So I just realized that we will be in Italy in 10 weeks. And no. We don't have our orders yet. But don't even ask me about that b/c I don't want to talk about it. :)
It will work out. It always does. The question is how much hair (and sleep) will I lose before then?
Anyway...
I've been dreaming. And scheming. And planning. About our Italian home.
A few things I know. It will be smaller. MUCH smaller. And there probably will not be closets or storage space. It might be attached to another home.
So the overarching theme is this...less space.
I want to make the space count. Our girls have always shared rooms. And they will continue to do so.
I want to give them something happy. And warm. And cozy. And something that is theirs.
I'm thinking white walls with pops of bright color.
Let me share some ideas I've found.
Jenny Lind beds for the bigs, little Ikea beds for the babies.
These are pretty much my DREAM CABINETS for my girls. Too bad I married a soldier and not a carpenter. j/k. HAHA!
I can't wait to get started. Three years? That's unheard of for us.
I'm totally going to make this house a home.
xo
S
are you anticipating leaving a lot of stuff back here in storage then? I couldn't possibly imagine coordinating a move over seas. You're a brave and awesome woman!
And I LOVE white walls. want white walls for our bedroom and my BF is not sold on that idea yet. I just love a white wall so everything is featured then. Plus so bright and cheery!
Posted by: nicole @ I am a Honey Bee | 05/02/2013 at 07:25 AM
We have two girls, 18 and 14. They've had their own rooms almost always. This year, the last before our oldest heads to college and they moved their beds to the same room so they can be together. :)) Forever memories!
Posted by: Jennifer Henson | 05/02/2013 at 07:26 AM
I married a carpenter and still don't have those cabinets! They're IKEA by the way...totally doable for a soldier to put together!
Posted by: Sabrina L | 05/02/2013 at 07:27 AM
Can't wait to see where you'll be living and how you'll decorate it!! :) You'll be inspired by the Italian culture, too ;) I'm only saing "dolce far niente" :D
Posted by: Sandra | 05/02/2013 at 07:32 AM
This isn't about the rooms...just the upcoming PCS...make sure you have both types of passports...so that you can travel outside of Italy. That is going to be alot of passports...5 no-fees and 6 tourist. Good luck...you are going to love Europe. :)
Posted by: Wanda Clark | 05/02/2013 at 07:51 AM
Wanda- we know. :) Cant pay 700 bucks as of now so we will have them done on post when we are there. We are on a tiny navy base right now and it takes a ridiculously long time to get ANYTHING done. We will just have to stay in Italy for a while once we are there. Good thing theres plenty to explore there!
Posted by: Stephanie Howell | 05/02/2013 at 08:00 AM
These are awesome. Italy is awesome. You are awesome. Not having orders is awesome too (ok, maybe not, but we never had orders until the night before we pulled out of the parking lot - D likes to live on the edge - surprised I'm not bald). Coming to visit you is AWESOME too!
Posted by: LeighErin | 05/02/2013 at 08:29 AM
While in Germany we lived off post and there were no closets! We were happy with the ones the Army loaned us because we just couldn't justify the expense of purchasing new ones from Ikea which are nice but pricey. Enjoy your time setting up your new home and starting your adventures in Italy and Europe! You'll love it so much. We were happy in Europe and while we missed the USA while there we now miss Germany more than we expected to. My girls miss it terribly.
Posted by: Shanon Gibson | 05/02/2013 at 08:46 AM
Good luck on the move - I love your decorating ideas and those cabinets are totally doable to put together if you order them from Ikea or the Container Store! :) Don't know if you need a passport to visit Malta but if you don't that's a great place to explore and it's just a ferry ride from Italy - the beaches there are fabulous!
Posted by: Brenda | 05/02/2013 at 08:48 AM
Sounds so exciting!! I love white walls, and all my friends think I am crazy. But Better Homes and Gardens, Coastal Living, etc. they always have lots of white walls in their magazines. I love the ideas you posted. All of my kids have always had their own rooms, but the pottery barn kids catalogs have so many cute ideas for shared rooms. I love the colorful "flowers"?? on the ceiling in your pictures. I bet you can find lots of neat things in Italy! I hope you continue to blog after you get settled. I would love to hear and see all about Italy (since I am terrified to fly and haven't been there).
