We Got It! And Another Design Plan...

Hello, Friends and Happy Friday! I am feeling a bit like Tinker Bell today. Instead of clapping to keep me alive, you all thought nice things so our seller would accept our offer. And it worked! Thank you!

As obsessed as I am with the details for our new place, I actually want to show you another house that we looked at and loved just a teensy bit. 

This house is on Grand River Avenue, which was the main trunk line between the capital city (Lansing) and Detroit in the early days of our state. It's the route I take now to get from our house in the village to my job near the capitol. And it's quite a busy road. Not that you can really tell that from this photo. 

Real Estate Listing

While backing out of this driveway presents a challenge, this house is close to lots of great things in East Lansing. It's an easy stroll to the park where the farmer's market, folk festival, and summer movies are shown. It's on a busy bus line. And most other destinations could be easily biked to.

We came in through a side door off the driveway so this was not actually our first view of the house, but it is a stunner! The in-person feel was even better. I absolutely loved that front door and those are the original floors, refinished.

Here's a shot of the Art Deco fireplace. I wish I had a close-up to show you the bas-relief wagon and oxen that was carved into its facade.

Zin Home

I would add a chesterfield sofa like this one to the living room for some glam. And then some caramel colored club chairs for even more luxuriousness.

Restoration Hardware

I don't know that I have seen anyone else put these two styles together, but I don't think that's wrong. I think it's fun, and waayyyyyyy more interesting than matching chesterfield-to-chesterfield (not that there's anything wrong with that).

For the dining room I would add a big beautiful antique table. Local antique stores or flea markets, Craig's List, and even eBay are great resources to find these. This beauty is from Toledo, Ohio, which is not too far from East Lansing, Michigan.

eBay

It comes with a buffet and six chairs for $900, but I would swap out the chairs for six lucite ones like this and no rug.

This butler's pantry would also make an ideal spot for a banquette, across from that counter, which could be used as a bar. {I also see some paint in the future of that knotty pine paneling.}

via

Something cozy like this sophisticated nook would work in here. The tulip table adds yet another fun element to the overall design.

Finally on the first floor is this back room. It could be used in many ways but if it were my house I think it would make an ideal mudroom. This is where the now-avid cyclists could store their bikes. There could be a long bench (maybe even a reclaimed church pew?) for putting on & taking off shoes. A huge rug to trap the mud. Hooks on the knotty pine paneling for hoodies and backpacks. The door on the left is a powder room and the single French door leads to the backyard near the garage.

Upstairs are three bedrooms. The master, shown above, opens onto the roof. And the bathroom, though small, has the most amazing tile.

So somebody please buy this house and give it some love! And if you want to hire me to bring my eclectic talents to life, please send me an email at marycarriepickett@gmail.com. :)