Finally
All done! 3 whole days, all set up.
The Queen Room is our third bedroom, which was totally wasted space at our old house, turned into a pretty dressing room for me!
One side is for a guest…
And the other is my closet – plus much more!!
The gears in my head started turning when I took a peek at the small closets in this old house. How could I do something with this third room? We considered making it an office, but I like to have my computer downstairs, and closet space was much more important!
We brainstormed all kinds of IKEA closet solutions for clothing storage but decided to wait it out until we got here to see how much space I really needed.
Lucky us, this great shelving unit was tucked into a basement corner!
5 Target cubes and one heck of a two-story stair climb later, I had the beginnings of a dresser. I’ve got everything "stuffable" into these organizing baskets. I might go get more cubes so I match better, but I think the different textures of box/basket go well together (except for that green one – a cube I already had!)
My very favorite part is the top where I have storage for two very, very annoying things to find a place for: a hairdryer and headbands. These big glass candle holders were wedding gifts that didn’t have much of a purpose before. And the green grassy balls are from our wedding – Matt keeps trying to get me to throw them away but now they serve as a bed for my things!
To the right of my dresser is a hanging rack I bought at Target for $40. Everything about it is perfect – except that it’s pretty darn wobbly! I pushed it up against the wall and put some shelves on the right side and it seems to be pretty sturdy now.
Pants get folded on this shelving unit I’ve had since college from Linens n Things (RIP 🙁 )
My personal touches to Queenify: my favorite frame – my name as a dress!
Me as a kid
Black + white decor
Lucy Stone stamps
The actual closet in the room is holding my winter clothes and shoes
Plus purses, which fit above perfectly
And my OTHER really exciting part – a giant-sized jewelry box!!!! I’ve always had the dinkiest jewelry boxes and here I put an antique desk (which might be like 100+ years old?!) that my grandmother gave to me when she moved out of her house to good use.
Perfumes and jewelry
And a whole drawer to spread out my necklaces!!
Boy am I TIRED!
All afternoon I wanted a snack (namely that cookie dough Larabar) but I just never had time to stop. I’d chug some water and then be OK for another hour. So by 6:30PM I was quite ready for a shower and some food.
Needed some Brown Shugga to spike up my blood glucose!
After 3 days of grubbin it I pulled out a crisp new dress – a gift from Mahi Gold and KERF reader Rebecca, who owns the clothing line with her brother. The Perfect Tank dress. Comfy, casual, cute! I’ve got 2 to giveaway at the Summit!
Dinner tonight was grilled.
We seasoned up two catfish with some Emeril’s seasoning
Plus corn
Okra and eggplant. Everything was cooked in Garlic Gold. You MUST try Garlic Gold oil!! It has changed my life!!!!!!
And for dessert – a grilled peach!
Drizzled in some Bella Eats blackberry jam
This afternoon we had a storm come through and cool the whole city off. Perfect night for a little stroll. And it’s about time we leave the house!
We walked through University of Virginia’s campus
And straight to Arch’s Frozen Yogurt! ‘Bout 1.6 miles of a walk.
MARSHMALLOW! PEANUT BUTTER!! Holy cow!!
I got a small size of both topped with nothing other than gooey brownie.
On the way home we tested out the free trolley that goes within a half mile of our house and straight downtown. We were home in 3 minutes!! Totally pleased with that.
I’ve got more photos for you tomorrow! But now, I must go trade foot massages with Matt. Mine are killing me!
[email protected]://stacey-healthylife.blogspot.com/ says
Love the girly closet room. I;m sure you will enjoy all that space. What a perfect summer dinner. Now you can relax a little.
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is says
You are SO organized!! Can you please come organize for me?
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
Looks like things came together! Love the Queen room! We actually had one of those vases with the grassy balls at one point until we had friends over and a few too many drinks were consumed…I think you know how the rest of that goes! Enjoy your evening!
klm says
I missssssssss you guys already!!!!!!!!
Kath says
xoxo
Estela @ Weekly Bite says
Love the queen room! Perfect idea for a house with small closets 🙂
Nite 🙂
tanyasDailyProductReviews says
the fish looks great! you did a great job on your home!
Heather (Heather's Dish) says
queen’s room! i love it! such a cute idea and perfect for you. y’all house is seriously gorgeous 🙂
Erin says
Oh my gosh, will you please come organize my house when I move? I love how you decorated and all the little organization pieces that come together to create a fabulous room!
