How We Transformed Our Farmhouse Kitchen by Reusing, Updating, and Thrifting: (Coffee Bar)

Welcome to our farmhouse kitchen. I explained in a previous blog post, why we love historic homes, so today I wanted to share with you some of our farmhouse renovation hacks we’ve used over the years. This is an excerpt from my full kitchen renovation blog that you can read here.

We began minor family-friendly renovations the minute we moved here in 2007, and we continue to make them because we are still not finished and we recently listed our farm on homeexchange.com.

As we begin this exciting journey of home exchanging for travel I thought I’d share some of the ways we previously restored rooms, gardens, and outbuildings and how we’re simplifying to make our home exchange-worthy for guests. I will break these down by project so look for them in future blogs.

Farmhouse renos can unveil difficult challenges, objects of educational interest, and even disturbing artifacts. Even a small change can prove difficult. But we didn't let that discourage us during this kitchen construction project because as we uncovered the years we looked for creative design elements and clever ways to get what we needed, disguising imperfections along the way.

making a Coffee Bar

Using found objects: One side of the kitchen came with a small clean-up sink and dishwasher. It's a great bonus space that older farmhouses usually don't enjoy. In the original kitchen, the very old double wall oven used to be on the left, but with the renovation, we moved the refrigerator to that space and kept the little sink, dishwasher, and lower cabinets much the same. If you look closely you’ll see a window peeking out of the wall. That’s the kind of surprise that’s very exciting. I spent days trying to rearrange where the fridge could go so that I could expose that window because it looks right into the refurbished pantry. Finding this was so perfect, but I could not find another space for the fridge and so we had to sacrifice the window….for now.

Since coffee is a big part of my mornings, we transformed this area into a little coffee bar. And what does every coffee bar need, but a big chunky mirror above it? This is my favorite part because the mirror I used didn't cost anything. In fact, I found the wooden frame alongside the road one day. It was just abandoned by its owner never to be used again, or so they thought. I grabbed it, cleaned it, painted it, took it to the local glass shop, and had it fitted with new antiqued mirror glass. Yes, this is something you can actually buy. I just love the way it turned out and how it fits perfectly in the space. It's a great way to repurpose an old frame that you can't part with and it’s a conversation piece for sure. Start hunting for yours.

Here are a few detailed photos of the mirror, Kingston Brass faucet, magnetic spice tins, etc. You can find links to most of these items and/or items with similar styles on Studio Sprig’s Shop My Home page.

I like to keep a little vintage-style pitcher next to the coffee maker so that I can easily fill it. I store my coffee grounds in a pretty apothecary jar and I use a stainless, beaded scooper created by an artist at a craft fair. I’ve linked a really nice copper coffee scooper here. The apothecary jar and soap dispenser sit upon artistic tiles made by my children.

Thank you for visiting the coffee bar portion of my kitchen. I am happy to answer any questions you may have about the transformation if you comment below. And if you’d like to see the full kitchen transformation blog, visit here. If you’re a blogger, what’s your favorite SEO Tool? I’ve had much keyword success with RankIQ. Learn more here.

How We Transformed Our Farmhouse Kitchen by Reusing, Updating, and Thrifting

Welcome to our farmhouse kitchen at Windy Hill. I explained in a previous blog post, why we love historic homes, so today I wanted to share with you some of the farmhouse renovation hacks we’ve used over the years.

We began minor family-friendly renovations the minute we moved here in 2007, and we continue to make them because we are still not finished and we recently listed our farm on homeexchange.com.

As we begin this exciting journey of home exchanging for travel I thought I’d share some of the ways we previously restored rooms, gardens, and outbuildings and how we’re simplifying to make our home exchange-worthy for guests. I will break these down by project so look for them in future blogs.

Farmhouse renos can unveil difficult challenges, objects of educational interest, and sometimes disturbing artifacts. Even a small change can prove difficult. But we didn't let that discourage us during this kitchen construction project because as we uncovered the years we looked for creative design elements and clever ways to get what we wanted and needed, disguising many imperfections along the way.

Paint

Neutralize and calm: When we moved here in 2007 this kitchen was a bright and cheery, yellow and teal, "French Country", a vintage farmhouse style you see a lot. The cabinets and trim were teal, while the walls were a rag-rolling yellow. We promptly inserted our Fiestaware collection on the open shelves and lived with it for a short while. But after a few years, it was looking pretty worn and dated, so we made the decision to renovate the kitchen.

