Inspiration Files: Modern Farmhouse Fun

Here's a fun trip down Imagination Lane! I picked a beautiful modern farmhouse and designed the rooms inside using my imagination and Pinterest. 

Source: builderhouseplans.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Here is the floorplan of this modern farmhouse:

Source: builderhouseplans.com via Ellie on Pinterest

There would be, of course, a super-organized garage with plenty of storage for garden tools and space for projects. (My husband would have his own separate shop for all things car.)

Source: bhg.com via L on Pinterest

Since the family would usually enter through the garage, we would add a mudroom in there:

Source: bhg.com via Susan on Pinterest

The entrance from the garage is shared with the laundry room which would look like this:

Source: google.com via Riley on Pinterest

After passing through the laundry room, you enter the breakfast nook. Because of our family preferences, this so-called nook would be our main eating area. I love this round table that would be comfortable for our family of five yet there's room to add more chairs for guests.

Source: potterybarn.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Of course the kids could eat at the breakfast bar:

Source: isabellaandmaxrooms.blogspot.com via Emily on Pinterest

In fact, the above kitchen would be along the lines of what would fit in this modern farmhouse. That layout isn't at all right, though, so here are some more fun options. The layouts would have to be adjusted, of course.

Source: houzz.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Basically, I'd be happy if you gave me a farmhouse sink, plenty of beadboard, some open shelving somewhere and lots of storage! I've also been loving kitchens with some color in them lately, like a greenish gray. I think the 11' x 14' kitchen would have room for an island, perhaps a smaller version of this:

Source: urbanfarmgirlandco.blogspot.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Please, not those lights though!


I'm mildly obsessed with kitchens, so before I get stuck in there forever, let's continue the tour! Here is the floorplan again, for your reference.

Source: builderhouseplans.com via Ellie on Pinterest

It looks like the next room we come to is what is labeled as the dining room. I think it would serve our purposes better as a craft room combined with a classroom! Here are some ideas.

Source: designdazzle.blogspot.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: farm7.static.flickr.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: jillianharris.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Isn't that fun? Passing through the dining-room-turned-craft-and-classroom is the formal entry to the house. Aren't you glad you came in through the garage with the family? Here's what it could look like.

Source: thewonderlustjournal.com via Christine on Pinterest

I'm not wild about the floor and this floor plan has a 2-story ceiling, but the layout is right. I love this area for guests to leave their jackets and shoes, as well as plenty of space to leave a light jacket and flip flops for a quick evening stroll!

Source: scissorsandspatulas.com via Susie on Pinterest

If you were to walk in from the front door, the living room would be straight ahead.

Source: 3.bp.blogspot.com via Ellie on Pinterest

I love the above layout but with these colors:

Source: thehandmadehome.net via Ellie on Pinterest

Or these!

Source: potterybarn.com via Mayra on Pinterest

Here are some of my favorite areas of the porch... you know, in my imagination!

Source: ribbonwoodcottage.blogspot.com via Teresa on Pinterest

Source: houzz.com via Andrea on Pinterest

Yeah, I spent way too much time on Pinterest on Saturday night! I might just do the imaginary bedrooms and bathrooms next time! 

Barns of Benton County-Red

For our viewing pleasure today, we have a red livestock barn a red grain bin with a green roof. Enjoy!

My Word of the Year

Surrender.


a) to yield to the power, control or possession of another upon compulsion or demand;
b) to give up completely or agree to forgo especially in favor to another;
c) to give (oneself) up into the power of another especially as a prisoner
d) to give (oneself) over to something (as an influence)

Probably not what one thinks of when trying to choose a word for the year. 


But let's think about how appropriate it is! 


When my little boy asks me to play with him, I will surrender my to-do list and enjoy him while he still wants my attention.


I will surrender some of my sleep-in time to get up and have my devotional.


I will surrender to the demands of the laundry created by this family of 5.


When my baby needs my attention, I will surrender it to him fully.


I will choose to surrender some of my time on blogs and pinterest to be present for my middle son.


I will surrender to the health-needs of my body and get some exercise!


I will surrender my tenancy to cook whatever I'm hungry for at supper time and actually create a menu system that works for my family.


I will surrender my fear of rejection or being judged and talk about my spiritual life on this here bloggy blog.


Speaking of which, I have three favorite scriptures that have special meaning to me. One is Isaiah 61:3, the "beauty for ashes" text where I got the inspiration for the name of this blog. Another is in Zephaniah 3:17 where it says that God "will rejoice over you with singing." Can you imagine being loved that much?! 


That leads me to my next favorite verse: Jeremiah 29:11. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Um, yes please! This God will take my ashes and turn them into beauty, will rejoice over me with singing and has plans for me. Ellie. Those plans include prosperity and hope and a future? I'll take it!


