{ real estate dreams: a little rowhome to call my own }

though it'll be a long time before i own my home, that doesn't stop me from browsing real estate listings for hours on end. what can i say, i'm a realtor's daughter and i'm hooked on houses. as i sat in bed this morning with a cup of coffee (mind you i'm snowed in) i was doing some of my usual perusing on redfin.com when i came across this cute little rowhome in one of my favorite baltimore neighborhoods: fells point.

now, this guy is perfectly livable as is, and at the same time, is nothing terribly special, all things considered. but i couldn't help but think of all the potential it has to be the perfect home, and how i'd hop on the chance to buy him in a heartbeat. (i don't know why i decided it's a him, but just go with me here.)

here's the view when you first walk in:

pretty, but the first thing i'd do is stain the floors a rich ebony color...

and paint the walls a bright, clean white. or maybe a soft greige? sounds boring, i know, but bear with me...

I'm a huge fan of painted stairs, and would definitely paint these suckers black to make the spindly details look nice and updated. I love this example from Jenny Komenda of Little Green Notebook.

yeah. that'll do pig. 

i think this dining area would be a great place to experiment with wallpaper. love this one, this one and this one (among others) from schmaucher.

this is a perfect example of a kitchen that definitely still needs to be tweaked but could be done on a fairly thrifty budget - at least for a phase one makeover until you wanted to spend more to make it exactly your taste.

first of all, that wall color needs to go so i'd bring in the same color from the living room to keep everything flowing. that fridge is far too big for the space and makes the whole thing feel much more cramped than it is, so I'd replace it with one that was flesh and fitted to the counter depth. I think the lower cabinets are fine (aside from needing paint) but the uppers need to be refaced. i'd paint them a pretty grey and add some hardware to make them look more polished. Since the countertops are totally workable but not what I'd pick, I'd remove the strip of granite on the wall and add a backsplash (herringbone pattern perhaps?) that would go all the way to the ceiling on the far wall with the stove. Then I'd remove the microwave and cabinet above the range and replace it with a hood. After refacing the upper cabinets built around the fridge for something more streamlined to match the lowers, I'd remove the upper cabinets on the right wall and replace with open shelving to keep everything feeling airier and give the illusion of more space.

nothing groundbreaking but with some pretty styling and accessorizing, i think this kitchen would do just fine. one of my favorite features are the windows on the far walls. i'd do away with a blinds and bring in some pretty roman shades. I also don't love the tile but it's better than others that i've seen and a pretty indoor/outdoor rug with lively color and pattern would bring the whole space to life in no time.

some inspiration...

via

via

via

via

anyone else participated in some real estate dreaming lately?

lovelovelove.

C

{ in the middle }

a couple of weekends ago i went to a little cabin in berkley springs with my book club girls. most of these ladies are a lot more outdoorsy than i am, so while i was focused on taking in the logistics of building a fire and trying not to get lost on our hiking trails, the rest of them were pretty much in their element. i really enjoyed it though, and am always reminded in times like those (especially late at night when you look up and can actually see thousands and thousands of STARS) how nice it is to get away from the city lights and just slow down. 

while i don't necessarily consider myself outdoorsy, i love going to new places no matter what kind of place it is. beach, woods, city, small town, you name it. it's a joy just to be in a new surrounding. 

for those of you who don't know, i was born in texas and that's where almost all of my family still resides. i lived there until i was in third grade, so i still have lots of memories of living in the south. every time i walk into a texas bbq shop, my childhood memories come flooding back to me and it's almost as if i never left. riding through the small town where my parents grew up reminds me of long weekends i used to spend at my granny and grandpas. pam tillis and george straight reminds me of two stepping in the kitchen with my mom while she would cook dinner.

and don't even get me started on what happens when (the one and only) reba comes on the radio. 

my dad mentioned to me that sometimes he wonders what my sister and i would be like if we had grown up in texas our whole lives, instead of moving to baltimore. i've wondered the same thing, and it's definitely strange to think about, because it's safe to say my life would be drastically different. in addition to interior decorating, i also work at the arts high school that i attended here in baltimore city, which is also where i met trevor, who i've been with for seven years. those are just two ways in which so much of my life and love is wrapped up in the weird, quirky city that is baltimore.

i like to think that i've been lucky enough to experience the best parts of both places, though. ill never forget the first time i saw new york city with my own eyes and the christmas that i spent watching the rockettes at radio city music hall, just like i'll never forget the memories of riding around in my grandpa's pickup truck singing patsy cline.

when i talk to people from either the south or the northeast, i get this strange feeling that i need to downplay or apologize for the other part of my life. like i need to make myself seem as if i don't love the northeast as much as i do, or pretend that i don't really have much of a connection to the south anymore. isn't that weird? im not sure why that is. i feel pride and love for both of these places for different reasons, and it means so much to me that trevor will get to experience a piece of my childhood when we go visit my family this thanksgiving. 

i'm no yankee, and let's face it, i'm no cowgirl either. i'm somewhere in the middle, and i like to think that's not such a bad place to be.

