Two weekends ago we stopped in Atlanta on our way to Savannah (sounds like the lyrics to a country song) to house crash Jeremy and Katie Bower’s lovely home. And while we were there we whipped up a little decorating movie for all you lemme-see-you-in-3D peeps. Hope you enjoy the tour (and that you check out our table-setting video at the end of this post)!
First we have this adorable mini mud room that Katie whipped up with an ottoman and a few coat hooks. And since we’re no stranger to this method, Burger felt right at home and made himself comfortable from the moment her scampered in the door.
Beyond the entryway is the posh and elegant dining room full of soft blue accents, white china, and beachy accessories. Katie is a blackbelt sale shopper so everything I swooned over ended up being “oh this old thing, it was $1 at Goodwill” or “TJ Maxx, three bucks.” Talk about having some serious decor envy.
I also fell hard for this chic little hutch next to the door that leads to the kitchen, but I couldn’t linger on it too long before the kitchen beyond beckoned me in…
… yeah, this kitch’ has some serious drawing power. The amazing thing is that Jeremy and Katie ripped down walls, learned how to run their own electrical, installed stock cabinetry, and even laid their own floors to turn this formerly closed off kitchen into an open and expansive masterpiece. Everything from the range hood (we actually have the same exact one!) to the backsplash was put in with their own four hands, and we must admit that we found ourselves gaping at their handiwork at every turn.
And no detail is too small for Katie. From the white china that she artfully arranged in her doorless hutch to the white dishtowel that she hand sewed (she added the pom poms!), not a smidge of style was sacrificed even though her accessories never broke the bank.
Thanks to tearing down a wall, the kitchen opens up to an inviting little den with a fireplace that they tiled themselves and a coffee table Katie found on Craigslist and completely reinvented (the power of white paint is a beautiful thing).
Katie also has a soft spot when it comes to clean white accessories, and everything from the Goodwill candlesticks to the DIY art made us feel right at home. And you know I was all over her adorable ceramic bird, right? I’m nothing if not consistent, and my penchant for white ceramic animals knows no bounds. The fact that this little guy was a cheep- er, cheap score (another Goodwill find) made me green with ceramic animal envy.
Katie and Jeremy also widened the passageway between the den and their living room so the entire first floor feels open and airy. And is that a white ceramic horse head that you see on the coffee table? The same one we have on our TV stand in the den? Yesireebob. Gotta love an equine bust from Tarjay.
We also love the fresh pops of green throughout the space (in fact, one of those lovely pillows on Katie’s couch was actually a Pottery Barn placemat that she ripped apart and stuffed with batting). She’s lucky enough to live near a Pottery Barn outlet, so everything from the couch to those awesome white ottomans was snagged on the cheap (yeah, the whole trip was punctuated by envious gasps).
And just in case it’s not painfully clear that Katie and Jeremy could easily flip houses for a living, here’s a bathroom that Katie recently renovated for under 500 beans (yup, she worked a wet saw and installed her own molding with only a wee bit of husbandly assistance).
You might have seen mention of Katie’s dressing room a few days ago when we crashed her closet. It turns out that while most people have a hanging bar and half a dresser of storage space, she has an entire third bedroom with a wall of wardrobes for clothing/jewelry/shoe storage- and the other side of the room serves as the most charming bonus space for settling down with a good book or sleeping an extra guest.
In another stroke of bathroom brilliance, Katie and Jeremy completely transformed their upstairs guest bath with some moody khaki paint and an amazing wood frame that they mounted around the room’s original mirror for an updated and customized effect that’s so ooh la la. They even distressed each piece of wood with nails, chains, and a hammer before staining and installing ’em.
And last but not least is their peaceful bedroom and ensuite bath which actually bears a bit of a resemblance to ours. In fact we featured Katie’s bedroom pics as a Reader Redesign last year after she sent pics our way to say that she modeled her curtained wall after our very own bedroom.
