Recently I had the pleasure of joining a group of women for a night full of laugher, food and fun. One of my newer friends, Nikki, hosted the event in her home, and it was the first time I had been there. The home was inviting and was ready for the Fall Season!
Built in the early 2000’s, Nikki and her husband, along with their 9 children, moved in almost two years ago. Their home is a colonial style that has been tweaked a bit. Fortunately, the last homeowner had renovated the kitchen and the master bathroom to update and make it a bit more modern. Once they moved in, Nikki and her husband added new flooring and white plantation shutters throughout.
Upon entering the home, I was impressed to see a beautiful staircase that was light, bright and airy. A mirror, which was placed over the small chest of drawers, had a warm, inviting wreath placed on it. The chest is a perfect place to store keys, mail or anything else that needs a landing spot.
To the right of the foyer is the study that is the perfect place for two children to sit, do research and work on homework. Being a Marine family, a little tribute is always key!
Their living room is not too formal and gives a place for the family to sit while talking together or playing games on the industrial style coffee table. Bins in a bookshelf provide the perfect storage for toys or games.
“Keeping tidy with kids: first is not to have more stuff than you need! All the children’s toys fit in a six cube organizer, with half height baskets for easy access so they don’t have to dump everything on the floor to find one thing. We also try to never let things back up, or we would be buried alive in dishes or laundry! A tiny bit of cleaning lots of times a day, means there’s not much serious tidying to do in the evening.” – Nikki
The dining room connects to the living room and instead of being formal, it is a comfortable room that seats all 11 members of the family. The table was purchased while the family lived in North Carolina and the industrial chairs that fit around are Carlisle chairs in bronze from Target. What makes it even better to Nikki is that the chairs are easy to clean!
The open concept kitchen and family room sit in the back of the home. The cream cabinetry and warm colored granite give a coziness to the space. Little pops of fall decor adorn the area too!
Isn’t that tea towel perfect?!?!? “OMG my Mother was Right About Everything”
When asked what she loves the most about her home, Nikki told me:
“I love having an open concept kitchen, breakfast table and living room,
we can have some space while not being separated.”
Heading upstairs, the master bedroom and bathroom provide a tranquil escape from the chaos of life with nine children. Both are simple, yet elegant.
The bathroom is the perfect size for a couple, while the freestanding tub is is a welcoming spot for Nikki to decompress after a busy day with the children.
I asked Nikki where she gets many of the furnishings and home decor for her home, she said
“I almost exclusively shop for decor at mainstream places like Target, IKEA and online at Wayfair type decor sites. Not only for budget reasons, but because of the risks of damage by all our little blessings breaking everything! It’s not always unique or edgy, but it’s mostly durable and easy for our young family.”
Thank you Nikki for letting me tour your beautiful, warm and relaxing home, as well as providing me with some great decor and organization tips. With nine children it is easy to see in this home that everything has a place and everything is in its place!
Paint Colors:
Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter in the Kitchen
Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray throughout the rest of the spaces
