Does anyone even care to see the rest of my house tour? I am dragging this Tour de Rental 2008 out forever. It's got to be the longest tour in history. And boringest. Here's the kitchen. I love that we have our dining room/NASCAR room table in here now and get to use it every day. Up until last week this table was a constant dumping ground for everything. I decided to put together a centerpiece to make it seem more grown up. Remember all that stuff I used in my Christmas garland? Here it is again.
Is it just me or is the placement of those lights up there really weird? And the one on the left is being held up extra high with a keychain of some sort. I guess it wasn't placed right for the previous renters either.
Ahhh. Nothing says grown up like a centerpiece. Oh, and to remind us not to dump every bill, bag, purse {ok so I'm the only one in my family with a purse} golf ball, laundry, book, paper.... on the table, I found these old plastic chargers and put them around. They also help with that white hot spot problem you get when your plate is hot and you put it right on the wood. 
This shelf is from my 10 year old's room. After our friends who helped us move left for the day, we realized that we hadn't moved it upstairs. We decided just to leave it. Any ideas on how to cutsie it up? Now that we don't pile on the table we end up just piling there on the shelf.
Our sink is against a blank wall. I put a mirror there so I didn't have to stare at a blank wall. Even being forced to look at myself is better than looking at a blank wall. But, it's amazing what you see when you are doing the dishes and your boys think you cannot see them while they are sitting at the table. PS, I added stuff to that corner on the counter just for you. It was so empty and I wanted it to look pretty but, in a few days it will bug the heck out of me and I'll have to clear the counter off. Just sayin.
The Never Ending Tour
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84 comments:
Ha, can it be? Am I really first? How about putting a faux window up there above the sink? I envy your old kitchen with that black and white ragamuffin thing in the middle. Just a thought... Good looking centerpiece. I think I'm jealous of that too, 'cause at my house, my fellow diners are short and I can't seem to come up with a good centerpiece that I can still see them around!
yay for the continuing tour de rentale!
Nester, I LOVE your kitchen! Esp love the centerpiece. If having one will REALLY keep folks from piling their stuff on the table, I will make one, maybe even two. Everything looks great, so clean even with three boys running around.
--Ali
That centerpiece is to die for!! love it!
Love the kitchen and centerpiece, esp. the mirror .ha.! You could either do the fill with baskets route on the book shelf or a really cute curtain in front of it... do I see another mistreatment coming on? ;) Thanks for the tour! Jen R
LOL! They do say "grownup!" I need to get me a centerpiece asap!
I wouldn't mind the mirror lol but I would miss having a window. :)
Beautifully done as usual. I just love it.
Our dining table is crap. I spray painted it all black and I should have primed it first. It's icky now. :(
loving the tour. your boy looks really grown up. how old is he?
Your ideas are cute as always. :) But, what I REALLY wanted to say ;) is that in the first picture with your son on the right side with that big blue can, for a second, it totally looked like he was eating Crisco right out of one of the family size cans. :) I was glad to see a couple of pictures down that it was just a can of peanuts!
Love the tour...please continue at whatever time schedule is best for you as long as you continue.
I guess I need a bigger adn tru cneter piece for our dining room table.....it is my number one problem.
You are going to be doing a tutorial on the garland soon right????
I was going to suggest what Jen R. did.... a curtain of some sort. :D I'm definitely guilty of cluttering up our dining table. I should work on that. Btw, we're going through the Dave Ramsey course right now. We're moving forward with gazelle intensity. :D Thanks for your inspiration.
We're shelf twins. I have 2 of those black shelves. It's so funny that you asked what to do with them. I just re-did mine last night for the umpteenth time. I'll post them for you on my blog. Tell me what you think. I still have to add some scrapbooks to the bottom shelf on the left. Another day. I love your kitchen. Oh, at least it has lights and the dining room is with it. My dining room has no lights other than a lamp I've added. Plus, it's 2 rooms away from my kitchen. NICE AYE!?
i think if you put scrapbook paper back on the "wall part' of the shelf it would look cute.
you could do it seasonally too.
halloween, Christmas, etc...
i am so loving all your ideas.
and we are Dave Ramsey fans here too. i like it, except now that the house is paid for i want to do the kitchen NOW! and go into debt and not have to save and pay cash....grrr..... its hard, and i am a whiner.
keep up the good work. Sandi
I love you blog, and the tour, don't stop
Ok, I my post is ready for you to view for Tuesday. In the mean time, I'm going to go check out the rest of your tour. Thanks for the inspiration for my Tuesday's blog. Let me know any suggestions you have as you have beautiful taste. I only wish I could do a centerpiece like the one in these pics.