Caitlin Creative at Work: Seattle Apartment Entryway

Happy Friday, everyone! I hope this week has been good to you. It's rainy and dreary here today, so I'm sitting in bed with Bentley and a cup of tea for just a bit longer before I have to head off to work. But first, I thought I'd share a recent interior project that I worked on with you. I love this one for it's simplicity - an entryway can often be a forgotten piece of your home (especially if you live in an apartment) but if you're able to define a great, functional space you love, it will make your day each time you walk through the door.

Jen Barela from Lemon Drop Love reached out for her foyer/entryway area. She wanted something stylish and welcoming, but also functional, as she needed a place to take on/off shoes, place wet boots, dog leashes, doggie business bags, etc. She's keeping her new apartment fresh and clean - with mostly whites, neutrals, and natural wood.

This is what I sent her:

The entryway area is without any outlets - so I also sent through some styling tips to help her style the top of the table without a lamp. 

Overall, it was such a fun project (I've worked with Jen before and she's about as close to a dream client as you can get!) and I can't wait to see the end results. Thanks for being awesome, Jen :).

Today is a pretty packed day - I've got some client work to tend to, some work for The Everygirl to wrap up, and a full day at the arts high school where I manage the theater department. PLUS I need to get myself packed because I'm jetting off to New York first thing in the morning for my dear friend's birthday! So, so excited.

Happy weekend, everyone!

lovelovelove.

C

If you'd like to work together, please head on over to my website to see my full list of services & reach out at caitlinpaigebrown{at}gmail.com

{ content }

i've been feeling awfully content lately. not that i don't have a lot on my mind (because let's face it, life will do that to you) but there's a peace that has come with settling into this little life we're making here, and it feels good. 

looking around at our half-finished apartment and our adorable (albeit spoiled) dog, the piles of dishes in the sink leftover from our meals together, my walk to work in the mornings, spending my afternoons working on design projects, sitting on the sidelines to cheer trevor on for his saturday football games and starting doggie school with Bentley just makes me feel incredibly grateful. things aren't perfect but i am so, so lucky for this little life of mine. 

i lost my phone about a month ago, and it's actually been kind of nice. i'm excited to be back on the map again (hopefully this weekend!) but i've also really enjoyed how much easier it is to be in the moment when i'm not wondering what's happening on instagram or if i've missed any calls or text messages. maybe that's what's responsible for me stopping and smelling the roses lately. 

i have a lot of fun projects to share with you, and i promise i will! check back later this week of a recap of a recent design project, and plenty more to come.

lovelovelove.

 C

all photos via

{ gather 'round }

this photo has me dying for a fall dinner party. we're supposed to be getting a cold front this thursday and i can.not.wait.

i'll spare you the details of why i haven't stopped by to say hello - but i WILL tell you that i have a few very fun projects in the works that i can't wait to share with you! i must say that i'm settling into my new little life in baltimore  quite nicely, and it feels wonderful. 

not to sound like a cliche, but i am so ready for a season of hayrides, apple cider, cable knit sweaters, and my favorite fall movie: you've got mail.

happy wednesday everyone! i hope today is a marvelous today.

lovelovelove.

C

image via

{ a life lived well }

I crave moments and memories. Does anyone else? From making Sunday morning pancakes to sitting on the Amalfi Coast in Italy, I crave moments big and small. The tumblr A Life Lived Well is my perfect life inspiration board. I constantly want to dive through the photos and soak up the moments that they capture. 

Then again, my moments will come too, and it's my job to not let them pass me by. To notice when I'm happy. Like this very moment, when sitting on the couch, blogging with my coffee and our new little boy dog, Bentley is softly snoring next to me. 

Happy Friday, everyone! Thanks so much for stopping in.

lovelovelove.

C

All photos via A Life Lived Well

{ finding your bearings in a new city }

i keep wanting to blog. in fact, i keep starting to blog, but before i know it i've saved the post as a draft, closed my computer and stepped away from it for the rest of the day. 

i think that's called a rut.

the ironic thing is, i'm in this new{ish - i know i grew up here but it feels different after being away for years} creative city where i should be able to find inspiration right and left, but for some reason, i haven't been able to grasp any of it this week. i can see inspiration from afar, but it's like i can't interact with it. i've just been kind of watching it from a distance. so i haven't been blogging because i didn't feel like anything was worthy of a post, and for whatever reason, i keep putting an enormous amount of pressure on myself to only update the darn thing when i have original, creative content. 

but this morning i thought, "i want to blog." 

