“Kim” Style : a unique blend of shabby chic, primitive, cottage , farmhouse, garden style, & industrial with a splash of coastal!
What is “Kim” Style? It is actually a pot pourri or a blend of several different decorating styles that I have mixed together to create my own personal style!
Several months ago, I was asked what my decorating style was. That shouldn’t have been a hard question. Having spent almost 18 years in a creative field related to interior design, one would think I had a cohesive style. It actually is a unique blend of shabby chic, primitive, cottage, farmhouse, garden style, & industrial with a splash of coastal! My friend named it “Kim Style”!
Early Spring Garden Style Tabletop Vignette
The Journey
It has been a long journey trying to define my style. Growing up, I loved Early American because that is all I knew. Then I had a brief period of liking Danish modern, then I moved on to Victorian, then to Shabby Chic and now have ended up with the eclectic mix listed above!
Defining my style became more important as I went thru the process of sorting thru my parents belongings as well as my own. A bit of background : In 2001, my husband & I moved into the farmhouse that I had grown up in . My parents were older when they had me and in the early 2000’s they were starting to have a few health challenges. We felt it would be prudent to move closer to them in order to help out. We had a modular home put in the back yard for them. The first year was a big adjustment for all of us. My parents’ had lived in the “big house” for all but one of their 53 years of marriage. We lost my Mom in August of 2014 and my Dad in September of 2017. You can find more about the process here:
In early 2018, my husband & I were able to purchase my Great Aunt Pauline’s house in Punta Gorda, Fl. We originally planned to be snow birds but in the fall of that year, I decided we should move to Florida full time.
Game On
Now the challenge really began. I had to downsize from a 3100 sq ft farmhouse with multiple outbuildings, a storage unit full of primitive antiques, and a business full of flower design items . Our Florida home was much smaller at only 1700 square feet. The subdivision did not allow us to have a storage unit on our property, not even a garden shed! I needed to really downsize my collections and streamline my furnishings. update: We did get our outdoor living area expanded and that has helped ALOT!
This post, Let’s Celebrate Fall With An Outdoor Living Area Reveal!
introduces the expanded area to you. More information can be found here : Let’s Cozy Up the Lanai For Autumn!
and here:Let’s Refresh The Lanai for the Holidays with a Retro Feel
I am in love with the red, aqua and cream scheme for the Holidays!
Back to the initial downsizing challenge:
The Florida house was the perfect opportunity for me to decorate the entire house how I wanted it! Or so I thought. Dave seemed to think he needed to constantly remind me that I “wasn’t going to junk up this house! ” I still am a bit puzzled by his comment! Our Illinois house was not “junked” up! I did notice he wrote a comment on one of the blog posts. You can find it here:
The colors in the batik wall hanging were the inspiration for the colors I used in the main living areas of the house. The buffet belonged to my Mom. She had purchased in the 1960s for $1.00! Can you believe that?
Dave grew up in Northwest Iowa and spent his summers at Lake Okoboji. I included his certificate from the Okoboji Yacht Club as well as a framed print of the Queen, a riverboat that sailed on Lake Okoboji.
Another option for a Spring inspired tablescape on top of the buffet. The metal LOVE sign accents the metals words on the fresh cut flower sign. I had to give the LOVE sign a bit of a makeover after I purchased it. The details can be found here:Love Isn’t Just for Valentine’s Day
Essential Elements of “Kim” Style
The overall look and feel for the Florida house is airy and light. I used a lot of shells that my Grandmother had collected while on trips to Florida in the late 50s and early 60s.
Wicker and rattan furnishings mixed with off white/cream painted wooden furniture are accented with a few key family pieces.
Chalk Painted End Table Refresh
My agricultural roots are noted by the inclusion of advertising pieces from my paternal grandfather’s implement store as well as the Last Will of a Farmer sign.
I like to say my interests range from flowers (a former florist) to flour (a former pizzeria owner). A dough bowl or 2 (maybe it is 6) are an essential element of “Kim” Style. My first dough bowl post can be found here: How To Style A Round Dough Bowl .
