Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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One Little Two Little Three Little Updates

Even though we blog about house stuff every day it’s surprisingly easy to forget to fill you guys in on the little changes that we make… until someone sees a picture and says “wait, you didn’t tell us you did _____!” And sometimes it’s the little things that make you smile when you walk into the same room you’ve been walking into every day for the last 700+ days anyway, if you know what I mean. So since this blog is as much about over-sharing the small stuff as the big stuff, here are three oops-we-forgot-to-show-you updates.

You guys have asked where my little ceramic houses that John got me for Christmas landed, and I’m happy to report that they’ve been living it up on the kitchen mantel for nearly a month:

Mantel1

Aren’t they cute? The imperfectly shaped matte ceramic finish is amazing. I tell John I want to move into them (we’ll take one and maybe the Bowers can move in next door?).

Mantel2

This mantel still feels wintery to me (with the sweater vase, etc) but I can totally see how these little white ceramic houses can be year-round fixtures. Picture them next to a vase full of pink tulips and a few small teal and yellow oil paintings leaning up there around them. Total spring vibe, right?

Mantel3

Okay and the next update is one that folks have been asking for quite regularly since this post. So we’re very sorry it has taken this long for us to share full room shots of our new chandelier.

Dining Room After1

I’m sure some of you might notice that we also added pillows to all of our dining chairs, so let’s dive into that, shall we?

Step one: cut a hole in a box. Just kidding. Step one: put pillows on chairs. Done.

Dining Room After2

I tried a few combinations and ended up liking three different prints (a solid satin-y one, an ikat-y one, and an abstract chevron-ish one). They might seem sort of random in some pics, but in person they actually seem to play really nicely together since they’re all from the same color palette (literally, the same tone of blue is carried across each one, as well as two of them having the same plum and the same white hits of color). They go but don’t match if you know what I mean. Someone else might want all the pillows to match each other, or to keep them solid in color, and that works too – just do whatcha love. Bottom and middle pillow: HomeGoods a while back, top pillow: one I made from on-sale napkins here.

Three Pillows

And since we already owned all of them this was a little free act of pillow madness executed by none other than The Girl With The Pillow Problem herself (yes that’s me). The fun thing is that the curtains are another pattern in the room, but since they also have the same colors, they seem to play just as well as they would with say, a patterned napkin or runner on the table. So if you just think of dining room pillows as 3-D patterned napkins, you’re all set. Also it might feed into your pillow problem. You have been warned.

Mixing Patterns

As for if they get stained by food or if we’re worried about that – we haven’t had an issue with that yet, but none of our pillows are too expensive and precious, so we figure we can just spot clean them, remove their covers and run them through the wash, or even just pull a fast one and flip them over so the stain is on the back if something insane happens that involves a not-coming-off mark. Fastidious Downton Abbey maid, I’m not.

Oh and they tie into the dark-teal color on the back of the built-ins. And the abstract chevron-y one (along with the curtains) also have the same green color that’s on those lime green chairs in the office, so that’s nice too. Even Clara’s little yellow high chair seems to slip in there with a wink and a smile. Oh that coy highchair…

Pillow Details

So there are three little updates that have made a few areas in the house feel a little more “loved.” Plus I knew some of you eagle-eyed readers might notice them in other pics and demand details, so there ya go. Ha! Now if you’ll excuse me we have a little Macklemore Challenge to get ready to post tomorrow. Wooooooooot! $herdog’s so excited and she just can’t hide it.

Comments

  1. Gabriella @ Our Life In Action says

    Those houses are so cute….let’s take a bet…how long can you hold off before you paint them another colour? ;-)

    I also love the pillows. I know myself, and I would have gotten them all the same pattern but I love it this way so much more. I need to break that habit of having everything match. :-D

    Reply

  3. erin says

    love the little updates! those are always the best thing to do! i’m working on trying to do that myself. but right now, our place is in semi-shambles. and it’s completely out of our power.

    Reply

  5. Nina says

    Wow, the colors in the pillows, curtains, your office chairs – – my mind is blown. Or at least impressed. :-)

    Question: isn’t that dining room table a bit high? Or is it the chairs seem a little low? Like Sherry, I am vertically challenged. So maybe its just my perspective. (On the plus side, my feet might actually reach the floor in those chairs…)

    I really love your vibe. Its totally in a different direction than my own (which I also love, thankfully!) but visiting your site and having a look-see is a blast. I guess the YHL abode is for me kinda like the little ceramic houses are for Sherry. A fun place to play if only in my mind.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We just take pics from a low angle, but it seems pretty standard. You can see us all sitting in the chairs in our Christmas dinner post, and it feels pretty average. Haha!

      xo,
      s

  6. Jackie Weedon says

    …the reference to JT was very funny. Read it to my husband and he instantly laughed! Love you guys, Jackie

    Reply

  8. Shannon says

    I love how the little houses can stay through the seasons! :) It would probably be cute if you decked ’em out for each season or holiday. :)

    Maybe a little DIY jack o lanterns on the front porch for Halloween and an Easter egg hunt for Easter?!! Ahhhh the opportunities are endless!! :) How fun!

