Happy Tuesday, friend!
Someone recently asked if my design style has changed a lot in the past 5-10 years, so I thought it would be fun to share a post that features a look back at some of the rooms I’ve had fun designing/decorating over the past decade. I don’t think my style has changed very much during that time, but I do appreciate function over form more and more as I get older.
The very first reveal I ever featured on my blog was the guest bedroom at our previous home. Here is a before photo of the space…
…and here are a couple of after photos:
We’re still big fans of wood walls (which, in that room, we discovered underneath the drywall and enthusiastically uncovered in 2008) antique hardware, gallery groupings, and natural colors.
We don’t have a guest bedroom in our current home, but I’ll post a couple photos of the two bedrooms we do have. First up, Steevenson’s bedroom:
It’s kind of hard to tell in that photo, but we did the white-painted planked wood walls in there too. Unfortunately, we had to install them on top of the drywall because we didn’t uncover them this time around. 😉
Next up, is a peek of our work-in-progress master bedroom:
As you can see, white wood walls, black bed frames and woven shades are still my thing…and there’s that ticking stripe quilt again! 😀
Another room we transformed in our previous home (a couple of times) was our kitchen. Here is a before photo from 2007…
…and an “after” photo from 2010…
…and the final one from 2012:
I still love corbels, warm woods, pops of black and white upper cabinets paired with darker-colored base cabinets. Our current kitchen is a lot smaller, but we don’t spend a lot of time in there so it’s okay. My least favorite thing about it is where it’s positioned, because it’s about six feet from our front door and there’s almost always dirty dishes in or around the sink, but there’s really nothing we can do about it and it’s not the end of the world.
By the way, I’m going to paint the island a darker color soon because I liked the way it looked better when it was darker. I’ll share a pic when I’ve got it all re-coated!
Next up, a before photo of the guest bathroom in our previous home…
Here’s what we did with it before we moved out in 2012:
We went for a similar vibe in the half bath here in our current home later that same year:
One day, I’d like to replace that vanity with something more clean-lined and less feminine, but there’s no rush.
Here’s a before photo of the same space:
Nothing wrong with it the way it was…it just didn’t feel like “us”, so we had fun personalizing it shortly after we moved in.
Last but not least, a look back at our old living room in 2011…
…and a few more shots of our current living room:
As you can see I still love my natural tones paired with blues, whites and greens. I still love layering, and symmetry, and decorating with things that remind us of Mother Nature and Father Time.
So looking back, I don’t think my design style has changed too much over the past 10 years, but living in a lakeside community in a farmhouse style home has really served as a super fun “palette” for me to play with over the past five years.
Off to pick a paint color for the island…
Layla
Enjoyed this post and just wanted to say that while my style had evolved since I first started reading your content and is less similar to yours now than it was, I think your “look” is one of the most classic and timeless out there. Your spaces truly stand the test of time and your aesthetic is one that I think almost everyone can incorporate in some way. You home feels loved in and comfortable but it also beautiful and full of character. Keep doing you!
On your wall lights in your living room do you have something keeping the cords smooth running down the wall?? We are going to put some of the wall lights in a spare bedroom, but I know the cords down the wall are going to drive me nuts!!
I always love seeing how rooms transform over the years. I think you have basically stayed true to your style. I am looking forward to seeing the new island color!
Shelley
Thank you, Shelley! 😀
Hey Layla, Could you possibly provide some links for those “afters”? Especially, the full bath and kitchen. I looked back in the archives. But, couldn’t find those specific ones. Maybe there is an easier way to locate them? Thank you!
Hi Amy!
The easiest way is probably to go to Categories and scroll down to ‘Kitchen’, ‘Half Bath’, ‘Master Bedroom’ and ‘Kids Room’. You can always use the search box in my sidebar to find what you’re looking for too, but Categories will probably be more helpful in this case. Thanks so much for swinging by today! 😀
Love your style! Tried to oick a favorite room but I love them all. Love that bedroom striped bedding. Is that still available somewhere?