And now we’ll leave you with our little table setting video extravaganza. At first we debated what to tape, but we both loved the idea of doing something in stages right in front of the camera in real time. Sure it took a while to sift through Katie’s extensive servingware and accessory collection to create five different table settings and put ’em together on film (it took us about 20 takes total), but we’re oh so proud of our little film-fest and we hope you enjoy our step by step table sprucing tutorial.
It bears mentioning that some of the settings are a bit more robust than others (we didn’t add the leaf to Katie’s table, so feel free to adapt some of our ideas on a bigger surface or remove a few elements to create more space for platters of food). Oh and there are a few other things that you may notice. Here’s what to look out for:
- We’re both incredibly weird and nervous in the beginning.
- We get progressively loopier, as if we’re downing champagne off camera (we weren’t).
- I confuse apple trees with cherry trees.
- Katie squeezes in some of her signature potty humor.
- Lots of talking with our hands (our moms are Italian).
- I mispronounce faux-bois like foi-gras. Twice.
- Katie saying “pull” the southern way when she’s making ribbon curls.
Thanks so much for devoting eleven minutes of your life to viewing our little flick! Here’s a slightly lower quality one that might be easier to play on your computer if the one above is jumpy. I’d love to know which setting was your favorite. And if I’m louder/nerdier/shorter/scowlier/more awkward than you may have thought. Oh and a big thank you goes out to the Katie (and her main man Jeremy) for letting us take photos of their casa and helping us set the table a bunch of times. Be sure to check out her take on everything over on Bower Power– you know she’ll tell you if we showed up with bad breath…
Itching for more table setting ideas? Here are seven other festive options and a holiday table setting post for your viewing pleasure.
Dariela says
Thanks so much for showing us their home and for the video, I looove your ideas, specially cause it inspires me to just get anything I like and one day I know it will work for decoration. I always get nervous if I see some plates that don’t match my collection so I don’t get them but this shows that anything can work, specially if I like it myself!
Also, I like how you guys show the prices and they are very very affordable!!! Great video!
Heather says
I so want to have a citrusy modern breakfast now! And it’s 5:26pm where I am! ;)
The video was awesome – I would so watch your show. You guys are hilarious…you completely remind me of me and my friends. And Sherry, you sound exactly like I thought you would, which is just perfect.
And where did you get that adorable white star-shaped bowl???
Lauren says
Love her house! Please tell me you’ll be posting about Savannah this week…I’m headed there on vacation next week and would love to read about your must-sees!
YoungHouseLove says
Of course we will, Lauren! Just stay tuned for posts later in the week about our favorite finds in Savannah. But we were only there for a couple days, so hopefully others will chime in to help you plan the perfect trip.
-John
Toni says
That video was cute, cute, cute! Fantastic job, y’all!
C says
Haha! Your video cracked me up! Love both of your blogs- keep up the good work!
Shannon says
You girls are great! I’m looking forward to 5 ways to decorate your bookshelf when the Bower’s visit Richmond.
Belinda says
Nice, but if no detail is too small, switch out those white switchplates and wall sockets! They look like pimples on that pretty paint!
Katie says
Hi Sherry – just wanted to poke my head in and say hi. Miss ya!
XO – Katie
p.s. the star bowl is Pottery Barn brand bought at a discount at the Williams Sonoma outlet (strange I know) for $4.98
p.p.s. the bathroom color is Benjamin Moore’s Mt Rainier but had the paint chip color-matched at Lowe’s for Valspar paint (anything to save a buck!)…but for a less blue, more gray option – go with Winter Flannel (Valspar – Lowes). It is just a squeek of difference but still fab.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Katie! Thanks for popping in with the bowl/paint color info. Miss you back!
xo,
s
Sierra Nething says
I LOVED the video! You two were so cute. I honestly think you guys should try to get an HGTV show together. I really liked the beachy theme one the best. And the patriotic would be super cute on July 4th.