For the renovation we decided not to do traditional white walls, instead, we painted them a light gray and opted for white cabinets, white trim (to match the rest of the house), and eventually a white island piece. We chose Benjamin Moore's White Dove as it’s a soft, mellow white. The kitchen always had vintage stainless steel appliances, so as needed we slowly upgraded with new appliances and I think they complement the updated neutral colors well.

When we dug in, we found vintage wallpaper remnants under some of the upper cabinets. It was clearly a 1950s fruit pattern, so I imagine this is why the woodwork was originally painted teal even though the rest of the house trim was already painted white. As we peeled some of that old wallpaper away, I was quick to frame a small fragment.

Wall Removal

The biggest change: By far our best idea was to remove the entire wall that housed the refrigerator and a small doorway to the dining room. By far, it was the best idea for this kitchen and my husband gets all the credit for that one. In fact, he even designed the double french doors, window wall, and transom we have now.

Our contractor found horse hair used for insulation when he removed this wall and he needed to install a support beam so the rest of the house wouldn't come down. But other than that, the construction of this section went rather smoothly. We had to patch the hardwood floor in some places but opening this wall really created a new space for us which lets in much more natural light while the french doors still provide privacy when needed. If you’re thinking of doing something like this, be sure to use an insured contractor with a very good reputation, because you never know what you may find.

Kitchen IslanD

Flexible and Versitile: Because we opted for only one set of open shelves and no upper cabinets, we had to come up with farmhouse design ideas for storing unsightlies like water bottles, small dishes, and spices. This kitchen is not that big, therefore a large custom island with seating, as you see in modern kitchens, was out of the question. I wanted to find a solution that was versatile, movable, and ultimately removable if I someday grew tired of it and wanted to change my style.

So one day while thrifting with my sister-in-law, I came across an antique brown buffet that was narrow enough to fit the space but long and high enough to actually be useful. As luck would have it, it was half-price day, so I snagged it for under $200. We lived with it intact for a few years, until one day I brought out the brushes and painted the bottom white with a chalkboard painted top. The chalkboard black paint is almost the same tint as the new soapstone countertop which is from Bucks County Soapstone. I just love the way it looks plus it provides extra counter space. It’s “flexible” and it encourages much fun in the kitchen because we can write and draw on it when entertaining plus keeping the paint close at hand makes touch-ups easy. And if someday I find something better, I won’t have the price agony weighing me down.

Cabinet Repurposing

Big cost savings: We opted out of buying new custom cabinetry, and instead, reused the existing lower cabinets which originally spanned all four walls of the kitchen. However, in several places, we did have to completely disassemble some and piece them back together a little differently so that we could move around or eliminate appliances like the refrigerator and wall oven. We called it the great cabinet shuffle.

So I guess you could say we have some custom cabinetry in a sense as our contractor knocked out the rounded shelves and gave us a small storage space instead next to the range. He also rebuilt the cabinet under the main sink to accommodate the new stainless apron sink we wanted to add centered under the 3 windows (shown above) which existed before we arrived. We also repurposed some leftover upper open shelves (which were pretty ugly), transforming them into glass-fronted cabinets with crown molding as an accent above the range hood.

I found these glass doors below at an antique shop, and as I often do, I brought them home having no idea where I would use them. But when I discovered that they somehow fit the kitchen windows perfectly I used them to highlight the middle window and set it off above the sink. It reminds me of the open shutters I’ve seen in France. Some new hardware, a few antique accents, and a little white paint, and this old house was coming along nicely.

Coffee Bar

Using found objects: One side of the kitchen came with a small clean-up sink and dishwasher. It's a great bonus space that older farmhouses usually don't enjoy. In the original kitchen, the very old double wall oven used to be on the left, but with the renovation, we moved the refrigerator to that space and kept the little sink, dishwasher, and lower cabinets much the same. If you look closely you’ll see a window peeking out of the wall. That’s the kind of surprise that’s very exciting. I spent days trying to rearrange where the fridge could go so that I could expose that window because it looks right into the refurbished pantry. Finding this was so perfect, but I could not find another space for the fridge and so we had to sacrifice the window….for now.