Brittany @ A Healthy Slice of Life says
I am so amazed by your progress! congrats on your new diggs!!
And a free trolley?! I think you might like your new home 😉
Lisa @bakebikeblog says
LOVIN’ that girly room!! What a great idea!!!
erica says
girl after my own heart…i’m getting a girl room too! the bf pretty much made the living room his man-cave, so i got free reign on the spare room! 🙂
i love that you guys finished unpacking/decorating and still find time to cook up a great meal! i’ve been living off of cup-o-noodles for 3 weeks. shameful, i know!
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
love your gigantic “walk in closet”
The Wife of a Dairyman says
What an adorable little town! I bet it feels great to be finished unpacking and have everything in it’s place:)
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says
You should start a home design blog!! Seriously…you are talented 🙂
I love that you have your own space in the 3rd room. You can just wheel out your clothes when someone comes to stay. Congrats on finishing in such a short period of time!
Kath says
I’d do more home stuff but I’d probably run out of ideas or money pretty soon!
Eileen says
AAhhhhhhh, I think you’re going to love it there. What a great town!
The house is looking great! You’re very lucky to have that room. Nice job!
Carrie @ I See Monsters says
Your house looks great! I live in an old house with teeny closets so I have a “Queen’s Room” of my own. Yours is cuter, though, I need to add some pizazz to mine. 🙂
I actually used to have that same wobbly clothes rack from Target in my Queen’s room. I eventually had to get rid of it and get a wardrobe from IKEA because it kept falling over. (My floors are old and kind of slanted, and it just didn’t work with the wobbly-ness.) Using the shelf to keep yours up is a great idea!
Maria says
The house is looking great! We had Garlic Gold Oil on some grilled ginger shrimp tonight=YUM!!!
Katie @ Healthy Heddleston says
Love that cute perfect tank dress! Looks like you are getting settled in well. We have the same hair dryer 🙂
(yes, I know all those comments were random)
Mary @ Bites and Bliss says
Wow you’ve been busy!!! Fabulous room and dinner 😀 ..and dress and adventure! haha
Candice says
The storm was amazing wasnt’ it! It hit Richmond like a fright but it got out of here in like 20 minutes (after knocking out some people’s power, thankfully not ours). Cool that ya’ll are all settled in so quick
Heather says
love the room, its so awesome, what a smart idea!
Gavi @ GaviGetsGoing! says
What a creative, lovely, imaginative use of space! This is such a great-looking room. You guys have done an amazing job with the place–it really is inspiring! 🙂 ENJOY IT!!
Annie says
Love your dress! I’m wondering where Matt gets to keep his clothes?
Kath says
He’s got the master bedroom closet and our dresser.
Courtney (Delightful Devours) says
A FREE TROLLEY AND MARSHMELLOW FROYO? It sounds perfect!
Chelsea says
Oh wow, that frozen yogurt looks amazing! Xp
BroccoliHut says
Love that beautiful desk! It reminds me of one I had in my room throughout my childhood.
Jess says
What a great way to use an extra room!
Janna (Janna's Keeping it Real) says
Oh my gosh! What an adorable room! Adorable town! Adorable couple! Adorble-ness abounds! :0)
and….marshmallow froyo?!? That sounds like heaven on earth right there! Lol
[email protected] says
The place is looking great!
I love your dress!
Meg says
WOW Kath! Beautiful, organized…this place rocks, and so does MARSHMALLOW + PB!! So excited for you 😀
Lindsay in Indy says
That dress looks amazing on you!! And the Queen’s Room is so fun! Love the idea to use the desk for your jewelry!
Mama Pea says
I want, no NEEEEEED, a queen room. Queen Pea has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?
Lele says
I am totally obsessed with grilled peaches. We had a dinner party on Sunday and made grilled peaches with vanilla ice cream and bread pudding. Yeah, yeah, it was good.
Jenn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
Impressive organizational skills! Love the closet room. I wish we had a froyo place in walking distance! Probably for the best, lol. 😀
Jenn
Jil @ Peace, Love & Munchies says
Loving your use of the room! and love that dress – so cute!!!!
[email protected] Nation says
I love what you did with that room! I love those cubes! I bought a couple recently and they are great for organizing. I also bought some shelves to hang in the closet so I didn’t have to buy a dresser.
Your house looks great! Congrats!
