Happy November! What?! Was October the fastest month for anyone else?

This week, we cleared out our bedroom again and right now, Chris and I are cuddled up in Faye’s Queen size bed–which feels really significantly smaller than our King, I’m not going to lie–while she is currently sleeping in the extra bed in Greta’s room. I knew that the extra bed in Greta’s room would come in handy, but I didn’t realize how much it would get used! It’s been wonderful. We got kicked out of our master bedroom two days ago so that they could start the demo in there, including taking down the tray ceiling, prepping for the new floor to ceiling doors leading out to the balcony, opening the wall to our new master closet and extending the stone fireplace up to the ceiling. It was all a part of the plan, but man does it feel like a lot right now (confession: we’re thinking of doing the floors while we have no furniture because it seems like the easiest time to do it, but I can’t tell if I’m crazy or smart in considering that).

Our office is also in semi-shambles (but should be put back together by next week, fingers crossed!) and being displaced in so many areas is starting to take its toll, to be honest. We were looking around tonight for our sanctuary spaces–the spaces that we feel like we can relax and be at home in and right now it’s down to the kitchen/breakfast nook (a HUGE one, so so happy we did a phase 1 makeover there) and Greta and Polly’s room. It’s not much, but if we retreat to those areas for refuge when the dust and debris start getting us down, it really helps. If you’re planning a reno–plan your sanctuary space too!

It made me think more about what we’re doing here as a whole. We’re trying to create the refuge feeling everywhere. We’re trying to make our home the refuge from everything else. Right now, it’s messy. So messy! But, we’re laying some major groundwork. And part of me is thinking what have you done!? And the other part knows I’m making a sanctuary for our family that we can spend years together in. I keep telling Chris–this is the ripping off the bandaid. In the grand scheme, it will be such a short amount of time–right!? Right. Right?

More fun things this week

• It took us nearly five months, but we did it. We bought a sofa for the living room. We decided to do two (different) sofas facing each other and one will be this navy one. (Isn’t it gorgeous?!) It should arrive right on time for the current renovation to wrap I think!

• Speaking of the living room, this is a very good dupe to our leather lounge sling chairs (for half the price!)

• This before and progress by @zoecorrine is getting me THROUGH right now.

• We were supposed to do an install on a model home two weeks ago, but had to postpone it due to illness in our house to this upcoming week and I can’t even tell you how excited I am for it. I designed the room on a tight budget and as things have started arriving, I’ve been secretly wishing I could stash so much of it for our home. Like these dome lamps. I got a pair of the tan/pink (they are the perfect tone!) and I’m just saying–they might show up again.

• This paneling by Erica Ward Interiors are what my dining room dreams are made of.

• I scored this light blue striped drapey button up on major sale this week (for $26! use code 14989 ) and it’s the perfect closet staple.

• Thanks so much for all of your input on this post! Who knew a bathroom could bring about such a lively discussion? The new art I ordered arrived and I’m eager to try a new color in Greta’s bathroom–I might even go nuts and paint the walls and bead board the same color. !!! Standby.

• That’s a sneak peek at where we’re headed in our office space! The sofa is the Charly we designed for Interior Define and we’ll be using these sconces on either side of our logo (3D metal). Hope you follow along this weekend on Instagram stories as we make some major progress putting our office back together!  Because it’s a studio space, all of the walls are going white and, like, I’m excited for a blank slate and to not have a gray ceiling and walls, but also–does anyone else think painting walls white is a boring job regardless of the fresh outcome? I know it’ll look nice, but man I just want to start bringing in the furniture already! I think I might convince myself to paint some contrast trim on the windows just so there’s some excitement in the day/space.