My Suggestions for the next 5 Ways:
– Love the Bookcase idea
– I’d like to see 5 ways to do Sherry’s table with all the accents she has
– 5 ways to make a bed- different sheets, blankets, pillows, headboards
– 5 ways to decorate fireplace/mantle
– 5 different lamp combinations – different shades, bases, glass bases with different fillers, etc…
– Different seasonal and/or holiday decorations for around the house
YoungHouseLove says
Wow Sierra! You’ve really thought things through! Thanks so much for all the suggestions. To see more than ten place settings using my things, here are a bunch of other fun options and a holiday table setting post for your viewing pleasure. We also have a ton of other holiday decorating ideas in our archives but a seasonal video sure sounds like fun. Stay tuned…
xoxo,
Sherry
Ronak tech says
The article of table setting with good pictures is really nice..
Karen says
I have never commented on here before so I wanted to start by saying that I LOVE your site! I check it just about every day!
I really like the 5 ways to decorate the dining room table. I have a question. My dining room table is rectangular and has 4 chairs and because of the space, they have to all be at the table. I usually keep two on each of the long sides. If I move two of the chairs to the ends (to have one chair on each side) could I get away with just the two place settings on the ends like you guys demonstrated? Until now, I have had 4 place mats (no plates), one at each chair and a centerpiece. But I havent really had any place settings so I need a (low cost) re-vamp!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Karen,
I’d say go for it! Playing around with different arrangements and chair placement will help keep things looking fresh and new so you can get a whole new look with the things you already have around the house whenever the mood strikes!
xo,
Sherry
Lindsay says
Love this post! So fabulous!
Quick question – I may have missed it, but where did you get that fabulous runner in the kitchen? That green carpet is exactly what I would love to add to my kitchen!
Lindsay
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Lindsay,
You can scroll up to one of my earlier comments for all the green runner info. It’s definitely a popular request! Hope it helps.
xoxo,
Sherry
Molly says
Oh my, I am swooning. My heart hurts from the jealousy! I am seeing green with every photo. I would be interested to know what the square footage is of this house. It doesn’t look much bigger than ours and we haven’t done half of what they’ve done. I’m always saying “our house is too small.” I want to change the floorplan but there aren’t many options for that. But these people make it look so easy.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Molly,
Here’s the square footage info you requested straight from Katie:
Our house is roughly 1900 square feet including our first floor and second floor…not the basement which will eventually boost that number up to just under 3K.
Hope it helps! So glad you loved their home as much as we did!
xo,
Sherry
Alison (New Wife) says
Great ideas ladies!! My favourite setting was “Granny-chic”. I would have NEVER thought to use scarves and basic linens as part of the decor. Brilliant. Now I have fun ideas to use in my sparkly new home (which closed today!)
Tamara says
Thanks for the tour. Loved the video too, I am going to start purchasing more extras to play with for table settings and decorations, I’d like to have the options as you both made it seem like so much fun (and inexpensive).
I also took Sherry’s advice for filler for the vase “anything can be used as filler people”. I had two large candle holders and it hadn’t even dawned on me to use rice and I already had some candles to use! I did that the moment the video was over, much better. Thanks again.
Molly says
Thanks for the info. I stand corrected. Their house is about 800 sq. ft. bigger than ours! Still no excuse for us to just throw in the towel when it comes to home renovations.
I wonder what your thoughts are on our current predicament. A more specific question is, do you ever wonder if you’re pricing your house out of the neighborhood. There are so many things I’d like to do with our cute little house but then I think, “Don’t do it, you’ll spend too much and never get your money back.” For instance, does a full kitchen reno make any sense for someone who might be moving in a year or two. Or, do you just bite the bullet and spend the money so you can fully enjoy what you have now?