Since coffee is a big part of my mornings, we transformed this area into a little coffee bar. And what does every coffee bar need, but a big chunky mirror above it? This is my favorite part because the mirror I used didn't cost anything. In fact, I found the wooden frame alongside the road one day. It was just abandoned by its owner never to be used again, or so they thought. I grabbed it, cleaned it, painted it, took it to the local glass shop, and had it fitted with new antiqued mirror glass. Yes, this is something you can actually buy. I just love the way it turned out and how it fits perfectly in the space. It's a great way to repurpose an old frame that you can't part with and it’s a conversation piece for sure. Start hunting for yours.

Here are a few detailed photos of the mirror, Kingston Brass faucet, magnetic spice tins, etc. You can find links to most of these items and/or items with similar styles on Studio Sprig’s Shop My Home page.

I like to keep a little vintage-style pitcher next to the coffee maker so that I can easily fill it. I store my coffee grounds in a pretty apothecary jar and I use a stainless, beaded scooper created by an artist at a craft fair. I’ve linked a really nice copper coffee scooper here. The apothecary jar and soap dispenser sit upon artistic tiles made by my children.

Glassware Storage

With the elimination of upper cabinets comes the realization that you'll need a place to put all of your glassware. Many years before purchasing this farmhouse, I purchased this delicate hutch at a yard sale. It was in great shape so I stripped the varnish and exposed the woodgrain as soon as I brought it home. It moved around inside various homes until finding a perfect vocation in this kitchen as the keeper of all things glass. Drinking glasses, glass bowls, glass dishes, and random glass items that need a place to perch.

There's a little section of wall where it fits very nicely and here it will undoubtedly remain forever, or until I change my mind. I like having all of my glassware in one perfect place and the glass doors encourage me to keep it neat and tidy.

Thank you for visiting my kitchen. If you are interested in some of the products or product styles we used, here is a pretty comprehensive list with links for your convenience. Shop my home. I am happy to answer any questions you may have about the transformation if you comment below. If you’re a blogger, what’s your favorite SEO Tool? I’ve had much keyword success with RankIQ. Learn more here.

How and Why We Love Historic Homes

A Little History

One of the things we love about this area of the country, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, is the availability of historic homes and properties. Bucks County boasts 12 original covered bridges and there are gorgeous barns and farms all over the place.

The first home we bought when we moved to this area was this 18th-century Stone Colonial. It was so unique, very well maintained, and quintessentially Early American. It had very uneven measurements, only 2 full bedrooms, and a little walk-through space off the master (which we quickly crafted into a nursery), a woodburning stove, a classic pie staircase, beautiful deep windowsills, a nice brick courtyard with a farm bell and climbing roses, a garden-filled yard, and a sweet little cottage (which became my studio).

Side view of stone colonial home.

Why our homes are sentimental

We lived in this home from 1998-2007 and it was our first so of course, it’s sentimental. Our young family loved and used every square inch of it because it was not very big. It was built from beautiful fieldstone and because it was well taken care of previously it did not require a lot of work or renovation which was perfect for that time of our lives. The only problem was that the home became a little too small for our growing family over time and it also sat on a busy road. This position near the road made sense when it was built in 1780 because it was built on a main road leading straight to Philadelphia, but in 2007 it was no longer a workable feature with our three young children, so we decided we needed to find something a little different. Not an easy decision as we had grown to love this little beauty.

Farm bell with climbing roses and two dancing queens.

Our family portrait in front of the Stone Colonial Home. Photo Courtesy: Catherine Byvelds

A Victorian Farmhouse up the hill

We searched for a new home for quite a while, always looking for another historic gem that we could easily call home. Eventually, we actually found a white Victorian Clapboard Farmhouse with 3 outbuildings that were literally up the hill (foreshadowing Windy Hill) from our original Stone Colonial. This worked out well because purchasing this Victorian would mean we wouldn't have to pull our children out of the primary school they were attending and could essentially stay connected to our neighborhood friends. It also had 4 massive bedrooms and a cottage apartment on the property so to us it seemed just like the Taj Mahal!!!

Windy Hill Farm in spring.