Love the idea of the mirror at your sink, perfect for the "eyes in the back of the head" all mothers need :)
I'm liking that trash can next to the curtains. ;-)
Beautiful centerpiece! I love how you tear things apart and revamp them for the season, using what you have on hand. And I'm loving the tour no matter how long it takes *smiles*
We're such voyeurs we could never get tired of a tour of your house. It's 6:15 in the morning and I just used the word voyeur. I'm going back to bed. : )
The kitchen, wierd light placement and all, is beautifully done!
Love the mirror above your kitchen sink and love your centerpiece!
Keep the tour going!
I never get tired of looking at your beautiful home. I love the mirror over the sink! What a great idea, I have a similar situation in my kitchen and I think I might have to try your idea. I also did something similar with the bookshelf. I painted it black and bought white baskets and black and white gingham basket liners at PB kids. I use it to store toys and books in my TV room.
You should try Fussy's pretty storage idea of covering plastic containers with fabric. You are the queen of decorating AND bargains, so I am sure you could find a great deal on the fabric. I put the link here.
Also, any chance you could come to West Palm Beach and decorate? There will be Mac and Cheese a-plenty. : )
http://fussypants.typepad.com/whatsmartmommiesknow/2008/08/toy-storage-the.html
Oh, Nester, when I see that shelf and the pictures on the fridge, I don't feel as inadequate. Thank you for keeping it real!!!
I think I would dress up those baskets. I love the pumpkins.
Oh, as for the tour. Who doesn't love a great house tour?
Oh please continue with the tour. I like Julie's idea of putting a faux window up and you could mistreat it just like a real window!
Still loving the house tour. I think it's great that you're actually using your dining room table. And the chargers are a good idea.
We've been eating in our dining room for a week now. But only because the it's the only room in the house that's not still a red hot moving mess. Most days I can't see my kitchen table.
Get tired of home tours? NEVER! (Ummm, this is embarassing to admit, but while you were on vaca, I was going through Nester withdraws and had to peek back at all of the posts labled "Home Tour", and "Decorating Dork", and, well, the list goes on . . .) LOVE your blog!
Um, YEAH - we still want to see the rest of your house! I love that you're able to use your big table in your kitchen. I'm so over the formal dining room (yes, we have one) that never gets used at our house.
Love, love the bookshelves in the kitchen (and especially the pumpkins already gracing the shelves).
As a mother of two rowdy boys I love the mirror above the sink, it makes the statement, "I have eyes in the back of my head is why I knew what you were doing" come to life, LOL.
Take Care
Michelle
Love it. And even though I am a control freak and ocd with orderly, having a common dumping ground remind me that my life is blessed with my family :) and after that brief moment i go and straighten up
I love the mirror over the sink idea.
ROFL, Do we want to see more of your home tour...LOL, that is funny stuff!!! We LOVE your home tour. I love your centerpiece and the shells on the plate around it..STUNNING!! I tried to dress my table up so people didnt just drop stuff on it but they continued. I complain and make them take it off immediately but do not fear the next two hours or so there is MORE stuff there and we repeat..ugh
For some reason I just love little lamps in the kitchen and love yours also....the mirror looks great and would be great to WATCH...I would just think it would be dirty all the time. Had to laugh at the trash can in your kitchen. YOU ARE REAL!
We love you NESTER!!!!!
You crack me up, Nester! I always love to read your writing. Why don't you paper the backs of the shelves like your hutch? I think that would be pretty.
I need a lesson centerpieces.
Like a 101 course. I really stink at it.
You know what would look great on the black shelf in the kitchen to dress it up? Scrapbook paper on the backs of the shelves for some contrast!
Hey! Your fridge looks like mine...papers everywhere :)! I like the mirror idea and I need them all over the house so I can see whose pinching who! You could dress up those shelves with a curtain to hide stuff. Love your tour and love the centerpiece!
I have to know if you take the centerpiece off the table every time your family sits down to eat? Whenever I have any flowers or anything high at all, my family constantly shoves it around to see each other. I've resorted to nothing more than a bowl with lemons or apples in it for our kitchen table now because I know they won't mess with it!
I like the idea of the chargers on the table to protect the wood. The finish on our table is nearly worn through and could use a little buffer from hot plates.
