In this post, I'll be taking you on a home tour of 'Ty Glas' for the first time since I started this blog. I don't know what's taken me so long to get around to this home tour but at least It's finally here.
Home tour history
Our pretty little blue house is nestled in the foothills of the German Alps in Bavaria. We are surrounded by forests and lakes. In fact, in German, our area is called 'Fünfseenland' which in English, means 'Five lakes land'. I'm from Wales in the UK and that's where our house name comes from. 'Ty Glas' is Welsh for 'Blue House'.
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My decorating style
The décor in our home is influenced a little by the area and the scandi style. There is so much more to our home than that though. A home is a reflection of the lives and loves of the people who live there and ours is no exception.
I'm not sure what I would call my decorating style really but I think it's a mixture of an urban farmhouse, boho and scandi – sounds a bit strange I know but that's how it is! I suppose in a nutshell I'd call it modern vintage.
Rather than explain my homemaking style here, why don't I show you around and you can see what I mean?
Ready for the home tour?
Doorstep drama
Let's start this home tour at the front door. I like to make sure my guests know they are welcome by greeting them with a seasonal display outside the door.
I usually have a wreath hanging on the door and lanterns on the doorstep whatever the season.
Then I just add some seasonal plants to add some pretty. Everyone needs some pretty right?
Shop The Look - Entry
Home tour - hallway
Once you are inside the hallway, you can take a seat on this lovely pine bench and kick off your shoes! This is where I collapse and drop my bags after a successful day of shopping in the city!
Decorating with nature
I love bringing the outdoors in and decorating with natural elements. On this home tour, you will see natural displays all around my home.
Some ideas for using natural décor might include:
Filling bowls with pinecones, nuts and seeds.
Filling vases with dried grasses or flowers from the garden.
Making wreaths from grass or wheat.
Changing your décor each season does not need to be expensive if you use Mother Nature's gifts.
Shop The Look - Hallway
The hallway leads into the lounge through a set of white double doors.
Home tour – lounge
Coffee table and décor
The first thing you see is the wood and white coffee table.
Shop The Look - Lounge
The coffee table was one of my first furniture transformations. I was inspired by a table I'd seen at 'Riviera Maison' which was beyond my budget. The table wasn't exactly what I wanted when I got it but in my coffee table makeover post, you can read how I transformed it so that it looked almost identical to my dream coffee table. You won't believe how much it cost!
Decorating the table is a pretty wooden bowl in the shape of a leaf. I've filled the bowl with pine cones, walnuts, acorns, dried thistles and seed-heads – gifts of the season, fabulous and free! If you're one of my lovely readers from the USA you can find a similar bowl here.
I've used baskets under the table. Baskets are always great for storing magazines and books so that they don't look too messy under the table. I'd like to change these wicker baskets for Jute or seagrass baskets but I just haven't found the right ones yet.
Every season I shop my house. I take a look at the décor I have and think about how I can repurpose it for the coming season. Sometimes it just means changing from fresh to dried flowers or switching up the colour scheme a little.
Decorating with Pillows
I usually change some of the pillows every season. Here's a pillow tip for you if you want to change up your décor. Just buy pillow covers instead of buying them with the pillow inserts included. That way the covers are easy to store away until you need them again and don't take up much storage space.
Pillow tutorial
If you can't find pillow covers you like, make your own! Don't look at me like that, it's easier than you think. Take a look at my pillow making tutorial if you don't believe me.
This season, I switched out a few of my pillow covers.
I just couldn't resist these beautiful botanical style pillow covers. One of my favourite flowers is printed onto the cover, Hydrangeas.
I also love stripes. This long farmhouse striped pillow is another new addition for autumn which you can find here. If you keep to a similar colour scheme you can mix patterns with ease.
To add a little pop of colour to this room, I'm using natural elements again. We just cut back our Liquid Amber tree so we had lots of cuttings. Added to a glass vase, they add some interest and texture to the room.
The tall sunflowers in the garden have finished blooming and all that's left of them are the seed pods. Added to a glass vase, they also add colour and interest.
Decorating with plants
You will see that I use plants a lot in my décor. I tend to move them around the house but that's not always a good thing. This summer, I moved a small palm from my office to the hallway and it didn't like that at all. The leaves started to turn brown so I put it back in my office as soon as I saw that. The jury is still out as to whether it's going to survive! Don't do that!
Armoire
In between our two sofas you can see the tall armoire. This started life as a bright green wardrobe and I upcycled it with chalk paint. You can see the before picture and see more of my furniture upcycling projects here. On top of the armoire is a large branch of twisted willow strung with tiny string lights. It looks so pretty in the evenings when it's all lit up!
