One of my favorite features on Design Mom is her Living With Kids series. I am constantly bookmarking ideas for my own space after seeing the spaces that these homeowners create.  As a DIY-er, I appreciate all the hard work and hours that go into truly making a space your own and since we are tackling the Love the Home You Have series this month, I thought it would be fun to take you on a tour of someone’s home who has truly personalized her space.

You see, my friends are incredible designers of their spaces and I am sure there is something you have done in your own home that is incredibly YOU. If you are interested in sharing a space with me, I’d love to feature it! Just take some pictures and explain what you did and email them to amy@momadvice.com.  I would love to show off a corner in your home too that has helped you fall in love with the home you have.

Today we are touring Anna’s home. I actually bombarded her at the gym when she posted pictures of her incredible step makeover. I begged to look at it and photograph it. One thing lead to another and somehow not only am I touring her space, but we are karaoking until the wee hours of the morning. She’s that kind of person. I’m that kind of person. Things just move rather quickly in our worlds.

Anna Drew (A.R. Drew) is an incredibly gifted painter who not only paints beautiful artwork, but shares her love of painting with others by teaching art classes to children in her own home and gives to her community through a new idea she has had called #projectblankspace. She’s been working with youth at the Center for the Homeless because, with her background as a therapist, she knows the therapeutic abilities that art can bring to our lives. She makes beautiful pieces for people’s homes and has a personality as big as her paintings.

I brought my camera so let’s take a virtual tour of Anna’s beautiful space today!

The first thing you see when you walk into this space are these incredible steps.  With the beautiful white canvas around them, your eye gravitates towards these gorgeous navy steps. This is one of their proudest DIY’s that she and Brian did.

To create this staircase they ripped out their carpet and then ripped out one million staples (direct quote). They then used wood-filler to fill in the grain and sanded, then repeated this process three times. Next they primed with an oil-based bonding primer, added rope molding on the thread edge front and side using a miter saw and nail gun, and finished using Bondo to fill in any perfections.

Next they painted three times with the oil paint (they did have it deglossed at the paint store to have them look slightly matte and be less slippery) and added  then wallpaper as their finishing touch to this makeover. The couple said that it  took 5 or 6 weeks with the walls and painting wainscoting and about 80 hours of time, in total.

They admit that it was a ton of work, but both agree that the work paid off.

For those trying to replicate this project the step riser paint color is Naval (from Sherwin Williams) and the wainscotting is Westhighland White (also from Sherwin Williams). The wallpaper used for this project was also from Sherwin Williams and they say it cost approximately $160 for 3 double rolls, but said it only took 3 single rolls. The install cost approximately $100.

I love how Anna has her beautiful art displayed up the stairs to personalize this space. What could be more personal than your own artwork? The eye is naturally drawn to these paintings with the fresh crisp paint they have chosen.

The cabinets were painted a fresh white and the kitchen was painted the most lovely shade in Stratton Blue (from Benjamin Moore). I’m such a fan of these vintage theater seats that line the wall and this cool satellite photo of San Francisco, both affordable finds from thrifting and antiquing.

Anna’s studio is so light-filled that I had a hard time taking photos in here, which is just the kind of bright and lovely space you would want as an artist to create your work. Not only is this her space, but it is a communal space that she shares art with kids and teaches them to release their own inner artists. In every corner there is something beautiful to look at and it is one of my favorite spaces in their home.

The home is spacious and they had a room that they decided to transform into Anna’s own dreamy closet, complete with a seating area so she can have friends (or her awesome photographer sister) over to gab while they try on clothes. The wall was wallpapered with wallpaper from Target (who knew?) and the ladder and the vanity were created using thrift store items and painted to create this cohesive set. They had someone install this thrifted ladder to really complete the space.

I told her about my capsule wardrobe project and she was like, “No.”

Now I know who to borrow clothes from when I have an event. I kind of want to drag my 33-pieces and set up shop right in here.

I hope you enjoyed this home tour and please, please give A.R. Drew a LIKE on Facebook. She’s an incredible artist (who also teaches locally)  and that is one way we can thank her for this beautiful home tour and inspiration! What is your favorite spot in this space?