Rustic Beam Breakfast Nook
Hey! Sorry for the loooong unplanned blogging break. My camera broke. Like totally fizzled, wouldn’t even turn on, broke. I took it as a sign to take a few weeks off and hang with my kids the last bit of summer. My kids started school yesterday and I somehow survived bringing my youngest baby boy to kindergarten. I was totally “that mom” sobbing in her car and I have already explained to him how mommy is going to need to be his college roommate, because I can’t live without him. I’m sure he will get on board with that plan eventually…maybe if I promise to do his laundry?
To make myself feel better I took a solo Target trip, which I have to admit was kind of amazing. I found these cute pillows on clearance and when do cute/cheap throw pillows not make everything better? It’s not time that heals all wounds, pillows people, pillows are healing.
Also helping are caramel m&m’s…the family size.
I finally bought myself a new camera (the guy at the camera store may have laughed at my 9 year old camera and told me it wasn’t worth trying to fix…) and I’m still getting used to all the bells and whistles.
I thought I would share our little rustic beam breakfast nook today, since that is where the cute pillows ended up. It was a little odd to have the house all to myself for a photo shoot for once. The good news for you is no kids all day means more blog posts to read, but more on that in a minute.
We have been loving this space and we eat here every night when it’s not nice enough to eat outside. It’s so cozy and perfect for our family of four. If you remember we saved these old beams from the house we tore down and I love the character they add to my white kitchen.
I found this table on gilt.com I was having the hardest time finding an oval table that was small. This window is 7 ft wide and I wanted our kids to be able to slide around easily so I went with a 5 ft table. I tucked our old Ikea wicker chairs around it for now, but the white cushions aren’t the most practical in here, so I’m keeping my eye out for something different.
We tiled this whole back wall to add more texture and really make this area feel like an extension of the kitchen. There was originally supposed to be wall sconces on either side of the beams, but when we tried to open the glass cabinet doors they hit the fixtures. It was such a bummer.
We planted lots of hydrangea bushes around the house and I’m loving having all the fresh flowers to cut and use around the house.
While I’ve got you here, I wanted to talk about the state of the blog going forward. I’m hoping to get on a regular schedule now that my kids are at school all day. The plan is to post a home decor/project related post every Wednesday.
I’m also hoping to start a new series on the blog on Fridays called “Friday Feels” which will basically be what I’m “feeling” at the moment (I know I’m so clever with my alliteration). Consider it the miscellaneous page of the blog. I used to blog more about recipes, life, and products I was loving and I miss it. Planning/building the house became all consuming, and I really struggled to get even one post a week done this past year. I’m really excited to share recipes I love, and new products I’ve tried and even just whatever weird thrift find I’ve picked up again with you all. (Sidenote I found out that my vintage green table is ACTUALLY an indian wedding table like the guy said! Seriously google indian wedding table and you will find an exact pic of my table in various colors, crazy!)
Anyways, I hope you all will enjoy following along with my Friday ramblings too, but I still have plenty of new house stuff to share. Thanks for sticking with me through this last sporadic year of posting. Now excuse me while I go eat the rest of the m&m’s before my kids get off the bus ;)
SOURCE LIST: (contains affiliate links)
Ticking pillows – Pottery Barn
Diamond pillows – Target
Floral pillow – I made it out of an Anthropologie napkin
Wicker chairs – Ikea
Blanket – H&M (from last year)
Subway tile – Lowe’s
Flooring – Build Direct (you can find my post about it here)
Paint Color – Extra White by Sherwin Williams
Copper pitcher – Flea market
Table – Gilt.com they don’t have it anymore
I just love this space. So cozy and inviting!
Thanks Larissa, it is such a great spot for coffee in the morning.
I absolutely love your house and blog. We are putting a very similar hand hewn reclaimed wood beam mantle in our home and I can’t decide if I wanted unfinished or stained/oiled. did you use oil on these beams ? They turned out so beautifully, I am hoping mine do the same, Thank you!
We didn’t do anything to the beams, just popped them in as is.
