First of all, thank you to everyone who has reached out to me about the fires. It means so much to have so many people thinking of me and my family. We are all safe and the situation has improved vastly. Tuesday morning I was walking Rex and I realized that I could smell air, not smoke, and I could see little faint patches of sky, and then Tuesday night it rained. Wednesday morning was beautiful and clear, and I was just so grateful.
It reminded me of when I injured my hip in 2019; after months of limping I swore I would never again take for granted the ability to move without pain, and I haven’t, and I feel like I will never take for granted the ability to step outside my house and take a deep, non-smoky breath. I am no stranger to smoky skies, but this was beyond anything I had experienced. When I washed my hair, the rinse water was a brownish tobacco colour, which was pretty gross. So I am ever grateful to all my friends, sending good thoughts my way and to the people in Kelowna.
Speaking of friends, one of my perennially favourite things is our blogging community. It’s such a supportive group of women who uplift other women, and on that note, Elisabeth (HI ELISABETH) had me guest post over on her blog. It was so fun answering all her questions, so please do go check it out.
And speaking of favourite things, it’s that time again! I thought it only appropriate to talk about our new house. You guys, it’s beautiful. It’s such a beautiful house. It was designed to our specifications; my husband worked really hard on all the details, and he got it all very right. I don’t think there is one thing that I would change, and there are so many things I love about it.
Nicole’s Favourite Things: The New House Edition
Welcome To My Kitchen
Were you ever – or maybe are you now – obsessed with Laura Ingalls Wilder? I sure was, and as an aside, for those of you who love podcasts, may I suggest Wilder? Hard core Laura enthusiasts who have read Prairie Fires and Pioneer Girl won’t find much new, exactly, but it is a fascinating look at the real life of Laura, and it my reassures me that I’m not alone in my longtime feelings about Pa and his apparent mental instability, constantly putting his family at risk, illegally squatting in land that did not belong to him, and making bad decision after bad decision. Anyway, if you were also a Little House fan – the books, not the TV show – you might remember when Laura got married, Almanzo built her a kitchen with lots of drawers and shelves, saying that a fellow is a fool if he can’t keep his wife happy with ample storage space. Old timey sexism aside, I can appreciate this thought and I had it many times during the house build. My kitchen is a dream with So Many Drawers. It was modelled after my mother’s kitchen, with a narrow drawer for spices, a drawer for cookie sheets, and a hidden garbage and recycle drawer. I love it so much.
In addition to this gorgeous kitchen, I have a pantry! I have a pantry!
Across from the pantry are even more built-in storage cupboards, which hold liquor, kitchen linens, cleaning supplies, brooms and mops, and our many, many shoes and boots.
I am 100% sure my husband never read These Happy Golden Years, but he really Almanzo-ed it up with the storage situation.
Let There Be Light
Every room in the house has enormous windows, and I love all the natural light. We have a gorgeous view of the city, lake, and mountains beyond, and each window feels like it showcases a work of art. I especially love my early morning yoga practice, being able to see the sky lighten as I move through my asana.
I Want To Dress You Up In My Love
There is even a window in our walk-in closet, and YES! I have a walk-in closet!
I also have MORE built-in shelves for my clothes; after twenty-three years of cramming all my clothes into half a closet and a dresser, I am really enjoying having so much room, especially since I found my non-mouse-eaten bag of favourite sweaters.
Hello Mudder
While we are on the topic of clothes and shoes, I also have a mudroom that more than one person can be in at a time! There is space for shoes and coats and accessories, and I am here for it.
There is also a cozy reading chair that I like to curl up in, looking out the big windows at the world going by, such as it is, or at least at our neighbour’s barn.
The Laundry Never Ends, So Let’s Make It Nice
My friend Janet (HI JANET) was touring our house and said “You know you’ve arrived when you have a whole room for the laundry.” WORD. I have arrived! I love my new laundry room so much, and there are more built-in cupboards for all the linens, extra blankets, towels, and so forth.
Let’s Kiss and Makeup
One of the most exciting things about this house is that we have three bathrooms, and one of them is an ensuite, which I have never had before. It’s gorgeous with a big shower and, again, lots of space and light.
Best of all, I have my very own MAKEUP TABLE!
