Coastal Living Idea House 2008- Galveston, TX

Inside the front doors of the 2008 Coastal Living Idea House in Galveston, Texas, is a charming foyer. Check out the curved handrail. I love the way it instantly lets your mind know that, although stately and traditional, this house has a touch of whimsy as well. Funny how one little curve can speak such volumes. :-)

The house has a very open feel to it. The detailed trim work and abundance of windows are fabulous:



Throughout the main living areas of the house you'll find a unique blend of both traditional and modern decor.
The great room is split up into two separate sitting areas. An area rug on each side of the room defines each of the sitting areas. The identical rugs tie the spaces together, but allows them to have separate identities:



One side is more formal:



The other is more casual:



The windows across both spaces are incredible!




The Dining Room is symmetrical, sophisticated, seaside-inspired and sun-drenched.
My favorite combination.



My heart would beat faster every time I passed the driftwood mirror.
The shallow depth of the table below it is PERFECTION.



A few steps from the Dining Room is the Kitchen. It's not gigantic....



...but it does have it's own sitting area off to the side:



My favorite Bedroom in the home is the Bunkroom:



I love the pairing of the white planked walls with the dark ceiling.
The galvanized aluminum outdoor light fixtures are to die for, and I love the shutters too. I MUST have some in the Lettered Cottage!



On the opposite side of the room is an old rope ladder that leads to a "secret" space up above. The dreamer in me LOVES this idea. The designer in me sees millions of scuff marks on the beautiful white wall. :)



Here is the Bathroom off the Bunkroom. The sink is amazing, and the choice of materials and colors are so crisp and refreshing!



The Guest Bedroom is sweet and has a tranquil palette...



...and I may have to steal this shower basin idea for my own Guest Bath:



The Master Bedroom is formal, but retains a relaxed feel through its time-worn accessories.

I am CRAZY about the transom window above the door. It really keeps things in proportion. It doesn't let that big, canopy feel like the tallest thing in the room...way to go little transom!

The door that leads to the Master Bath also has a transom window above it. Isn't it spectacular?



I have definitely drawn inspiration from this gorgeous, thoughtfully decorated home...hope you have too! :-)

Layla

Mom's Place - Department 56 Snow Village

Every year my Mom and Randy set up a giant Department 56 Snow Village and train set display in their Sunroom.



Each year it changes a little, and we love to just sit and talk about all the new little details...



This is the entrance that most people use when visiting their home, and it's really cool that it's the first thing you're welcomed by.



The first piece my Mom started her collection with is this big, white house.
It looks almost exactly like the house I grew up in:



The church was another early piece in her collection:



My brother and I bought her this log cabin. I love the little gnome. :-)



The tree house piece reminds them of their real-life tree house. She even draped little, tiny Mardi Gras beads from the branches like the ones outside:



Mom's newest piece is this Pancake House. Our ancestors were Dutch, so she just HAD to get this one:



I love the Snow Plow pushing the faux snow in front of the Toy Store:



This is a neat view of the pedestrian bridge next to the train track bridges:



And here is a cool view of the train choo-chooing its way across the bridge:



This little vignette makes me smile everytime. I have fond memories of roasting marshmallows back in Minnesota:



And the snow angel scene is too cute too. The black dog symbolizes my Mom and Randy's dog, "Shadow":



The village really comes to life at night. The windows glow with warmth...



I made the little brick-covered bridge for my Mom in Art class when I was in 6th Grade:



Inside the Pancake House, you can see a family sitting down for a yummy meal:





I also have a collection of Department 56 village pieces. I think I'm up to about eight. I have plans to display them in my Guest Bedroom next Christmas...but I don't think I'll ever out-do my Mom and Randy's amazing set up!

:-)
Layla

Mom's Place - Interior

In the Living Room, Mom used a Martha Stewart color called, "Willow". It's the prettiest green. So refreshing. She painted a Wisteria vine in this corner of the room:



I love the little oar propped above the big window, and her Cardinal-themed Christmas tree was stunning. The tree had grapevine wrapped around it that she found in the woods. I loved the way it looked, and you can't beat that price. :-)



One of the most charming parts of the room is this little stove. Check out those chunky travertine tiles underneath it....what a great little platform!



The coffee table that sits in front of the sofa started as an inexpensive (and ugly) flea market find. But with some white paint, my Moms knowledge of seashells and a thick sheet of glass, it's turned into the sweetest coffee table I've ever seen! She even found the right-sized baskets to fit on the shelf underneath. Perfect for all those shelter mags!





A big, wooden cardinal "flies" above the T.V. When you pull on the string, its wings glide up and down. Very interactive. Very cool!



Just past the Living Room is their Dining Room. The walls in here are painted Martha Stewart's "Sand". The ceiling is painted the pretty blue color I just used in my Kitchen. This lovely old (100 years old to be exact) Dining Table will soon sit in the Dining Room at the Lettered Cottage. (woo hoo!) It belonged to my Great, Great Grandparents. (Who, by the way, were "Stauffenberg's"...and closely related to Colonel Von Stauffenberg, who is being portrayed by Tom Cruise in the movie "Valkyrie" that's out right now) :-)



On top of the table, Mom put together a little snowman-themed vignette. Gotta love the little Charlie Brown-syle Christmas tree.
:-)



Behind the table, Randy carved out an area between the wall studs for a place to display plates and collectibles:





On the opposite wall, Randy installed this stained glass window (which looks into his office). Mom salvaged some old shutters and painted them one of her favorite colors- Lilac. I remember ALWAYS having Lilac bushes around our house in Minnesota when I was young. My neighbors gave me the nickname "Layla Lilac". :-)



In the Master Bath, they salvaged an old claw foot tub and painted the outside a sunny yellow color. The book on the tub caddy is "How to live at the Beach", and I HIGHLY recommend it. :-)



I love her use of this etagere at the end of the tub. It's so sculptural and is such a nice way to display her small sunflower-themed collectibles...



Above the commode, hangs this little mirrored face (from the French Quarter) and some live greenery. I love the simplicity and whimsy.



This is the only picture I have of the Guest Bedroom. I'll have to get another one next time I'm visiting. It's beautiful and serene...



Tomorrows post will include photos of her INCREDIBLE Department 56 Christmas Village display, and Randy's awesome train set-up. It's in their Sunroom, and it's so impressive!

Happy New Year to everyone reading this...hope you have a SPECTACULAR 2009!

Cheers!
Layla