2014...The Year of the House

Hey Guys,

If you're like me, it seems that Christmas came FAST this year, and pretty much left the same way.  We had such an amazing holiday this year!!!

  

We ate, drank...

 

(Recipe found here)

 

And were very merry!!!

 

Every year around this time, I often ponder what I want to the next year to bring.  I am a firm believer in speaking things into existence.  Last year, my word was fearless.  This year, although not as deep and thoughful, my theme is still very important to me.  I am declaring that 2014 be "The Year of the House".

 

Now, I know that this may sound crazy.  Maybe even a little trivial. 

 

I am 35 years old, and am finally allowing myself to turn my home into the place that I have always wanted it to be.

 

Now, I know what you're thinking.  "But Kenya...You own your own shop! You're a designer, and always have amazing ideas on Facebook!!! (Did you catch the shameless plug?)  I'm sure your house looks amazing!)

 

It doesn't.

 

Granted, it's "nice".  We have the basics.  You know, the beds, the TV, the stainless appliances.  But I'm tired of just the basics.  I often envy my own clients and customers who send me pictures of ideas that I've given them, or pieces that they've bought from the shop (yes, another plug), and always think, "Wow!!! That looks amazing!!!  Why can't I do this for my own home?!?"

 

Well, this year, that is all changing!  I started back in November with the change of the front door...

 

And continued with some simple smaller projects:

 

Before

 

After

 

It's amazing how even small projects can make you feel just a little better about your home.

 

Our latest project has been such an amazing transformation.  Again, our bedroom before was just "ok".

 

 

Enter...hardwood floors and a killer reclaimed headboard.

 

 

 

We absolutely LOVE our new bedroom space!!!  It is now a place that feels more relaxing and less claustrophobic.  

 

Because after all, your home is not just a place.  It's where memories are made and dreams happen (no, I did not get that from a Hallmark card).  I want it to be the place that I'm not constantly making apologies for when people come over.  I want it to be a place where we feel comfortable and at peace.  After all, it's our home...

 

Enjoy the day everyone!!!

Pantry Redo

People are coming!!!  I know they come every year to our houses around this time.  And every year around this time we wait until the last minute to do everything, but I'm serious.

They're coming.

Well, this year I have promised myself something different.  I, Kenya Brantley, do hereby solemnly swear not to wait until December 23, 2013 to get my house in order. 

Don't believe me?  Here's some proof.

This is what my pantry looked like a week ago:

 

And this is what it looks like now:

 

Not too bad, huh? And it was so easy!  Just some clear containers and a large trash bag to get rid of all the junk that I was hoarding keeping.

 

What do you think? What will you be doing in the next few weeks to prepare for company?

 

Remember, they're coming.

 

Enjoy the day!!!

 

 

Kilim Rug Love...

As I'm thinking about my master bedroom redo, there are several items that I HAVE to have, no substitutions.  One of these things is a kilim rug.  Ever since I went into a friend's home a few months ago, I have coveted these soft and colorful rugs.  Their beauty is amazing, and I love the fact that no two are just alike...

Are you as in love with these rugs as I am?
 



Enjoy your Monday everybody!!!

Thanksgiving Goodness!!!

Hey guys,

We are getting all ready for Thanksgiving around the shop!!!  Doesn't our table look so festive?!? 

Don't forget we're open Thursday thru Sunday from 10-5...Hope to see you soon!!!  Can't visit?  Find us online at greenhouseserenbe.com!!!

 

Enjoy your Thursday!!! 

All About the Antlers

Hey guys!!!

Lately, I have been all over the antler craze.  I just recently sold a pair of caribou antlers to a customer that looked like this:

Yes, I know these décor staples have been around forever, and maybe its the holiday season influence, but I am falling in love all over again with the new ways in which they are being used:



Do you have antlers anywhere is your home?  How are you using them?

 

Enjoy your Monday!!!

Happy Sunday...

 

Enjoy the day!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

Enjoy your evening everyone!!!

Front Door Changeup

Hey guys and happy Wednesday!!!

I am a firm believer in not spending a ton of money to transform your home.  But as an interior designer, I'm always looking for ways to change and spruce up our home.  So when I saw this pic:

 

  

I knew EXACTLY WHAT I wanted to do...