Sorry, I’m probably rambling but I have a love/hate relationship with our home. One day I love it and want to stay and make it better. The next day I’m looking on real estate sites for a new one.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Molly,
Well our little home is a modest 1250 square feet and we’re planning to stay here forever even when we have a gaggle of little ones someday (we’re confident we can make it work). I think different people have different ideas about what big is and how much space you really need (I can’t imagine cleaning a bigger house so I’m very happy about the small casa we settled on). And coming from Manhattan where I had a closet sized room (for $1200 a month, mind you), our house is a palace! I mean even the richy rich people in the Upper East Side don’t usually have over 1000 square feet- and plenty of families live in NY, so that really helps me keep things in perspective.
As for the pricing-your-house-out-of-your-neighborhood question, we were sure to get a total beater of a house (in case our before pictures didn’t make that obvious enough) so we would be able to do some major upgrades without feeling like we went overboard. If you already think your house is nicer than all the neighbors’ homes (ours was pretty much the saddest one on the block) I would definitely pull the plug on additional renovations (especially major ones like a kitchen). I think our point of view is a little different for our house since we want to live here forever so we hardly think about retail value and all that, but if you’re planning to sell in a few years it would definitely be less risky (and a lot less effort) to only do minor things that will up the value of your home in a super safe way (repaint, upgrade light fixtures, maybe get a new sink vanity, etc). Hope it helps!
xoxo,
Sherry
anna j. says
i just love everything about their home – the wall colors, accessories, everything! (i had to post it onto my own blog because it was so cute!) thanks for sharing it and the all bower power blog (still can’t get over the clever name!)thanks again!
Courtney says
For some reason, I’m in love with the sofa. I just love the white! I have a horrible, and HUGE, green sofa. I was wondering if you know where I can get a nice sofa cover, that isn’t too pricey?? I dont have the funds to replace the sofas right now, otherwise I would! But we can’t seem to find a decent looking sofa cover?? Any ideas anyone? Thanks a bunch! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Courtney,
Slipcovers are actually really tough! Bed Bath & Beyond and Target offer some very basic models, but sometimes getting a good slipcover hand tailored by a local seamstress or upholsterer is the only way to get that crisp Pottery Barn look (which unfortunately usually comes in at about $600 a pop- at which point some people just decide to get a new couch completely). Ikea has some great white slipcovered sofas (the Ektorp) for around $300, which certainly beats the cost of a custom slipcover. Just something to think about (and you can Craigslist your old sofa to make some money and avoid waste). Hope it helps!
xo,
Sherry
Christina says
So you inspired me yesterday to leave work, go to Tuesday Morning, buy a table cloth, napkin rings, 2 sets of napkins and a couple of other odd elements… all for under $35!!! Then I went home and played. Thank you!
I’m looking forward to coming home to a beautifully set table. Too bad there won’t be a meal waiting!
megan says
Thank you for sharing! Her home is so adorable and fabulous! So much inspiration in one home.
Melissa says
You guys are adorable! The table settings were great — so creative! :)
anna j. says
sorry to comment again, but i had a quick question. i was showing my husband the pics of the home and the first thing he asked was where is the tv? did they have one in the living room at all? did we not see it due to some ‘creative picture-taking’? we have a BIG tv ourselves and i’m always interested in how other people work around it. thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Anna,
The TV is across from the white sofa with the colorful pillows in the living room but we usually can only capture an angle or two of each room so although we snapped a bunch of pics with the TV in ’em, we just loved the sofa and the pillows so they made the cut. As for how they treated it, it’s a pretty substantial flatscreen on a long solid dark wood TV stand with tall bookcases on either side, sort of like this set-up except in dark brown wood with the TV on the stand instead of mounted. Hope it helps!
xoxo,
Sherry
Sandy says
Katie & Jeremy’s house is fab, fab, fab! Love everything about it, especially the layers and layers of accessories. As one poster already said – “so much inspiration in one house!” Sherry & Katie – that video was fantastic. The entire post was such a treat!