But you know what? God can't work out the plans He has for me (or for you) if you don't surrender. Surrender my/your goals and ideas and dreams. They're just ashes, remember? How much better are God's plans for me or you than the loftiest imaginings we can think of?


Oh, sure, this prosperity might not be nice cars, fancy clothes, a huge, perfectly decorated house and exotic vacations. It might not mean comfort and plenty and security as the world defines those things. 


It will be my special path chosen just for me by the Creator of the Universe. The One whose beauty covers my ashes. The One who rejoices over me with singing. The One who has a plan for my life.


I surrender.




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Inspiration Files: Small, Functional Entries

I'm sure you remember from this post that our entry is lacking in function, saved only by a closet shared by the kitchen. Sometimes it's cathartic to see how other homes function better, so here is a collection of awesome entries for our inspiration. 


Note: These entries are specifically for where the family comes into the house, not formal entries or foyers. I've focused on entries that are too small for benches or big storage units. Some look like mud rooms but are converted from a coat closet! We'll look at more entries with benches and awesome storage in another post!

Source: google.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: ikea.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: bhg.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: bhg.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Beth at Home Stories A to Z

Source: decorchick.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: worleyhouseblog.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: bhg.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: remodelingguy.net via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: the36thavenue.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: designsponge.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: housetweaking.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Hope you enjoyed these inspiration pictures! Do you have a small entry? What works for your home? Anybody want to tackle a coat closet makeover today?

Barns of Benton County: Old Blue

I love old barns. We have one and we don't do much with it, but I like how they look. I seem to always be taking pictures of barns around where we live, so I thought I'd share them with you! My goal is to share another barn every Sunday. Hope you enjoy!

This barn is one we pass regularly. I like its unique color. I always wonder what stories these old barns could tell. Who built it? When? Why? What was its purpose? What unusual things has it sheltered? What is it used for now? And for this barn, why did they paint it blue?


What do you like about it?


 

Custom Clipboard

Once upon a time in a land far far away there lived a blogger with dreams of becoming more organized and a history of teaching. In her teaching days, she loved using clipboards for on-the-go papers, so when this blogger came across a 4-pack of clipboards  for next to nothing, she bought them.


And there they sat. Collecting dust and adding to the mess and certainly NOT aiding in organization!


But one day, our heroine broke out the scrapbook paper and modge podge and the clipboards took on a new life.

The once-boring clipboards got a big dose of color and personality with the pretty papers and boosted functionality with the addition of a pocket.

And while this blogger can only imagine what true organization would be like, she now appreciates and uses the clipboards! (Shown here with inspiration pictures cut from a Ballard Designs catalog for when our savvy blogger finds the look for less or a DIY option! Another clipboard in said blogger's home holds a potty chart for her 2 1/2 year old. Who says potty charts can't be pretty?)

What would you use a pretty clipboard for?


Me? I'm riding off into the sunset and living happily ever after!

Don't forget to enter to win this giveaway!



 

Christmas Memories - Giveaway!

I was thrilled when I was contacted by My Memories to host a giveaway for their software. I'm a fan of scrapbooking with real paper and pictures and embellishments and mementos, but let's face it, that takes tons of time! I've been wanting to try digital scrapbooking and I love it! 

It only took an hour to complete this album!

It's one of the pre-formatted albums, so I just selected it, chose my pictures and told it to 'autofill'. 

I changed a few pictures because I'm OCD like that, but it was so easy!

There a places to journal, you can edit the photos in the program (instead of editing them on your computer before you upload them to your album), and you can add embellishments!

I was able to download my album as jpg files, so now I can email it or upload it to a web page.

I can also print the pages on my own printer! 

I had a lot of fun scrapbooking and will definitely do more with My Memories. 

You can do much more than these traditional pages too! You can make calendars, gift tags, cards and other things. I'll be showing you more options as I have fun playing with them!

When I downloaded the software at My Memories, I noticed there were tons of low-priced or FREE embellishments you can download or purchase. Also within a week of using the program, I was contacted with a free upgrade! 

So, if you're interested in your own copy of the My Memories Suite software, here are the details! One winner to be picked next Thursday, January 19!


1) become a follower of Beauty 4 Ashes
2) go to My Memories and check out what fun kits they have
3) leave a comment with the details of #1 and #2.

For additional entries, you can do any of the following (leave another comment so I know!):


1) 'like' My Memories on Facebook 
2) blog about this giveaway on your blog
3) visit MyMemories blog and become a follower there.

But wait!!! There's more! Beauty 4 Ashes readers can use this Share the Memories code that provides a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software AND a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - a $20 value! 

STMMMS77397

Feel free to use the code, share the code, post the code, tweet the code with your followers, friends and family!


Good luck and enjoy!