So you can see why I am in love with this house! Storage! Bathrooms! A dream kitchen! Light! NO ONE’S SHOES JUMBLED UP IN PILES ON THE FLOOR IN THE ENTRY WAY!
Outfit of the Month
The majority of August has been very hot, which makes getting dressed a breeze. Mostly I’m a skort-and-tank top girl, but we’ve had a few occasions where I wanted to be dressier, like on our first dinner party. But barefoot dressy, if you know what I mean. This is another Old Navy dress that I bought in 2017, so I do not feel guilty for fast fashion because I’ve had it for six years, and I will probably keep it for at least that long, to my husband’s great dismay. He thinks I should update more frequently, but I do, which is why I needed all that storage space. It’s not a “one in, one out” situation in the Boyhouse, let me tell you. Anyway, I tend to prefer shorter dresses but I love the length for entertaining; I can bend over to grab things or sit with my feet tucked up without traumatizing my guests.
Lots of things to love this month, and of course, many more Favourite Things to come about my New Life! What did you love this August? Tell me everything. xo
Nicole: Those views! That storage! Your house is so beautiful! I’m so happy for you and also so glad that the dangers from the fires are abating.
Thanks so much, Lindsay! We are really happy with it (and with the clearing skies!)
I LOVE YOUR HOUSE! For some reason, the thing that blew me away the most was the window in your walk-in closet with the gorgeous view of mountains. And, of course all the amazing storage space. This is a dream house, for sure. I’m glad you’re so happy! And of course glad you’re safe and a little less smoky.
Jenny, that little window in the closet is one of my favourite things about the house! It’s exactly like a little painting!
I’m glad the house is making you so happy. I’d love to have a pantry and a mudroom.
I keep clothes quite a long time. I have a short-sleeve button-down I have to get rid of because it ripped at the collar and I was sad about it and then I remembered I got it to nurse Noah, so it had a long run.
Hahaha Steph, you keep things even longer than I do! I don’t have any clothes from when they were babies, but I have a pair of jeans I bought when I think J was 2!
Thanks for giving us a glimpse of your new crib! And oooh BRB because I’m going to be looking into Wilder.
I have complicated feelings about the Little House books. On the one hand of course I love them, still own my childhood copies, and have reread them as an adult. Rose Wilder Lane is one of my favorite authors and I’m always fascinated by the question about how much involvement she had with her mother’s books. My two favs of RWL are the novels Diverging Roads and Let the Hurricane Roar, Roads is a semi-autobiographical novel about a small town girl who bootstraps her way up in the world from nothing as a telegraph operator, marries a no-goodnik who leaves her with nothing so she rebootstraps as a real estate agent, and then hops over to journalism as one does. It’s seriously fascinating. Hurricane came out the year before Little House and is about her grandparents (yep Charles and Caroline) and their first year of marriage.
The complicated part is that as a kid these books gave me a lot of guilt about how good I had it compared to the prairie days and some of the political stuff that RWL was endorsing but hey a good book is a good book. That’s the longest way ever to say “yay for drawers!” And also yay for the LBD and making fast fashion slow again.
Oh you must listen and then report back. I think you’ll love it.
I find it all so fascinating because there was so much political thought involved in the books/ editing by RWL, and there was so much left out of the book (like when they were in Iowa). I think you’ll love it because there is DIRT on Hurricane in this podcast!
Oh goodness those views are just stunning! Who needs artwork when you have views like that in every room!!
Also all that storage is a dream. I also have quite a lot of storage and cupboard space in my home and I truly believe you can never have too much of that!
Never too much storage, I agree! And thank you – the views are like paintings to me!
You are living in a dream house!! Thank you for sharing your photos – I love every room! Now I can see why you love your divided kitchen sink – because it’s a BIG sink. I was thinking of those little stainless steel divided sinks that can barely hold a saucepan, which is what I used to have before getting my one big sink. I enjoy looking at pictures of houses, watching TV shows about houses, and touring people’s houses – so this was a fun post for me to read. And I’m so happy you got some rain, and the air is clear again.
Thanks Michelle! Yes, the sink is GIGANTIC. It makes it easier to do dishes 1000000 times a day (only a small exaggeration). We had a really deep divided sink in my old house as well, and I wanted to continue the tradition.
