At this time last year, the Lt. and I were just setting out on our great cross-country temporary living adventure, during which we spent about two months living in hotels and five living in a little furnished apartment.
When we finally started settling ourselves in our new house here in California, I had a bit of Baby-Building Inertia to overcome, and haven't always been as productive or as efficient as I would like to be.
Overwhelmed? Me? Never. |
Little by little, though, we've been digging ourselves out of the mess of boxes and into a real home. Nothing is by any means “done” (I don't know if I believe in “done”), but we've gotten to a point where I feel like I can start sharing some of what we've been working on here.
First, though, a little introduction to our house, which we love.
When we first arrived in California late last November, we went to the base housing office and told them we wanted to live in this neighborhood. They warned us that they had just started new construction, and that the wait list was quite long. That works out fine for us, we told them – we'll be in Oklahoma for the next six months!
We've added some flowers since moving in, though our garden certainly has a long way to go! |
A few weeks before we were scheduled to leave Oklahoma, our number came up on the wait list and, due to one of the inefficient quirks of military life, we basically had to claim our house right then or risk going to the back of the line. Not a chance! Seven months of “perching” was enough for us – we were ready to be settled.
I flew out here on my own for a few days in May to pick up the keys and supervise the delivery of all our belongings out of storage, and while I was here I snapped a few photos (actually, I systematically documented everything from the icemaker to the upstairs closets, but I won't subject you to all that!) so the Lt. could see our new house before we drove ourselves back here for real. Of course, they also showcase its pristine “Before” condition:
My lovely, bright, white kitchen. |
Now, I'm a New England girl, and grew up in houses older than the town I'm currently living in. I know how to strip wallpaper, paint over fake-wood paneling, and polyurethane wood floors. I can stick furniture into awkward little corners with the best of 'em.
One of the many things I've inherited from my mother: a love of cute little tins. |
But here, there's no need for any of that!
Living/dining room, aka Great Room. This is the same room as in the top picture with all the boxes. |
Actually, at times I've been a little lost in this brand-new house. My style (insofar as I have one) tends towards the vintage (aka worn) and eclectic (aka mismatched) rather than the sleek, streamlined, and new. I've had to think a lot about how to define and personalize spaces that don't come with much character of their own.
(Part of me would love to paint some walls, but the rest of me was morning sick when we moved in. I'm not sure painting's ever going to happen, especially since everything is so fresh and bright, and we'd just have to undo it all when we move on in a year or two.
I find dingy wallpaper very motivating – fresh white paint, not so much!)
Don't get me wrong – I am extremely thankful for our beautiful house and love that it is in such wonderful condition. I'm just not used to new houses!
The master bedroom, complete with freshly steam-cleaned carpet. |
So this has been (and will continue to be) a fun challenge for me – can I infuse this generic military housing with some vintage/eclectic/what-have-you charm through obsessive craigslist stalking, pretty fabrics, and force of will?
A two-quilt couch. |
I really do have some things I plan to show you, but I get shy, because at this point you're so used to hearing about and seeing my mom's thoughts and spaces, and I'm years and years behind Auntie Leila! I'm at the very beginning of the process (and heck, I'm not just talking about decorating here!), so I hope you will be patient with my little starting-from-scratch projects-in-progress.
Of course, our principal Starting-from-Scratch Project-in-Progress is a little baby boy, who is getting closer and closer to making his appearance around here. I bet you won't mind hearing about that!
It may not look like much here, but I can't tell you how excited I am to have my own, no-quarters-needed LAUNDRY ROOM! |
Finally, I have to mention the best part of of all about where we live now, which is what's outside the house. I can walk to the beach, see the sun set over the water pretty much from my front yard, and have places like this just a mile or so away – what a blessing!
“Our” pier right after sunset last Saturday. Anything but generic! |
Charlotte says
I love your posts. And we truly want to hear all about that little man's arrival!
Mary Beth says
Sometimes having a white background allows the colors in the room and your wall art to really pop! I like putting bright colored pictures on the wall and having red chairs, which stand out against the renter's perennial white background:)
Patty says
Excited to hear more from the rest of the family. 🙂
Tamara says
I am so happy and excited for you! I'm a young mama too, and I know what you mean about getting shy showing what you are doing for your home & family… but please do! Gals like me need friends to aspire with!
margo says
It's so nice to hear from you again, Rosie! And I would be in the same shoes – a little bewildered by a bright, white, new house. That pier view more than makes up for it, I think. And you own laundry!!! I remember how absolutely thrilled I was when I finally had my own washing machine 🙂
Well, any challenge is a good challenge. Can't wait to see what you come up with.
Patti Brown says
is that the Oceanside Pier?
Rosie says
It is! It's not far, so we like to head down there in the late afternoon for a little reading and walking around, especially now that the big beach crowds have cleared out.
Teresa says
What an awesome house – I love all the clean white walls!
esther says
we lived in monterey, ca in brand new military housing this past year and loved it! i am so glad though that you have tile in your great room – for some reason the builders chose to put cheapo carpet where my little ones eat! ugggh. oh well – now we are back in the east coast and renting a house in town that has character straight from the baby boomers! blessings to you in your new post.
priest's wife says
It looks like you are going to have lots of fun making the house a home
Sue says
This reminded me of our pristine apartment when we moved in nearly 14 years, and four kids, ago! Now we are in the peeling wallpaper stage. Ahem. It sounds kind of nice to start with a blank slate – a fresh canvas, if you will. You are making it lovely already!
