14 Mar 6 Fun Ways to Cozy Up Your Modern Home and Why the Size of Your Kitchen Island Matters!

It’s kind of strange finishing up this blog post on a day where absolute pandemonium broke out in Austin, Texas – like a hurricane was on its way. Once we learned Friday there were 2 cases, everyone flooded the stores. I mean, if you’re following the news at all, you should know by now that we’re in a NATIONAL EMERGENCY and you should do one important thing – DO NOT PANIC.  But, it’s hard, isn’t it? I definitely found it hard today to “focus” to write this blog, thus I’m writing it late at night.  So, I’m staying positive and am going to help you stay calm by sharing 6 fun ways you can cozy up your home.

 

3 Urgent to-do’s on your list

But first, let’s breathe and focus on 3 important things. If each of us takes these 3 actions immediately, it will help you and your family reduce the risk of contracting and spreading it.

1. Wash your hands. Wash your hands. Wash your hands.
2. Apply social distancing, and
3. Stay and work from home.

 

What is Social Distancing?  It means stay about 3-6 feet away from anyone when you’re out in public.  Of course, there’s a host of other things you need to do too, but it seems like staying at home, and working from home if at all possible, will make a huge difference. Please get your advice from the CDC or another trusted source.

Remember we’re in this together

Even though this is extremely stressful right now, and the future seems uncertain, we’re all in this together. We need to have hope, exhibit love and compassion (of course from a distance, or with protective gear), and trust that we will get through this. We probably have many difficult days ahead, but Americans have grit and we will rally. We will unite in our efforts and be on the other side of this crisis at some point in the future.

The best thing I can do for you right now is to carry on with our regularly scheduled programming and continue to share architecture, design, and home decor inspiration and tips.

But before I do that, I have 4 more things I’d like to address that I hope will be helpful. Then I promise you’ll come away with 6 fun ways to cozy up your home.

1. Staying positive while home for long periods of time

It’s a good thing I already work from home. I know all of you do not have that luxury, and some will have children underfoot, but do what you can to stay at home.  And keep moving forward in a positive way. Break out the ‘ole board games. In our family, board games did the trick any time there was family tension. And believe me, with closings, college students being abruptly sent home, and the economy the way it’s headed, there will be family tension. But think about the ways you can make your life positive. Think outside of the box or brainstorm with family and friends via texts or the phone.

2. Stay strong. Do not give up.

One of my client’s, Be-Outspoken, was going to debut her rug line at High Point market in April, which I was so excited to write about and share with you. But of course, as is appropriate at this time, the conference was canceled, and will probably be rescheduled this summer.  When I messaged her, I was struck how she had an immediate positive spin on it “This gives our company time to complete our website and run production at a less frenzied pace.”  Please take the lead of this amazing business owner Susan Kaineg. Follow her on Instagram @be.oustpoken.decor and visit her website HERE. 

3. Staying in touch through social media

Let’s support each other, boost each other up and stay in touch through social media.  Follow me here on my blog and on my Instagram @thepillowgoddess. I’d love to hear from you. Please don’t hesitate to share your struggles.  Lord knows, as entrepreneurs, we’re all going to have to get creative when it comes to new income sources.

4. Start new home projects

Being at home will give you and your family many opportunities to tackle some projects you never seem to have time for. It can be as simple as cleaning out a closet or the garage.

I’ll be announcing a very exciting 6-week challenge (hint!) coming up soon here in our home. Please follow along with me. Have you guessed what it is yet? Cause I will really need your support every step of the way.  And trust me, my successes and failures will be a fun distraction for you. You might even find inspiration here to start your own home remodeling project.

A trend in cozy interiors

Now let me get to the task at hand, sharing 6 ways you can cozy up your modern home. As you know, I attended the 2020 Austin Modern Home Tour in February. And as always, there was so much to share with you I had to split it into two posts. See last week’s post here for 10 Design Trends.

One thing I noticed on last year’s tour and I wrote about here, is the same thing I noticed on this year’s Modern Home Tour.  Modern homes are no longer sterile.  The architecture is still remarkable with less of a cement box, but more with angles and even warm wood added. It’s the interiors that are strikingly different. For three years in a row now, interior spaces continue to not be bare, but instead full of life.

 

Making a Modern House a Home

This week I’d like to introduce you to one of the homeowners,  Collin and Hilary, the very enthusiastic and creative couple that own the incredible modern home on the tour designed by Thurman Homes. It was first up on my list to attend because it’s architectural design had an aviation theme. I think it’s one of the first homes that I have walked into and really felt at home.  Like I could live here.

After meeting the architect and the homeowners, I was so taken by the homeowners that I decided to interview them. Happily they agreed.

PG: I’m curious what new Austinites look for in a home? What was on your list of must-have features?