Your new house is a dream! That storage!! I live in a 1930-built house with exactly ZERO closets and I have four small children. The idea of storage is practically orgasmic to me. 🤪 Did you raise your boys in a house with only one bathroom?? Because that is hero-level status.
Ariana, we had two bathrooms in our old house, but the main floor one got about 80% of the use! It had a really nice shower and the downstairs one had kind of a crappy tub/ shower combo, so that bathroom was used mostly for toilet usage and also for me to do my hair in!
Our old house was 1962 so at least it had closets, but they were small. The older houses are so charming but NO STORAGE is such a bummer!
First and foremost, I am relieved that the fire has calmed down. I felt awful for you and your family. The stress you had to feel. I understand the analogy you gave about appreciating it. There is a great Thich Nhat Hanh quote that says: “having a toothache helps us see that not having a toothache is a very pleasant feeling.” YES.
Second, your beautiful home! Nicole, I am SO happy for you. It’s truly beautiful. I love natural light, and you have SO MUCH of of it in this house! On top of that, the views are absolutely gorgeous!
I am just so happy for you. 😘❤️
Also, and you’re an 80s girl so I know you’ll get this: “Why are you banging your head against the wall?” “Because it feels so good when I stop, man!”
Thanks so much, I’m so happy with the house!
YES!! 🤣
The windows! The pantry! The mudroom with places to store more than three pairs of footwear! The big giant friendly dog! I’m seething with envy for your life over here, Nicole. (Maybe not over the fires, though. I’m glad you and your family was unscathed and hope your community can come together to help others who need it.)
Thanks so much Engie, the community has definitely come together with efforts to help those affected. It’s been very lovely to see that in the face of such a tragic thing, that people can really step up to help.
Your new house is GORGEOUS! I love all the storage space! We do have ensuite bathroom but it was terribly designed – like the towel rack is across the room from the shower? It’s next to the soaker tub but I think a shower is probably the most highly used part of most bathrooms? We are NOT bath people so I would love to reno our bathroom some day and get rid of the soak tub and rearrange things but there are other higher priority things. So for now, I have to remember to grab my towel before showering and the bathtub collects dust. But an ensuite bathroom is a thing of beauty, especially for someone like me who might go to the bathroom TWICE during the night.
Well my favorite part of August was my trip to Canmore/Banff with my friend, followed by the pool party we attended last weekend that was kind of turned into a belated bday party for Phil aka Thill. Our friend is very musical so he got his accordian out, which he bought at a garage sale, and played HBD on it, making it an extra festive party!
Oh, that party sounds so fun! And your trip, of course I think it sounds great!
The ensuite bathroom is SO wonderful to have! We are not bath people either but we did put a tub in the boys’ bathroom, in case we have visiting grandchildren one day who need baths!
Your house is such a dream, and I’m so happy for you all!
Thanks so much Colleen!
Most importantly, I’m glad the fire/smoke situation is improving. What a relief.
Your house is absolutely stunning. Everything about it is gorgeous. The laundry room, the pantry, the closet/cupboard space, oh my…
Two things pop out, so I thought I’d ask/mention. In open concept designs, I think (I could be so wrong here, so bear with me) that the dining area is usually closer to the kitchen, and the living area farther? I love how you flipped those — what was the thinking?
You’d have to know me really well to understand my next comment, but I’ll just throw it out there anyway. I love that you have a reading nook in your mudroom, next to the dog bowls. I adore that mix of cozy and super-practical.
Chrisoula, yes! We did flip them because we wanted to take advantage of the view while sitting down to dinner or entertaining. It’s so important to me that we all gather around the table, and I love that we can look out the windows. Also, with all those windows, the TV/ living room would be really glare-y (is that a word? I mean glare on the TV screen) and so we thought it would be cozier this way. So the dining room is farther, but hey, I’m all about getting extra steps in!
And yes, the reading nook next to the dog bowls! It’s very cozy and Rex just usually lies at my feet (always, but when I’m reading).
I love looking at photos in people’s houses like this–and out, in your case, those windows, the light! I’m so happy for you that the house is so perfectly what you want. But I have a question: Do you … do you have another fridge, or maybe a freezer, IN the pantry? That’s what it looks like to me, and wow!
