Feb
1
2009
1
2009
Home At Last
Filed under: Home in Bozeman
We’ve been living in our “house without wheels” for exactly 2 months…and we’re finally settled! We have a few more boxes to go through, but for the most part, we’re done. Everyday, we look at each other and say “Don’t you love our house?!”. It fits us perfectly and we love every nook and cranny. It took Matt about 2 weeks to do the complete remodel (paid for in full by the owners, including labor…yay!). We replaced all of the flooring and painted every surface in the house with zero-voc paint…it truly feels like “our home” now.
This transition found us without ANY furniture…because we sold it all before the tour. We did have our bed, which we took out of the RV, but that was it. So, the 6 weeks before we moved into town were filled with lots and lots of Craigslist searches and “going to see” trips. We were able to furnish the entire house with used items…with the exception of a few handmade goodies and things like curtain rods, etc. We had so much fun piecing it all together…one amazing “find” at a time. Here are some of the cool things we found:
Couch: The previous tenant left the couch in the house, and it’s exactly what we were looking for. Yay! A total blessing.
Futon: We got our organic/non-toxic futon from a lovely couple, whom we are now friends with because of that transaction. It’s made a really comfy guest bed for our family. Love it.
Table/Chairs: This was something that I was really struggling with because I was so missing having a family dinner and being able to serve my family on a “real” table. The Christmas tree stood where the table is now, and we had just been using the bar as our eating area. However, this always left one person out in the cold 
On the couch, floor, etc. The catch was that there isn’t a clear “dining area”. We had a VERY small space to work with and the table needed to fit perfectly, have compact chairs, etc. We finally found our gem on Craigslist and I knew the moment I saw it that God sent it for me 
The chairs matched the berry color in the rug and curtains perfectly, and were exactly what we wanted! The table fit the space like a glove as well. The best part, we got it all (plus a 5th chair) for $80.00. Patience pays off!
Desk: I needed a place to set up my printer, hard drives, etc. but there really was no place to put a “real” office space. We brainstormed and decided that behind the door in the bedroom would work perfectly. We found an old, tiny desk at the thrift store and it works great. It just goes to show that when you live in a small space, you can utilize every corner!
Glider Rocker & Changing Table: As you know, we’re getting ready for the arrival a new baby, so we were on the look out for a rocker and other baby goodies. We found both the rocker and changing table on Craigslist for a steal.
A few of our other “treasured items” (aka: things we didn’t sell) were brought to Montana from Iowa by my lovely parents when they came for Christmas…Bella’s wooden kitchen, wooden doll bed, etc.
There are so many things we love about this house…the location, the great parking, the layout, the laundry, the woodburning stove, the shower head…we love it all. I can’t wait for summer to come so I can find more things to love about it. Flowers, trees, proximity to the park. Oooooh so good.
So without further ado…I invite you to come on in for a cup of tea, and have a look around!
Note: Each Flickr photo has little notes and more information on it, so be sure to click on the individual images and run your mouse across it to see them. Don’t miss The Happy Wall and the “Rejoice” banner…two of my favorites
Edited to add:
The paint is No-VOC paint from Columbia Pure Coat:
Yellow: Tropical Dream
Green: Motherland
Blue: Stillwater
Brown: Blonde Shell
Posted by Sara @ 1:20 am | Leave a Comment
2
2009
Beautiful place, Sara! I love all of your cute decorating ideas
Thanks so much for sharing.
2
2009
Sara,
you are a wonderful artist! I love your place…thanks for the tea =D. Love, Liliana♥
2
2009
What a fabulous space…so warm and inviting. Seeing this made my day. Thanks for sharing!
2
2009
OOO Sara it’s beautiful, as all your home’s are. Congrats to being in a house with no wheels! I LOVE the fabric hoops with different fabric. I think I may copy the idea for my bathroom wall which as nothing on it right now. Thanks again for great inspiration!
XO
2
2009
Thank you for sharing!! Your home looks so welcoming and cozy. I especially love how you mix it up with patterns and textiles. You don’t worry about having patterns match perfectly, and yet it looks so wonderful and put together
) You’ve inspired me to do some more experimenting in my little place! Keep up all your writing, sharing and challenges – you are an encouragement to me even though I don’t know you personally.
2
2009
Love, love, love! My favorite talent of yours is your awesome use of lighting…makes all the difference in the world! One day we will come see you in Montana!!!
2
2009
Thanks for sharing your home with us!
3
2009
Sara,
As always I am so blown away with your ideas and creativity…I am totally gonna use some of your ideas! Just beautiful!
mere
3
2009
It all looks lovely and very personalized. I love personal spaces that really reflect the people who live in them. You should post the specific the paint colors you used- all great choices!
