Tuesday, June 17, 2008

spt

my home sweet home

i love it when tuesday morning rolls around, and i still haven't quite figured out which way to go with my spt. this is what came about when i tried to capture the things that make a home "my home sweet home."



this is my mudroom. or, more accurately, my mudhallway. when we were looking at houses two and a half years ago, this was so important to me. i wanted (needed, rather)a place that would act as the buffer between the outside world and my inside cozy. it is the door that my family uses the most, as it goes directly to and from the garage. my laundry is here. purses and backpacks and sand-covered shoes are kept here. during birthday parties, an extra fridge can go here. it's a transitional area. when i come through my mudroom in the evening, i hang up the hat that i wear as *general manager* of the hotel, and toss on the hat that i wear as *general manager* of the home.




i have a lot of grand decorating ideas in my head. and one day, i will have a budget to match my dreams. fortunately, i can be very happy enjoying the small pieces of my ideas as they come together. this is just a glimpse of jack's bathroom. i like to call it *surfer chic* (jack prefers to call it *surf's up, duuude.*) an interesting note: this is about the only nod to "living near the beach" that you will find in my home, even though we live near the beach. do you find that strange?

but this...




this is my real *home sweet home.* the house i grew up in. my idyllic home. where a sunroom with leaded glass windows was only opened to us in the summer (how fascinating, to have an entire living space closed off for half of the year). where attics and basements provided endless hide-and-seek possibilities (if you dared). where we bruised our tender feet on the gravel driveway in springtime, and ran carefree by the end of a summer. where popsicles melted with us on the back porch. where every slam of the screen door meant friendships and possibilities.

i want to get back there in so many ways...

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lelly, your childhood home looks like so much fun. It's beautiful! What wonderful memories you have of it. Does your family still live there?
Love the nostalgic post!

The Monkeys said...

I love the beach room and I would love a mud room. We had one in our home in Colorado and I loved it.
I love that picture of your old house. Very naustalgic.

Sarah said...

That home looks like such a wonderful place to grow up. What great memories. Definitely "idyllic." I enjoyed a glimpse of the shower curtain. I love going into a room and maybe everything is not exactly how I want it, but I can focus on the one thing I am happy with.

Becky said...

Your childhood home sounds fascinating (you are such a great writer, by the way). And the photo of it is wonderfully vintage.

Wish I had a mudroom!

carlo said...

what a grand and beautiful home you grew up in!

and i love your mudroom. a must have in our next house.

Courtney said...

I love the memories you have of your childhood home...you just painted a picture in my head...what wonderful words!

I love Jack's surf's up duuude room! What fun. I think it is funny living close to the beach that you only have a tiny tribute to it in your home!

Windy said...

Your childhood home is amazing!

jenny said...

Okay that is the COOLEST house ever. I hope my kids have those same memories in our new basement home. Cute shower curtain! We are doing Jared's room in surf attire.

Lene said...

Your childhood home sounds wonderful. You did such a great job of putting those memories to words.

me said...

I love love love your childhood home!

Rachael said...

I would love to have lived in your childhood home. I am jealous that you live close to the beach.

Amy said...

Love your post, Lelly.....
as always :)
Amy

Bahama Shores Mama said...

The only nod to beach in our house is also the boys bathroom with a shower curtain. It has surf boards and woody wagons on it. And we live across the street from the water!

michelle said...

Oh Lelly, your childhood home is AMAZING!!

Dacia said...

Wow, what an amazing home to grow up in! Also, I love the shower curtain. We don't have anything beach like in our home, except the kids seashell collections in their rooms. You think I would being Hawaiian and from San Diego too. Oh well!

Laurie said...

What a great take. I am fascinated by the picture of your childhood home!!

Alisha said...

It's so fun to get a glimpse inside of your current home and your past . . . ! Thanks for sharing. (Look for mine next week. Once again I'm running a week late.)

April said...

I love the month-long challenges...it motivates me to not miss, so that I have "a complete set."

Love the picture of your childhood home. The sun room has me dreaming and I loved remembering the slam of the screen door.

me said...

Lake Oswego Oregon and yes, I believe it was named after Oswego NY. It is beautiful there, a great place to live.

patsy said...

bEAUTIFUL POST did you really live in that house? wow- really. I have always dreamed of living near the beach, I think I would love it.
I have a mud hallway too- it's fantastic!

Alisa said...

I am a little late in posting this week.
Love your descriptions, and the photo of your childhood home is beautiful!

Natasha said...

I so wanted - but did NOT get - a mudroom in our new house. Oh well, maybe next time!!
I want to see more posts on this fab childhood home too!!

Rebekah said...

i love mudrooms. they are such a luxury. the home you grew up in is gorgeous, they certainly don't make homes like that anymore.