This blogworld always amazes me, the talent and creativity of new bloggers out there. Kristin from Bliss at Home is a new friend that I met at Haven and she is just adorable. If you can call a gorgeous blonde, taaaaall like a super-model woman, adorable. Kristin is warm-hearted and sweet and I’m so glad I got to meet her.
You’ll love her story too. She’s a thirty-something married mom of two boys, who bought the childhood home she grew up in, in Illinois. It’s a 1950’s brick ranch, nothing special to look at on the outside (yet, that is), but inside, Kristin has been busy making it her own. To fit her own dreams of what a house should look like.
I grew up in a 60’s ranch not all that different from this one. My parents live next door to that original house to this day.
I read this post about why they decided to stay in this house and not to sell it for their “dream home” plans. You know, we all grew up with this dream home idea about what kind of house we’d have if we could afford it, but I do think that dream home ideas are a-changing. With our economy like it is, many people who thought they wanted big grand homes are finding themselves content with less, with smaller expectations, and without a huge mortgage payment.
Can I get an AMEN to that! Yes, sistahs, I’m right there with Kristin. I have said many times, my home is certainly not a dream home to anyone but me, but I’m proud as can be of my fixer upper too. I love hearing stories like this, it warms my heart.
So, sit back and take a look at what Kristin has accomplished in her home, on a budget. She has some serious style going and can work wonders with thriftstore finds too.
She loves bold patterns, lots of black and white and knows how to mix things up. Coming in her front foyer is a lot of patterns, but it’s interesting too.
Stripes on the wall and a pretty console table are welcoming to guests.
One huge project that Kristin and her hubby completed this year is this wall of Ikea Billy bookcases, all customized to fit their space. Love, love what they did on this wall.
They took those Ikea plain bookcases and added light and sound for their living room and wow, does it make a huge difference in this room.
Adding all the styling to the bookcases brings the room alive, with pillows and fabric textures and patterns too.
Kristin has a good eye for details and bargains and made over this pretty brass lamp to fit her space. Brass is back, did you know that? It just looks more updated now with a burnished look instead of screaming shiny brass.
Kristin also knows her way around a paint can and refurbished this antiques store find that was in good shape, but needed some updating. Love the modern feel it has with a new coat of white paint. She said it had some bubbles in the finish, so she didn’t mind painting it.
Her boy’s room is equally adorable too.
And the master bedroom is cozy and casual with plenty of elegance too.
Outside, they have been working on a nice patio area to entertain and it is gorgeous! That’s her neighbor’s house that you see up there.
What a pretty table this is and Kristin has it all set up so nice.
Complete with a pond below, it is one beautiful outdoor living area. We’d all love to have this, right?
Oh man, this pic is so tranquil and peaceful, I just love what they’ve done outside too. Kristin says she has many more rooms to transform, so it will be fun to follow along on her journey. I’ve got a complete overhaul to do outside my house, so that will be what I start tackling soon!
I know you enjoyed Kristin’s story as much as I did and I hope you’ll go over and say hello. Kristin is a very sweet and talented blogger and I’m so happy to know her and Bliss at Home!
Excited to see Kristin here! She is a sweetheart for sure and her home is just beautiful. The girl is a wizard at the thrift store!
Wow! Kristen’s done an incredible job with her home. I remember her from Haven but didn’t get to meet her. Thanks for featuring her home so that I can check out her blog and learn more.
What a sweet, beautiful home! Love the outdoor area!!
Hi Rhoda 🙂 Thanks so much for the beautiful write up and your sweet words! So glad I got to meet you at Haven 🙂 xo Kristin
This really is an inspiration to young adults today, and it also speaks to retirees, as well. My husband and I are in the process of determining what is best for our lives, at this stage in our lives. My husband has recently retired and I want to come home with him. Our house isn’t paid for, and how would we do that at this point, etc, are some things to consider. As we talk to the Lord about these things, we know He has the best plan. And we want to be in on that plan with Him.
Love these stories, Rhoda! She definitely has got a wonderful style going on! Love the stripes and wallpaper. This proves that you can amp up older ranch homes to be just as beautiful and interesting as new “dream” homes. I see so many new “dream” homes on our real estate sites here that look so sad and disappointing on the inside. They have absolutely nothing interesting in them at all because the owners apparently either can’t afford to decorate after they’ve paid a huge mortgage, or they don’t have the spunk and talent to take something not so pretty and make something beautiful out of it like you and so many of the savvy homeowners you share with us. I’m still working on our little “dream” home cottage here in Texas. It’s always a work in progress, right? Hope to share photos with you one day too! I may have to get a little more expert advice from you though. You are always and inspiration!
WOW… Looks like a magazine cover !!! Thanks for sharing Rhoda!!! Now… gotta run… headed over to bliss at home!! :)Even though the “kids” are allll grown and I now have grandchildren that love to visit Grammy…. I still love to make over and change around and get new ideas!!! This is sure the way to do it!!!!
Love this post. My daughter and son in law are fixing up a 1941 house in SC. I am so pleased and proud they are doing their best at 26 to give life to an old house when they could have opted for a newer home with less work. When you get a chance hop over to their blog numbersandnails.com and read their story. They are just beginning a bedroom renovation.
Hi, DiAnne, looked at their blog and wow, what a cute house. Love what they are doing!
Oh, I love numbersandnails! It is one of my favorite new blogs! I am glad you looked at it, Rhoda! I loved this post as well.
Kristen’s home is just gorgeous…as you said, she is quite talented person and has made a wonderful home for her family! I just love how they decided to stay in her childhood home…I envy that….for as most of my childhood homes were on Army bases…Loved seeing Kristen’s home and reading her story!!!
Luv, luv, luv this post..
First of all AMEN—– and then, what a darling house! Thanks for sharing, kudos to Kristin, great job!
We love Kristin! She’s so talented, great to see her here!
Beautiful! More recently, my husband and I have come to admire ranch homes. I hope this one will inspire others to keep the original look of the exterior of the house — rather than all the faux “Craftsmen” we see popping up in every ranch neighborhood. It’s a disservice to both the ranch and Craftsman style homes when the two are (most often) unsuccessfuly wed. Kristen has a great talent and I share her love of graphics — love the patio and white-painted branches. Thanks for sharing!
Love love love Kristin and it is so exciting seeing her get featured! She is amazing and her house is gorgeous! It’s been so fun watching her and her hubby transform it!
Kristin has an amazing sense of style and some mad DIY skills to carry out her great ideas! So glad to see her featured here today!
Loved this post! You and I both know what is real in life and it looks like Kristin does too even though she is younger than you and I. Hope you are having a great summer!!! Wish I could have gone to Haven. One year for sure!!! oxoxox
I love Kristin’s style and the fabulous job she’s doing on her home ~ you can always count on an inspiring diy from her! 🙂
What a lovely makeover, a very talented designer and stylist even if it is not her profession, definitely an eye for it.
I like the idea of the cupboards at the top of the shelving, that is a great idea for extra storage.
Thank you for sharing such an interesting home.
Lee 🙂
Hi Rhoda, I’m so happy to see my friend Kristin’s house over here! 🙂 she has a beautiful house and I love reading how Kristin makes her house beautiful for her and her family! 🙂
Ingrid