In my kitchen I have a couple of catch-all baskets so things don't end up on the table. But stuff still does gravitate right toward it. Must be a universal law of the kitchen or something. -Julia :-)
Hi Nester,
I found your blog a few months ago when I was looking for some ideas on decorating my home school room. Glad you are back from vacation. I just want to say thanks for all the inspiration you gave me. I have been in this house for over two years now and had done little decorating, I just hadn't gotten motivated. I've discovered just buying stuff and sticking it in your house isn't as rewarding as making things with your own hands or finding a great bargain. Hope you can stop by my blogs and check out what I've done so far. Oh and I'm getting sick to my stomach as the school year approaches, it's my first year home schooling. I've been SO excited all summer but now that it's almost hear I'm feeling overwhelmed! Any advice? Thanks:)
I love that centerpiece! It's gorgeous!
How did you resist cluttering up the space above your cabinets? Is that intentional? Do you have a plan brewing? I have junk above mine and I reallllly want to take it all down. Is it weird to want it empty?
I love these posts about your space and your family. It's why I read, you know.
Do I move the centerpiece off?
Good question!
I got that big tall urn at hobby lobby for $35 years ago when I was decorating for a wedding at used it for something and they let me keep it. It's tall and skinny sooo, we can sit and eat and see eachother around it but, usually, I scoot the entire thing, urn and tray down about 10 inches toward the other end of the table. We only have 5 people in our family so there is an empty seat at one end. If I had to take it off every time it would drive me insane!! And I would probably drop it and it would shatter into a million pieces!!
marie--I am the same way about my top of cabs--the only have a few inches to the ceiling so I can't fit much up there anyway. If I could I would put my "Welcome Friends" sign but even that is too tall, so, I just leave it blank. If it were my house I might paint it with chalk board paint.
Actually, if it were my house, I'd paint the cabs black to go with the appliances so then I wouldn't use chalk board paint on top!
Oh, and I learned the trick of putting something pretty where your clutter catcher "hot spots" are from none other than the Flylady--it works for me!
Duh, a mirror! Why didn't I think of that?!? I've got this stubborn area above the stove in my cave-like kitchen... a mirror would be perfect! Or even the faux window like Julie said... oh man I need to hit up some resales! Thanks so much for all the inspiration Nester! I love looking at your house, please keep this tour going!! :)
I love the tour!! I also love that center piece. I think I need to get one together for my table.
Exqueeze? Tired of the home tour? Um, no. Luuuurrrrrve. Mush. Googly eyes.
The mirror and lamp are so cute, and I love your centerpiece. Did you make your toile chair covers, or buy them? If you bought them, where?
I know what you mean about stuff on the counters. I have tried to pretty mine before, but I just love the look of a clear counter, and I am a spread-out cook--I need lots of counter space when I am in the cucina!
Sigh. How I love your kitchen. Want to know the saddest part? The only thing your kitchen and my kitchen have in common is the dish soap. :(
Did you paint the chairs black or did they come that way? I currently have a wood table with two benches and two chairs. I'm thinking of painting the chairs black but have never...never done anything like that before.
Love the lamp on the counter! I have one on my kitchen counter, too & love how warm it makes the kitchen feel at night. Just a lil' light is nice when you don't need the overhead bright ones. I think "cozy" is the word I'm lookin' for... :)
And the tour is NOT getting old - keep the pics comin'!
ok, so here's what i'm thinkin... you need a 'dumping ground' of sorts... everyone does, a place to empty your hands when you walk through the door but you don't want to be neat and orderly and put things where they belong right that second... so, instead of fighting it and having to constantly clean up after that mess, a mess that is just going to keep happening, why not go with it? take that shelf (which is lovely btw) and shop the house for some cutesie baskets or storage containers and give one to each person in the household. that way, everyone has a place to dump their ball mit, keys, purse, etc. when they walk in the door, but its organized, you know whose stuff is whose, and you don't have to wonder "did i leave my wallet in the car? on the kitchen counter? in my pants pocket? what pair of pants did i have on? oh, it was shorts. which ones? crud... its been 3 days now and i still haven't seen my wallet...." not that this has happened to my husband lately or anything...
I spotted some Lottery Yarn stuff on that centerpiece. ;) The Summer Bark and the white starfish...
This means I have been there too long.
I really enjoy your blog! Thanks for continuing the tour.
For the bookshelf, I would consider putting some of those pretty scrapbooking papers at the back, as you've shown here before. And/or, using a cafe or spring tension rod and giving the bottom half a little mistreatment for concealed storage.
Oh, I was so glad to see you had posted yesterday and today!!! I was having withdrawls.
I was just wondering what I could do to get my kids to stop junking up our dining room table. I'm goign to try your centerpiece idea. And thanks for giving me a reason to go out and buy chargers. :) Always wondered what practical use they could have.
