Tis the season for rooms decorated in all manner of swoony fall splendor and perfection. Even I shared my ultra clean and filled with fall decor cottage just last week. Yet after seeing all the recent tours, a week later, my efforts felt like not enough. But I know in my heart that the living done in these rooms by my family is what is truly important. It’s good to share spaces that are not Instagram worthy to remind others of what is real and good. So here is a real life fall home tour of Storybook Cottage.
Last week I shared an image of the pillows I created for a new fall look in the family room.
A Real Life Fall Home Tour
In real life, the down filled cushions are generally flat as pancakes because Mr. Decor and Sweet Guy love to lay on them. That is, if they aren’t tossed onto the floor. In addition, we have to have a blanket so that Rudi can warm up his old bones.
Real Living In The Living Room
There was polished perfection in the living room on last weeks tour.
But a week later, right when you walk in the front door, there is a good chance you will see a pair of shoes. They belong to Sweet Guy. Some days they’re black dress shoes, other days they might be maroon Vans. If I had a nickel for every time I have asked him to put them away…
But I know one day, all too soon, those shoes will no longer be there. So I’m choosing to embrace the shoes.
Ditto for all the lived in disarray in the space just beyond the living room that has been affectionately named…
The Son Room
The son room is a small enclosed sun porch just off of the living room through the double French doors.
Sweet Guy likes to play video games while sitting on the ottoman. He is a tactile person which is why a beach towel is draped over the white slipcover. He simply likes the way it feels when he wears shorts. His friends like to lounge on the daybed or oversized chair. Hence the wrinkled appearence. The balloon and glow in the dark necklace are past their prime souvenirs from the recent Homecoming dance.
The Beautiful Bedroom Before … And After
I love our bedroom when it looks like this. Which is about 10% of the time.
In a marriage there may be one spouse that keeps their nightstand free from clutter and puts away their clean laundry. Then there may be a spouse, ahem, that doesn’t. Love them anyway.
A Truly Unpinnable Kitchen Shot
My kitchen is small, routinely feeds 5 beings every day and is truly the heart of the home. Mail gets dropped on the counter and half finished projects stack up fast creating clutter.
I could focus on the negative or take delight in Mr. Decor’s most recent woodworking venture: darling dachshunds made from reclaimed wood.
I can recall with fondness when the kitchen table featured a feast for the eyes.
Overlooking the current view of an Etsy order that needs to be mailed and recently dyed fabric that will soon be turned into an amazing costume once it is dry.
Because no matter the clutter, chaos, and disarray, there is always beauty to be found if you choose to seek it.
Here’s to real life!
Laura
Love this real honest post. It is easy to see all the beautiful, gorgeous fall tours and feel inadequate. But, what all need to remember is we only get to see what they choose for us to see, what’s inside the camera lens’ view. The areas that have been staged, something my hubby doesn’t get at all. Set a table that will collect dust just for a photo?
Yes! Real living in a home! A very worthy post.
Keeping it real. Love it! Thank you.
I love it. Looks like that most of the time around here.
I enjoyed this, Laura. No home can stay “picture perfect” and still remain comfortable for its occupants (especially the occupants who don’t care as much about things being picture-perfect). It’s a struggle sometimes to find the balance between people being comfortable in their own homes and maintaining some level of neatness and attractiveness there, but with love and some give and take, hopefully we can find a balance acceptable to everyone.
I’d love to see a post about ways to camouflage wiring and cables. I love living in the age of technology, but it’s so hard sometimes to deal with the plugs and cords and such in an aesthetically pleasing way.
I was just contemplating taking a photo of what the kitchen counters look like when I cook something to post on Mennonite Girls Can Cook. Pretty horrific. LOL. I can always find a small space to shove everything aside on to take the PHOTO! I enjoyed your keeping it real post.
I like how you’re keeping it real. Actually it brought tears to my eyes because I’ve had a rough day today as an empty nester. 🙁
Awesome post and we actually got pictures that gives a better idea of the layout of your house.
Before pic is prettier, after pic (where real ppl live) is friendlier looking
Thanks for sharing your real life photos! I identify with the master bedroom … except that the one who has a cluttered nightstand and doesn’t put laundry away is me 😉
I love this post because this is home!!
Real life is wonderful. I’m really having a hard time getting in the mood to decorate for fall. It is just too hot outside. Thanks for sharing I love the wooden dachshunds. Adorable.
Cheers to real life! What a great post about reality and how it can still be beautiful.
Laura, I see your blankets, Etsy order, and shoes, and raise you several Australian Shepherd furballs and never-ending clutter on our kitchen counters 😉
The wooden dachsunds are adorable! Thanks for keeping it real.
I have a wonderful memory of my senior age son and me living in an apartment. One time when I came in I looked over to the dining room table and saw his stuff on the table. I told him I was tired of walking in and seeing his stuff on the table. He told me, “Mother you can bring some of your stuff in here and put it on the table if you want to!” Just the right words to remind me that he was more important than a beautiful home.
All I can say is that I love this post to bits. Because it IS real. And you’re real. And we’re real too. Perfection — the love is there!
Laura, while all your posts are beautiful and artistic, I love this sweet, comical post the most of all! I know that your home probably has days when it looks like a family has raced through it and left a trail of chaos but I am sure that more often than not, its a cozy, happy place where all feel comfortable and are glad to be. Our kids are grown now so just the two of us here but we still make messes and have flat cushions but I have never seen any one turn around and walk out the door saying they didn’t like the clutter or dust. They enjoy the cookies and meals that created the sink full of dishes and find the spot with on the couch where they like to enjoy their coffee and chat even though the pile of magazines some sneakers might had to have been moved over to make room. And they have even called to ask if they can come back and stay overnight again. When we worry more about the matching accessories and less about our happy family and comfortable guest, we have forgotten the reason we have Homes and NOT houses!
Thank you dear for your sweet posts and for keeping it real! {{{hugs}}}