    Shannon
    Shannon Loves Design
    Fabulously Vintage

    Reply

  9. Jordan@the2seasons says

    Your chandelier looks great above your table as well. I have only had my up a few days and friends that have come over love it. I added the old school light bulb which looks so neat at night and the shadow of the shape on the ceiling. The pillows are a fun color. We love seeing all the changes big and small. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  10. Stephanie says

    I just love everything about your house. I ordered one of your amazing pieces from your new lighting collection(the Metal Strap Drum Pendant, and it’s back-ordered until April! Must have been a great hit! Keep up the great work guys. You should come to Tulsa on your book tour!

    Reply

  12. Kristen says

    I LOVE your pillow collection! Have you ever tried counting all the throw pillows in the house?

    I always shy away from buying them because they are SO expensive for what they are. I only ever get them when they are 70% off at Target. Do you have tips on where to buy them cheap?

    Reply

  14. Bonnie says

    Are the houses meant to be Christmas decor? Because I think they’re definitely all-year-long decor. Love them!

    Reply

  18. jennifer says

    hey hey guys! I’m a big believer in the “little things” and everything looks amazing. I’ve got a question, though. I know you guys love a good rug, will you ever put one under the dining room table or will you leave the hardwoods exposed..I wonder mostly because i’m design inept;)

    Reply

  21. Leah says

    Yay! I love random posts like this. John and Sherry- I decided your next project : ) DIY design your mailbox! I remember you talking about it when you replanted around the mailbox, and it would be cool to see how to spruce up a mailbox post.

    Reply

  22. Nicole says

    I think it’s funny how the horns in the back on the built-ins kind of look like a Mr. Pringles mustache on your chandelier, haha :)

    Reply

  25. Jules says

    I just wanted to say that today was my first day commenting (and asking a question). Thanks so much for responding right away! You guys are great and Clara is adorable.

    Reply

  26. Chelsea says

    Looks great! I’m so obsessed with the light in the dining room. I know it’s not for everyone, but I think it’s so super awesome. I’d love to see pictures of it on when it’s dark out to see how the light works in terms of filling the room without a shade?

    I was supposed to come last night in NYC and am so bummed it didn’t work out. Hope it was great, although I’m sure it was!

    Reply

  28. Megan @ Rappsody in Rooms says

    Sometimes the little updates are the best. They really do make you smile! I love that you have your own chandelier design in the house too. I think that is pretty neat. And let’s all oodle over the ceramic houses again!

    Reply

  30. Katie says

    I am so glad that whole “Sue the Napkin” thing is finally dead and gone, and you’re decorating according to what feels right again.

    But mainly thatthat godawful naming a napkin thing is gone. Thank you.

    Reply

  31. Wendy @ New Moms Talk says

    I love how the pillows unite both rooms, and your decision to mix patterns and solids at the same table.

    The houses make me think that perhaps Clara needs an extra dollhouse to keep up with the ceramic ones. Perhaps a house for Will or a doll tree house?

    Reply

  32. Cheri Moser says

    Hahaha… I know several others have said it, but I had to read your “Step One” to my husband as well! Love to find those little “surprise-laughs” in your posts! That’s why you & John are both so good at this!

    Reply

  34. Sarah says

    I’m Sarah and I’m a pillow addict. They really need to have meetings for that. I’m constantly rotating them, buying new covers, etc. They’re the icing to a room’s cake.

    Reply

  37. Brenda says

    Where do you keep your pillow stash now that Clara’s big room is no longer storage? Or have you gotten rid of enough extra pillows that there’s not that many extra anymore?

    I don’t know why, but knowing that it’s “Sue the Napkin” makes me like the pillow even more. I somehow always sort of picture Sue Sylvester from Glee.

    Reply

  38. Maja says

    “Step one: cut a hole in the box” just made my morning! I’ll be going through the entire Lonely Island repertoire now (in my head, as it’s generally NSFW)!

    Reply

  40. Danae says

    The chevron-y pillows look so similar to the napkins you based the house colors on! I thought you DIYed them at first!

    Reply

  41. katie says

    done and done. I’ll move into the little one…less to clean. I’ve always wanted to be miniature…some of us aren’t as lucky as you Sher :)
    xoxo k

    Reply

  42. Ellen says

    Give the pillows a good spray with Scotch-Guard. It will help to repel a good amount of spills and splatter. My husband sprays his ties and believe me, it has save him many a good silk tie from ruin on the first wearing.

    Reply

  46. Allison says

    Love the ikat pillow! I never can find such cool pillows at Home Goods! And I look every time I’m there. Lamps, oh yes. Pillows, no. Boohoo.

    Reply

  47. Mary@TwoHappyLambs says

    Love the color combos in the dining room. Dark teal and greens and yellows- so bright and dynamic. Can’t wait to get some more patterns into our living/dining area. We are definitely at the very beginning of that journey. Have you guys seen Sarah 101? She says she typically uses 11-13 textures or patterns in every room. I’m shooting for that number when we reach that special “sorta-finished” place in our house.

    Reply

  48. Koliti says

    With her brilliant pattern play and her daring hey-honey-look-I’m-using-my-throw-pillows manueuver, Sherry wins the “Su-pillow Bowl” by 6 tush-downs!

    Sherry, what are you going to do now that you won the “Su-pillow Bowl”?

    Reply

  49. Heather says

    Do you think that pendant/chandelier would work in a house that has a farmhouse feel to it?? I have that one in my cart and the basket weave one in white from your collection over at shades of light and I can’t decide which would be more appropriate.

    Reply

  50. suzanne rushing says

    Oh my gosh. The Justin Timberlake reference is killing me! Aside from that, love all the new updates but especially the ceramic houses.

    Reply

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