  

But getting this color right wasn't exactly easy. 

 

 

You can't really tell in the pic, but when I picked "orange" colors, they actually came out more coral.  So I knew that I would have to go more red if I wanted to get the color right.  I finally decided on Behr's Grenadine. 

 

 

If you know me, you know that that name is quite fitting!!! ;)

 

So this is the before:

 



 

And here's the after:

 

 

 

It never ceases to amaze me what a little color can do!!!  Now, instead of our home blending in with the other homes in our neighborhood, our beautiful door has truly given our house a character all its own, and I LOVE it!!!

 

How about you?  Have you done any small-budget projects that have had a dramatic impact on your home? 

 

Enjoy the day everybody!!!

My Latest Crush...

Usually, I rarely pay attention to TV commercials enough to even remember what product they were selling.  But there is one commercial that I am in lust with!!!  It 's the new Threshold for Target commercial.  Have you seen it?

 
Everything about this lady's home is perfection!!!  From the art gallery wall to that amazing dining room to those gorgeous pillows.  The entire commercial just evokes a feeling of love, family, and friends. Even the music gets me!!! 

Go ahead...You can take another look.  And feel free to pause throughout!!!

Enjoy your evening everyone!!!

Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

Y'all!!! This morning it felt like we went straight from summer to winter!!!  Omg.  It was COLD.

But when the temperatures starts dropping, that's when I pull out my out my recipe book (also known as Pinterest) for my go-to fall recipes.

But lately since I've been on my Paleo health kick and gettin' all healthy and everything, I'm finding that a lot of my former recipes aren't really working for me anymore.

Enter Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms.

I found this recipe on the Paleo website, ohsnapletseat.com.  So I thought I would share it with you guys...

Ingredients:

• 2 large Portobello mushroom caps
• 1/2 lb of sausage
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 1/2 cup of fresh basil
• 1 medium tomato
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1.  Remove the stems from the Portobello mushroom.  You can either throw these away or chop them up and use them as part of the stuffing.
2.  Cook your sausage with chopped garlic and also the chopped mushroom stem if you decided to go that route.  Once done, put aside.
3.  Preheat your oven at 400°F.
4.  Chop up your tomatoes and basil.
5.  Mix your sausage with the tomato basil in a large bowl.
6.  Rub each Portobello mushroom with olive oil.
7.  Scoop your tomato basil sausage mixture in to each of the caps.  Try to cram it all in there, but if it doesn’t work you can still cook it on the side.
8.  Place on baking pan and bake for 15-20 minutes.

DELISH!!!

Do you have any fav go-to fall recipes?

 

Enjoy the day!!!  

The Television Dilemna...

When we first moved into our home six years ago, everybody and their mommas were putting their televisions above their fireplaces like this:

Now don't get me wrong.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with these amazing rooms.  Within our own family, we enjoyed movies, and football games, and reruns of Friends.  We loved being together, and spending quality time with each other as a family. 

But secretly, over these past years, I have yearned...longed even, to be able to decorate my mantel.  To see photos of Christmases past, and beautiful artwork, and mirrors! 

So after scrolling through Pinterest (where most of our ideas these days) for some fall décor ideas, I saw this:

I decided enough is enough. I sweetly turned to Robert and said, "I think I want to move some things around." And, of course, he knew exactly what that meant.

Now I get to look at this every day...

 

 

 

 

We actually moved to television to an old sofa table from the basement that we jazzed up with some Pledge and sized glass inserts.

I encourage you....If you have wanted to be able to decorate your mantel without obstacles, or even if you are just looking for a change in your family room, take down that TV!!!  Believe it or not, we sit on the couch together more as a family, rather than the kids just watching television by themselves.  And that, to me, is priceless...

Trestle Desks

It's hard to flip through an entire interiors magazine and not see a trestle desk.  I mean, let's be honest...What's not to adore???  I love the fact that all you need is a pair of these from Ikea for fifteen bucks a piece (no, I'm not kidding),

add a cool door or board, or table top, or, glass, or whatever else you can find on the side of the road at a friend's house, and make it into something spectacular! 

Take a look...

What do you think?  Could you have one of these tables in your home?

 

Enjoy the evening!!!