Idyllic Moments : September 2020
I really enjoying shooting and sharing these idyllic moment posts. Idyllic means happy, peaceful, or picturesque, and there are many moments in our home that bring me those feelings. I wanted to share this month’s vignettes in a way that you typically don’t see- in the evening hours. There is something magical about a warm & cozy house (especially during the cooler fall months) when it is lit up and glowing once the sun goes down. I love the lighting in our house at all hours of the day… even when it’s time to switch on the lamps. I know you all are used to seeing it drenched with natural light, but I was hoping to show you a different side. Click through for the September edition of Idyllic Moments and to see some after dark vignettes that made me stop to acknowledge and enjoy the little details.
Usually in the evenings on weekdays, we hangout in the formal living room and kitchen. The dogs eat their dinner, we’re making our dinner, and we’re running between those two spaces and the patio (to let the dogs in and out).
We eat dinner late, because we’re often working late. We usually sit down to eat around 8:30 or 9:00 before heading to the basement to lounge. Do you stay up late? I used to go to bed early and wake up really early… I was the epitome of a morning person. The past few years have been the exact opposite- I find myself up late and hitting the snooze button too often in the mornings. Ha! Emmett & I keep saying we need to get into a better routine.
Cooking dinner is the highlight of our weeknights. We hangout in the kitchen together and it’s such a happy place in the evening hours! I love turning on the lights, turning up the music, and catching up while we cook together. Did you notice The Perfect Kitchen book styled below? I figured after my interior book roundup and our design eye chat, it deserved a spot in the kitchen! I actually made coffee over the weekend and thumbed through it. Our kitchen has multiple light sources: recessed can lights, three sconces, under cabinetry lighting, and the range hood has a light… plus our countertop lamp. It can get pretty bright and cozy!
Our chandelier in the entry is on a dimmer, so I typically keep it on low in the evening. It illuminates the hallways on the main level, which gives our house a nice glow without looking too harsh.
My home office doesn’t have any overhead lighting, so the chandelier also helps illuminate that space. I also have a floor lamp and of course my plaster table lamp that helps keep my office lit while I wrap up work. The sun is usually down before I call it quits on my computer. Someday when we renovate that space, I’ll definitely need to add additional lighting. It’s not super functional in the evening, but it works for now.
If I have extra time at night, or I feel like reading- I’ll usually retreat to the guest bathroom. It’s the best place for a soak! We have house guests arriving later this week, so I’ll clean and leave this room for them to enjoy. I’m also looking forward to renovating our main bath, off of our bedroom someday. It’s kind of funny that the guest bath is the “nice bathroom” in our house that I always want to use. It’s very pretty at night!
There you have it… a little Idyllic Moments “after dark” tour. What do you think? Do you love your home lit up in the evening hours? The sun is setting earlier as we head into fall and I’m trying to embrace lamps, sconces, candles, and all the cozy light! Happy Tuesday, friends.