So, I have this hobby. Some might call it an addiction. But I’ll stick with hobby. Confession: I am completely and utterly obsessed with interior design. Stereotypically speaking, I know It’s funny to think that a former accountant has this whole creative side. It’s the right brain in me asserting itself. Though, I will say that the whole notion that some people are more right-brained versus left-brained is apparently a myth. But I digress.
I get these visions in my head. Visions of furniture and where to put it, wall art and how to arrange it, colors and how they would complement it all. I scour Pinterest for hours, bringing my visions to life and pinning hundreds of photos containing the bits and pieces that make up my own creation. I’m sure everyone does this. No? Okay so maybe it is a slight addiction. But hey, at least it’s not heroin, right?
My husband and I have lived in our house for almost seven years. It’s white with black shutters and has an adorable front porch with big white rocking chairs. We (and by we, I mean me and my “addiction”) whipped this house into shape within six months. My visions came and they came fast. Painted walls, new hardwoods, new carpet, custom made couches, Pottery Barn coffee tables, Target lamps, wall décor galore all hung and in its proper space.
You name it, we did it.
My husband did provide his input from time to time, but let’s be honest, he was easily persuaded to my side if we didn’t exactly see eye to eye. And we didn’t have our kiddos yet, so we had this thing called time to do it all. Our house quickly became our home, and I never missed the opportunity to take someone on a house tour so they could admire my interior design skills. And it was usually followed with a “I can’t believe how quickly you did all of this. You’re insane!” It’s my visions, I’m telling you.
Within the last year, we made the decision to make our house our forever home. We love our neighborhood, our neighbors, everything we can walk to. And with this decision also came the decision to add an addition, making my décor loving heart quiver with joy. It had been far too long since I designed and decorated a room in our house. So we set out to make this happen in early 2019, meeting with contractors, getting permits, surveys, and all the things.
My visions immediately started going WILD. I was inspired by everything bohemian-themed. We’re talking succulents, bright throw pillows, crazy patterned rugs, gold fixtures, fringe, the whole nine yards. My husband was thrilled. I told him to just trust me and allow my vision to become reality. I promised him it would look amazing. Don’t worry, I am well aware of how crazed I can get. For months, my “Neflix and chill” morphed into “Netflix, chill and pin bohemian looking rooms on Pinterest.” I told myself I wouldn’t buy anything until the room was actually done. But man oh man, that was tough.
I only slipped up once: a multicolored rug from Wayfair that I KNEW would fit right in. So naturally, I had to have it.
We hired an amazing contractor with an incredibly talented crew. With each day over the course of two months, we grew closer and closer to a finished product. It started with a complete demolition of our existing deck, which was quite exciting. One minute it was there, and about 30 minutes later, it was gone. Then came new support posts, a new floor, new walls, new windows, a new roof. Even more exciting. You know you have peaked as an adult when a wooden wall frame excites you.
I remember the exact day I asked our contractor if the room was “ready enough” for me to lay down our new rug. It was a Friday in September. September 20th, to be precise. To my lovely surprise, he said YES. I mean, all we had left was to pass the final inspection. A rug couldn’t hurt. I don’t think he realized how much joy his answer brought me. Then, things got a little out of control. And by out of control, I mean me. I blew up the internet and delighted our credit card companies with my flood of purchases.
Bought a sectional. Bought throw pillows. Bought a plethora of wall art. Bought lamps. Bought a table. Bought two chairs to sit at the table. Bought wicker baskets. Bought an end table. Bought a chest. Bought hanging succulents. Bought an ottoman. Bought a gold tray for the ottoman. ALL within about a week.
Oops.
It was like Christmas in September. With each delivery update email, I did a happy dance. When a package actually arrived, I went bonkers. I ripped it open, built it if I needed to, with the assistance of my one-year-old, and moved it to its proper place. It’s safe to say that by October 1, this boho addition was indeed a boho addition. And it has received so much love since. “The new treehouse” as our four-year-old likes to call it is inviting, cozy, and full of sunlight, making it worth every penny.
The hobby bead is a fun one. It allows me to escape the craziness of the real world and enter into my own creative world. My hope is that everyone has a hobby bead, allowing for this same escape. As we know, life can be incredibly overwhelming, daunting, and difficult at times. But a hobby can be just the thing that brings comfort, joy, and ease to us all. Just maybe try not to be as crazed as yours truly. Or try to be. You’ll always have a friend in me.
Enjoy some photos of our Bohemian Addition from start to finish!