YES I DO!!! I have a fridge/ freezer combo in the pantry, and it’s so great. In my old house we had an extra fridge and full freezer in the basement, and I find with my family it’s really a luxurious necessity (otherwise I’d be shopping constantly!)
Your home is, in a word, stunning. Oh my goodness. I’m so happy for you. I laughed at Almonzo-ed up. Well done, husband. The views are spectacular and will never get old. How amazing to have all that storage. I’m right there with you on the not one-in and one-out situation. That dress is very cute and I wish Old Navy stocked it right now. I just know you are going to make such good use of that kitchen. Thanks for sharing the photos here.
I wonder if my house would EVER be in such meticulous order that I could share photos. Dare to dream.
Thank you so much, Ernie! I am really happy with the house – DID I MENTION THE STORAGE?? Lol.
I really admire those “one in one out” people but I get so attached to my clothes and rarely want to get rid of anything, unless I don’t feel good in it anymore. I know you’re the same!
Bottom cabinets in a kitchen should be outlawed – who wants to squeeze half their body in there to get something from the back? Drawers all the way!! Your views are amazing and it’s so cool how the windows frame them. A lot of thought was put into that house! I have never had a laundry “room”, or a bathroom that had BOTH a shower and bathtub, so those two things are my life goal. Congrats!
Right? And after preparing the house to move I realized how gross and dirty those cabinets get, and how hard they are to clean! The ensuite only has a shower (we aren’t bath people) but the boys’ bathroom has a tub/ shower combo and it’s nice for them. The laundry room is so nice, after years of schlepping the laundry up and down to the basement.
It’s all so beautiful and perfect for you – the house and that dress!
August has been wonderful – camping with our friends, Eve’s BFF coming back from Greece for a week so they could hang out for a week before they both left for school, slightly cooler weather.
Thanks so much Allison! So glad Eve gets to hang with her bestie!
I love everything about this post. I’m so glad your air is clear and your house is just stunning. The views. The STORAGE (you can imagine I LOVE storage). This is just such a delightful home that looks both functional and gorgeous. How wonderful to get things built to perfectly match your needs. And those views. I am a sucker for windows and natural light. It’s my favourite feature of our current home – it gets a lot of sunshine.
That dress looks amazing on you. Old Navy needs to get you modelling for their website. Such a classic dress and you look so content and beautiful wearing it.
I also love Rex’s cameo at the top of the stairs <3
Thanks so much Elisabeth! It is so wonderful having a functional, lovely house!
So VERY glad to hear that the fire situation has improved! You have no idea.
Your house is AMAZING and it’s GORGEOUS and I’m so happy for you!!
Thanks Gigi! Me too! It’s a relief.
The windows are so lovely – and to have windows that look out onto such beautiful views! We have large windows, but all we get to see are the neighbors :). The window in the dressing room is like a painting.
I love so many of the functional details too – the built in bench in the shower – we had a friend once who said that showers were not designed for women who have to shave their legs. And all the storage in the kitchen! And the double sink and room for the drying rack! I love beautiful, but I think I love functional even more
Thanks Diane – I am definitely a practical person so I love that things are functional!
Your house is SO beautiful! Oh my goodness, the views – just spectacular. I’m so happy for you. We moved to the house we are in 20 years ago, when my husband & I got together. I had an 18 year old daughter and 3 boys 11, 12 & 13 — I still remember that the absolute best thing was the ensuite bathroom and not having to share with my sweet stinky messy boys. In fact they had their own bathroom which I rarely entered. Our kitchen was updated a few years back and I have cabinets for spice, oils, cookie sheets and also garbage & recycling. I still appreciate those little things every single day.
August has been amazing but seems to have flown by. I suppose that’s because it’s been filled with so many good things.
Those cabinets are just a dream come true for me! I love it!
OMG, Nicole! Your house is lovely! The little window in your walk-in closet is probably my favorite, but really–so many lovely views and so much lovely light at every turn. Rex looks perfectly at home as do you! So, so happy for you!
Thanks so much – I love that little window!
GIRL! I am having major house envy (the good kind, and I think I am not the only one) and I am soooo happy for you. What a lovely home, esp. the kitchen! And then those big windows and the views. It’s beyond beautiful.
I love all the matching cabinets/shelves and again (just like with clothing) you and I have the same taste. I’d totally design a home like this (if I ever had the chance!). Well done, my friend.
