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Exciting News :: Our House in the Pines!

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If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, you may know that we recently closed on a vacation home up in Flagstaff! My husband has been going up to Flag every summer with his family since he was little and I have been going with him ever since we met in college. We always have talked about one day having a place up there to retreat to and maybe one day having a place at the beach, too. I am happy to report that one of the dreams has been realized! While we were there this summer, we decided to do a little browsing and get a feel for the market. We looked at house that had just come on the market. It had the perfect location and unique floorplan. We know a thing or two about jumping on an opportunity and the timing was right, so we made an offer! Flagstaff is only a 2.5 hour drive from where we are, but it’s night and day from Phoenix. It’s perfect for a summer getaway to get out of the Phoenix heat, but also perfect for winter because it is great for skiing and playing in the snow. It is about time that our Arizona babies see snow. (They haven’t ever been in snow!) Crazy, especially since I grew up in Orchard Park, New York and was born right after a blizzard. So not only will we be excited to spend time this winter up there, but it will be such a new, exciting experience for them. Every summer we spend at least a week in Flagstaff with our family and cousins and it is so relaxing. We sleep in, enjoy a big breakfast, swim, bowl, play games, and cuddle in and watch movies. Now, we will have a lot more space for everyone and can use the house whenever we need a little getaway. Can you tell I’m just a little excited?

flagstaff home

So, before we can enjoy our new vacation home….guess what it needs? A total remodel! You might cringe at that word, but I scream “Yipppeee!”. Since we’ve been in our current home for nearly two years now (longest ever!), I’ve been having a serious itch for a new decorating project. I have a few things I’m dreaming about for our house, but first my time will be dedicated to working on the vacation home. For the past few weeks, I’ve been obsessed with searching for kitchen design, flooring, furniture and decor. My husband and I have been debating on a few big items, but this weekend we made some big decisions so the demo is going to start really soon. Here are some of the ideas I’ve gathered on the web and Pinterest. You can follow my House in the Pines board on Pinterest and let me know what you think of ideas I’m finding!

decorating our house in the pines tomakt studio

I will be blogging about our progress on both the remodel and all of the decorating. I hope you will join me on this journey and enjoy seeing it all come together! I mean, who doesn’t love seeing some good before and after photos?!

xoxo, kim

PS. The logo I created at the top of this post is a peek  of one of my latest Shutterfly projects and you’ll be seeing the design used on a decor item soon!

collage photo sources :: entertainment wall | clock | pendant light | bar stool | striped bedding | route 66 sign | sherpa chair | bedroom

August 20, 2013

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  1. Oh how exciting! Love the custom logo! Enjoy!

  2. Oh how fun!!! SUCH exciting news Kim!! Sooo many memories await your sweet family! I absolutely LOVE the inspiration board you’ve put together so far and can’t wait to follow along on your remodel journey!! So happy for you!!

  3. Tina Dahl says:

    SOOOOOO exciting Kim! I have never been to Flagstaff, but it sounds fabulous….and even cooler that Danny spent so much time there as a kid, and now your kids get to experience that. Have a blast remodeling and decorating and I can’t wait to follow the progress 🙂

    • Kim says:

      Well, you’ll just have to come visit! I know, there is so much nostalgia there for us because we’ve gone every summer. The kids look forward to it so much and they were absolutely giddy when we went up to check it out last weekend!

      • Tina Dahl says:

        We’re there!!!! So happy for you, Danny and the kids. Just think of how many wonderful memories will be made in that house. A place to spend summer and winter…does it get any better? LOVE IT!!!

  4. Nichcole says:

    Looks exciting Kim, congratulations and happy decorating : )
    I was going to ask about the top design, can not wait to see what is in store!!!
    xoxo, Nichcole

  5. That’s so awesome! I grew up about an hour from Flag, it’s so funny how now that I live in Phoenix getting out of hot temps and escaping up North is what we do. We love going to our cabin in Prescott. Can’t wait to see you re model.

    • Kim says:

      Did you?! That’s awesome. We have always loved it up there. It feels like another world! That is so great that you have a cabin in Prescott!

  6. Kathe says:

    You will love having a place to get away to. We bought our first 2nd home 15 years ago. Enjoyed it and then rented it out full time 8 years ago so we could buy a place on a small lake which we then renovated. We have a 3 hour drive, but it’s worth it. My kids are grown, so I even love going by myself for a few days. It’s wonderful. Have had a few girlfriend weekends which is a lot of fun. One day we hope it’ll be a place our kids will bring their kids (no grandchildren yet, though). Enjoy your decorating and dreaming. Congratulations!

    • Kim says:

      Thank you so much for your sweet words, Kathe. That is exactly how I imagine it… family getaways, girls’ weekends, TomKat retreats and it has crossed my mind how nice it would be to escape alone and relax up there for a few days. I’m so thrilled!

