Did you miss me?
Please say yes….because I totally missed you.
The blog was down all weekend…..which seemed like an eternity and left me with an amazing amount of free time on my previously overly involved blog hands.
So I decorated.
And ate some Thin Mints (thank you Girl Scouts of America).
And decorated some more.
I found this amazing fabric and made the curtains and painted and added new furniture and a few new accessories.
And I finished it yesterday.
*sigh*
And I wish I could tell you that it still looked just like this.
Can we just pretend that it does?
Can we pretend that the basket is still placed perfectly on the new coffee table?
And that the yellow spring flowers are still gracefully cascading from the distressed white porcelain vase tucked between two new nail-head studded chairs on either side of the spring mantel.
Beautiful and serene.
Calm and collected.
Just like this.
Just pretend there is not….under any circumstances……a giant karaoke machine on the floor next to the couch.
And no one is singing “Call Me Maybe” at the top of their lungs into the karaoke microphone…..jumping from one chair to another.
Or dancing the chicken dance.
And no one is knocking over the bird house and then trying to put it back before any one saw.
Absolutely nothing like that would ever go on around here.
Never.
Just pretend everything is still in order.
Neat, organized tables…..without sticky plates of monkey bread.
Or cups of hot chocolate.
Or an occasional stray mini-marshmallow.
Not a pillow on the floor.
Or a curtain out of place.
Or yellow flowers tossed on the couch…..so the basket could be used to roll the Yahtzee dice.
All that perfection.
All that neatly-organized-carefully-chosen-accessorized-down-to-the-eggs-in-the-nest-on-the-bookcase decorating.
Gone.
Replaced by wonderful, glorious, sticky-fingered-monkey-bread…..living.
And I wouldn’t change a thing. 🙂
PS  Thank you so much to the incredible Aimee for the new blog design….you are such a rock star!
PPS  Sharing this over at Kim’s and at Between Naps on the Porch.
Love the new look in both spaces!! :) what room is this? it's lovely.
Beautiful!
yes, yes, and yes!
it looks beautiful...the room with all it's new style and the blog design. :)
I definitely missed sitting down with a cup of coffee to read your blog! :) The new design looks great! Your living room looks absolutlely beautiful, as always!
Looking good girl!!!! :)
Aimee is totally a rock star and a dear friend, too... beautiful makeover, Kari! And I love the new curtains, too. :) xo Heidi
Absolutely missed you! And your room is amazing! Good to know that you aren't living in blog-perfect rooms, though. That would be kind of sad, no? Welcome back :)
Love the blog new look and the room is amazing as always! So fresh and beautiful! Sending you another WOW!!! : ) hugs!
The makeover is beautiful! And I love the fabric! Can you tell us what it is?
Mary, The fabric is Waverly...the pattern is Bedazzle and the color is Silver Lining! Have a great day rock star! karianne
The color palette is beautiful. Can't believe you did all that in a weekend?
Thin mints are good, but I'm a peanut butter patty girl myself. You can tell...my butt looks like peanut butter patties. Sorta.
Totally missed you! The new curtains are beautiful. The whole room looks great!
Love it KariAnne! Calm and serene!!! Trish
Of course I missed you Darling!! Your new touches are fantastic. So glad you are back.
Sounds like my house exactly! Looks awesome girl!!! I must learn how to sew. I need new curtains....
Love the new blog design and the spring decorating! Those curtains are beautiful!
Missed you so much, but I'm sitting here trying to figure out what the room looked like before?! I'm having a brain cramp. :) LOVE the new color palette. Neutral, but a hint of spring color. Gorgeous!
I did miss you. The new blog look is fantastic, KariAnne. And, I never knew you liked your tea with lime. Another bond shared. The room looks fantastic. You know yellow is my favorite color, and you've done it perfectly. Are those the new chairs you purchased on line? Did you say Jos and Main or One Kings Lane - or did I dream it?
I bought them at Joss and Main! They were super cheap and the quality is amazing! blessings, karianne
yes, i missed you. but oh, so worth the wait! love the gray and yellow drapes!