Posted by: stacey | 05/02/2013 at 09:01 AM
ok those photos are making me want to go downstairs and clean my daughters room and make it over! really nice!
Posted by: laurie lariviere | 05/02/2013 at 09:53 AM
Thanks for all the inspiration - I have been pinning away this morning (and recognize one of my pins too, LOL). So planning on living vicariously through you as you live in Italy.
Posted by: Hanna | 05/02/2013 at 09:54 AM
Such darling ideas! Im sure it will turn out amazing.... Planning and dreaming is fun!!!
I am curious about kitchens in Italy... All I would think about is food...eating...cooking when it comes to Italy!!! Ha!
Posted by: Kim Faucher | 05/02/2013 at 10:00 AM
Love, Love Love the first room!! My absolute favorite. The cabinets are to die for!1 I wish I had those for my girls!!
Posted by: Dawn Appollonia | 05/02/2013 at 11:23 AM
Love those!! I think I already have a few of those pinned :) My girls share a room but there's a big age difference (2 & 11) so my constant struggle is making it nice for a pre-teen but also a toddler. Within the next 6 months the little one will be moving into a big girl bed so we're trying to figure out how we'll configure the space on a small budget & small space. I'm thinking (as much as I hate it) that we'll do bunk beds. Although the trundle bed is another idea. Trying to keep as much floor space as I can!
Posted by: Michelle Whitlow | 05/02/2013 at 12:16 PM
Wow Stephanie! You're leaving one of my favorite places ever - Rhode Island - and going to another of my favorite places - Italy. Have a great adventure!
Posted by: betsy | 05/02/2013 at 12:45 PM
Love the fun bedroom ideas for kids! Exciting to plan it all out!
Posted by: stacie d | 05/02/2013 at 12:55 PM
So, so exciting!!!!!
What an absolute blessing to have your family under the same roof for 3 years! :)
Posted by: Amanda N. | 05/02/2013 at 02:22 PM
It doesn't matter how much space or closets you have, just think you'll all be together for 3 years in ITALY! Love the first photo - I can just see Harper & Sadie growing up in a room like that!
Posted by: ginny | 05/02/2013 at 03:36 PM
Welcome to Europe, where the homes are much smaller and almost always attached;-) Love your inspirational pics! I'm sure you'll make it an awesome home for your family:-)
Posted by: SparklinD | 05/02/2013 at 04:43 PM
10 WEEKS!!! Oh my!!! That' gonna fly by!! So excited for you and your family. Can't wait to see all your adventures!!
Posted by: Shara | 05/02/2013 at 07:29 PM
I am wondering if you will be taking most of your furniture or buying once you get there. And..will you know where you will be living before you actually get there? I sure hope you will have time to blog because it is going to be such an adventure. You are one awesome Army wife and mother of four beautiful little girls who are growing upo to quickly.
Posted by: Jersey Girl Anne | 05/02/2013 at 08:13 PM
We cant look for anywhere until we get there. EEEK!
We will be living in lodging (on post hotel) for a LOONNNNNG time.
Help me, Jesus.
Posted by: Stephanie Howell | 05/02/2013 at 08:14 PM
to quote a previous Steph Howell instagram hashtag...
#jesustakethewheel
:)
love you and your new adventure!
Posted by: Steph H | 05/02/2013 at 08:34 PM
giiiirl did you type in ikea?!?! I used to work there, I see everything. lol.
im so excited, and jealous. I feel like we live parallel lives. i lived at Ft Hood (not married to a soldier, just Chrysler!) the same time you did, and have moved just as many times. WE purge, we have 4 girls, they have ALOT of crap.
I am so very excited for you....will you take internet visitors?
XO
Posted by: kara s. | 05/02/2013 at 08:37 PM
All of those rooms are adorable! I hope you will be able to find the perfect spot in Italy and decorate it to make your house a home. I have boys and decorating was not as much fun.
Posted by: berta | 05/02/2013 at 09:33 PM
That cabinet is AMAZING!! And that first image of the girl room LOOKS like H and S. Soooo cute!!
Just remember when it gets too cramped and everyone is stepping on each other and going stir crazy - there is real Italian gelato somewhere close!!
I can't wait to see pictures. :)
Posted by: Christine Campbell | 05/02/2013 at 11:07 PM
Steph, I'm so jealous! I would LOVE a 3 year Italy adventure! The rooms you showed are so cute. Love them! I know you'll make that house a home, no matter what the size is. You're amazing!!
