When their children finally grow up and leave the house, many "empty nesters" find themselves at a loss on how to spend their time and energy. But this wasn't the case for blogger Kim Nichols of "Savvy Southern Style." Instead of getting sad when her children flew the coop, she got style. With its ever-changing decor, her beautiful Georgia home is one house tour we had to share!
Nichols' home looks like it's straight out of the pages of Country Living magazine. But it wasn't always like this. Back in 1995, when she and her husband first built the home for their family, it was decked out in jewel tones, dated white kitchen cabinets and carpet and linoleum everywhere.
But with more free time on her hands, Nichols has found a way to hone her style. With hardwood floors, antique furniture and her signature yellow accents, her decor is lush and comfortable. And while it's true Nichols looks to magazines for inspiration, she refuses to pay designer prices. "Magazines are great to get ideas, but you don't have to pay for the high dollar stuff. No one knows what things in your home cost," she said.
And with Nichols constantly changing the look of her rooms she has to practice what she preaches. She recently redesigned her guest bedroom after seeing a nautical-inspired space in one of her favorite home decor mags. She loved a framed vintage swimsuit it featured, but it had a price tag of about $2,000. So, instead she searched eBay and found a 1930s wool bathing suit and displayed it in a cheap shadow box.
She also relied on the power of paint. Instead of buying mass produced items, Nichols repaints and distresses items in her house to achieve a new look and save money. She painted the armoire in her bedroom twice, while the hutch in her main bathroom has been reinvented three times.
And while we love nearly every inch of her home, Nichols knows that not everyone will find her style as fabulous as we do. But she encourages everyone to find the style that's right for them. "I think our homes should reflect who we are and what we love. I don't think people should worry about what everyone else does," she said.
Well put, Kim.
Click through the slideshow to see Kim's home and check out her blog, "Savvy Southern Style" for an update on the home!
Blogger House Tour
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