Okay, so I wanna tell you guys about my weekend project. It was inspired by a day trip I took, visiting the Kona Mansion Inn in Moultonborough. Beautiful place, by the way. Anyway, got back home and I was like, “I gotta try and recreate some of that vibe.”
First thing I did was hit up Pinterest, right? Started gathering images of the Inn, focusing on the color palettes, the textures, the overall feeling. Lots of warm tones, natural materials, that kind of thing.
Then, I decided I wanted to focus on a small section – a little reading nook. I figured that was manageable for a weekend. So, I cleared out a corner of my living room. It was a disaster zone before, let me tell you.
Next, the fun part – shopping! I went to a local antique shop and found this amazing, slightly beat-up wooden side table. Perfect! Also grabbed a comfy armchair from a consignment store. Needed some love, but the bones were good.
After that, I went to Home Depot. Got some paint in a creamy, off-white color. Nothing too stark. Also picked up some wood stain for the table – wanted to bring out the natural grain.
Here’s where the work started:
- First, I sanded down the table. Man, that took forever! But it was worth it.
- Then, I applied the wood stain. Two coats, letting it dry in between. It looked gorgeous!
- While the table was drying, I started painting the wall behind the reading nook. Two coats of that creamy white.
- Next, I cleaned the armchair. It was kinda gross, to be honest. Vacuumed it, scrubbed it, the whole nine yards.
Once everything was dry and clean, I started putting it all together. The table went next to the armchair. Then, I added a few key elements:
- A soft, knitted blanket draped over the armchair.
- A vintage-looking lamp on the side table.
- A stack of my favorite books.
- A small, potted plant.
Finally, I stood back and took a look. It wasn’t perfect, but it definitely captured some of that Kona Mansion Inn charm. It’s now my favorite spot in the house to relax and read.
The biggest takeaway? Don’t be afraid to just jump in and try something. Even if it’s not perfect, you’ll learn a lot in the process. And who knows, you might end up with a cozy little reading nook that you absolutely love.