Learning about our home

Once we were certain this place was for us - but before the purchase, I made it my personal mission to befriend the current owner so that I could really get to know her, the house, and its history because I knew she had loved it for a very long time and that she felt the same way about historic properties. She told me she was searching for the perfect family to love her home. If you haven’t picked this up already, what you must know about owners of historic properties is that they are obsessed. They may be obsessed with history, architecture, farming, antiques, or ghosts, but trust me, they are in love with something like that and that is why they are drawn to care for a piece of history in the first place.

Windy Hill Farm in winter.

research with tea

So, because I am one of the obsessive types, I set up “tea dates” with the lovely woman who had owned this home for over 30 years so we could discuss all the little nuances that are so important to understand when buying an older home. She graciously filled me in on details about the gardens and the herds of yard deer (yes, that’s a thing), the neighbors, the well and water pipes, the paint colors she used and why she used them, the utility schedules, the septic system, and important details about the rental income the farm provided and how and why it would be in our best interest to keep that going.

Kids greet from the balcony.

how Rental Income sealed the deal

When purchasing a historic farm, don't underestimate the power of passive rental income. One of the reasons we chose this farm was because it came with established rental income derived from an outbuilding at the back of the property. The large outbuilding had been previously renovated and divided into 4 distinct storage-only garages: one to be used by the owner as a garage for the lawn mower, bikes, tools, and such, and the other 3 to be used for a home business or rented out if desired. There is a private driveway to this building and all access is in the back, so tenants never have to disturb the family in the main house.

Out building provides rental income.

Plant, don’t demolish

Full disclosure, at first I just wanted to demolish the building completely (I was strongly “persuaded” to plant pine trees instead) but today I’m glad we didn't demolish after all because, over the last 16 years, the building has provided a very nice passive income which took care of half of our monthly mortgage, and it has allowed us to do the many renovations and updates we've wanted to do on the original farmhouse and cottage. It also paid for exciting family vacations, and currently, it's helping to pay 3 simultaneous college tuitions. I now have more of an open mind and if you are searching for a historic property, I recommend finding a way to generate some passive income.

Kids planting first pines which will help to pay for their college!

Creative home inspirations

When we moved into the Victorian Farmhouse in the summer of 2007 we were very content with the state of the home. It had great bones, lovely updates, and many classic features. There is a main farmhouse, a big, green 4-story bank barn, a little studio cottage (perfect for my designing), and that long outbuilding above that we soon rented out. Bonus! Sure, this home would eventually need some updates, but we had three kids to raise, a lot of time, and much more energy then, so we were not in a hurry. Nevertheless, creative renovations did eventually happen everywhere (and sometimes twice) so sign up to receive alerts about the entire project and the way we did "creative home inspirations" here at Windy Hill. Below is a sampling of what is to come. If you enjoy this blog please comment below and share it with your friends. And you can subscribe here. Thank you, Kim

Side view of Windy Hill Farm.

Creative Home Inspirations….Sign up so you don’t miss them!

• A Cute Courtyard & A Scary Tree

• Weedy, Old Heirloom Gardens

• The Cottage Becomes a Studio

• A Yard Sale-Inspired Kitchen

• A Wisteria-Covered Outdoor Entertainment Space

• Our Peek-a-Boo Pantry

• A Floral Workshop

• An inviting Mudroom

• The Under-the-Stair Secret Hideaway

• A Lite & Bright Family Room

• An Arhaus-Inspired Dining Room

• A Fun & Foral Laundry Room

• Our Simple and Fresh Bathrooms

• The Transformable Bedrooms (Kid-to-Teen)

• A Classic Living Room, Game Room & Home Office

• The Marriage Marked Bank Barn

Shop the look at Windy Hill Farm! If you’re a blogger, what’s your favorite SEO Tool? I’ve had much keyword success with RankIQ. Learn more here.

How to Create a Pretty Mini Bar with Items You Already Own

Do you find it difficult to turn away pretty decanters, cast-off crystal, or pewter candlesticks? Whether you relish rummaging thrift shops every once in a while, or you inherited your grandmother’s formal dining room and you don’t have the heart to give it all away, rest assured, you can create something fashionable and functional that will be a big hit the next time you entertain.