Love the serene feel! Great colors choices. Good times in your home make the best memories :) xx
Pretty room! Glad to hear it's so full of life.
Well, you've outdone yourself. I love the room. So lovely. I love your new blog design and I love your words. Such a good reminder that a beautiful home is really about the people that live in it. You have such good decorating sense. Inspiring.
Love your style, Karianne - both in your home and in the new blog design. I bet you're loving the new look of the blog. Congrats! xo Claudia
Totally missed you!! Love your newly decorated room. Those curtains are so beautiful. You will have to share/maybe a tutorial???
Well, it was certainly worth our wait to see your beautiful new blog design....I thought it was beautiful before too!!...I see lots of re-arranging going on...(from room to room)....love the new drapes and all the accessories...and I can just imagine as you were fluffing the room, the girls in the background on the karaoke machine singing, "This Girl Is On Fire"!!...
My word, KariAnne, you have a motif! I think you have outgrown me. I'll still be here, for a while, in my rocking chair, waiting for you to stop by for a few moments of recognition for the olden days, fading slowly awaaayyy... LOL! :)
I DID miss you! I really did. But I consoled myself in knowing that when you did come back you would unveil some thing awesome. And you did. The new blog look is great!! Wonderful.. luv it. BUT the new room reveal is truly beautiful. The yellow touches... **swoon** Going back for another look... and maybe another. Hugs, Gee
KariAnne - so so pretty, you - with a fresh update - just perfect. Blog looks so lovely too. Again - you - with a fresh update - just perfect! Have a great day girlie!
Love your new curtains. The entire room looks like it should be on a cover of a magazine!! Thanks for sharing!
I can't believe how fast you work! I'm so in love with your fabric choice. The entire room is stunning and who would know that you have "real" life going on :). Love your blog!!
Wow Kari -- this is GORGEOUS!!! I love everything about it! What a great job you've done, but I also love the description of the "reality" side, as well. :-D Have a great day -- I'm pinning this! Denise
Everything you touch turns to gold. Your rooms is BEAUtiful!
gah! *room* Hate typos. ;D
Oh HAPPY DAY!!!!!! The new site design and the beautiful pops of yellow and grey in the room are all simply DIVINE!!!!!!!! I love, love, LOVE it all!!! So cheery and lovely - sigh - makes me smile!! Thank you for continuing to raise the bar my wonderfully talented friend!! And as always your story of the karaoke concert, complete with monkey bread is THE BEST!!! :-D Hugs, Jennifer
Ahh, so fresh and cozy at the same time. Love the color of the room! Deb@LakeGirlPaints
Perfection = loneliness. Enjoy your sticky fingers and karoke machines, knowing that time moves too quickly and perfection will arrive all too soon.
Looks amazing - the room decor and the blog. Welcome back!
Yes, I did miss you...but, it was worth it, the blog looks great! And the room....beautiful! Love the yellow...so fresh! You were very busy my dear...thin mints and all! ;)
Hi Karianne, Glad you are back. I love the Yellow touches (it screams spring to me). Enjoy those kiddies they do grow up so quickly. I tell you though, I would not allow hot chocolate in that room ever. lol Hugs, Linda
Of course we missed you!! I love that fabric you found for your curtains!! So pretty! The yellow is so springy! :) Your new blog design looks fab too!
Looks absolutely gorgeous...and to hear that it is livable, makes it even prettier!
At least you have the comfort of knowing that you will never have a stray marshmallow or karaoke machine hiding somewhere on your blog!!! Looks amazing - your room and the blog makeover! Kelly
I love everything about this space!! & I'm loving your new look... it's looks great on you ;) Hope you had a great weekend!! xx Liz Marie
What a lovely room, amazing, and just as I started to think, do real people really live like this, you keep it real and let us know that even in such a gorgeous space, real life does exist. Thank you!! Sue
Please, Please share the brand and color name of the paint!
Iva, The paint color is SW Mindful Gray! Have a blessed day! karianne
Everything is beautiful! Just lovely. Just beautifully lovely. Just lovely beautiful. Just so Karianne!
The rooms look fantastic. I love all the touches of yellow. Cynthia
Beautiful work Karianne & Aimee!! You are both gifted in your 'design' abilities and both spaces are looking great!
