We are homeowners. Like whoa. We've owned a home for nearly 4 months and that's just crazy. We live in what ~~some~~ most would consider the middle of nowhere, but our house is simply the best. The walls are already lovingly destroyed thanks to our wild child. Seriously, forget pet deposits when renting, where are the toddler deposits?! But as we design our space to fit the lives of parents with 2 kiddos AND 2 dogs, we've tried to keep a few things in mind. Kids will destroy it. Now, that doesn’t mean you have to just give up and have a bleh space! I think it requires just a little bit of planning, a touch of creativity, and a whole lot of not worrying about stuff. It’s just stuff. My thoughts on design with a kid are not much different from my thoughts on interior design in general. Do it. Just do it. If it's something you like, go for it. Rarely have the weird design decisions I've chosen to make turned out poorly! Seriously! People always make comments about my design aesthetic, which I lovingly refer to as Tacky Chic, but truthfully it's so easy, it's about loving your space. YOUR space, so if you want crazy mismatched pillows and a bright overdyed rug and mexican blankets, then go for it! Hang pictures and hang them well out of reach from prying baby hands. I've made that mistake. Print and hang ALL. THE. PICTURES. Canvas on Demand, the app Parabo Press, and Mpix are my go to's for photo printing, but also don't be afraid of finding cool pieces in unexpected places. I look for artwork everywhere and don't believe in rules, so if I like it, I go for it. I found an amazing gold shelf in the kid's Pillowfort section of Target, but I don't need any rules how to rock, so it's in our living room. And vice-versa the kid's rooms have almost no decor that was intended for a nursery [with exception of their cribs]. Basically, don't bring yourself down with the don't and rules of design, have fun, spend lots of time on Pinterest figuring out what you like, and be realistic about your lifestyle. Boom. Design Wisdom.

Our living room is probably our most utilized room in the house. We love it. Nothing is too fancy that we worry about Sir Peanut Butter Hands destroying it, but still feels pulled together and fun! We started with a sectional from good ole IKEA. It’s comfy, hides stains well, and easy to clean! We had our eye on a more expensive option, but ended up choosing practicality. Our pillows are a collection of West Elm and Target. I think the piece de resistance is most definitely our RugsUSA over-dyed rug. It’s a synthetic fiber rug, that looks great and is so super easy to clean making it a major yes. So while I would've loved a antique overdid Persian wool rug, the price point makes our rug well worth the damage my boys will inflict upon it. We don't have any fancy silk pillows or a expensive antiques, but our home is kid friendly all without sacrificing style!

It's still a work in process. We will probably add more art, fill up the gold shelf, and we are having a table made for the boys that mimics our own dining table to use with the play chairs!