A few years back I hosted Christmas Eve for my extended family which, at the time, consisted of 9 very light drinkers and 10 teens and pre-teens. I needed to create a semi-dry mini bar but I wanted it to be spectacular and not just a kitchen counter filled with soda, iced tea, and fruit-infused sparkling water.

First, find a Bar

Everyone today seems to be buying stylish, rolling mini-bars. While I like the look of them, I could never seem to find space to store one in our farmhouse. And their mid-century modern style never really fit with my antiques anyway. That being said, I don’t own one, nor do I have a traditional, custom bar anywhere in this home, so when I wanted to create a holiday mini-bar, I needed to find my own way.

Tucked in a corner of my dining room is this antique dresser or bureau that I acquired from my paternal grandmother’s home. For many years I used it in an obvious space, a bedroom, but eventually, I grew tired of using it in a traditional way. So I had my son and husband move it down to the dining room where it happily lives today. I actually really like it here because its many drawers are very useful. I now have a practical space to store my vintage tablecloth collection and the many cloth napkins I keep pressed and ready for pop-up entertaining. I decided to use this as my bar. But you can virtually use anything, an existing sideboard, a built-in bookshelf (which I’ve also used), anything. I even converted an outdated corner TV hutch into a mini-bar after I saw the same thing in Pottery Barn for over 3K- but that is in another room so I’ll save that for another blog.

Look around and use your imagination instead of your wallet. You’ll find something cool at home and when you do be sure to photograph it and post it in the comment section for our idea bank.

The Embellishments

Next, I’d like to encourage you to always use what you already have around your home to create this very pretty mini bar worthy of conversation. There is no need to buy anything except maybe an inexpensive knock-out crystal piece - but if you do, be sure to get that from a thrift shop. Upcycling is better for the environment and giving a piece a “second chance” just makes the heart warmer.

So take a walk around your home. Go to your attic, basement, or anywhere you stashed all the items from your long-lost relatives that you didn’t quite know what to do with, and just couldn’t throw away. Open every hutch and sideboard, every cupboard and buffet, and see what pieces you’ve forgotten about. A few glass or pewter candlesticks? Grab them. Some mismatched crystal wine glasses? Snag them. In fact the more eclectic the pieces, the better. There is no need for a full set of anything here. You are creating the bar of misfit toys.

Fancy Decanters

If you haven’t already inherited a few of these little gems, then I suggest taking a trip to your local thrift/consignment shop. There you will find a treasure trove. Visit their glass or china section and basque in the glow of unwanted decanters.

Decanters were very popular mid-century but aren’t used very much these days. Unless you come to my home on Christmas Eve. I think it’s a shame because they are elegant and in my opinion, they display liquid beverages best.

Far back in antiquity, decanters were used to transport beverages like wine and spirits that could have lingering sediments. Decanting liquids gives the liquids room to breathe which enhances aroma and flavor. Wine and some spirits continue to be decanted to this day.

Remember, when you find your perfect-for-you decanters, be sure to give them a good cleaning. Here is a great resource for that. The decanters I am sharing are just a few that I inherited. I have some that came to me without stoppers, and I don’t let that stop me from using them. I love them just the same. But I do really embrace the ones with fancy stops.

pretty Pitchers

And as you’re probably suspecting, I also have a small collection of vintage glass pitchers. I think I only purchased one on the Facebook marketplace. All the others were entrusted to me by relatives who knew I would actually use them.

It’s true, I use them all the time because I just think they are so beautiful. For me, the glass works well because as you’ll see later I embellish my mini-bar with loads of candles, and I love the reflections in the mirror, but for you maybe pottery pitchers are more your style. That’s great. Use whatever you have that speaks to you.

Is it an Ice Bucket?

Who knows. I inherited this glass bucket from my parents who probably used it for their Swanky Sixties Soirees. I’m not sure it was an ice bucket, but I love it and use it as such. I can easily see when the ice melts and it has a handy silver handle for quick refills. Everyone has something like this around their kitchen. Any pretty glass bowl will do. And DO NOT BE AFRAID to pull out your vintage punch bowl either. I use mine all the time to actually serve punch. It’s only outdated if you care that it is. It happens to be a very pretty and effective way to serve teenagers something fancy.

toggling Tags

It’s important your guests know what they are drinking so I like to use labels.