Beautiful!
Do you have any real decorating clients anymore?? It would seem you could make a fortune.
Oh Nester I am so glad you have your apple turnover and we are getting to see the rest of your house!
We are in back to school mode here, just started yesterday! Our house is getting painte this weekend I can't wait it will be a whole new look!
I don't care if it turns into Tour de Rental 2009! Just keep it comin'. I have decided that my absolute favorite thing you do is your floral arrangements. I have already been stocking up on pics, feathers, etc. for my fall and Christmas garlands because of you. As for the bookcase, there's always scrapbook paper! And urns! :)
Your decorating looks great! I am enjoying the tour. And for the bookshelf, if you're going to use it for piles of stuff, why not just give in and get some more baskets and other containers to make it look cute, but then you don't feel bad about putting stuff there? Some of my favorite places in my house are places I can put stuff, guilt-free, because it's either that or lose myself in piles!
-Carrie
If you have any shutters in your storage you could hang shutters on the bottom of the shelf for concealed storage. Or paint it RED!
I so so so so lve that you are willing to show us your house in all it's glory. I am really starting to get the whole "it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful". Your house is BEAUTIFUL! And the little messes are no different than ours.
I love the idea the commentor had for the faux window at your sink.
I enjoyr the Tour, don't stop tell you're done!
As for the bookshelf/cupboard, I think it would look cute if you did a similar backing as you did for your other shelf, but with gingham instead of harlequin paper, maybe in a red/pink (same colors as our couch).
Can't wait to see what you dicide too do.
I'm quite enjoying the extended rental tour of '08. Keep it comin'. And, can I just say, I love that you don't make sure your kitchen counters are free of the things that are there every day (cups, etc.) before you snap a picture. Way to keep it real!
Love the kitchen! The centerpiece is perfect, so adult!
In my bathroom the builder put a window in front of the sink, so we had to put a mirror to the right in a corner! It actually is nice to look out into the woods instead of at yourself!!
Lisa Q
lifewiththequeens.blogspot.com
I love your tour. Please don't stop!! Love the centerpiece. Can't wait for the continuation of tour de rentale!
I would definitely put a little skirt on the bottom two shelves for storage (including a basket just for junk) and make the other three shelves "pretty".
Lovely kitchen!
it's so neat that the readers get to suggest to the nester that she use a mistreatment on the shelves to hide storage!! l.o.l. i like the window at the sink b/c i would be scared to do my dishes with a mirror there. i mean i don't look like mirror material by the end of the day or esp. before i fill up the coffee maker at the sink in the a.m.! and the glass in the 'window' might reflect enough of what was going on to be your eyesinthebackofthehead... love the tour, keep giving us more rooms! jkj
aahh sweet nester- i've missed you. and long live the tour de rental!!
I noticed nothing up above your kitchen cabinets. Is this yet to be tackled, or tacky?? I hope you just haven't gotten around to it, otherwise I have enough tacky for the both of us...
I am jealous of the pumpkinage. I just can't bring myself to do it @ 104 degrees...
Here's an idea for your bookcase..Cut foamcore out to fit in the back of each shelf, spray with adhesive and wrap with fabric. Then just push it into the back wall of each shelf. You could also wrap the foamcore with batting first and then fabric. It's a quick and cheap idea.
I totally did the exact same thing to the wall above my kitchen sink. At least you can see if anyone is sneaking up on you while you're washing those dishes!
That's funny, I have a built in desk area sort of in the middle of the house, and there is a mirror built in as well...I sure do see everything that is going on in that mirror!
Love your lamp in the kitchen, too!
Bella
Am I the only ignoramous who has never heard of chargers before? I'm serious. I thought you were doing a pretend table setting with gold plates and that you eat like cavemen (that don't get thirsty)--grown-up cavemen.
Would it be retarded to hang a mirror over my window to watch my kids? Except I don't want to look at myself. And would quit doing dishes altogether. Yikes.
OOOh, I am with you on this...I too have a blank wall over my kitchen sink...I really miss the window and wonder how other people solve this!
love love love that floral arrangement. Dont you just love it when you can recycle stuff? I love your site and have added you to my blog and have been telling everyone about your "mistreatments" . I did one the other day and will post it soon. and I took your advise and started putting out my pumpkins.
http://www.theecklife.blogspot.com/
I had a mirror in my apartment kitchen one time (place over the sink like that) because I lived alone and was afraid someone would sneak up on me while I had the water running and I wouldn't hear them. Paranoid much? Right. Anyway, it looks great.