Hey there! Thank you! And that ticking stripe set has been discontinued for several years. I keep hoping they’ll bring it back!
I think I must have started reading your blog just after you started blogging because I remember all of those makeovers! My youngest was about a year old when I discovered home decor blogs, and it was like finding a huge hidden treasure. I’m pretty sure I spent a few hours each day hopping from blog to blog. 😊 I would have to agree that your best addition is that adorable, leggy, little photobomber! Here’s to another ten years of Layla fun!
Our styles are so similar it’s a little spooky ;). Like you, I’ve evolved into a ‘cleaner lines are better’, but still like a little pizzazz here and there.
I noticed in Stevenson’s room the bed is up against a wall. I imagine that makes it difficult to change the bedding. Have you considered switching the bed with the dresser? I usually don’t like putting a bed in front of a window but in this case I don’t think it would block out the light as the headboard isn’t too too high and fairly open.
Hi Doreen!
So fun reading that we’re style sisters! 😀
Steevenson’s never spent much time sleeping in that bed (that isn’t even in his room anymore, actually because Kevin’s mom is using it), but he’s excited to get a loft bed soon. That photo was shot with a wide angle lens, so what you can’t see is that the room is only nine feet wide. If we switched the bed with the nightstand, it would eat up the whole (four foot) patch of floor in the middle of the room. 🙁 He likes playing with his toys there, so we’ve just left it wide open for him for the time being. We’ll just deal with the making of the bed when we get to that point, I guess! 😀
Oh my gosh, I forgot how much I LOVED your previous house. Your design aesthetic has stayed true. Modern farmhouse.
You were the first blog I started to follow, and I still love your style.
Thanks for all the years you have shared your life with us.
Sharon
Gorgeous! I love your classic, timeless and fresh style. So inspiring 🙂
My husband and I were staying at The Breeze Inn on Tybee Island about 10 years ago and Diane from Mermaid Cottages knew we loved antiques and the cottage style. I had never heard of “blogs” and she sent us over to meet you and Kevin while you were working on the Enlisted Men’s Mess Hall. You graciously showed us around and I have been enjoying your blog ever since. I love your style and your adoption stories. I work in the corporate world and love to decorate and following your adventures. 🙂
How incredibly beautiful! Just like you! I so loved absolutely everything you have done. What a talent you have. Thanks so much for sharing. I am ALWAYS INSPIRED!
THANK YOU!
Like so many other readers, it was a picture of that lovely, tiny, “reading room” in your previous house that made me fall in love with your style. That had to be one of the most reposted rooms ever!!! I notice your use changed flooring several times. All hardwood, or have you use other products that you found satisfactory, such vinyl plank or laminate?
Hi, Deb! 😀
I love the Swiftlock laminate flooring Jim and Katie have in their side of the house and I hope to cover our floors with it this year too!
This was so interesting to me! On the one hand, I was surprised and happy to see that the old photos still look awesome! I guess beautiful is never out of style. Nice to know that it is possible to decorate and not hate it just a couple years later. But, on the other hand, sometimes it is fun to see how much better someone has become–it gives people like me hope and confidence to try. You, my friend, are TALLENTED!!!!!!!! I love it all.
You are so kind, Lyndsey! Thank you so much for the encouragement! XO
Layla – I love this post! My favorite posts are always your before and afters. I am always amazed at how you change an area. Thanks for this one!!
Thank you, Ramona!
I could sit on that porch in that rocking chair for dayz! I’m obsessed with ferns, too. Did you do the lettering on the sign over the fireplace? I love it because it’s easy to read. Some are so “flourishy” that I can’t read the message. Yours is great, plus I love the scripture.
I’m interested to know about the artwork hanging above your bed in the master bedroom. Can you tell me where it’s from? Thanks!
Hi Lauren!
It’s from @HammmadeFurniture on Instagram! 🙂
A nice sumptuous, generous taste of Layla decorating! I feel so satisfied. 🙂 Thank you!
Can you tell me where you got your roll up shades? I have been looking but can’t find any that I like.