For this occasion, I served two fancy lemonade pitchers whose content originally came in bottles from Trader Joe’s. Nothing too complicated here. I just added a little ice, a lime, and then poured in the bottles. Voila…pretty pitchers full of cheer for the kids to enjoy.

To label the pitchers and decanters, I like to sometimes make interesting theme-appropriate tags to match the occasion or you can also just keep all-occasion brown kraft tags and twine in your mini-bar drawer, as I do, so they're ready to swing whenever you are.

Add some sparkle

And to top it all off I try to keep tall and short mercury, pewter & glass candle holders around so that I can just bling up the mini-bar on demand. You can find silver or gold or even pink mercury votives here. I think having a few of each allows you to easily change your mini-bar for interest if entertaining the same friends over and over. I always have a stash of votive candles and dripless tapers in one of these drawers and I hunt for sales on pillar candles wherever I go. But the cool thing about making your own mini-bar is that you can change it up with every whim, season, or holiday. For instance, you can use black votive candles at Halloween to accent your ghoulish punch bowl or red candles on the fourth of July next to small galvanized buckets full of blue jello shots.

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Thank you for reading this blog. I hope it inspired you to carve out a little unsuspecting portion of your home to create a festive corner for refreshment. I’d love to hear your ideas below.

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Learn: Why do they call it mercury glass? The reason it is sometimes called Mercury Glass is that in the early days the internal coating was sometimes mercury or a mercury product. However, mercury proved unsuitable and dangerous, and today silver nitrate is used instead.

Create: Here is a lovely Virgin Blueberry Lime Cocktail recipe created by my friend Rose. Please let both of us know what you think.

Inspire: The holidays are right around the corner. While visiting family or friends, show up with a vintage decanter or fancy glass pitcher Be sure to attach a little tag and “gift them” your beverage of choice. Cheers!

I’m always here to help you with your creative journey. Please sign up to receive blog post notifications and follow Studio Sprig on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. I look forward to connecting. If you’re a blogger, what’s your favorite SEO Tool? I’ve had much keyword success with RankIQ. Learn more here.

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Virgin Blueberry Lime Cocktail

Friendsgiving At Our Farm

Tessa, Kate and Blake in Windy Hill’s dining room.

Michael and I have three great kids who are very close in age. When Kate was only two Blake was born and when she was only three, Tessa was born. I remember it like it was yesterday, sort of. The mom fog dissipated somewhere around middle school, I think.

The Social Network

As they grew we grew with them and one thing Michael and I agreed upon pretty early was the emphasis we wanted to place on fine-tuning their social skills. While so many of our friends were focusing their efforts on only academics, we felt that fantastic social skills might be even more beneficial to them as they grew. The magic sauce.

With that in mind, we heavily encouraged all three of them to go to school dances, participate in loads of extracurricular activities, volunteer, try out for many sports, and join interesting organizations. In addition, we rigorously encouraged them to invite their friends over to our farm. After all, that’s why we bought it in the first place. For them.

Windy Hill Farmhouse circa 1840.

Our Farm

Windy Hill is our home in Bucks County, PA. We purchased this nineteenth-century farm in 2007, just as our oldest, Kate, was entering 2nd grade. We love this place with all our hearts, and we use just about every square inch of it for grand backyard picnics, balcony firework viewing parties, holiday gatherings, campfire soirees, volleyball tournaments, movie nights, and even a college reunion a few years back.

A Pennsylvania Winter Snow at Windy Hill Farm.

College reunion backyard event. #UniversityofDelaware #VC88

So why not Host a Friendsgiving?

This old, sturdy house is truly a HOME, and here is one way we share it with others.

Back when the kids were in high school we started hosting a Windy Hill Friendsgiving. Every year since, just a day or two before Thanksgiving, we open our doors, our hearts, and every single room in our home to all 3 layers of our children’s social networks.

Kate and some old friends.

text group Planning

The planning begins about a month out and the great part is that I don’t really need to do much at all as our kids fully coordinate the day. They plan the entire menu primarily through group text chains, help with table and chair set up, and by adorning with appropriate decor. Banners are hung by the threshold with care in hopes that Friendsgiving soon will be there.

Tessa and girlfriends gather under the banner.