Is that bunny painting something you did? I love it!
Rosie says
I wish it were! But no, it's something I admired in one of the antique vendors' booths near Habou's studio, and then she surprised me by giving it to me a few months later! It's so sweet, though – I love it too!
Salome Ellen says
Wide, self -adhesive wallpaper borders! Lots of color in proportion to the work. And they can be put at chair rail height if you want. (And come right off when you leave.)
Habou says
Love your house, Rosie. Can't wait to come and visit. I love vintage and old furniture in a modern home.
Rosie says
I can't wait for you to come, either!
Melanie B says
I felt the same way about the pristine white walls when we moved into our house two years ago and I found out I was expecting a little boy within two weeks of moving in. However after two years of little hands making their marks over all the walls, which were painted with a cheap non-washable flat paint, we're finally starting to find the motivation to repaint bit by bit.We're still doing white in most of the rooms though because this house has small rooms, tiny windows, and dim light fixtures so it needs all the help it can get to feel bright.
mom, again says
I've never quite figured out what to do with the house we moved into new 8 years ago. never lived in new before. was stymied by the idea of paint as I'd been in white rentals most of my adult life (except for the one with every room two different pastels above and below the chair rail. blue&pink and pink&yellow and green&blue and green&yellow. and ALL of them in the bathroom with a black linoleum floor with specks of all the colors and white and green marbley plastic tile. it was something else.)
So, IS that the Oceanside pier? Cause I'm just a little bit north of you and I have boy baby things I don't need. Just sayin'.
Rosie says
Wow, that's a lot of different pastels! My mind is reeling a little just trying to imagine the bathroom…
And yes, it is the Oceanside pier – it's fun how many people recognize it! (I guess the Ruby's is pretty distinctive-looking there at the end.) And you are very sweet to think of us for your baby boy things… we could probably put them to good use, if you are within hailing distance! My email is rosielawler at gmail dot com… 🙂
wanderingsue says
I'll second all of this, Rosie- very glad to hear how you're doing, and excited to see what you get up to there, house-wise, baby-wise, and all. Love you all, in that funny blog way.
sarah says
I only ran across your family's blogs recently, and loved clinking through the links and looking at your last year's on-the-move military living adventures. My husband is also in the Army (heading off for deployment this month) – we've been married a little under two years, and bought our first house this summer. Love seeing the ways you've worked on making your homes beautiful on a low-budget. I'm working on the same sort of thing here.
Loni says
Rosie, I love, love, love your quilts. Really. Just so warm & beautiful.
Rosie says
Thank you, I love them too! Sukie made me the one on the back of the sofa (it was a college graduation gift, I think?) and my mom made the one folded over the arm years ago – I think it's the second quilt she ever made!
Rosie says
Oh, and Habou made the beautiful blue-striped blanket for her first great-grandson!
Shelley says
Totally understand your preference for houses with character. I love my 1920 house here in England. If we move to Salt Lake City, my house there – what I could grab in a good location and get on the property market 20 years ago – is a 1960's box and I will be challenged to make it feel like home after living here. Envy you your beach! I have one here, but of course there is not one in SL…the Great Salt Lake was pretty yuk last time I saw it! Don't be shy – let us learn from your progress!
Melissa says
Congrats on moving into your new house Rosie! We moved into a brand new house three years ago (read 'stark white walls and beige carpeted floors') and I'm still trying to develop a sense of style. It takes time and evolves with your changing family and budget. Yes, at least you have the beach. With that nearby, I could probably live with white walls ok. =)
Rosie says
Yes, the beach does help us suffer through it!
Rabbit says
Ahh, the white wall syndrome. We moved into a fairly new house a year ago and the previous owners didn't do much in the painting/adding color department, so we have a lot of white space too! We plan on being here much longer than you will be in your house, so we will be painting…slowly. In the meantime, I'm trying to enjoy the blank canvas look, but it can make you feel like you're living in a dorm some days! Enjoy your new place 🙂
dhkile says
Hi Rosie… we are also a Marine Corps family (hubby retires this summer!) and over the years we've been stationed in the same general vicinity you are in. We lived in the same military housing that you are currently in (although we were in a different “community”… I *think* I know which community you're in. :))… anyway, that white kitchen was so hard to keep clean. lol It looks nice, but when we finally buy/build our own house, I will definitely NOT have a white kitchen. lol
Merry Christmas!
Clara says
Rosie,
“I really do have some things I plan to show you, but I get shy, because at this point you're so used to hearing about and seeing my mom's thoughts and spaces, and I'm years and years behind Auntie Leila! I'm at the very beginning of the process (and heck, I'm not just talking about decorating here!), so I hope you will be patient with my little starting-from-scratch projects-in-progress.”
Please don't be shy about sharing your just starting out projects! I am in that place in my life. We are just renting…and I am dreaming of owning our home and having a garden and line drying. 🙂 I love reading about both your projects.. the beginner-ish and the more experienced. It provides great balance.
I also just love older homes with character, although I do not possess the skills you listed… The new generic looking homes are very nice, but require quite a bit more work to give them character. 😉