Oh I love it. The textures! The simplicity, So relaxing. isnt that what a home should be? Relaxing? Youre the best Kelly! Love everything you do. I love the beams too. I got beams in my house, but they are fake. I also got the rough hewn similar to yours. I think you and my daughter were accidently switched at the hopspital and you are my true daughter! it freaks me out sometimes how similar our tastes are. You are definetly more thoughtful and organized though. Look so forward to lots of posts and lots of new stuff. Oh and Im jealous about your hydrangeas. I planted 2 plants last year and they died back to the ground because i didnt realize they need so much water in this Texas heat. Yours is my favorite blog! Keep it up!
Thanks Dixie, I’ve definitely killed two of the hydrangeas already, lol still working on it over here!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful home,I so enjoy it. I love your style! Enjoy your children, because life is fast,way to fast. Looking forward to your next post!
It is definitely going way too fast!
I love the nook but do not like the rustic wood beams on it. Too rustic for me!
I distinctly remember the first day of Kindergarten for my oldest and having twin 3 year olds and thinking what will I do with three in school at once? Then in the blink of any eye the oldest child is graduating high school, three are driving cars and it comes faster than you can imagine. Enjoy every moment, the good the bad and all so you won’t have any regrets. As for your nook it is absolutely stunning, it’s a perfect unexpected arrangement and your forethought on the salvage was amazing. Looking forward to you making a regular comeback and posting your Friday Feels.
Thanks Teenie, they are growing up way too fast!
Love it! My daughter and son in law just bought a house! I’m looking forward to “helping” her decorate. We want to take a wall down and would love to do beams like this for their opening! Looking at antique stores now. Wish we had a house we could salvage from!!
Check craigslist too sometimes you can score some old barn beams, they also make pretty realistic looking faux beams too.
You had such amazing foresight to save those beams from the old house – they look incredible in your home and add so much character to your rooms! I absolutely love your style – you are one talented and creative lady!!
Thanks so much Liz, I’m glad we found a place to use them they are too cool.
Just curious if you are going to change the name of your new house or keep it lilypadcottage since it is your ‘brand name’?
My site will stay thelilypadcottage so I don’t cause confusion but I haven’t figured out a name for the house yet.
That table is awesome, caught my eye first thing. Love the nook.
Thanks so much Sue!
Your breakfast nook looks beautiful. My twin boys are college sophomores this year. It’s not easy, that for sure ;-( My daughter is a sophomore in high school so she gets all the attention now ;-) Looking forward to Friday feels … enjoy your M & M’s …
Thanks Lisa, those M&M’s are so addicting!
Just awesome I love the beams and everything about the reading nook! God bless and thank you
Thanks Norma, have a great week!
Your home is fabulous!
Great News that you will be posting more often! A couple of years ago you posted a survey on some posts we would enjoy. I remember suggesting more posts of the surrounding area. It looks beautiful up there!
Your new home is gorgeous!
That’s a good idea Beth, I should go back and read that survey now that I actually have the time to post!
I love your breakfast nook! There are tiny rubber hinge restrictors that can be added to cabinet doors in cases like yours. Although it looks like a squeeze and may not have allowed you to open the door enough to be useful. I used them on my glass doors in the kitchen so they wouldn’t hit the corners of my range hood. Looking forward to your new postings!
Yeah I would have only been able to get it open a few inches but thanks for the idea!
Beautiful! Can you share where you got the throw blanket with tassels?
It’s from H&M a few years back.
Every picture of this new home is gorgeous! My niece has just built a beautiful new home in Royal Oak, Mi and they are moving in today! I can’t wait to see it! Love the future of your blog! Enjoy the quiet times! Looks gorgeous! @ magsjag
Thanks Maggie, I always appreciate all your sweet comments!
Okay, this comment is set to music. So picture that.
STUNNING>
ha thanks Karen!
Looks so inviting! Look forward to seeing you Friday feels!
I have been trying to find a tutorial so long on how to do beams that look Exactly like that!!! Can you share how you did it!?!? Please!?!
Your breakfast nook is gorgeous, Kelly! I love it! It sounds like we’re in similar life stages…Babies off to kindergarten, which means more time to blog. I’m looking forward to reading your new posts and series! ;)
Thanks April, yes such a bittersweet transition time I am looking forward to blogging more! Can’t wait to see what you are up to too :)