Brittany says
Cute! You’re so organized! I’m taking noted! 😉
Brittany says
I meant notes 😉 I’m a nerd.
Hannah says
This post almost makes me cry. I miss UVA so much, and I can’t *believe* I never went to Arch’s. What is WRONG with me?!
Gree says
Hi Kath,
Introducing myself! I love your blog and am very impressed with your new digs! I love the decor, you did a wonderful job. Thanks for all your advice and lovely food pics and recipes, I am really enjoying getting to know your blog.
Kt says
I also use a secretaire desk to keep my jewelry (and makeup)-so awesome!
Cynthia (It All Changes) says
I like your personal huge closet. Right now all our things are stuffed in one room and I took over his bureau counter with all my stuff. 🙂
[email protected] says
You are so funny. That really IS a queen’s room! I’m jealous 🙂
Jen says
I love you organized you are already! I am such an organized person myself that I love seeing all the creative ways other people have of pulling their things together. The house and city look so wonderful!
Monica says
Your home and town are so cute!
Rebekah @ Rebeltarian says
It’s official, everything is better grilled.
I have been dying to grill some peaches. I just need to stop being lazy and do it!
emily says
One organizer idea I came up with for hair stuff is too use a hanging fruit basket (mine is 3tiers of baskets). It’s totally convenient and I think it looks awesome!
Susan says
I am so impressed that you’ve unpacked and organized your house in 3 days! I moved 2-1/2 months ago and I’m still not done!
That free trolley is awesome!
Kim says
The town looks so nice and peaceful now.
We live in a college town too and I’m so bummed that traffic is going to get crazier when the students get back, but it is okay because there is always so much to do in a college town! 🙂
Laura says
I loooove Arch’s! Last time I was in Cville I got the pressed Wynston’s Rose- which had portobellos, feta, grilled onions and spring lettuce. SO yum!
Chelsea (Chelsea's Chew and Run Fun) says
There are so many things in this post I’m dazzled with from you’re utopian wardrobe set-up to the array of grilled foods in your dinner to the quaint and charming town you now reside in.
That grilled peach filled with jam looks like such a yummy and wholesome treat!
Julie @ Willow Bird Baking says
You have the decorating touch, Kath! My taste is very similar to yours (though my apartment doesn’t look a thing like it right now, since it’s such a wreck), so I’m loving your photos!
Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter says
Wow! So much space for all of that stuff. I’m moving into my sorority next year, so I’m not going that have any room at all.
Freya @ Brit Chick Runs says
Your own closet room!?I’m consumed with jealously lol!! Officially my favourite room you’ve shown us 😀
Ilana says
One word-amazing! I so admire your organizational
skills. And speed. Please come teach me! I love it all, especially the queen room
and kitchen. Enjoy your new HOMe! 🙂
Stacey @ Tipping the (Kitchen!) Scales says
Phew, I bet you’re glad all that unpacking is done! I’m not sure I would have been able to get it done as quickly as you guys have – I hate it! Dinner on the grill looks tasty as does that fro-yo – heavenly!!
Joanna @ landanimal.wordpress.com says
Grilled & Gorgeous = definitely true!
leatitia says
wow i’d LOVE to get ready in your Queen room!! Everything is sorted and well organized, love it! What’s on the agenda for today?
jane says
your house looks great!! 3 days-awesome!! and by the way that dress is ADORABLE!! and looks so cute and comfy on you. if i were you i would live in that for the rest of the summer ;-). such an exciting time in your life, enjoy. cant wait until i am at that point!
Emily says
I got that same hanging rack at target and shoved it in a weird cubby of my old house with no closets! I put a large flat (under the bed style) tupperware of heavy sweaters and sweatshirts on the bottom/middle black part to give it a sturdier base (but then I had to hang shorter stuff on the bottom). So envious of your cubes!
ari says
i have that same picture of my silhouette as a kid! my sister and i each have one; i’ve never seen another one like it!
Mom says
We were amazed when the silhouette artist was finished, how much it really looked like Kath. Those folks are so talented.
Mom says
I love the dress too.
Christie {Honoring Health} says
I have my own closet room too but it is also my office. I like having my own space to be able to get ready!
I do think that the baskets/bins all mix and match well together and together, they match to shoe holder (which is the same one I have :D).
Rosey Rebecca says
I love your dress. You look so pretty in it!
You are SO organized. I love your makeshift dresser and clothing organization.
Grilled corn sounds so good right now… and it’s 8 a.m. Ha!