Katie says
I have been playing around with the idea of buying a table runner for awhile and when I saw the brown and white flowered runner pictured in the dining room I fell in love! Any idea where Katie purchased it? Also…what’s your opinion on table runners for tile-top tables? I have a rectangle table that is white-washed wood with white tile in-lay. Do you think a table runner would look strange because of the wood border?? I would love your opinion! Thanks so much and I LOVE your site! (I’m slightly obsessed…shhhh!)
Katie :)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Katie,
I think that super fun runner was a cheap score from Pier 1 (correct me if I’m wrong Katie B!). She’s also a regular at TJ Maxx and Tarjay so I’d keep an eye out for something similar there. As for the tile-topped table paired with a runner, I’d definitely give it a shot. I love layering things and breaking up materials with other dashes of color and texture so I’m sure if you play around you’ll find something that really works. Although a simple solid linen one might compete a bit less with the border of wood and the grid that the tiles create (as opposed to something patterned which could look a little busy). Hope it helps! Happy shopping…
xoxo,
Sherry
Brandy says
I just wanted to let you know I featured you and Katie in my blog. You guys inspired me to making a beautiful table setting for my family. Please head over and check it out!
Thanks for all your wonderful reads and inspiration! Love it all!
G&D says
What a fun trip! I love Katie’s home–she and her “boyfriend” have done such a beautiful job with it! That’s so neat that you stopped by for a visit. Look me up if you’re ever in Madison, WI–I’ll have a cold beer and a hot brat waiting for you! :D
YoungHouseLove says
It’s a deal D.
xo,
s
Rebecca says
Katie (or Sherry),
Where did the black (or is it dark wood) doorless hutch and mirror come from that are in Katie’s kitchen (with all the white china on it)? I LOVE that look!
Thanks!
Katie says
Rebecca – the little hutch is actually a wood bookcase that I scored for cheap at a thrift store – and the mirror is just an old one from a yard sale that is leaning up against the wall. When I painted them black, it really made them seem like a single cabinet, right?
Good luck shopping!
XO – Katie
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Katie,
Thanks for dropping in with that info! Who knew those were two separate pieces that you completely transformed with black paint. I should have guessed! Clever girl…
xoxo,
Sherry
Erin Watson says
I’m very curious about the wood frame around the bathroom mirror. I have looking at doing something similar. Did they just take wood and build it to size and install it? Or is the mirror attached to wood like a full piece?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Erin,
They just screwed the wood right into the wall around the mirror so it’s actually just framing it out and creating the effect that they’re all one piece. Hope it helps!
xo,
Sherry
Melissa says
Hey! I loved the video! It gave me so many ideas! I would not have ever thought to use a scarf for a place setting. My favorite was the bridal shower, I love the glam! =)
Patty says
Love the tablescapes! I’m voting for mantel-scapes next!!
Keep up the good work ;-)
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh good idea! We’re up for the challenge. Fingers crossed we can take it on soon!
xo,
s
Kelsi says
ooooh i love, love, LOVE this house crash! between their post & yours, I have been REALLY inspired to make our crappy townhouse look like a home. We are getting a house (it’s ASU’s student housing/post military housing… sorta sterile looking but it’s as close to a house as we can get! lol) and I’m already designing the floorplan! Very excited!! Also, I have two of those birds! I think they are so flippin’ cute, too, and couldn’t resist buying the 2nd when I saw him staring up at me in goodwill. Did you know they are actually old school perfume bottles? ((I had to rinse them out quite a few times to get rid of a very retired stench!)) Just wondering, have you guys ever done a post of an apt/house that is being rented & can’t be painted/altered/etc.? I am having a hard time resisting the urge to paint & put in some money but know I really shouldn’t. Any inspiration on that would rock! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Kelsi,
Here’s a post all about decorating a rental: https://www.younghouselove.com/2009/04/email-answer-temporary-insanity/
Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Tracie says
I was wondering if you knew where she got her rugs in the kitchen. I really like that green.