I love teh mirror over the sink idea. It just reinforces the "eyes in the back of the head" myth that we mothers have to keep alive.
jackie @ where the boys are
Welcome back, Nester! Hope you had some good R&R with your handsome men.
You know we want to see the rest of the house, right?
Do you ever make faces at yourself in that mirror? I would.
I am loving the tour. Don't stress out trying to decorate in record time...we're patient! I like the seasonal/scrapbook paper idea for the shelf...or you could put a catchall desk with some drawers and a cute skirt around the bottom to hide shoes/backpacks.
Do you seriously read all these comments? You're like a super star, you know.
I sent a reader from my friend Nichole's blog to your thermostat posts - she thinks thermostats must be placed in houses by men. I thought you could relate.
Always love your posts. And your boys' sweet smiles. And your fancy hat. I just loved that.
I'm so gonna try to do my tiered plate thingy in my girls' room like you had in your bathroom --- it'll take a while, but I'll write a post about it when it's all finished!
Welcome back!
~The Roost'er
What a beautiful space! Well done! Thanks for sharing your home with us in blog land!!!
No! no! Not boring! Love it! Those that have been reading you enough to see your furniture in 3 houses know how genius you are about mixing it all up and making it look different every time :)!
And I must be reading your blog waaaaay too much, because I thought I saw your HUSBAND at the Wal-Mart the other day. THinking you see a bloggy friend is one thing, but seeing their spouse, well maybe I ought to take a little time off from reading :)!
Have you tried turning the mirror horizontally? I'm getting a powder room vibe from it.
The shelf next to the door might look better if you got rid of the ugly trash can next to it.
Love the kitchen and the bookcase in the kitchen.
thanks to you and Marie's comments about the top of the cabinets. I de-cluttered my last night while cooking dinner. My husband made the comment..."Out of everything there is in the house to do....de-cluttering the top of the kitchen cabinets is the thing you felt like you had to do???"
But it does look better with nothing on top.
I have been busy and not reading for most of the summer. You moved! I like your new kitchen it is lovely and the center piece is very pretty.
Amy
OH mY GoodNess! Nester, this should have been one of your IDHTBPTBB posts...cuz the designer trash can and the decorative pen on the table thingy, not to mention a few OTHER beautiful sights just make me feel wonderful...absolutely WONDERFUL!!!
LOL! Keep us posted on ALL your endeavors...and I would love to try and join your MISTREATMENTS post!
First time poster...love your blog. I think that fabric would soften the lines and conceal the things you don't want people seeing. I would consider a roman shade in a linen or burlap-esque texture to keep it light and textural. (I also personally love bamboo and grass cloth). You could add fun coordinating fabric for the ties of the shade.
Your house tour is anything but boring! I am enjoying every minute of it.
Nester, nothing like being last to your party. Better make it good, huh?
Just wanted to echo the sentiment of other bloggers that you have such a great style. I love reading your blog. And you, dear lady, are a priceless gem!
Now to your question about the bookcase... I like your scrapbook paper in the other cabinet. I saw some neat black paper with white writing that looked like a blackboard with chalk words written on it. I saw everything online tonight from karate words to faith words. I like the faith words, but I also saw some words the other day that were things like: excitement, grandiose, sizzle, etc. They were fun and were written in different styles that fit the words.
This may or may not work in terms of scale, but maybe try and find an old cookbook with neat typeface and paste the pages in the back of the cabinet. Your favorite recipes? Copy the ones you like and make your own paper. You could also use sheet music, old maps, and things like that, and then decoratively arrange them as only the Nester can do! Chalkboard paint and food/dining/cooking words written in chalk would be cute in a kitchen. The ones I liked best were all different fonts and were both horizontal and vertical.
Whatever you do, I'm sure it will be adorable. Can't wait to see, and please know we never tire of seeing your projects. Thanks for sharing!
LOVE your style...I've shared your fav. paint color with my girlfriends, but we're all too chicken! Anyway, by the end of this week I will have to have a mirror over my windowless kitchen sink---wow!
Btw, pretty fabric curtains would help the shelves, hide junk or show off your stash, either way.
Kudos to you on your tour ;)
Also, loved the bathroom idea for busting boring beige. You nailed me. When we repainted after Katrina, I ran out of inspiration for the main bath...so it's almond, buff, antique white....blah, blah, blah. Any suggestions?
When I first saw the picture I thought maybe the mirror was to spy to make sure the kids were doing their homework. I love the idea. I need one above my stove!
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