I think I’m waiting too long in between house updates, because I’m afraid I’ll be boring. We’ve been working quietly behind the scenes while we can in between clients and producing content + ideas. But when I do jump back in to share, I’m a little overwhelmed on what to tell you guys. It’s complicated because there have been so many crazy factors and I’m all, “oh yeah so the giant dirt pile in our front yard is gone but landscaping guy bailed and there was some water damage to our existing hardwoods from a leaky faucet in the kitchen {WHAT} and flooding in our new crawlspace last month and… WHEEEE.” I figured you didn’t want my crisis list and shipping delay updates. I’ll be sharing more next week, but I thought I’d keep it simple and show you a little update of our home that we just took on. Because it’s actually finished. It’s a simple gallery wall!
This title made more sense for google searches, when weighed against “we’re building an addition and while our beautiful windows are gone, I’m still excited for this wall because it has a happy solution and I have things put back together for ten whole seconds” theme.
Our house last week, looked like This. Because redneck Narnia is now gone.
If you’re familiar with what we’re doing, we’ve been adding on an addition to this side of the house. In retrospect, if we’d known we would have had such limited space {because of septic} to do what we wanted to do, we would have never had windows in the first place. But we think it had a happy ending. And honestly? I’m quite happy with how it turned out, sans windows.
You may remember our before? In the initial reveal, it looked like this. We’ve taken on this house in stages, and you can see this particular entire space, here.
So while we have loved this room, once we drew up plans, we knew that this wall-o-windows kinda had to go. We have never on our lives waited so long on product {thanks, covid + inflation + the general state of our world + total champagne probs} – but we’re happy to be here, and if you can see from the plans, this is why said windows had to go.
See that third largest square on the plans, next to the deck at the bottom, below the kitchen? That’s our pool room. One window now led to a wall, and another to my closet and now we have a giant hole in our kitchen, so we can walk through like proper rednecks.
But y’all. Let’s focus on this simple gallery wall, shall we? Because these faces.
I literally stumbled upon these photos last fall and immediately had them printed. I had no idea where they would go, I just knew that these three sweet faces needed to be large and on my wall, forever. Because apparently we took a trip to the beach about a decade ago, and I photographed them. Talk about priceless.
Fast forward to two mortgages a total relocation and life restart later… and I found them again. Just sitting on my hard drive, like no big deal. So of course, I knew they needed to go on the wall. Those water droplets. Their happy smiles. My heart.
I. Mean.
So of course, once the drywall went up, I thought… I have the perfect spot for these!
I printed three more, current-day to match on the other side.
Gosh where does the time go? These are from our last two sessions with the wonderfully talented Light By Iris, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with how they turned out. She’s hands-down our fave.
{If you live anywhere near Portland, or Nashville… call her yesterday.}
But where did the time go? When did my babies get so big ?
So these walls tell a story.
And {I never thought I’d say this…} they’re better than windows.
We’ve knocked out some walls on our main level, but we’ve also added rooms to our house over time… nearly tripling our square footage. People have asked if we regretted it and the answer is, absolutely not. As it now stands, this is our forever home and we love it here. I think it comes down to the layout of the house so the situation is different for everyone. What makes you the happiest. I’m also happy to have some walls back. I’m always switching things around but this one… it speaks to me.
We also loved adding some Kichler Ellerbeck Sconces over here, to showcase their pretty faces at night. Their pendants are so perfect and timeless!
This lit shot doesn’t do the light justice, but I do love the fun library feel the space carries now, especially combined out with our other Kichler lights. So much fun!
So this was a simple gallery wall idea. When the teenagers approve… I know I did something right.
PS. I had them printed at Smallwoods. They’re a great go-to for instant framing. {No this isn’t sponsored.} Just a simple gallery wall idea and a happy little spot for me, in the middle of all this construction chaos. It’s nice to do something effortless when things are kinda crazy. And we love having a room put back together.
For now.
Details on that one coming soon. Wish us luck.
Long live the simple gallery wall.
Have an inspired day!
Kim says
Can I just move in? Seriously, I love everything you do and have done and struggle to even remotely copycat your ideas in my own home. I wrote to you about our future “retire to home” asking how to choose classic designs to implement without it becoming dated as we will be in our “mature” years. You answered so well with an entire post and I’m so very grateful. My Mom passed 8 months ago and my 80 year old dad has needed me more than I can describe. Let’s say five hospitalizations for pneumonia and a complete knee replacement has kept me from responding until now but I always take a few minutes to catch up on your posts as they are my favorites. The daily lighthearted joy you two provide for your kiddos shows up in their faces and I love how you captured them up close and personal. These days are the “golden years” and will be the favorite memories you will want to have imprinted on your heart. Remodeling whoas become funnier and less exasperating as time passes yet the details of doing daily life seem fuzzier. Hold them tight and laugh out loud at that leaky faucet and keep writing brilliantly, as you are a natural.
So, kim
ashley @ the handmade home says
Kim – I am so sorry about your mom’s passing, and I can’t fathom the dad part… I know caring for older family must be so hard. Sweet hugs to you as you experience this chapter. Once again, you are too kind with your thoughtful words. Thank you for the reminder in all this. I don’t think anyone knows how badly I needed that today. You’re right. This will be fond memories in the end. We’re truly happy to move forward and create a home for our family. It’s not always easy, but this is good stuff. So I’d better quit trying to rush it along in my eagerness to settle in. It is what it is – HA! All the hugs and love to you! And major props to you and all that you’re going through. Thinking of you.
Jeanine says
I absolutely love the beach pictures, and have to agree that they are even better than windows! Sometime down the line, I think up to date beach pics on the other side would look amazing!
Nell says
What size are the photos you had printed at Small Woods? I like the candidness of each one.
ashley @ the handmade home says
Hey! It’s the 25 x 17. Hope that helps!