Sonja says
Consider me inspired. Love it.
Krista says
Hi,
Great decorating job, would love to know where the lamps were bought in the living room? They would go perfect in my home.
Nelsie says
That house felt so relaxing. Where did you guys get all the nice stuff for the table? I would love to know where the table runner for $1.00 was bought.
Jessica says
love it, i just recently found your page and i´m amazed with your ideas, you are so creative!!!! i think i can use a lof of them. Thank you for sharing
Michelle says
I am loving the white decorative circles on the living room wall and the green and white pillows on the brown chairs. Do you know where Katie got those from?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Michelle,
If you pop over to Katie’s bog she actually has a source list so you can see where she got things. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
christine says
I looove this curtained wall in the master bedroom! Is the curtain just hung by a rod? Can you pretty much do this in any bedroom, behind any bed? Any tips?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Christine,
Here’s a post all about our bedroom built-ins (Katie’s were actually inspired by them) so here’s that link for ya with a ton of details: https://www.younghouselove.com/2008/02/over-our-heads/
And to answer your question, any long rod works and this treatment looks great in almost any bedroom, especially behind the bed. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Vic says
Thank for sharing !
irene says
Sherry you are adorable and your blog is inspiring!!!
greetings from athens, Greece
Becky says
I love love love this video! It helped me learn a lot. I would love if all blog posts could be a video (that would be far too much work, but we can dream right?)
Thank you so much!!
ps i used the vimeo video
Barbara says
Do you happen to know the paint color she used in her kitchen?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Barbara,
Just follow the links in the post over to Katie’s blog for all of that info!
xo,
s
Emily says
I love all the table settings, but I wanted to comment about those green glass bowls in the second setting. Years ago, I bought a box of dishes at a Goodwill store in Massilon, Ohio. I got the entire box for $5.00 (yay, goodwill!) Inside the box was an incomplete set of that same green glassware: plates, bowls, a pitcher, and these adorable small mugs. I use the pitcher as a vase and the mugs to hold everything from pens on my desk to q-tips and cottonballs in the bathroom.
Melissa says
Love the table settings. My husband and I are having our first Thanksgiving at our house. So since we’re newlyweds, in college, and needless to say broke, any ideas on a table settings where we can use our black square plate set from target, or an inexpensive alternative and still look Thanksgiving-ey? Our dining room table is a 6 piece blonde wood and white cage back chair set.
YoungHouseLove says
Maybe grab two yards of burlap fabric from a fabric shop (should be pretty cheap) and cut a runner for the table (you don’t even have to sew the edges since the raw fringed & rough edge looks good). That along with the black plates would be nice. You could also add some white candles or even a few glass containers full of nuts or apples and some leafy branches from outside as the “centerpiece.” Stay tuned for a Thanksgiving post coming this week for more ideas.
xo,
s
Melissa says
Thanks!!! :)
Sara says
OMG, after seeing this beautiful home, I have decided that I definitly need some help with mine! I love decorating and check your site daily, but to see you and Katie’s adorable places, I realized that you guys should start another piece to your site where you go out and help others redo or update thier places!
YoungHouseLove says
We’d love that! If only there were more hours in the day! We’re both new moms and writing posts and taking on projects takes a surprising amount of time as well as raising a little one. But if we ever have a spare moment we’d love to team up and help others! That’s actually part of the reason we both like blogging since we can help people virtually by sharing our photos and our tutorials so people at home can DIY stuff right along with us! Hope it helps.
xo,
s
udin says
Katie your house is amazing.
i like your ideas for decorate your home.
jenn says
I love how you pet Katie’s hand repeatedly at the end. too funny!
Please reply!!! says
what paint color is the living room…the one w/ the white round coffee table? I love that room…trying to imitate it. :)
YoungHouseLove says
I think Katie replied with that info a while back. Or you can click over to her blog for that answer too!
xo,
s