Jenny's Simply Stylish Bungalow

I am so excited to show you the start of what will hopefully eventually turn into a series of Home Tours. I think I'm going to call them- "Simply Stylish with..." You've all seen enough of my house, so I wanted to share the spotlight on some other fab spaces. Today, let me introduce you to Simply Stylish with Jenny. 

Last year I met Jenny in person because essentially we share a best friend- we just met our mutual BFF at different points in our lives. So after sharing many a fun memory with Jenny during the wedding festivities of our mutual friend, I learned that she had a blog and caught a glimpse of some of the projects she had done around her house. Her primary side ambition is running an amazing business called Vivianne Elle that specializes in Wedding Invitations- but she can pretty much do anything that involves print and paper. However, now that I've seen all of her house, I am suspicious that she also moonlights as an interior decorator, because...well, you'll see. (Also, she runs an Etsy shop that is just filled with goodness!)

Jenny's home is a 1940s Bungalow that she and her husband have called home for only 8 months. When you see how much she has done in 8 months you will want to hire her to come do your house ASAP. But get in line- I have dibs. 

 

In addition to sharing all of these amazing pictures I asked Jenny to tell me a bit about her house and some of the projects she has worked on- so please enjoy her photos and learning more about what makes this house a home for her.

 

-{ Welcome to the Living Room }-

 

What does your dream house look like and what pieces of that dream house have you tried to capture in your space? 

Our dream home is definitely a bungalow like ours, only larger. I've always wanted an older home, so when we found this one last year, I knew it was for us. The problem is, it's small: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. It's completely fine for us now, but if we have kids, we'll probably need to think about moving one day (though we've talked about just adding on).

 

-{ Let's head to the Dining Room }-

 

 

-{ Peaking into the Kitchen }-

 

 

You've done so much already, what project is next on the agenda? 

 

Next up, I'm really waiting for it to get a little nicer outside so I can start spray painting. I'd like to spray paint a collage of frames- just the frame, no picture or matte- in the dining room. Then I'd like to start focusing on the sunroom in the back of the house. I really haven't given it much love yet, but the window seat cushion is in the process of being made. I'm using that as my inspiration piece, so once it's done, I'll start working on other aspects of the room.

 

-{Glimpse of the Sunroom}-

 

 

Tell me about your favorite spot in the house, what it looks like and what you do there: 

I have to admit that I don't think I have my "spot" yet (in my defense, we've only been in the house 8 months!). Here's what I anticipate though- my spot will be the window seat in the sunroom. I love the fabric that I picked out for the cushion and can't wait until it gets back from the seamstress. Right now that space is used for my husband to teach guitar in the evenings, but he's not going to teach during the summer so I envision many summer days spent reading on that window seat once it has a cushion and pillows.

 

-{Heading upstairs to the Bedrooms}-

 

Your house is filled with so many personal touches, what's your fave DIY project? 

The guest room has a few Pinterest projects in it that I love. I traced the state of Michigan and the heart onto a canvas. I grew up in Michigan, but I've lived in several other states since returning, and I've come to appreciate Michigan so much through the years. The canvas reminds me of how much I love it, and it represents my husband and I meeting right here in Michigan. :)

Also, the two frames on one of the shelves in the guest room are our wedding vows- another Pinterest idea.

 

-{Office/Guest Room}-

 

 

-{Master Bedroom}-

 

 

 

Jenny says that her upstairs is "unfinished" but I beg to differ with her. It's off to an amazing start at the very least. As I wrap this tour up I wanted to share two major things that I noticed putting together this tour with the before and after pictures:

 

1) Floor Length Curtains are the way to go. Seriously, go look at every picture and tell me how much more amazing the rooms look with proper window treatments.

 

2) A color story is everything. The home that they moved into was already painted- and it was painted in lots of great colors- but they weren't true to her vision of the home. So rather than try to make her stuff fit with someone else's story, they repainted almost the entire house- and it looks like it was MADE to look this way. Lots of work, yes. Totally worth it, of course.

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Ok, now who is next? If you want to share your home, please email me! Before/After pics are not necessary- just some stylin' after shots. Drop me a line, and maybe a photo as a teaser? Cleansmartsimple@live.com