Mood board

Mood Board – Basement Bath

| The Bee Life

Remember when I mentioned we were working through a mini basement remodel for additional living space? Yeah, I know it’s been a minute – don’t worry the reveal is going to be shared in the coming weeks!  Well, part two of this project is working on expanding and updating a bathroom to continue making more of our house livable!

Nailing down the style for this space was key and I did this with a mix of online shopping, Pinterest browsing while working through the function and flow of the room.  I landed on vintage and classic while the plan of resting on classic pieces like penny or octagon patterned tiles as the foundation with the floor, walls and shower.  From there it’ll be reinforcing this style through the color pallet, light fixtures and a classic yet modern vanity.
basement bath mood board - the bee life Shop My Mood Board: Vintage Gold Bath Light | Aberdeen 36″ Vanity in Dove Grey  | Montaigne Weathered Oak Vanity | Retro Octagon Mosaic Porcelain Tile | White Glossy Porcelain Penny Tile | Amberes Azul Ceramic Floor Tile 

Honestly – the vanity has been the toughest part to find, as we’re trying to stick within a reasonable budget yet not something that is completely generic or stock.  But I can’t seem to find a good happy medium, although Home Depot is the leader in variety of style for decent price.

White tile will be a must.  Although I’m tempted to figure out a fun, yet stylish way to incorporate a bold statement tile into the space either a backsplash or statement wall – but I think that is still TBD. I’m also tempted to work in some natural wood with shelving and/or the vanity – since it would be nice to pull in natural finishes like we did with our statement shiplap wall in the living space of our basement.
basement bath mood board - the bee life (2)
Image Sources:  Left image | Right image

How do you plan your home projects?  I like to map out a direction, do my research and usually end up sticking to something pretty classic! We’re excited for this next project and will share the latest DIY’s and How-To’s along the way, all leading up to the grand reveal!

bee (1)

Mood Board – Sally’s Living Room Makeover

| The Bee Life

So it’s taken YEARS, but I’ve finally convinced my mom (Sally) to let me help her redecorate my childhood home living room! I was the kid rearranging photo frames, cleaning up, or suggesting we spray paint the mirrors for an upgrade – also the kid who redesigned her bedroom; from picking out new floors, to determining a statement wall, a painted closet with new shelving for more organization and a custom desk designed all with the manual labor help from of course, my parents.

Needless to say, I’ve been pestering my mom about this for a loonnnggg time. I know the hurdles I’m up against – the space/layout limitations, what my mom likes, doesn’t like, how she reasons things,  pricing and when some persuading is needed.  But I’m up for the challenge, plus it’ll be fun and I’m SO excited!  So I’ve started gathering ideas and inspiration with a shared Pinterest board with my mom to get us started!
Sally's Living Room Makeover - Mood Board - the bee life
First things first, everything I’ll be pulling together will fall into the look/feel my mom wants for this space, I asked her for three words to describe the ideal feel of the space and she said: Cozy, Warm and Inviting. I’m adding a fourth one to the mix: Functional, because it’s a smaller space, the pieces need to be purposeful with more than one use! Secondly, I’m looking at this space in five sections; (1) window coverings, (2) gallery wall, (3) storage (side tables, ottoman, TV stand, etc.), (4) furniture and (5) lighting. Looking at these sections will help check the list of the look and feel AND function during the planning stages.  I’ll also be considering what current pieces can be used or revamped for use in the space.

This project won’t be done overnight, especially coordinating and making sure mom is comfortable with everything. Sally also likes to take time with her decisions especially if it comes with a heftier price tag (i.e. furniture)! So stay tuned for more updates, progress, and planning along the way, it is going to be a fun project!

 

Image Sources: Gallery Wall Inspiration| Curtains & Seating Inspiration | Chair Inspiration | Function Inspiration

Planning My Dream Living Room

| The Bee Life

My house is a constant work in progress. With my ever-so-changing ways, I’m always looking for new ideas to improve and fine tune each room using different color paints and pieces of furniture. For me, there is one room in particular that would require a larger makeover, our living room – mainly because of the layout. Don’t get me wrong, I love our current furniture, our century home built-in’s and calming color pallet. But you can always dream of better things!Living Room Inspiration - the bee lifeSources: Top Left || Top Right || Bottom Left || Bottom Right

When thinking of pulling my dream living room space together in our current house, I would first and foremost need a completely different floor plan.  Our living room is long and narrow, with two openings along the one side so it makes for limited layout options, so in order to have my dream living space, here are the 6-qualifiers that would help make my dream living room a reality;

  1. Flexible Layout: I love to rearrange furniture, so having options to move larger pieces into different spaces is key for me.  I would also love the option to be able to have multiple areas within the space, for example a more intimate/formal seating area behind the larger living space.
  2. Neutral Bases & Pops of Color: When designing a room I like to start with big, neutral pieces; like this amazing sectional I found on Arhaus (see below). These types of pieces are the perfect starting point to build from. From there I like adding in pops of color with accent pillows, rugs or lamps, because these can always be switched out!  My go-to colors are navy’s and white’s with hints pink or yellow to really highlight the neutrals.
  3. Comfy & Cozy: Since my fiance is 6’6″ finding a couch that is wide is important, this also makes for cozy family snuggles including the pup! To finish this feel, extra large and easy to grab blankets or pillows (you can never have too many pillows), in nearby baskets are a must.
  4. A Statement Piece: Like an awesome chair, a bold ottoman, or a show stopping mirror will help create a secondary focal point in the room.  This could also be accomplished by dressing up the fireplace/mantle area with those pops of color or bold accessories.
  5. Metallics & Texture:  Again, this is where the accessories come into play, whether it’s a fuzzy blanket or a fun metallic pillow, lamp, or picture frames, adding these different textures to the room creates depth and movement. And a little bit of glam.
  6. Family Photos: This is the finishing touch and a must in my book. Adding vintage and current family photos keeps loved ones close, while adding an element of history plus it’s a great conversation starter with guests. Pull this look off with a great symmetrical gallery wall or lined table or mantle filled with gold or silver frames.

Living Room Inspiration (2) - the bee lifeShop the Look: Arhaus Outerbanks Sectional, Faux Fur Throw, Arhaus Amelie Mirror, Target Deniz Side Table, Gold Frame 1, Gold Frame 2, Arhaus Velvet Pillow

My dream space would be traditional and classic, with a little bit of glam mixed in.  It would still be practical and livable, it would be inviting and cozy for friends and family to enjoy.  It would be big with lots of windows and a killer fireplace. My dream living room space would be a lot of things with killer unique and functional pieces.

Share your dream living room must-have’s in the comments below! Looking for more inspiration? Check out these other luxury living room selections from Arhaus for your dream living room!