It's amazing what a little paint can do to quickly transform a space. This week I slapped a few coats of magnetic primer and chalkboard paint onto a floating wall that divides our kitchen from the living space, a wall we will be tearing down sooner or later.
Read MoreWe are really in the sweet spot of summer, when the corn is sweet, and squash and tomatoes are ripe and full of flavor. Here's a pretty summer chowder chalk full of everything summer with a simple corn stock, salty Canadian bacon and sweet shrimp.
Read MoreYou've got to tear it down to build it up. This has been my mantra for the last few months, and it applies to more than just my new house. I've taken a break from regular blogging to focus more on the redesign of our top floor and outside space, and to work on the next big thing for Poppy Haus, something I'll be announcing very soon... Another reason I've backed off is that since moving here I've struggled to find a way to decorate. It seems pointless when I know that so many of the walls will be coming down. I hesitate to paint, because I want to see the new space before deciding on colors. I want this new home to feel open, and I want to bring the outside in. I've found myself collecting little bits of inspiration and putting them in bowls and jars strewn about the house. Just last weekend when we were hiking in the Russian River, I gathered a bunch of lichen covered sticks that somehow made their way here. I love having flora tucked on bookshelves, pinned to the walls, mingling with books and art. So for now I'm keeping it simple and white, and I'm letting the plants take over while I work it out. And today I'm sharing a little ditty on how to make an air plant wall piece from some freshly gathered lichen covered sticks. xo
Read MoreOver the next few months we'll be knee deep into the exterior projects. First off we'll be replacing the deck off the back of the house, a major undertaking, it will wrap around the side of the house and connect to the front yard gate, allowing us to bypass the existing stairs which are dangerous and pretty ugly. I'll be sharing that project when it begins in a couple of weeks, but for now, I need some advice. After the deck goes up the painters come in, and I need to make some decisions. We're going dark, really dark, I want the house to recede and pop at the same time. Here are the inspiration photos ranging from dull gray to navy to almost black (believe me, I'd paint it black if I wasn't afraid of the neighbors). I like the hint of blue that you see in many of the options. Let me know which is your favorite. I'll post another before picture of the current paint job at the end.
Read MoreEvery parent knows those little things about their child that make them extraordinary. I'm no exception, but I usually don't talk about that kind of thing on my blog. Today I'm indulging my mama side and I'm going to share with you a few secrets about why, in fact, my boys are extraordinary. They are different from each other, but they share something very profound in common, the courage to get out there and truly live life.
Read MoreMake + Haus is the new name and online home for the blog Poppy Haus. Established in 2011, the blog archive now contains hundreds of original design projects and whole food recipes, many featured on the likes of Apartment Therapy, Martha Stewart, Design*Sponge, Curbly, and Epicurious.
