BTW, twin boys are awesome, I have two. I hope your prayers for twins are answered!

sonia a. mascaro said...

What a gorgeous home! You have a beautiful family!
I love also the white Sofa's!
Thank you for sharing!

Theresa said...

Gorgeous home...like the bright colors you added and the floors!

Overwhelmed! said...

Nice home, it looks so warm and inviting. Thanks for sharing pictures!

boomama said...

The white sofa with the orange and red throw pillows? GOT TO HAVE IT. :-) Seriously - I love your taste - and based on all the books I see, I would be right at home there. Thanks for sharing your home with us!

Cathy said...

You have a wonderful home. I think my favorite room is the one where you do your blogging -- I like the trees on either side of the bookcases.

Susanne said...

Lovely home and you have white furniture! With children! Amazing! Love your sense of humor as you gave the tour!

Anonymous said...

I wish I had a laundry room. Mine is a closet in the kitchen and there is just nowhere to hide it and the doors stick becasue the dryer doesn't fit properly. Your home is lovely!

Anonymous said...

Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now. Keep it up!
And according to this article, I totally agree with your opinion, but only this time! :)