3
2009
Sarah,
It’s very nice. Homey and personal. I got some good ideas from checking it out. Thanks for sharing with us.
Blessings, Laura
3
2009
Thanks Sara! Jackie, I can so relate! Sara, I love to live (decorate) vicariously through you. Seriously, I agree with what another commenter said, you could be an interior decorater. Well, you wouldn’t have to be the decorator with kids and all, but you could be a freelance designer. For $100 or $200 or something you go into someone’s home and tell them what to get rid of, what to put where, and which colors to use. You could just charge by the hour… And I’m so glad you didn’t get rid of your trays or enamel lids in your moves!
3
2009
Oh, my favorite things about your home:
-color
-art (repurposed or handcrafted etc)
-space/order (lack of clutter)
3
2009
Love,love,love all the bright colors! I looked at every single photo…So fun and inspiring! Thanks for showing!
)
3
2009
Oh by the way, how cute is this home-made play kitchen?
http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/how-to/homemade-play-kitchen-from-fresh-direct-boxes-075330
3
2009
Sara, I’m here via Tonia’s blog. I am so interested in your travel adventure. We’re planning an RV road trip this spring with my husband’s brother and his wife. We can only go for six weeks (they are taking the whole summer), but my head is spinning with a million questions about how to get ready for the trip and what to do with the mail….. I’ll plan to read your blog and see how you’ve worked it all out.
Glad to see you’ve settled down in such a nice way! I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.
3
2009
so happy and cosy sara!!!
3
2009
I have been reading your blog for a while but I am not sure if I have ever commented.
Your home is beautiful. I love the colors. It is so cozy and homey. What a delightful retreat for your family.
3
2009
hi!
I”ve been following you for a while…hmmm, I think on DS and maybe mothering?
I remember when I started you were in the tiny apartment!
well…you’ve come a long way! congrats on the coming little one!
question, where did you get the smaller rug in the living room?
thanks so much!
4
2009
Sara-would you mind letting us know how many sq ft your house is? I see so many similarities to our current house, which was built in the 1920′s, and is around 900 sq ft. Love it!
4
2009
Carrie…it’s between 800-900 sq. feet. Same as yours
For all of you who are asking for the paint colors, I will get them listed soon
4
2009
its absolutely maddening how talented you two are, I wish I had the guts to paint my walls orange. I get most of my inspriation from the pottery barn catalog (sigh)- but now I’m going to sit down at the sara school of design and puruse your other flicker streams to rip off your ideas.
4
2009
Your house looks great! I love how you decorated it and how you got so many great things from craigslist. I was curious…are you going to cloth diaper the new baby too? We’re due in May with our second and going to cloth diaper and I just can’t wait. It’s so much fun.
4
2009
P.S. – Do you have any Charley Harper prints? His art seems in line with your style.
5
2009
FYI…I updated the original post with the paint colors.
5
2009
Hi Sarah,
I really like the Rejoice banner…I might order one from Etsy. I see you have a giveaway, but I’m definitely interested in ordering one or two.
I tried to see how you hung it…but couldn’t tell from the photo. Did you put hooks on the ceiling or are there loops on the banner to hang on a nail?
5
2009
Amy…yes, we used the screw in hooks and then just tied them loosely up there.
6
2009
Sara, your home is wonderful. I love the colours and the feeling of peace. Thanks for sharing with us your pictures. Blessings, Heather
6
2009
Hey,
I have been silently reading your blog for a while, but I just wanted to say that your house is beautiful! I really love your idea for the sewing rings and material, simple but very effective!
I’ll be coming back to read more
6
2009
Sara –
You’re place looks heavenly…..
Enjoy settling in and reaping the rewards of making a house your home.
6
2009
Sara,
Lovely and very very Janssen. But where are the Birds????
The bedroom color is very soothing…
Stay warm and cozy….
6
2009
Victoria…thanks
The blue birds stayed in the RV when we sold it. Eventually, I’d like to get some white birds for our lofted ceiling area in the kitchen.
7
2009
love, love the house!!
We totally have that little kitchen in your daughter’s room! 
14
2009
So, so gorgeous!! I just love your sense of style and use of color! And I have hanging birds similar to the ones you have from World Market
My house is about the size of yours, square footage-wise, but yours seems so much bigger because of the awesome open layout–definitely something I need to be more aware of next time I move!
19
2009
Thank you for taking the time to share these photos of your home with us. I found them very inspiring. Your home matches your blog LOL. I live the bright colours.
2
2010
Hey
I just found your site & its adorable.
I am thinking that “Janssens” must have a knack for photography. My friend Brett is a photographer
Wonder if you guys are actually related?