We spent our holiday weekend in North Dakota, visiting my side of the family.  It was so wonderful to see everyone. Our visits seem to be few and far between now that my sisters and I each have families of our own and we cherish the moments we are able to spend together, no matter how short.

One of the days we traveled a couple hours further north to visit my grandma, my dad’s mom.  As a child, we would get together nearly every 4th of July with my dad’s side of the family.  Such sweet memories were made at my grandparents home and even now, visiting as an adult, the house brings a big smile to my face.

The house was designed and built per my grandpa’s specifications.  He was a teacher by trade, but took on home building during the summer months as a way to keep busy and supplement the family income.  The house he built for his family (and the one my grandma decorated) was a trend-setter for sure, completely stylish for it’s time.   Just take a look at some of the key features and how they are inspiring the design of our cottage.

OUTDOOR SPACE

My sisters and I, along with our cousins, spent many hours outside in the ‘sunken patio’ space in front of the house, creating mud pies. Grandma loves flowers and each year plants petunias in the raised planters that serve as a half wall for the patio, offering privacy.  I loved this little patio space and definitely want to incorporate a patio at our own house.

LIVING ROOM

Growing up, my grandparent’s house was the only one I knew that had a vaulted ceiling.  It sits much the same today as it did when it was first built, save the carpet which was changed from red to orange sometime in the 70s. There is something electric about this living room.  Sure, it’s decor is a bit zany; But the fireplace wall, the amount of seating, the vault, the built in shelves and the natural light that pours in all combine in a way that promotes conversation and comfort.  For our future house, we have decided that the one room in the house that should be large and well detailed is the living room.  It will occupy nearly half of the square footage of the entire main floor, have a vaulted ceiling and a fireplace focal point.  There will be plenty of windows offering daylight, and seating all around.  Thanks for the inspiration grandpa & grandma!

GALLERY WALL

Look in any home decor magazine today and you will see plenty examples of gallery walls.  They are the perfect way to display family pictures and mementos.  They personalize a home and make a bold statement.  My grandma tested out this technique years before it was popular.  She asked my grandpa to cover one entire wall in cork so that she could easily display photos, and the results are stunning.  I still find myself looking carefully at each detail on this wall every time I visit the house.  We have our own gallery wall now at the farmhouse we are renting, and will definitely be incorporating another at the cottage.

My grandma still lives in the house that grandpa built for their family; And although the bedrooms are not always occupied and that cheerfully decorated living room is typically quiet, I am certain that when she looks around she feels happiness living in a home that was built with love.