Today we are welcoming Kara Whitten to the blog to share her amazing space with us!
"We moved into this house about a year ago. We were looking for a larger space for our family and to run my business, Kailo Chic, out of. I love how this house is so open, and I love the backyard. Since we back up to a green space, it feels quite secluded even though we are right outside the city. My favorite feature though, has to be the two-story open living room and how the kitchen opens into this space. It is great for entertaining! A favorite piece of mine is the bar stools that I made from $2 thrifted luggage racks. I couldn’t find counter level stools that I liked, so I decided to try making my own. I think it is my most commented on DIY project.
"I have to say that my current favorite feature (and this changes quite often) are the new built-ins my husband and I added to our formal living room. We have several other built-ins around the house, but they are all functional to store our business items. This one is purely aesthetic and I can use it to display all my little treasures and pieces of collected eye candy. I also love my kitchen! We renovated the kitchen as soon as we moved in. It was dark and red and not my style at all. There also used to be a center island that took up space and was awkward to move around. The new layout lets so many more cooks in the kitchen so to speak and is a great open congregating space when we have parties. The white cabinets and light gray walls of the kitchen really add to the open feeling as well.
"One of the best thrifted scores I made was the buffet/console table I have in the dining room. I have plans to update it with some paint and stain, but for now, I am loving it just the way it is. And at $36 dollars, it was quite the deal!
"The bright pink crepe paper flowers that I made for my daughter's birthday are also on my list of favorite DIY pieces. They are so bright and vibrant and large scale that they add a little fun to my fireplace mantel.
"The backyard has been updated to include a garden, playscape for the kids, and a fenced off courtyard/lounge to relax in. We still have many more things that we want to do in the future like retile the fireplace surround, update the master bathroom, and landscape the yard, but for now I am happy with what we have been able to accomplish in such a short time especially while running our own business and having two young kids!"
Thanks so much for sharing your home with us, Kara! You can find more of Kara on her blog and on Instagram. xo.
Credits // Author and Photography: Kara Whitten.
We would love to feature your home! Send 5-10 pictures of your space to submit AT abeautifulmess DOT com.
58 Comments
I’m loving how she incorporated bright colors into her space! It’s so lovely!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
Gorgeous home! I love the pops of color and the simplicity of color choices!
http://www.sweetlytattered.com
Gorgeousness in every room! Love this feature on Kara Whitten’s beautiful home!
Love this! The pops of color make the design fun and cute. I definitely love your style.
All the turquoise!!!
I’m in love!!
http://aneducationindomestication.com
whoa! what a fun space. thanks for linking her blog. I have been looking at it for the last little while and I like it too! yay! 🙂
That KITCHEN!
Nice!
Is that cat grass she has all over her home? It’s cute!
Especially love the kitchen http://www.hannamarielei.com
Lovely home. I’m digging the pops of color, especially her daughter’s room!
Beautiful Kara. I love the day bed/couch in your living room. Where is it from?
Awe! Thanks so much Lena! Your home is next!
I’m so in love with the space — especially that beautiful kitchen!
Kristi | Be Loverly
Hi Kara! The daybed is a discontinued West Elm one that I scored on Craigslist about a year ago. I was so excited when I found it as I had been searching daily for one for about a year when this one popped up!
Hi B! It is actually some of the fake grass plants that IKEA has. I love the look of it and that I don’t have to worry about killing it!
I absolutely love love love the teal curtains in the first photo! Where are they from?
Wow! The use of color is perfect! I love how the first photo only has 3 colors in the whole room!
xo Rachael / The Paraders
I love the contrast between the white and bright’
PRIMARK Haul June 2015 + giveaway
Love your place!! Where are the round table and chairs from? I’m so inspired!
Hi G!
I made them using some emerald bottom weight fabric from joann fabrics! Tutorial to come soon on how they were made.
Beautiful space! I’m dying to go grey and turquoise in our house too! What color is the grey paint?
Kara, where is your white circular table from!
Wow! This house is GORGEOUS! I love the use of colour, the individual personality of each room. Gah, awesome!!
O.
This is one of my faves so far! Loving all the bright colors! Kind of a weird question if you read this Kara, what kind of stone is that in your yard? I’m redoing my yard and I’m having trouble finding stone small enough.
I love this space! the light and all the colours is so wonderful!
Love your colored ceilings!
omg I love this home so much! Kara you did an excellent job decorating. I love the color choices and all of the bright pieces on the shelves really inspired me to add some color to mine. thank you! xx. gigi. http://www.gigikkitchen.com
I really love the white table and chairs. Where are they from? Love the rest of the house, too!
I actually made them using fabric from joann fabrics. It was their emerald bottom weight fabric.
I love the blue ceiling and the whole living room concept!
-M
http://www.violetroots.com
Wauw it is gorgeous! I love all the bright colours!
I LOVE this home! I love that you never knew what was coming with the next room.
Christine | http://www.DimesandDonuts.com
Wow, everything about this house is amazing. Love the colors 🙂
tonixox.blogspot.com
i love the use of the pallets as a backyard table. simple and functional. i may have to replicate that in my own space. 🙂
Just gorgeous! I love the openness, the simplicity and the clean look of the white!
This is a gorgeous home. I love the various color pops and the clean look of all the white. It looks chic while still maintaining a cozy vibe.
love the colors!
xx nikki
http://www.dream-in-neon.com
I definitely need to get me a similarly gorgeous office gallery wall! Amazing! xx
The pops of teal throughout the house are so dreamy!
Casey
http://thedistrictfox.com/
Love love love every detail in this place!!! Serious decorating envy settling in right about now…
<3 Haley @ http://www.beautyinthischaos.com
Nice home, I like her shelves and lighting the most.
Love all those turquoise touches!!!
I have some in my home too… this is the last coming, diy office chair, turquoise of course ; )
http://mykitschworld.blogspot.com.es/2015/06/diy-tapizar-una-silla-de-ordenador.html
I love how moody and bright her color scheme is!
The table is from IKEA!
Hi Nady! The tae and chairs are from IKEA.
Not weird! It is crushed granite. Also called decomposed granite.
Awe thanks!
Thanks! They are from IKEA.
Hahaha! I think it is because I like too many different design styles. It is hard for me to have my whole house coordinate. I just want to try everything!
I am blushing! So glad you liked it!
Hi Kara, I was wondering if the ceilings you painted were popcorn ceilings or smooth? We recently just bought a new house and it’s popcorn ceilings everywhere! I LOVE colored ceilings so was wondering if yours were, too? Your house is absolutely stunning!
Are the bookcases custom or did you purchase them and install?
Hello-Love the kitchen backsplash. Can you tell me the name of tile and where you purchased. TY
I love the kitchen backsplash as well. Can you tell me where it is from?
Gorgeous!! Where is your backsplash from? Is it mother of pearl?
LOVE the kitchen backsplash. Can you tell me the name and place you got it from? We are out shopping for backsplash
What is the name/company of the kitchen backsplash- herringbone tile?