our home decor

One of my favorite questions from Matt was when we "got" our apartment. He was moving in, I think it was the end of that September and would be tending the place to himself, except for a couple months with my cousin, Matt, until I moved in on our wedding day. The question was, "Can I decorate (maybe it started with, what would you think if I decorated) the apartment first? Then you can tell me what you think and can change it when you move in." He said he wanted to try it first. I'm really not being sarcastic by saying that's one of my favorite questions. I was excited....interested to see how he, a man, would decorate. I remember the first time I came to the apartment after he moved in, looking forward to seeing his skills. I walked in and looked around. "So, when are you going to start decorating?" "I did!" I was a little confused since I didn't see anything really "around" except for his stereo equipment and xbox...some clothes. Matt was actually referring to his arrangement of the furniture. Oh, he makes me smile. I'm sure he did a fine job arranging, but I honestly can't remember (so it couldn't have been that bad...just kidding). He's pretty good at that actually. (Before I go any further, I want to make it clear, whenever I talk about my husband, it is out of love. Sometimes I point out our oddities, but I try to find the humor in it. I am not in any way trying to put down my husband, my Matt. I love him so much, orange/brown socks, big speakers, and all!)

Being a young wife and in our first place together, I have really enjoyed finding my taste in decorating, or maybe lack-there-of taste? It's a work in progress. It has been a challenge to my creativity to work around/with Matt's huge homemade speakers and a bench he made as a youngster. Those pieces of furniture at first were a little bit of an...eyesore...for me, but now they have become part of our home. (If he wants to downsize those speakers though, I wouldn't shed a tear.) I have come to absolutely love his bench!

I think if we ever had a fire, that would be one of the things I'd try to haul out. It's not great wood by any stretch and it's covered in mortar or cement on the legs and edges because his dad was a mason (and things naturally got covered in that kind of stuff). It was just one of those projects he did out of the blue I think. He likes to work with his hands, and I really like that about him. (His favorite childhood toys were sticks....because they could be made into anything, especially toy guns and sling shots.) Anyway, I am pretty patriotic and just love "old" things, so I love to find almost anything on the Primitive/Country/Americana (and some Willow Creek too) side. Piece by piece I am collecting different things from garage sales, craft sales, hand-me downs, and stores.

Today, I got 2 super cute wall hangings/paintings/pictures from Walmart (I think for $3 total). I dug and dug through countless pictures that were NOT my style just wondering...just hoping...there might be something neat. Ta-da! I found, well, I settled on 2. A large one and a small one. The large one really won't work quite yet because of our apartment...but when we move...I look forward to working with it!! I think it would look so cute in a cheery mudroom (ha, sounds a little like an oxymoron). So, yes, we must find a house with a mudroom so I can put this picture there...ok, I will work with whatever house or next apartment we are blessed with, mudroom or not.


The little one goes sooo well with my little antique, dark wood, toys and the flag basket I have.

Bad glare!!

Oh, if anyone knows of where I can get an old truck or train in similar dark faded wood, I would like to hear it. I think that would be the final piece to the little collection of old toys.

Sorry about the quality of the pictures....I know they're bad, but you get the idea. Some I took awhile ago and some tonight. I just don't have the patience for these pictures. Yes, I still have the sled out next to the bench from winter. I figure it can stay out till we're sure we aren't having any more snow!

*I love you Matt!