Keeping it real! You have the perfect personality to be a fun mom. You provide a beautiful space for your family, yet you don't fret over the normal life that goes on in a home. Kudos to you! And kudos for this amazingly gorgeous room. I adore the new fabric, the spring touches, and those yellow flowers. What are those? I did miss you! '-)
This room would be incredible even with the sticky monkey bread on the table and a stray marshmallow!
your LR looks beautiful..love the colors...Great look..
I missed you, but it was worth the wait for your beautiful new blog look. And I absolutely LOVE your curtains and pillows!!!
Just gorgeous, of course. Love the new chairs.
Beautiful with or without sticky monkey bread. Been there.
Yes, I totally missed you - but if I hadn't, I would have missed out on this beautiful ROOM! I love the colors, love the "Spring-i-ness" of it! :) Oh, and don't think the stickiness and chaos will end any time soon. My coffee table is homework central for my 18-year-old. She commandeers the couch, pulls the table close, and then promptly leaves her stuff there when she goes to school . . . Sigh . . . Occasionally I make her clean out her "nest." But next year, when she's in college? I'll miss it. I know I will.
Love the room! Where did you get the curtains or material for them?
Your room is beautiful KariAnne, I know what you mean, I live with three other adults and two dogs. Things stay where I put them for about two seconds! LOL.
Your room is beautiful...and I think it's probably still just as beautiful... I wish I had this inspiration yesterday when I was pinning and reading blogs to get me motivated to get up and do something...anything. It never came, so I pinned on...then the Oscars came on, and I couldnt start anything that late in the day... possibly, maybe today!! Love the pop of yellow. xoxo
Very pretty and perfect for Spring. And your blog looks great.
What a beautiful room and I love the new curtains! Where did you find the fabric? I've been looking for something similar in a different color palette for a new duvet cover.
Love your new look--both the room and the blog :) --Elena
Fine. I challenge you to a monkey bread bake off and several games of Yahtzee. But only if you have one of the older dice cups that is felt lined. Bliss
Go Girlorgeous! Loving the room. Mine (thing one and thing two) are unfortunately singing the very inappropriate new Bruno Mars song just to annoy Mom. Thankfully the kareoke machine is lost in garbage bin we call my daughters closet.
Gorgeous, as usual! Love the fabric!
I did miss you! I've been awful about commenting, but this weekend I had an hour and I wanted to go to the actual pages of my fave bloggers and comment and you were away! But I'm back this morning to say how lovely the room looks, and the new blog design, and that Girl Scout cookies are amazing, and possibly we ate an entire box of Tagalongs in 1 10 minute car ride yesterday:) Jessica
So beautiful! You make me want to go fabric shopping. :) I can totally pretend all of those things...just like I pretend that my precious kitty didn't pull all the flowers out of the vase 2 days ago and they are still laying there.
Beautiful, Kari ... love the pops of yellow in your new curtains and how they tie in with your fabulous Spring flowers! (Love your new blog design, too)!
The new design looks beautiful, as does the room - so bright and cheerful! Congrats on the new blog design! It looks great!
Oh that is amazing that you did all that work in just one weekend! You rock!!!! Everything looks beautiful and I love your new blog design.
Thank goodness you can capture it's perfection in photos before the kids get a hold of it right? Then you can gaze at them once they go to bed and pretend it's still perfect ;) Looks lovely Karianne!!
Oh! KariAnne! I did miss you! But I'm SO glad you had a little free time on your hands to decorate! Because you've inspired me! I'll get back to you after I run down to Home Depot to grab some paint! P.S. My freshly painted kitchen cabinets met the kids last week...all five of those peanut butter and jelly sticky hands left their mark. I'm not sure she'll ever recover! https://fivelittlemoberlys.blogspot.com/
I really did miss you! But SO glad that you had a little time to decorate! It's inspired me! I'll get back to you after I run to Home Depot to grab some paint! ( =
Are you kidding??? You were sorely missed!! Your new furniture and all your decorating are perfection, as always.
