Home Sweet Beach?

The week has finally come! We're headed to North Carolina on Thursday morning! Tomorrow Susannah and Chris will drive down from Chicago and we'll wake up bright and early to head 12 hours east in search for Wilmington and the beach! I'd be lying if I said I didn't constantly peruse PadMapper and Craigslist for little homes available in Wilmington. As nice as it would be to live in a pastel colored beach house in the Carolina/Kure Beach area, my sights have been set on the downtown Wilmington area around the RiverWalk. The feel of downtown is so much like Franklin, but less stuffy. The coffee shops, the boutiques, and the cobblestone streets lining the river of the Port City are truly beautiful. The houses in the area are eerily similar to the East Nashville area and there are many bungalows and single family homes with cute little picket fences, porch swings and rocking chairs. Yes, I am in the "decorate every home I stumble across in my imagination" phase! I know we won't be moving for half a year or more, but that doesn't stop me from fantasizing on the daily about home decor. Retro throwback black and white tile kitchen floors, or pastel tile, shabby chic decorations or modern furniture. Pinterest has really be blowing my mind with the constant stream of inspiration. I don't know which direction to go! I guess that will fully depend on the home we move into. I've been trying to avoid apartments at all cost. I'd rather rent a small home with a fenced in backyard so the girls can play at their leisure rather than toting all of our furniture up flights of stairs and dealing with noisy neighbors. I've felt spoiled the last couple of years by living in houses and townhomes. Apartment living is the worst, in my opinion! Plus they always want to take your money! I can't wait to get to Wilmington because I know the whole time we're there I will be scouring the neighborhoods for the best areas to live and what's close to what! It must be a nice neighborhood within walking distance to shops and restaurants and an area to ride our bikes and preferably close to a park! Even better if it's within walking distance to a dog park! Our pups miss their daily outings to the park so I can't wait until they can exercise in a fun way again!


♥ (all images via pinterest) ♥


I keep thinking about color combinations and prints and patterns. I've been scouring thrift shops both online and off trying to find the perfect dining table and chairs to reupholster and paint. So I have a question for you!

What is your favorite way to decorate? Are you a shabby chic, lots of white gal? Ruffles and lace? Do you prefer to thrift most things and make them new again? Or does mid-century modern furniture fill your mind? Are you a contemporary/modern/futuristic person? Does collected "clutter" (for the lack of a better term!) such as knick knacks give your home character or do you prefer to have it all stowed away and keep everything simple? I want to know! Inspire me!

31 comments:

  1. lovely picks!! i especially love the yellow chair and adorable kitchen!! hope the trip is wonderful!!!

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  2. I absolutely love downtown Wilmington AND bungalows. I hope you guys find a neat place downtown. I can't wait to have my own house to decorate. I love grey and white with pops of color.

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  3. beautiful picks! love that yellow chair and the glass vases on the bench. just started following, love your blog!

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  4. Wow, I definitely want to live in that house! It's so adorable!

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  5. have fun!

    and what beautiful pictures. i know what you mean, there are so many beautiful styles for interior decorating. i had more of a retro indie style in my apt. during college, but my current flat is very shabby chic - still i think you can combine these two styles quite nicely. beautiful pictures as well! love all the pastel!

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  6. Um. That kitchen blew my mind. Good news is, my boyfriend is 100% okay with our apartment looking like a freaking cupcake.

    We had an interest in moving to Wilmington a while ago, and I remember seeing the most to-die-for apartments on Craigslist. Somehow, we ended up in Buffalo, New York, though. The total opposite of the south =P.

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  7. i would not buy another dress for 2 years if i could have that pink refrigerator. <3

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  8. i personally love all things lacy and vintage, but i find myself decorationg more modern/contemporary.

    but goodness, that teacup collection is darling!

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  9. EEEE! I LIVE IN WILMINGTON.
    :)
    Grew up in brunswick county my whole life and now go to UNCW.
    How cool!

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  10. I love all these pictures!! Hope you have fun on the road and are safe!! I always love driving at first then it gets boring haha but I am driving from Utah to canada in June...EEK!

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  11. I used to live in Wilmington! I'm actually drinking a cup of Port City Java coffee right now. =]

    I'm in love with Wilmington. I'm dyyyying to bring my husband there this year so that I can start wearing him down until he agrees to move back with me.

    Needless to say, I'm insanely jealous.

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  12. Pinterest has become a ridiculous addiction for me, and I love it!

    Congrats on your move!

    xo
    melissa

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  13. IDK how long you'll be there, but you have to check out their roller derby! It is sooo fun and with super cool people! Check them out:

    http://www.capefearrollergirls.com

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  14. i love love love that first photo!

    the more i'm looking at decorating my apartment, the more im drawn to anthropologie or urban outfitters inspired decor. i'm a DIY girl at heart, though, so you won't see me dropping hundreds of dollars at their stores... i like to make everything myself.

    have fun!

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  15. Shoot, my comment for this one is on the previous post because apparently I have issues. Forgive me.

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  16. That kitchen is enough to make me die happy! Gorgeous

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  17. I think my heart skipped a beat when I saw that first kitchen photo!

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  18. ~ * ♥ * ~

    I love the shabby chic look ~ particularly when it leans to the French Romantic style.

    But ultimately, I am trying for an Edwardian/Regency feel in our new home. So rich, warm tones with touches of gilt to make the room shine. It'll be so exciting when you get your own place too Kaelah. :D

    xox,
    bonita of Depict This!
    ~ * ♥ * ~

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  19. oh my. The pastel kitchen and the yellow chair are simply beautiful!
    We are redecorating our entire home & garden at the moment and physically can not stop looking for inspiration.
    I love things to be light and bright and airy, so lots of whites & muted tones with splashes of colour, and not loads of knicknacks, but a few well chosen and loved pieces. Heaven! <3 x

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  20. Wow... that really is my dream kitchen!!! :D Not sure my other half would agree though... too much pink! :)

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  21. Hi! Just found your blog a few weeks ago and love it:) I lived near Wilmington for 6 years and miss it soo much! I have to be happy with visits now. Have fun!

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  22. I am definitely someone to thrift things and make them over with colors I like. I also have a ton of knick knacks, it's a but out of control actually =D

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  23. I LOVE that kitchen! Although I'm not sure I would ever do that to my husband since he cooks more than me(even though I'm a stay-a-home mom!)
    I like a mix of everything in a house. But I don't like too much white wall. This is the dining area I have been PINING over for weeks now. It's the perfect mix of everything:

    http://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=60136&relatedPhotoId=83381&index=1

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  24. Wow! I love that kitchen. What wonderful pic's!
    Cheers!!

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  25. This style is amazing! I looooove the retro inspiration. Especially the kitchen. I recently posted about the type of retro kitchen I want and I think that first pic would definitely fit into that category! Check it out :)
    http://whisperedwhimsyvintage.blogspot.com/2011/01/i-will-have-retro-kitchen.html

    p.s. love the tea cups too.

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  26. I live in the Wilmington area! (How fun to find you through Lemon and Raspberry!)I love the downtown area-have you seen this: http://www.designspongeonline.com/2008/11/wilmington-design-guide.html

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  27. We visited Wilmington last year while on vacation and absolutely loved it!!! We only got to spend a day there so our plan is to go back and spend more time enjoying everything it has to offer.

    Have a great trip!

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  28. What lovely and beautiful teacups...!!
    Thank you for wonderful pics. :)

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HEY! Thanks for dropping by. xo KB