Psst- Sorry about yesterday’s truncated post, Reader users. There was some bad code in a video we embedded (we like to feed full posts, so if you ever see a shortened one, something wonky’s going on).
We’re painting something again today! Who’s surprised? Anybody? Nobody? We’ll be back with the goods tomorrow, but in the meantime we thought this house tour was so charming and creative that we had to share it. It’s a great example of a someone buying a house and just going for it, without being even a little afraid to make it theirs. And if there’s one thing that we’ve learned in this whole home-making journey of ours, it’s that the more personal you make a space the less it might appeal to someone else (like your mother-in-law, the mailman, or your handsome pool boy) but the more it can feel like “you” – and really, that’s what matters most. So stamp your house up baby. Leave your fingerprints all over that thing.
But on with the tour! First of all, how sweet is the exterior of Laura’s house in Reno?
Here’s Laura now, with her dog Emma. She’s also the mother of three kids, so you know, she’s not busy at all.
When you enter her home she has a wide foyer area with a curved wall, which is where Laura and her husband Dan got creative. Yup, she made shelves from old secondhand chairs that she painted a soft seafoam green color (Seacliff Heights by Benjamin Moore) and hung right onto the wall (after chopping them in half). I love the little potted plants that are resting on each chair-shelf. Here’s more on how she did that project.
Speaking of creativity, check out her dining room. Yup, the entire wall is filled with shutters that Laura painted in a bunch of soft beachy tones. Isn’t it amazing? As for where she got them all, many came from the Habitat For Humanity ReStore, thrift shops, and Craigslist. I’m also a HUGE fan of both the light fixtures and the chairs (which she found on ebay). It’s such a cool personality-filled room that she made all her own. And that table is actually an old conference table from a nearby university.
The kitchen is another classic-meets-creativity example, thanks to traditional white cabinetry and subway tile mixed with playful hanging pendants that Laura and Dan made from Home Depot lamps. I love that they don’t take themselves – or their home – too seriously. And the industrial bar stools (which were once science stools at the same university as her dining table) are another fun touch.
Laura decided that closing off this doorway made for better flow so she casually hung some secondhand window panes to subtly divide the space while keeping things airy. I love that colorful bench too. She picked it up at a thrift store and spray painted it Lagoon by Rustoleum and then glazed it for a less-new look.
Laura also added height and a breezy and cozy vibe to their bedroom, thanks to sheer curtains from Ikea that she hung from the ceiling for a makeshift canopy affect.
Their bathroom has awesome tile that mimic’s Laura’s childhood 1920’s home. I love it with the extra thick black counters and the white cabinetry.
Laura would love to take the subway tile all the way up the wall behind the tub to the ceiling, but in the meantime she added a really cool old ladder that she found at a thrift store for a couple of bucks and a few hanging plants.
Thanks so much to Laura and her husband Dan for sharing their gorgeous home! I hope you guys were as inspired by their fearless approach. And of course you can check out more about every project and room here on her blog. But before I get back to painting, let’s play the favorite part game. Mine’s the shutter wall in the dining room. Especially with those gorgeous glass pendants hanging down in front of it. Me-ow.
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Jillian@TheHumbleGourmet says
I love the shutter wall. Such a cool and unique way to do a textured accent wall.
I feel like I hear so many people talk about decorating their homes in terms of “re-sale potential” and therefore won’t do a lot of what they want to do because they think it’s too personal. You end up forever living in a state of having a home meant to appeal to someone besides yourself.
Sarah says
Do we have a paint color for the wall with the chairs?
YoungHouseLove says
Hope she drops in with that info for ya Sarah!
xo
s
laura Durrer says
I mixed and jars of random paints I had in my garage. However when the shutter wall appeared in Country Living Magazine in April 2012, they had me color match using a booklet. I will look in my magazine and find them for you.
laura Durrer says
Oops, I read that wrong.
Here is a link to the color of the HALF CHAIRS
http://www.oliveandlove.com/2012/04/shutter-wall-chairs-for-country-living.html
Kathy C. says
I’m in love with this house!!
