{ plans for our little apartment kitchen! }

this little apartment of ours is pretty small (i realize i still need to show you guys a full tour of the place!)  but our kitchen is actually a fairly decent size as far as apartments go. unfortunately, the space is a little wasted. the kitchen is in the back of the apartment away from the living area so we don't currently spend much time in it. however, i'd love to find a way to make the space a little more useable. for now, we just kind of plopped our desk there, but i typically end up working on my laptop in the living room because the kitchen just feels cold and uncomfortable. allow me to clue you in...(and sorry for the crappy photos - it was all i had at the moment!)

well that was embarrassing, but hey, i'm keepin' it real over here. so as you can see, there's a big empty space next to the fridge, and then there's a large area where the desk currently is, where most would put a breakfast table of some sort. see, we actually have the perfect little round table for that area, but we decided to place that in the living room for a combined living/dining area instead. the kitchen doesn't get a lot of light so we just weren't too thrilled at the thought of to holding all of our dinner parties or gatherings in the darkest corner of the apartment. i was sort of stumped on how i wanted to handle this area of the kitchen for a while, but the other day i was thinking that i actually think it would be a perfect place for a little breakfast banquette.

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i'm still trying to decide what configuration would work best, but i think for the sake of being in a rental we'd probably be better off with a settee/bench situation rather than a traditional banquette. i think it would work with the coziness of the room rather than against it, and add an element of comfort that just might inspire us to hang out in the kitchen after all. i'll keep you guys posted on this as the ideas develop. 

hope you're all enjoying your thursday! thanks so much for stopping in. lovelovelove.

{ caitlin creative in 2014 }

{photo by the amazing anna reynal}

i can hardly believe that it's 2014. doesn't that just seem like such a big number? 2012 and 2013 felt like one big blur to me. i packed a lot of action into those two years: getting an internship with the everygirl and jess lc, moving to chicago for the summer, moving to chicago permanently, getting a full-time position at a pr firm, leaving said pr firm, leaving chicago, moving to baltimore, moving in with trevor, launching caitlin creative, getting a dog, etc, etc.)

so here i am. with a brand new year and for the first time in a long time, my life feels a bit...steady. im still working on growing my decorating services, i've spent some time deciding what exactly i want this blog to be and why i want to keep doing it, trevor and i are settled in baltimore (for now) and there are no big life changes on the horizon. its sort of weird, actually.

i have a good feeling about 2014. ive had moments recently where i miss chicago so much it aches, and i kind of can't believe i ever left. at the same time, i find myself more content on a daily basis than i have been in a while. i don't know if that make sense, and im still figuring out what it all means myself. my hope for 2014 is to fill it with adventures, learning, joy, and creativity. it's awfully easy to become complacent about life without ever intending to, and im going to do my best to check in with myself frequently about how im spending my days this year.

alright y'all, check back later today for a second post with my plans for our little apartment kitchen (which is admittedly the eyesore of this humble abode). excited to finally tackle it!

happy new year, everyone. wishing you all the very, very best. lovelovelove.

{ 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...

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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