Posted by: Ret Cudmore | 05/03/2013 at 05:10 AM
These are all such cute ideas! I love those colorful Jenny Lind beds. Do you know if you will live on or off post over here? We've lived off and on post in Germany and on the economy in Austria and have had decent sized homes, although they've all been definitely smaller than American homes. The lack of closets can be frustrating, but in Germany the army gives you portable closets if you live off post and our on post quarters have built-ins. I'm assuming it's the same in Italy.
We did 3 months in army lodging when we arrived in Stuttgart this time around (and hubby was TDY most of that time) and it was tough, but we survived. The trickiest part was meal planning. You should be able to find some great, fresh Italian foods to make yummy meals in the hotel though.
Posted by: Kerry | 05/03/2013 at 05:11 AM
Wow..10 weeks only!can't wait to know if you will like Italy or not!
I'll follow your updates!
best luck
p.s.I happen to live in Italy really near to vicenza so if you need something fell free to ask!
Posted by: julis | 05/03/2013 at 05:28 AM
OMG EEEK is right! You really are a brave girl. ;)
Posted by: Gayle W. | 05/03/2013 at 06:38 AM
Those cabinets look kind of like ours, we got them from IKEA (Germany). We need to buy closets since we don´t have those build in one like you have them over in the US. And one more thing, when looking for a new home you might need to think that maybe you shoul look for 4 rooms, which means 3 bedrooms and a living room. At least in Germany we count a little different!! ;)
I wish you and your family all the best and lots of fun!! :)
Posted by: Maria | 05/03/2013 at 11:33 AM
You'll love it. And don't worry, Ikea has TONS of great ideas for little homes (I know because Spain is veeery little and we are so much people living in the cities and towns
xoxo, Bea
Posted by: Bea Monforte | 05/03/2013 at 12:01 PM
Interesting. I like the big dots providing the color. They can be those vinyl stick ons. Simple. And you can find them here and take with. Same with bold bed sheets/blanket colors. Find them here and take with. Glad you are planning.
Posted by: Candy | 05/03/2013 at 12:36 PM
Wish I had girls! Gorgeous ideas, all of them x
Posted by: Deborah | 05/03/2013 at 12:52 PM
I love this post and how you said "It will work out. It always does."
We got our orders to Schweinfurt, Germany on April 12th. Then when Chris contacted them to try and get a sponsor they said they didn't have record of him coming in... so now we have no idea where we're going anymore, even with orders! So, thank you for saying things will work out, that gives me hope! In the meantime, we're still packing up our stuff and sending it Germany, we just don't know where!
I LOVE all these ideas that you've found for small spaces!
Posted by: American Crafts | 05/03/2013 at 06:53 PM
I love this post and how you said "It will work out. It always does."
We got our orders to Schweinfurt, Germany on April 12th. Then when Chris contacted them to try and get a sponsor they said they didn't have record of him coming in... so now we have no idea where we're going anymore, even with orders! So, thank you for saying things will work out, that gives me hope! In the meantime, we're still packing up our stuff and sending it Germany, we just don't know where!
I LOVE all these ideas that you've found for small spaces!
Posted by: Paige Evans | 05/03/2013 at 06:53 PM
steph, i hear you. we are awaiting orders still too for our date. something about orders this year! :) but you're right, it always works out...and just think, when it does, you will be in ITALY!!! that's exciting.
love these pictures you've gathered...they are happy and colorful and bright. look forward to seeing the "after" pictures in a few months!
Posted by: Kimber-Leigh | 05/05/2013 at 02:14 PM
More than likely Off!
Posted by: Stephanie Howell | 05/06/2013 at 05:45 AM
Love all these room ideas! We are also at ten weeks. No orders. Losing 2200 sq ft from what we live in now (I know, ridiculous, we live in a 1906 army mansion/duplex). There will be no basement, no attic, and no storage in the new house we're renting (though prob for only a year). My girls have never shared bedrooms before but #2 and #3 are going to give it a go out of necessity. I will show them these pictures and maybe it will all seem so exciting to lose their special carefully-built-over-the-years personal bedrooms ; )
Posted by: Elizabeth | 05/07/2013 at 12:32 AM