C/H: We had looked in Hyde Park, but decided to look on Eastside because of all the new restaurants and it’s location to downtown.  It checked off all our boxes:

• 15 minutes away from work
• close to downtown
• modern architecture
• restaurants nearby
• a good investment

 

 

 

PG: Did it have other features you didn’t expect in a modern home in your budget?

C/H: Yes, we couldn’t believe it had all these other features we had hoped for but had never seen in any of the other houses we looked at, like

• laundry room
• pantry
• coat closet
• 2 car garage
• storage room

 

PG: What are some other features of the house that drew you to it?

C/H:  The windows and how light and airy it is. We really liked the decks and how the Master Suite is off to the side but has access to the deck. It’s perfect for our French bulldogs and it brings in fresh air right away. We also really like how the deck wraps back around to the living room.

PG: What’s the one feature of this modern home that you didn’t really think you needed?

C/H: We never really thought about having a second living room.  But it is perfect for us.  We’ve turned it into a library and it works great for me as an office too, as I work from home.  Many who work from home do not use a desk, so we’ve gotten great use out of the upstairs living room.

PG: Architecturally what attracted you to this home?

C/H: Sightlines are huge in modern homes! Thurman Homes nailed it in terms of window placement.  We can see trees from every window in our home. How the dining flows to the kitchen, then the living room, then out to the deck is perfect. Another feature that makes this home great for us is the oversized kitchen island.  It really makes a difference in the intimacy of the home.

Dining Room

Kitchen

Living Room/Outdoor Deck

PG: How so? How can the size of a kitchen island make such a difference?

C/H: Well, the design of the home has this aviation theme running through it. With the island angled and being wider on one side than the other it proportionally makes the space feel intimate. We feel at home when we’re alone in the space and then the island turns into a bar and entertainment center when we have friends over.  And when we open up the back door, well it’s one great big space.  If they had designed it with a smaller island we feel like all the areas, and the space as a whole would have felt too large for us.

PG: That’s fascinating to hear how the larger island works for you! How it makes you feel both intimate when home alone, but also when you entertain.

Oversized Island

PG: I must ask about your background because I’m incredibly drawn to your home decor style. Can you tell me about that?

C/H: Well, interior design is really a hobby for us.  I work at Kendra Scott and my wife does interior design through an Etsy store.  We have a real eclectic style and over the years that we’ve lived together we like to go to places like Brimfield to collect different things like fun art, old newspaper articles, and even the botanical etchings in our living room.  We also love succulents and that’s the first thing we did to bring greenery into our home. We really wanted to make it homey and comfy to give it that soft touch to contrast with all the metal in the structure itself.

PG: What do you love most about your new modern home?

C/L: It feels like we’re a part of nature. While the modern design is tied to aviation and it has that urban feel, with all the interior finishes and trees, we feel like we live in a treehouse. It’s the openness in the design of the home and the connection to nature that we love the most.

6 Ways to Cozy Up Your Modern Home

 

1. Bring the outdoors in by adding succulents.  Plants in stands, trays or baskets add greenery to spaces.
2. Add color and texture.  There are many colorful pillows, rugs and throw blankets from which to choose.
3. Put art or hanging rugs on the walls.  It can be a fine painting, or a bold graphic black and white design.
4. Create a photo gallery. Find a series of photos you like from your wedding, family, or your travels and frame them.
5. Display your collections. Be it hats or a vintage radio, make your home feel cozy with your personal treasures.
6. Select modern bar stools. Make your family and guests (when it’s safe again to entertain) feel comfy in modern bar stools.

 

The minute I walked into this modern home, I certainly felt the wonderful spacious and airy feeling that Collin and his wife Hilary describe above.  I loved the flow and how the deck wraps around from the living room to the master suite.

Below are a few examples of how Collin and Hilary added these touches throughout their home. I think one reason it felt instinctively natural and comforting, was they put a plant in every single room, whether it was in the bathroom or a nightstand.  And they shared who they were, their personalities, by displaying items they collected over the years.

 

 

 

 

You too can make your modern home cozy with the above tips.  And what perfect time to do it when the majority of us will be at home for the next few weeks, or beyond.  Find a way to take this scary crisis and turn it into something comforting to you. Get your family involved.  Have each person think of one thing they can put in each room of your home to make it feel cozy and special. After you’ve already binged your favorite programs, I’m sure this will keep you busy for awhile.

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Till next time, when I announce my exciting remodeling project, breathe, be patient with each other, wash your hands, and find ways to enjoy being in your own home. XO PG

P.S. Remember to shop the look below.

Note: All photography and opinions are my own. Except photo provided courtesy of Be-outspoken.

Shop The Pillow Goddess Picks

I fell in love with their bar stools and was able to find one similar.  Plus wonderful succulents and colorful pillows. These items contain affiliate links. Any purchases directly from this blog, at no additional charge to you, help make this blog possible. Thank you. Have fun shopping!