Thanks so much, San! You and I both are “kitchen” people!
That house is to die for!!! OMG, I can’t get over the views! Total vacation home to me! I’m all about the storage, too. You can never have enough. It is absolutely beautiful. Love the white and black, too.
We moved into our dream home in 2012, probably when I was about your age now. Everyone kept asking if we were downsizing because our youngest was going to be a senior in high school. Nope, we were doing the opposite! You get to be a certain age and you realize life is short and you deserve it! So, Enjoy!!!
Thanks so much Bijoux! We are definitely upsizing, but I always thought that when the boys leave, I want a place for them to come back – with their families, if they have them!
I absolutely can’t get over the windows and the storage. 100 points for beautiful finishes also! I’m not jealous (I’m so happy for you!) but I am envious!
You’ve landed in a beautiful new spot. Your house is perfection, simple and functional and flatters Rex’s fur.
Thanks Ally! It’s nice to have a big fluffy accessory in life! Seriously though, I love the functionality of everything. Putting away groceries is so easy, for example!
Your house looks lovely! All that storage! Your husband put Almanzo to shame!
Sorry about the fires and smoke. We had a horrible smoke issue a few years ago-we couldn’t even see the sun for days. I have asthma so it was pretty scary. I bought a small air purifier and we ended up huddles into one room that had clean air. I recommend having one hand because I don’t think climate change or fires are going to go away anytime soon.
Also a friend of mine, Susie Shubert, just wrote a book called Little House Life Hacks. Thought you might want to check it out!
We do have a large air purifier but I think we’ll need more than just one in the future.
I am going to check out that book right now!
Wahhhhhhhh I’m so jealous right now and I want your house!!!!!!!!! And the VIEWS!!! And the closet!! And the kitchen!! And the pantry, and the mudroom. And your dog. That is all. 😉 After I get my jealousy out the way, I am also SO HAPPY for you. Just amazing!!! 🙂
And I think I missed this along the way, but this is a new build right now? Or you built it before for your vacation home and are just moving to it permanently now? And your husband designed it? I know you’re on property near family- that much I caught. But I must have missed the details about how and when it was designed, etc.
Kae, this was what I referred to as our vacation home, as it was where we stayed when we came here. The plan was to always move here permanently one day. It was his grandparents’ home originally but we took it to the studs and then added an extra floor. My husband was highly (HIGHLY) involved in the design and the build. I believe we started the process in 2020, but the second floor was added 2021, finished last summer.
Your house is beautiful!! I love the view and all the storage is ahmazing!
Thanks Anna!
Amazing times 100!! Thank you for sharing with us your beautiful new home, many blessings!
Thanks Daria!
Wow, this is truly a DREAM HOME. I am drooling over how much storage space you have and all of those large windows. Living in apartments, storage space is always at a minimum so I’ve gotten good about getting creative, but man, what I wouldn’t give for a whole drawer SOLELY FOR COOKIE SHEETS OMG.
A DRAWER JUST FOR COOKIE SHEETS STEPHANY! It is VERY exciting to me! Thank you!
Your views make me weak at the knees! Girl, you have arrived and you have earned it 100%! Your home is lovely and still very comfy/cozy.
I’m hopeful for many more ‘makeup, skincare’ posts with that sit-down vanity! Woot woot!
We are in the kitchen biz and we have 99% drawers and you are ON board. Your Almanzo came through and knows what he is doing. I love your kitchen, mudroom, pantry (extra fridge!!), laundry room are all so lovely.
Seeing Rex on the beautiful staircase was a sweet sight to see.
I’m so excited for this next chapter of your life. So happy the fires have subsided. XOXO
I did think of you, I remembered you and Coach are Cabinet Experts! The extra fridge – and freezer, there’s a freezer there! – are so handy. Thanks so much, I admire your taste so I’m glad you like the house!
Nicole, your house truly reflects you, and I hope you and your family will have many, many happy years there. Thank you so much for sharing this lovely glimpse into your Life Right Now. You deserve every minute – no, every second – of happiness it brings you.
(But one thing… you don’t have a yoga room? Or do you just prefer to start the day with the glorious view from the LR/DR?)
Thank you so much Anne! We have a home gym but I prefer to do yoga in view of the view!