Karianne, your new blog design and your new room design are both beautiful. I must say, the 'BUTT PASTE' add that popped out when I hovered over did take me a bit by surprise...:) -Revi
I love the gray and yellow color combo. Almost did it in the guest bedroom, but went with gray and red instead. I think I need a before and after shot, though....I love to see comparisons!
Hi - can I ask where you got the gray/silver damask pillows??? Love them & I'm redoing my bedroom in gray/silver & white. Thanks! Ronda
Gorgeous! Amazing! and all of the other exclamatory words that come to mind! Both the blog redesign and the room! Congratulations on your new "blog" home! :) Heather
Everything looks fantastic! Welcome back!
Yes, I missed you. Your blog and one other are the first ones I read after my daily devotions :-). But I am glad for you to take a break and work on projects. In fact, you should consider it more often! You are young and I am old so let me say...give yourself regular breaks...maybe every Sunday...you and your family will be the better for it and we will survive. After all, fondness makes the heart grow stronger...
You ABSOLUTELY were missed!! Your room is just beautiful, Karianne!!! So fresh and WONDERFULLY inviting. Not that it wasn't all of that before...it had my all time favorite drapes ever! (If you're interested in selling them, please let me know :)) Don't we all, though, love to change things up and you've done it, once again, to PERFECTION. You never cease to amaze me. Love it...especially that you are so happy to "live" in the room with your children. I'm sure there will be many happy memories created in this room. Can I just say, too, that blog design looks great...even the little burlap/linen tags for connecting with FB, Pinterest, etc. And if I haven't said it lately, your sense of humor and delight shine in your writing. That along with your photography skills are what sets you apart. Hugs from one Thin Mint lover to another :)
Sure did miss you. Love the new blog look. And the new room look........and the mom who lets her family live :-)
I was so confused, at first. Didn't recognize the place. Such a dramatic redesign. Of the blog and your library. :)
Cool Beans again!! You have given me so many great and people friendly ideas for a very tired looking bamboo colored living room! Love the new blog design, now I am on the hunt for bookcases!! PS Your "Mindful Gray" looks so different than what mine looks, probably painting over green didn't help:(
Wow, I love your style. This is stunning!
Absolutely stunning! Missed ya! The blog looks great!!
Sigh, I just want to move into your house! I love every room more than the next...besides I do a pretty mean version of Call me Maybe - I'd fit right in :) PS Love the new blog design too!
Could you please tell me the upholstery fabric used on sofa? trying to find fabric to recover my sofa...to go with eclectic French country....yellows, cherry reds, creams,,,touch of sage green. help. lol
LOOKS LOVELY! Also FUNNY...I sure do not know how you do it, I have sooo MANY make overs and just can not motivate myself to get them done, sigh, someday!
Well at least you had it for the 5 minutes it took to take the pics. Well, maybe more than 5 minutes. It's beautiful Kari. And your attitude about the 'perfect living' is beautiful, too!
Looks absolutely fabulous! The blog redesign and the room! The rest of us bloggers know that perfection only last for the shot and then we haul the rest of the real life stuff of families back out!
Gorgeous, and it wouldn't be home if it stayed perfect :)
Do you have a tutorial for those amazing fluffy white flower ball things on the top of the bookshelf, I think you have them below your chalkboard thing as well? Please share. I have just the place for them!
Unless they are real live plants that are just potted in baskets? Then I'd feel stupid...but at least I'd know!
Girl, of course you were missed! I'm so glad to see that you kept the graphic of the house in your header. That has always been my favorite. And your room redo is gorgeous-LUV the gray and yellow combo!
Missed you loads! Now if I could have that room toy free...
Your new looks (blog and home) are gorgeous! I looked at the pictuers, thinking your kids must be a lot older than my kids if you get a room that looks that peaceful...then I read your text. My home gets to look beautiful about once every month or two. The problem (besides my poor housekeeping and too many migraines) is that all 1200 sqft are high-traffic areas. That's the problem with open-concept design in small homes ;-)
Well well I'm the 96 commentor ( is that a word:):) ) that is freaken fantastic, first thanks for the visit and the lovely comment. Now, you had me laughing out loud in my front room :):)....... Your room here is GORGEOUS,& AWESOME, thank you for the laughs, fab photos and letting us inside, a peek into your world, and also for teaching us all sorts of things and lastly for inspiring us, great blog......
