HANGING FLOWER WALL ART

Replicate Sarah’s beautiful homemade wall art with your own creation.

What You’ll Need:

• A long branch or log

• Flowers of choice (artificial or dried) • Twine

• Scissors

• Nails or brackets

What You’ll Do:

1. Measure your branch or log and make sure it fits your space; then decide how high you want to hang it. This will determine how long your twine pieces will be. 2. Cut enough twine pieces so they can tie around the branch every 2 to 3 inches. Cut them to the longest you’d want the pieces (you’ll trim some of them later).

3. Tie each piece around your branch and knot it securely, spacing them every 2 to 3 inches.

4. Hang the wood on your wall. You can nail the branch directly on the wall, or hang it from twine fastened to nails or brackets above the wood. 5. Knot the twine around the stems of your flowers so they hang upside down. You’ll want to use either artificial or dried flowers, though do be aware that dried flowers may be fragile. Place some of the flowers high, some in the middle and some at the very bottom to balance the design.

6. Trim the ends of the twine so the flowers hang at different lengths to give the piece depth.

"Once you create it for a purpose, then people tend to go there.”

BIG CHANGES

“We basically changed everything,” Sarah says, “if not just with paint, then with much more extensive renovations.” One of the most transformed projects was the kitchen. When the dishwasher broke and Sarah and her husband learned they would have to remove the floors and countertops to replace it, they took the opportunity to gut the entire kitchen and build their vision from scratch. They sacrificed cabinet space to bring more natural light into the room, using a pantry and drawers to make up for the missing cupboard space, and installed a row of windows over the sink. Sarah keeps the décor simple here. “I wanted the design elements like the black sink and wood to shine and not get cluttered with too much décor,” she says.

Functionality

and an inviting atmosphere are always top of mind.

One of the major undertakings in creating their dream home was removing elements that were completely unsuited to the family’s needs—like the giant built-in fish tank and an indoor hot tub/spa room adjacent to the primary bedroom. Sarah and her husband smartly decided that area could be put to much better use as a dining room. The only ghost of the space’s original purpose is the stunning cedar ceiling that Sarah opted to keep. The tall ceiling gives the room a grand feeling, but the playful hanging tulips, pop of blue and wood bowls and boards on display bring the room back to the effortless earthy vibe that matches the rest of the house.

ROOMS WITH PURPOSE

Just off the dining room is the home’s primary bedroom. Designing the space presented a bit of a problem to Sarah: It’s an important room but also one that as a busy mom of two she doesn’t get to spend much time in. Sarah says, “It’s a room where people want to create an oasis, but it’s often the least used room of a house.” She focused on making it more than just a place to rest your head at the end of a long day and decided to create a reading nook to bring another dimension of function into the space. “Once you create it for a purpose, then people tend to go there,” she says.

" It 's all about taking a minute and resting and enjoying the land we have.”

To craft a welcoming and cozy atmosphere, Sarah designed the corner with a cushioned armchair, blankets, photos from Portugal and artwork by her mother. A room that Sarah certainly did not have to worry about being underutilized or unappreciated was her children’s playroom. However, its position in the home’s layout presented a tricky problem as there are no windows. Sarah’s fix was to install wood slats on the wall and paint the ceiling sky blue to give the room a more outdoorsy and playful feel. You might think the wall with quirky squiggles is wallpaper, but it’s actually Sarah’s own hand-painted design. “They can be whimsical in this space and be kids,” she says. Ultimately, Sarah recognizes that “a playroom is meant for play.”

The fireplace sits across from the home’s front doors, and Sarah designed it using river rock and a German smear technique. The fireplace commands your attention as soon as you step into the house. “It is the central point of the home,” Sarah says. (opposite) True to Sarah’s style, the dining room is inviting and comfortable rather than formal and fussy. Her earthy DIY tulip art ties together the natural cedar ceilings and vintage table that she refinished herself.

The island is an integral part of the kitchen’s design. It not only serves as a prep area, but also as seating and additional storage. The windows across from it were also a huge part of the renovation. “I wanted to bring the outdoors in,” Sarah says.

The kitchen’s design is simpler but consistent with Sarah’s vision. Open shelving puts earthy clay pots and green glassware on display and keeps the countertops clutter-free.

Online extra! For a tour of Sarah’s guest house, visit AmericanFarmhouseStyle.com.

The chic walkout basement proves that neutrals don’t have to be boring. “Most of the colors are neutrals besides the pops of green,” Sarah says. “It makes it easier when you do neutral walls to add pops of color in the décor rather than repainting a room.” (opposite) Sarah’s ability to see potential means she’s always scoring vintage pieces, like her “trash to treasure” coffee table that she spruced up with a little TLC. (above) Sarah doesn’t stress about the playroom looking too perfect or put together. With the simple shelving and storage cubbies, she makes her kids’ toys and books work as a part of the décor. “Organization is important to give them structure, but in reality it’s going to get messy, and we’re okay with that in this place,” she says. (right)