Floor Lamp
The corkscrew lampstand is another recycling project. You can read more about it in this upcycling post.
The lounge leads right into the dining room so let's continue this home tour in there.
Shop The Look - Lounge
Home Tour – Dining room
The long wooden table is always decorated for the season.
I like to use bottles as vases for seasonal flowers like these Rudbeckia or 'Black-eyed Susan'. Did you know that Rudbeckia lasts for ages in a vase?
Shop The Look - Dining Room
Dresser
This dresser is on the long wall opposite the table.
It's another of my chalk painted upcycling projects. Wood and white is a fave combination of mine. I've added some nuts and seeds to the long wooden bowl on the dresser. Come Christmastime, I'll add some twinkly lights to this display and maybe a little bit of evergreen and berries. That's what I call stressless decorating.
Stencilled secretary
In the corner of the dining room stands one of my all-time favourite upcycling projects. The painted and stencilled secretary is perfect for this spot.
It's a lovely place to sit and write in a journal or for making garden plans.
I'm planning a gallery wall for this space and I've already made some of the artwork myself. If you're interested in seeing what I've got planned, you can read my tutorial on how to make pressed flower prints here.
The dining room leads through to the kitchen and that's the next room on our home tour.
Shop The Look - Dining Room
Home tour - kitchen
We've kept the kitchen neutral and uncluttered. We have a smaller seating area here too.
The wood table and chairs balance out the white and add some texture to this space.
It's hard to tell from the photos that the walls in the kitchen are a soft sage, grey-green colour on one side and a creamy colour on the other.
We used the same colour for the walls in the hallway too and you can see the colour better in the hallway photo above.
I didn't want to have white walls because the kitchen is a creamy 'off-white' and I wanted a wall colour that would showcase that.
There is still some work to do in this room but it's getting there.
One of my most recent projects was to create an under-stair pantry for the kitchen. It makes a HUGE difference now that the pantry goods are more organised.
From the kitchen, we arrive back in the hallway where this home tour ends. It's time for us to say goodbye for now!
I hope you enjoyed this little home tour and maybe you've even picked up some inspiration for your own home along the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question about something which isn't mentioned here?
Happy decorating!
Deborah says
Lovely tour, Jayne. Really need to get my autumn vibes on! What a lovely serene house you have! I have an understairs cupboard that needs a major clear out!! Will do it!!....she says! Lots of inspiration! X
Jayne Westerholt says
Thanks so much, Deborah! I can tell you that adding those glass jars to the pantry has made my life so much easier. Now I can see at a glance what's low in stock and add it to my shopping list. You can save clearing out your understairs cupboard for the winter months when the weather outside is horrible! You can do it!
Helen says
Ooh! Your home is so beautiful! When can I move in??? Seriously Jayne I absolutely love everything you've shown us today - I will be shopping the look asap
Jayne Westerholt says
Awww thanks so much, Helen!
KariAnne says
Your home tour is so lovely!
The colors--the testures---the accessories. Everything is perfect.
Happy day!
KariAnne
Jayne Westerholt says
Thank you KariAnne and happy day to you too!
Allison O'Dell says
Jayne, I LOVE your photos. The style is so pretty and fresh. Just love the whole thing!
Jayne Westerholt says
Thanks so much, Allison!
Julie Briones says
So fun seeing your home in all it's fall glory. Love the photos in your kitchen! Your style is lovely!
Jayne Westerholt says
Thanks for the lovely compliment, Julie!
Jayne Westerholt says
Thanks, Jennifer!
Marielle says
What a beautiful home you have created! I love all the plants and bits of nature you've included. Thanks for the tour. I'm visiting today from the Embracing Home and Family link up. Have a great weekend Jayne!
Jayne Westerholt says
Thank you so much, Marielle!
Donna @ Modern on Monticello says
First of all, your home is lovely and reflects your style well. I think Modern Vintage is a good term for it, but the word "home" says it all so well. All of it is so pretty that I had to go through the photos twice to take it all in. Thanks so much for sharing it this week at #HomeMattersParty
Denise/My Home of All Seasons says
Oh my goodness! Your home is gorgeous! I love your decor mix and how you've brought it all together to create a warm and welcoming vibe. Thanks so much for the inspiration Janyne. Have a wonderful weekend.
Jayne Westerholt says
Thank you for your lovely comment Denise, I'm so glad you enjoyed my home tour!