This is one of my favorite ones. A simple hand-tied bundle of white tulips resting in an oval dough bowl on top of my primitive scrub top table.
Simple Summer Dough Bowl Centerpiece
Wicker Chairs & Garden Chairs
This chair!
Frankly, I did not need to buy any more chairs for the Florida house. But when I saw this chair at a store in Illinois, I fell in love. The muted color of the wood, the caned back, the off-white seat. It is perfection! The seahorse pillow was another great find!
I have several pairs of metal garden chairs as well as several wicker coffee tables. Pictured above is one way I had the lania styled for autumn.
My Favorite Curbside Find
In the interest of marital harmony, I let Dave “win” a couple of battles. I sold my primitive base cabinet even though I really like it. It probably is a little to primitive for the look and feel I was going for. The story of how I found the cabinet can be found here:
Architectural Salvage or Gingerbread
While the picture above is a picture of the farmhouse fireplace, I included it to show how moving the herb picture that was on top of the primitive cabinet to the mantel completely changes the look and feel of the mantel. The corbels were actually a part of a longer piece of gingerbread. You can read more about the gingerbread here:
as well as here: A Very Merry and Unique Style of Gingerbread!
I love using architectural salvage pieces in my decorating. Did I mention I also love dough bowls? Below is a dough bowl I decorated for the Holidays with greenery and a few spindles!
Living Room
My youngest bonus son, Andrew, actually rescued the flag pillows out of his mother’s trash when she was moving. He thought they were too good to toss out and brought them to me! Smart boy!
I may have a slight problem with throw pillows or accent pillows. I am now trying to change the look of my rooms by using pillow covers instead of purchasing more pillows.
Funny how I just realized I must collect pitchers! I hadn’t noticed how many I had until I uploaded this picture!
“Kim” Style in the Garden
Another picture from the farm! The old porch swing as a garden accent. To lift the swing up, I placed it on top of a what used to be a built in wall cabinet. This was meant as a short term display as the wood won’t hold up long being exposed to the Central Illinois elements!
another update: I was able to move this vintage gazing globe to Florida without breaking it!
All of the details about the process of moving it are outline here: From One Garden to Another
What I Wish I would have Kept
Once the moving process was complete, I had time to reflect on the pieces of furniture that I let go during the downsizing process. I wrote a post about those items and it can be found here: Kim Style; What I Wish I had Kept
I Love Old Carriers, Wooden Boxes and Cool Rusty Things!
I started collecting old carriers and wooden boxes when I first started my herb business many years ago. I had to really trim down my collection when we moved. I thought I was so clever when I used that garden implement to hold the lid of this old tool box open! If you are interested in learning more about my love affair with rust and old wood, you can find the details here:Worn Wooden Boxes & Cool Rusty Things!
Plans for the Future
The layout of our Florida house includes two living rooms. I am planning on turning the front living room into a garden style room. I have chalk painted 2 large pieces of furniture that are currently in the room.
Chalk Paint Furniture Ideas ORC Week 6
This spring, I plan to finally get this fireplace mantel added to the living room!
Rustic Inspired Living Room Refresh- ORC Week 8
“Kim” Style is also very close to Brocante Style! To read more about Brocante Style, Please click the link below!
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I am loving all of the homey touches! Just beautiful!
Thank you!
Looking good. Settling in can be long but also fun!
Thank you , Linda! Yes this has been a long process! I am still not quite done but are we ever really done?!
It’s always such a challenge to downsize. You’re doing well. Thanks for sharing.
Kim, I really enjoyed your story. I had a good laugh when I read the things your husband said. When we moved from California to Idaho thirteen years ago, my husband said he hoped I would not “junk up the place”. Sound familiar? I am a proud junker and we are vendors at a few of our local vintage shows. I am able to buy and sell enough to satisfy that passion. My husband has not completely come over to the dark side but he does tolerate me. We have been married for 47 years. AND I am a florist! Have been for over 40 years. We seem to have a lot in common.
Nice to meet you, Teri! Yes we do have a lot in common! Thank you so much for commenting! It is so good to know there are others out there like me!