Baird says
I absolutely love everything in that house–not sure if I could ever by bold enough to make those choices, but I lurve it in the meantime!
Jennifer D. says
I pinned that shutter wall a LONG time ago – so glad to see more of their house. LOVE!!!
Megan @ Rappsody in Rooms says
Wow! What a house. It’s definitely got some never before seen projects before. That shutter wall is amazing! I really love that they did go “all in” and made it perfect for them!
Joseph says
Whenever I read your blog I play a little game where I don’t look at who wrote it but instead try to figure it out as I’m reading. Sometimes it’s really hard and sometimes there are dead giveaways. This one I wasn’t sure of until I got to the “me-ow”. Haha
Dead. Giveaway.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha!
xo
s
Janelle @ Two Cups of Happy says
I do this too!
Summer says
Kids live in this house??? No way!!!!
I LOVED this crash!!!!!
Ashleigh says
Wow…just, wow. You guys have crashed many homes that are amazingly beautiful, but this one is equal parts beautiful and unpredictable. They thought of things I would have never considered in a million years. Its just fantastic!
tiffany says
This is one of the best houses I have ever seen. BEAUTIFUL!! I think Laura and I could be best friends! LOVE the chairs, the shutter wall, the bedroom and everything in between ;)
liz says
Dying over the shutter wall and bathroom! Best crash to date!!! Waiting impatiently for her blog to get back up and running!
Dennis says
I love the fan/light combo I wonder where I can get one.
Dennis
Katie says
A.MAZ.ING. Seriously…I wish I was creative enough to put that much personality into my home. SO inspiring to think out of the box! LOVE!
karebear304 says
That shutter wall is dreamy. It’s like a gorgeous game of house Tetris.
Courtney says
Wow, wow, wow!!!!!!!!!!!! That is one seriously amazing house. Wow!!!!!!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE that shutter wall- what a cool idea. And that master bathroom- JEALOUS!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing.
Kym V. says
What an awesomely creative home!!! Love, love, love…umm everything. Favorite is that shutter wall though.
Lisa says
AWESOME!
Dinka says
Shut up shut up shut uuuuuuup!!! I love that house so much!
Sara says
Love the dining room. I have to admit though the chairs on the wall kind of creep me out in a Poltergeist movie flashback way. It’s just a personal issue I have lol I’m sure most people wouldn’t think of that!
liz marie says
Holy crap this house is amazing!! It’s seriously like right out of my dreams… Excuse me while I go stare at all the pictures again for hours. Great post!! xx
Natalie says
What a lovely and unique home! Thanks for sharing! :)
Krystle @ Color Transformed Family says
I love her taste and how she took a normal looking house and made it hers. It gives me hope for if we ever end up in a somewhat normal house.
Pre says
I really love the dining room – especially the shutter wall . At the same time I also have to hate the shutters a little because it makes me think of all the dust they must collect! Must need extensive cleaning on a daily basis. It’s really my allergies that cause the hate but my eyes that cause the love.
Laura says
The dust doesn’t collect like it does on traditional shutters by a window. They really aren’t that bad. But the sheers around my bed are total pollen collectors!!
Mary | Lemon Grove Blog says
Love that master bath – it’s huge!
Sarah says
I always get excited when I see people using old windows!
I have a couple hanging on my townhouse wall. I am closed in on either side by houses. The windows add a neat look without having to commit to artwork.
Though it seems that when people come in, their first comment is, “I like your windows” with a quizzical look on their faces.
Her house is amazing and I love what she has done with all of her space. I wish I could be half as creative!
Elle says
I love everything about this house. That shutter wall is unbelievably cool!
Allie @ 6000 Miles says
oooh, I’m stealing so many of these adorable ideas! I love the use of window frames. I usually try to resist pinning EVERY photo on a blog post, but in this case I’ll have to make an exception…..
Karoline says
Seriously? That shutter wall gave me goosebumps. Like actual, real goosebumps. It is SO COOL! I am in love with this whole house.
Kim says
How funky and fun! I love the shutter wall as well as the ladder and hanging plants over the bathtub. What creative ideas!!