Oh my gosh can we pretend I move in with you? Absolutely beautiful AGAIN! Could I bother you for the paint color again? All my rooms are going to at least have the same paint colors as your's!
Never mind just saw it above!
Lovely,just lovely! Your so talented. Thank you for sharing your beautiful home with us.
Love this room, Karianne!! Everything ties together perfectly! And your new blog design is awesome! p.s. I agree about the awesome fabric...this is the same one I used on my dining table redo! :) https://drabtofabdesign.com/2012/06/annie-sloan-dining-table-reveal/
Karianne- Of course we all missed you!! I missed your blog and I really, really missed your writing! Thank you bunches for stopping by and wishing me well with my Liebster award!! Sweet wishes for a happy week ~Jemma
KariAnne this room looks GORGEOUS!! I keep scrolling up and down to make sure I didn't miss anything!
Of COURSE we missed you!!! BUT, I knew that when you came back the blog would look fabulous, it does. And you would be sharing something AMAZINGLY beautiful, you have!!!!!!!! The room looks amazing, love, LOVE the color scheme, the new chairs and how you have the room arranged. It is all perfection, ESPECIALLY the fact that now it is all NOT perfect. LOVE THAT!!!! XO, Pinky
Yes of course I did........................
Omg I wanted the same fabric for my dining room but looked too lavender in my room. Your room looks great
Wow....YOU INSPIRE ME!! Beautiful home and blog.... ~Kim
I love, love your blog thanks for all you do! Love the room makeover would love to see more of your herb project! It was worth the wait!
I love your colors. Soo relaxing and love the Pom Pom fringe on one of your pillows. Did you make it?
I agree, living turns pretty into beautiful! GORGEOUS photos of your lovely space! My heart did a little flip-flop :) Have a wonderful week! Jeanette @ Creating a Life
The new blog design and your room look great, KariAnne.
WOW! Those curtains really make that room! Lookin' good as usual, girl! Ashley Rane Sparks www.makeitrane.com
This took my breath away! So fresh, so "springy", so gorgeous. Love the curtains & new chairs. But what I really love is all your little touches in the bookcases, etc. Can you give us more close-ups of all the accessories? What were those carved wooden "thingies" on the wall? I assume you gave them your magic with a paintbrush...Just that glimpse of spring I needed on this cold snow-covered day in NE. Sounds like the kids love it, too! Thanks for the inspiration.
Yep, missed you. I love this post. For some reason, I foolishly thought all those things we're pretending were true at your house! I never imagined we had to pretend. =)
Love the change but two days without I'm not gonna lie was no fun. New additions to room look great, but I LOVED the old curtains. I even asked you about them because I thought they would be perfect in my living room. If you are interested I would LOVE to buy them from you!!!!!!!!
Yes, you were very very missed! In the future give us some advanced notice so we can all take a chill pill so we can wait patiently! Your style is my favorite! But like you I would take sticky finger living over neat as a pin ANY TIME!
Yes! Yes! Yes! I did miss you and your cheerful voice and your stories that I can hear through all those light waves emitted through my screen! Your blog has been freshened beautifully!! And with everything...always the midas touch...the yellow in your room just proves it!! All is perfectly done. I love that your home is truly enjoyed and lived in, too. Glad you had the time "off" to create. Isn't that the best feeling when a plan all comes together? Blessings blown your way! [hugs]
Me! Me! Me!! I missed you!! Glad you're back and the room is fantastic!!
Yes, I did miss you, but the wait was worth it! Beautiful, calming room and the new blog format is super duper, XOXO
Love it all! It's beautiful! Your blog looks fabulous too! Missed you!
Everything on the blog is so neatly organized and accessible…it looks great Karianne! Also your living room…the curtains! The basket for the urn of flowers/Yahtzee dice?? The coffee table for the sticky plates of Monkey Bread? All lovely, and I wouldn't change a thing about those signs of life found around my house either :)
Your room looks stunning! I love the colors you used it's so calming I love it!!!