And finally, PB froyo is amazing. 🙂
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) says
You look so pretty in the dress, Kath! I love the style and colors. 😀
I also love grilled food. Yum! I’ve never had catfish, but really want to try it. 😀
Wei-Wei says
You guys are incredible! I love the black and white touches in your decor. Quite stylish 😉
Wei Wei
Sandy says
Love the pictures of your new home. Thought you might be interested in this website which sends a weekly newsletter of things happening in Charlottesville.
http://suzysaid.com/charlottesville/index.php?page=home
Kath says
Oh thanks!
Lauren says
It’s funny that you say Garlic Gold has changed your life. I just ordered some from your Open Sky store, and I said the exact same thing to my husband after trying it on veggies for the first time last night. I got the package that came with the garlic-infused EVOO and the smaller jar with the crunchy bits of garlic floating in oil. Last night I tried the stuff from the small jar and it was AMAZING! Do you typically just drizzle the EVOO on veggies after cooking?
Kath says
Oh yay!!
Amanda says
I love your queen room! you are so talented and creative!
Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday says
I like your dressing room. Sweet idea. I’m too lazy to go to another room to change my clothes in the morning though.
Simply Life says
I love the idea for your jewelry!
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
That room is so organized. It’s going to make getting ready in the mornings a breeze!
Jennifer says
So much to comment on…love watching how the house is coming together, you have such great taste and style, love the little dress, and I was planning on grilling tonight, have to pull out the catfish…can’t believe you have the time to do all this posting! When I move, things are a disaster for a LONG time…
Holly @ couchpotatoathlete says
Your house looks amazing. I love your dressing area! I would love to have my own dressing space (or a huge huge walk in closet for J and me).
That dress is adorable — and it fits you so well. Great dinner, as always. I hope you enjoyed your foot massage!
Patty M. says
We built out a bedroom in our house specifically to be my huge walk-in closet – we call it the “Closet Room,” but Queen Room is cute too. You will love having your own space!
I miss Charlotesville – if you ever spy the office of the Southern Environmental Law Center on the downtown mall, that’s where I worked – I bet everyone there would be all about GH bread – esp. if you guys try to be enviro-friendly.
🙂
tiffany says
Love seeing the pictures of your new home. I hope you are enjoying your new city.
Sarah K. @ The Pajama Chef says
such a pretty house!
Stef says
Hey,
that dress looks gorgeous (or however you spell that!). Too bad I’m not going to the Healthy Living summit since I’d love to win one!
Allison K says
I love the “Queen Room”
Our bedroom has a small closet too…well it’s plenty big for MY stuff…so my husband uses our 3rd bedroom/office for his clothes. I’m going to start calling it his King room–he has the closet and an armoire!
Sami says
I absolutely love all the creative artsy home ideas. Especially the desk as a jewelry box 🙂 Totally cute. You and Matt always seem like you’ve got EVERYTHING together. I feel so jealous! MY life seems totally chaotic and you have everything so organized and well thought out!
Jessie says
Congrats on the new rental! Glad you are enjoying Charlottesville (you were so close to me, come see a show at the theatre sometime this week or next!). I’ll be enjoying it for another week then it’s back to Louisville for me!
Penny says
I am so jealous. Quite jealous. Really.
I know of several women that have entire bedrooms used as their closets. I always ask my husband why other women get to use whole bedrooms as their closets and I don’t. Their husbands must love them more, I tell him. 🙂
Then he always says, “How many kids do we have?”
I say, “Two.”
He says, “And how many kids do all these women that have spare rooms as closets have?”
I say, “None.”
And he says, ‘Well, there ya go.”
I don’t understand. Does he think that is a reasonable excuse not to BUILD me a closet??
🙂
Isabel says
i am so glad you went to arch’s!!! i pretty much lived off the stuff in college 🙂
fairfaxmamma says
It is exciting to see the beginnings of your new life in Charlottesville! Y’all seem so directed and organized. Best of luck opening the bakery! We want to come visit when you do!
RacheD says
Ahhh, Kath! I’m glad you are living in Charlottesville now and loving it. I hope to be able to meet you in town someday. As a UVA grad, I have to say that if you really want to fit in in Cville, you’re going to have to use the lingo. We say “Grounds” instead of campus, and students are First, Second, Third and Fourth years- not freshman, sophomores, etc. You’ll go a long way with the locals if you use the lingo. Promise.