  7. Laura Glick says:

    Congratulations! I grew up in Flagstaff then Mesa, and now live in Orange County, CA. My parents still have a house in Flag so we spend a week after Christmas and the week of Fourth of July in Flagstaff with our kids. I definitely recognize and know that area well. The sledding and snow play in the winter is just as fun as the pool and downtown parade in the summer. Enjoy!

    • Kim says:

      Hi Laura! That is so great that you grew up there and get to visit often. We love the area because of the kids’ clubhouse and the country club right down the street! So much to do and keep the kids happy. I haven’t played in the snow in years, so I am looking forward to doing that with the kids this winter!

  8. Kim Barrett says:

    Exciting. It will be fun following along. There is a local furniture builder you may want to follow. She does some amazing pieces that happen to resemble one of the pieces you’ve posted. Distressed wood, with the look of Pottery Barn meets Crowded House. I couple of my fb friends have purchased custom pieces from her. A super large farm house table and shelf sofa tables. Looking forward to following along. K

    • Kim says:

      Thanks for the tip, Kim! I just sent a friend request! I would love to see her pieces. I haven’t purchased any furniture yet, but have my eye on a few things!

  9. Donna~Glamorous Sweet Events says:

    Such wonderful news for you and your family! We have been to Arizona quite a few times, and love it. I can’t wait to follow you through your exciting journey. Best of luck always!!!

  10. Wendy says:

    Oh my goodness Kim! Congratulations! It really sounds like a dream come true amd I am so happy for you! Enjoy every moment! xoxo

  11. Heidi says:

    Love your taste and I can’t wait to see your vacation home come together!

  12. DOLORES FALCON says:

    So happy for you and your family and I love your vision for decorating your new home.

  13. Lillian says:

    Hello Kim! A site that I love for Ideas is http://www.houzz.com There are so many design ideas that you may get overwhelmed! I can’t wait for updates on your progress!

    Liy

  14. brady says:

    They have that Kensington clock at Home Goods! Saw it there last week and I actually have the square version in my house! (I live on the East Coast though…)

    Good luck with the new project! How exciting!

    • Kim says:

      I have it in black in my family room! (found it at HomeGoods too) I ordered the white one from Joss & Main because I love it so much!

  15. kellee says:

    how exciting!!! flagstaff is so beautiful!

  16. Rebecca says:

    This will be fun to watch, as I grew up in Flagstaff and agree that it is an amazing area!!

  17. Claudia says:

    This is so awesome – I love the color palette, it is exactly what I want for our living room.

  18. Kirsten says:

    Congrats! That’s very exciting. And what a beautiful part of the world it looks like too! There’s not really anything like that where I live (Brisbane, Australia) and my two children have never seen snow either. How fabulous that your family will get to experience gorgeous Summers and snow filled Winters in your new holiday home x

  19. Jacquie says:

    Excited for you and your family! My daughter & husband live in Phoenix and escape to Flag whenever possible! ENJOY!

  20. Terry says:

    Congrats…and I just have to tell you a funny story…years ago in 1976 when I was 17 and newly married, my Mom asked me if I would like to go to Phoenix with her and my little 2 1/2 year old sister to see my second sister and her baby who had moved there from Okla just six months prior…get all that? So off to Phoenix we drove. When we got to Flagstaff it was really nice weather, but as we drove closer to Phoenix, we started chucking clothing right in the car…it got hotter and hotter and just plain hot! We spent a week running from a/c to a/c, so I can see the desire to own a 2nd home in Flagstaff!

  21. So exciting Kim – even I know Flagstaff as when I spent that summer living in Phoenix all those years ago my friend had a holiday house there so we visited a few times – it is so beautiful and relaxing. They were right on the golf course and it was amazing for me to see squirrels (we don’t have squirrels here!). Can’t wait to see what you do with the place. Leanne xx

  22. cassi.l.curry@facebook.com says:

    Fun! I live in flagstaff, so of course I think it’s a great place to have a home 🙂 congrats!

  23. renee says:

    Congrats! Love the house and the “finds” on the design board so far. I’m looking up those barstools … we are moving into a new home soon and need some nice barstools! I’ll be following the board on Pinterest for sure!

  24. Katie Hughes says:

    I am so excited for you, Kim! Cannot wait to see how this turns out. I LOVE THIS STYLE! You’re amazing. Love you! xoxo

  25. just found your cute site and now a FB follower…love the family retreat logo/sign….did you order this somewhere? Would love to know the resource.
    We’re eyeing a cabin in Colorado as our 2nd home…going there in a couple of wks to decide. If so, I’d love to put a sign like this in there too.

    Also, in the bunk room, where did you get those bunks? I love the color of the wood….like an aged washed brown?

    thanks so much and enjoy your adorable new vacation home!!

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