Loving your new look KariAnne! Great job :)
The room and your blog are beautiful, Karianne...and I bet the mini marshmallows and yahtzee dice just make it better!
Our house if full of 'living' and hardly any of that 'neatly-organized-carefully-chosen-accessorized-decorating.' Ok, none of that, really! You did a lot in a weekend! The curtains are fantastic and I love your paint color. It's good to have reason to be set free from our computers once in awhile, and do and live and enjoy, instead.
Just stunning! I LOVE everything you do! You are so beyond talented & lovin the fabrics! Have a great day, Jen @ City Farmhouse
Love, love, love your room and new decor. I'm so envious of your Joss and Main chairs! What fabric did you us for the throw pillows or where did you get them on the two other chairs that used to be in your bedroom? Thanks!
Fantastic job!!!
Where did you get your coffee table?
Hi karianne, The room looks beautiful!! Where did you find the yellow wildflowers? They are so real looking!!!
I Love the softness and the comfortableness of the room. yellow and grey are not my lift of colors I love but the combination is amazing. I'll have to tuck that in the back of my mind for future use. -Bravo
Yes! Love the room!! And all prints can be cleaned up and soon kids lose interest in bee keeps and it will be onto another space??? I just love how it all looks so thank you for sharing!!!
Where did you get those short curtain rods? I have been looking for something just like those! Love your style :)
Love the curtain fabric and the room looks great. And I'll bet even better lived in with the sticky monkey bread!
No kidding my home is perfect in every way and day too ;-) .I never have dishes in the sink or blankets sprawled out on the chairs never ever. Your home is beautiful and I am sure even with those bits of marshmallow it still looks amazing! Yes your blog looks great! xx Anne
So spectacular! I love the gray and yellow!
So beautiful! I love grey and yellow. The flowers and vase are beautiful!
Yo podrÃa vivir aquÃ, solo con mirar Precioso ♥♥♥
Absolutely gorgeous, Karianne! I'm really glad & relieved to know your space does not always look like this -- real life happens and you are right, we wouldn't change a thing!
Love the curtain fabric do you mind sharing the maker? Thanks so much.
Your room is stunning and so is the blog design.
Oh how this room just sings to me, I am in love. So pretty, I love the colors! You are amazing. :) Blessings, Kimberlee
Your new blog looks fabulous! And that room...wow, it's absolutely gorgeous! And I imagine it still looks wonderful even with the jumping, playing, drinking and eating sticky monkey bread. Those curtains are stunning, I love the material you used. Debbie :)
This is the most gorgeous room ever! I am in love with that fabric. You did a wonderful job coordinating everything.
Gorgeous! I love pretending!
So fresh, bright and beautiful...all ready for Spring! Can I borrow just 3 drops of your energy?
Just beautiful Karianne!
Hi KariAnne, just beautiful, I love everything in this room. I think I may have already commented but.... The fabric choice, perfect & the colors work seemlessly together! I just wanted to let you know that I am posting some images from Blogger Homes, one of which is this room, it of course links back to you & Blogger Homes. Shannon asked if I would do a post about her new site and share some images, since I was involved too. Hope this is ok:). Have a great day, Jen
You describe perfectly, the difference between "house" and "home." Though we do tend to like perfection (at least long enough to enjoy the fruits of our labor) imagine how sad and empty that house would be without the kareoke, marshmallows, etc. May your home always be as beautiful as you've made it, and as filled with life as you describe! BTW, the fruits of your labor is beautiful. ~Zuni
I love EVERYTHING about this room. Maybe I missed it, but did you tell what color the walls are? I am in love with the curtains!!!!
Simply Beautifully done Karianne, you are amazing!
Truly a room fit for the cover of a magazine. Gorgeous! ...and I love that your family actually lives in this room. I had a friend when I was growing up who couldn't even go in their living room. It was not to be touched and her mother would check the carpet for footprints just to make sure no one had disobeyed this rule. I love moms who put their kids before their furniture and curtains. Yaaaay you!!
Hi! Love the space. Can you let me know where you got the chairs?