Nancy B. says
Hey Richmonders, do any of you remember when Lane Sanson in Carytown had those cool half chairs hanging on the walls as shelves in their shop? Same idea, just for retail display… Always thought that was a brilliant idea!
Shanny says
Easily my favorite home you’ve crashed yet! Between the creativity & the color palate, I can’t even begin to choose my favorite part. What a fantastic inspiration!!
Veronica Bellard says
HOLY SHUT..TER WALL ;) I need some shutters in my life now.
Jordan says
SERIOUSLY… My favorite house crash. Like, ever. I think I’m dying. I LOVE this! Way to go Laura!
Hector says
The dining room wall covered in shutters is so unique! I love the color choices she used for them as well. I want that in my dining room!
Nikki says
I’m actually not a fan of their decor. The shutter wall and window frames hanging look bizzare to me, not to mention the wall of chairs.
Mega Remodeling says
The second picture with chairs on the wall is absolutely genius! How come i am not so creative? Loving the designs good job!
Cassie @ LittleRedWindow says
I am totally obsessed with that shutter wall! It’s so beautiful! The chair shelves are great too, so creative!
Joy says
Absolutely the shutter wall!
Nikki says
What is hanging down from the left hand side of the bath? Is it a screen? Love the house!
YoungHouseLove says
Hope she stops by with that info Nikki!
xo
s
laura Durrer says
They are metal leaf garlands from West Elm on clearance.
http://www.oliveandlove.com/2011/12/master-bath-home-tour.html
Christina V says
Laura, I love the shutter wall, that is seriously awesome! I also am a big fan of the master bedroom. I just envisioned those IKEA curtains in my bedroom but then remembered that I have an energetic / curious 55lb dog. Did Emma ever terrorize your canopy??
laura Durrer says
Emma has done fine with the curtains. Sometimes the cats get a little curious. But they hold up well.
Tonya says
I love the chairs in the foyer! I actually have a seafoam child’s chair that my mother-in-law used as a child in Sunday School at our church that I’m about to stick in the attic for lack of space. I just might saw that baby in half and hang it on the wall! Such a creative idea!
laura Durrer says
You could hang it with out sawing it in half if it’s a childs chair. Pop it on the wall and use it as a shelf.
Laura & the Shell says
This post is so timely for me. I’m inspired by the “make it yours” spirit. We’re redoing our back porch and adding a full bathroom. I’ve been on the fence for a while about the tile combinations and I think I’m going to choose something that isn’t expected or safe. Instead I’m going to choose something I love and hope it all works out. This house has so many special, unique qualities. Nice house crash, YHL! Thanks!
hillary says
For me this tour really underlines how much I love plants in interior spaces. I’ve been low on houseplants for the last few years (little kids + dogs + cats have made it tough), but my small collection of orchids that live in the kitchen window is growing. I also picked up a couple BIG houseplants at Ikea last week (they had some really nice fiddle leaf figs and money trees). They make me happy every time I look at them. Love the idea of plants in the bathroom!
Destiny says
This is my all-time favorite crash. Amazeballs! Lots of big time pay-offs on a lot of really gutsy choices.
Jackie says
Best house crash ever!!!! I wish my brain worked like hers. How truly unique!
Jamie says
LOVE the wall of shutters in her dining room!! And the chair shelves are super fun.
Erin says
Ok, I’m fine with being the only one on here to disagree, so I have to say that I think they’re trying way to hard here. Everything is too over the top. Chairs on walls – you have to be kidding me?!
Julia @ Cuckoo4Design says
That shutter wall is amazing!
Kelly says
Best house crash! So creative! Love the shutter wall!
Shannon Summers says
What a breath of fresh air! This is my favorite house crashing post so far, I mean all the uniqueness to it is just making me want to jump out of my pants! I think if I had to pick a favorite moment it would be the shutters in the kitchen or ladder above the bathtub. Incredible, we need a part 2 so we can see the kids rooms and backyard which I’m sure are mind-blowing as well. My hats off to you!