and so i promised myself i would. even if it was just me writing from bed with a cup of coffee and not a clue of where i'm going with it. so hi guys, how are you?

in theory, there are so many things i could be posting about. i've had a ton of ideas about new features/photo shoots i want to share {i.e. the patio project i worked on over the weekend, the new dresser we just got for the bedroom, the different beds we're considering to replace our current {broken} ikea one, the rug we've gotten {which i'm still on the fence about}, a fun couch/coffee table styling feature i created, etc.

but don't you ever feel overwhelmed by all of that? i have so many ideas, but somehow being in a new{ish} city, trying to find my bearings, working on making myself peaceful and happy and fulfilled even on the trying days, can make all of these ideas suddenly feel like more than one person can handle. after all, i don't really know the best place to go get flowers for a photo shoot that i want to style, or who will want to collaborate and be a part of these things with me {or if they'll just think it's totally weird}. i guess the bottom line is, i don't have my people yet. my creative people {like danielle & alaina & jess} who won't laugh at me when i talk about the latest issue of Lonny, interiors, projects and ideas, but instead, fuel them with their own creative energy and input. 

finding your people takes time, and i have to remind myself that the discomfort you feel after moving to a different city is often the best part - after all,  it's when you learn the most. 

so for now, ill just enjoy the view.

lovelovelove.

C

{ project patio }

{one}

{two}

{three}

I'm in the midst of working on a patio project that needs to get finished pronto {like, tomorrow} so I'm spending the majority of my day making a plan for the items that need to be picked up and styled. I found these three images while perusing for inspiration and MAN are they making me wish this patio space was my own. what i would give for a little outdoor area to sip coffee in the morning, drink wine at night, and sunbathe with a book. one day, one day.

stay tuned for more project patio updates later this week!

lovelovelove.

C

{ style your space with caitlin creative interiors & styling }

Happy Friday everyone! I, for one, am SO excited for the weekend. All I know is that tonight will involve wine and Sunday will involve pancakes. Good enough for me.

I also wanted to let you guys know that I've just added a new service to Caitlin Creative Interiors. The Style Your Space package caters to those who either may not have the budget for a total room redesign, or have all the basics in place but need some guidance with that final layer to make the room feel "special." I really wanted to make sure I had a service that would be feasible for more of my readers, so  I hope you guys are as excited as I am! Another bonus? As of now the package will only take 1-2 weeks to go from my inbox to yours, so it's perfect if your in a pinch for an upcoming party or dinner gathering where you want your home to look it's best.

If you would like to get started or want to know more about my services, feel free to visit the site here, or send me an email at caitlinpaigebrown@gmail.com.

Happy weekend everyone! 

lovelovelove.

-C

{ decorating with a boy: his & hers living room chairs }

i know i still owe you guys a full apartment "before" tour, so stay tuned for that. 

for now, lets chat a little bit more about decorating with a boy.

as i've mentioned before, one of my biggest decorating concerns when trevor and i moved in together was that our home would feel either too feminine or too masculine. stepping back and looking at our apartment yesterday, i realized we're actually doing a pretty good job of keeping things balanced. in fact, one of my favorite corners of our little place is this his & hers area in our living room. the wingback silhouette definitely contrasts the masculine plycraft lounger on the right (scored on Craigslist a couple of years ago) making it an area that feels layered and comfortable. it sort of reminds me of this shot from Lonny, which has always been one of my favorite inspiration photos:

For now, we've styled the area with a floor length mirror, some bright blooms and a cocktail table. I could definitely see a few things changing over time - I kind of love the idea of switching out the mirror for a leaning frame of instagrams - kind of like this:

I guess we'll have to wait and see where we end up!

i'm wrapping up a couple of projects today, and also hoping to make it to the gym for a good workout. is the heat making anyone else feel sluggish? yuck.

thanks for stopping in y'all. see you tomorrow!

lovelovelove.

-C

{ tablescapes & flatware & such }

so you can't quite tell from my lovely iPhone photo (the good camera is currently without a charger - sad.) but i acquired these amazing (FREE) brass napkin rings and napkins over the weekend. i was so excited about using them that I made myself a fancy breakfast setting this morning so i could give 'em a whirl (are you judging me yet?).

sadly i don't have any brass/gold flatware to pair the napkin rings with so i settled for a set of silver, which was just fine. trevor and i have been going back and forth on investing in a set of good flatware just for when company comes over but we're having trouble deciding which direction we want to go in. 

gold is obviously lovely but it's feeling a bit tired. we've been considering this set of matte black flatware for a whiiiiile now:

i do actually think they're pretty baller, but then i think i'd miss the warmth of the gold (which this set also comes in) for occasions like thanksgiving and such (and ya know, in general). 

if only we could get both. thoughts?

happy monday y'all! lovelovelove.

-C