The homecooked Meal

Via text, each friend joining us is assigned one dish to share. It’s just an old-fashioned Potluck. Some kids choose their specialty, as is the case with Mckenna who always bakes her sought-after peanut butter cup cookies. As expected some kids like to sign up for “drinks” or “dinner rolls”, something they can grab on the way over, while others make their grandma’s homemade stuffing. It’s remarkable that all the bases are always covered, no one needs to stress, and there is plenty for everyone. So simple for me.

Elementary school friends Danny and Kyle eyeing up the meats.

Buffet Style is best

When everyone arrives the traveling casseroles are lined up all over the kitchen so that everyone can dig in buffet style. This is understandably the easiest way to host, as hungry boys line up quickly and it’s best if the food is all in one place.

Blake’s friends line up at the kitchen island.

I try to capture the happy moments as friends reunite.

Small House, Many Guests

Some years we hosted 40+ guests, from all 3 different groups of friends. Since the kids are so close in age it’s nice because everyone knows everyone all throughout the house. We try to have tables everywhere so there is plenty of seating. This is a little outdoor cafe table that I cover and set in the corner of the family room for more intimate dining. Maybe it reminds them of Paris.

Jenna, McKenna and Tristan enjoy a quiet corner.

It depends on the year, but sometimes all the guys gather to feast separately from the gals, but other times, everybody mixes up the fun. Guy-only tables can get pretty messy but I stay focused on the fun and photos, and the kids always help with clean up - they are just such a great group.

The guy table.

Gals choose the other side of the dining room.

Will I have enough space?

We only have 4 small rooms plus a mudroom on the lower level of the farmhouse, so squeezing all these kids in at once is no easy task. I’ve been known to cast our sofas onto the deck in order to set up several 8ft long tables with our flea market stash of odd wooden chairs so there is plenty of space. The kids just love it and it’s totally worth it. Memories mean a lot.

Move furniture, add tables, make memories.

Free-but-festive Centerpieces

And as the day approaches everyone helps gather pinecones and greens for the “free-but-festive” centerpieces. Unique every year. Plus each fall I bulk up on plenty of votives so there’s always a cozy glow throughout. Votives are low on the table, the candles don’t drip wax, and they are just plain easy.

Hugs and kisses everywhere.

Nothing too precious attitude

I love this tradition and I am so glad nothing was ever too precious here to prevent us from turning Windy Hill into a Friendsgiving HUB. Sharing our home in all the ways we have and taking the time to know so many of our children’s friends has helped us too.

Over the years our farm has also been the gathering spot for our friends many of whom are, not surprisingly, the parents of the kids in these photos. I think if you have a farm with this much history (the topic for another blog), it’s a good idea to continuously SHARE it, and share it well. Friendsgiving 2022 is tomorrow, so now I’ve got to go! Much love and Happy Thanksgiving all!

Tess and her clan of pals.

Kate’s friends, home from college, squeeze into the corner cafe.

Thanks for reading, I’d love to hear from you in the comments below. -Kim
If you’re a blogger, what’s your favorite SEO Tool? I’ve had much keyword success with RankIQ. Learn more here.

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Learn: The earliest use of the term Friendsgiving dates back to a 2007 tweet, but some people credit the hit show Friends for inspiring the concept of spending the holiday with friends.
Create: Cultivate the “spirit” by inviting your kid’s friends to your home often.
Inspire: Host a Friendsgiving of your own soon.

I’m always here to help you with your creative journey. Please sign up to receive blog post notifications and follow Studio Sprig on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. I look forward to connecting. - Kim

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Shop this blog:

Friendsgiving Burlap Banner
Glass Votives
Big box of small candles
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How to choose an interesting place to stay when you travel or go on vacation

how do you search?

When it’s time to plan a vacation or just get away for a few days, do you tend to go to popular sites like hotels.com or Expedia and search for a place to stay? Do you choose based solely on price? Do you surf trip advisor and read lots of reviews, or do you go to the same beach house year after year and keep it simple?

In the past, I’ll admit I have sometimes relied upon a trusted upscale hotel site mainly because it is so easy. The rooms are generally very reliable and the site I like has a great interface. I can always count on them. In addition, they have hotels in most major cities around the world. Super EASY, right?

While it may be it’s easy, reliable, and clean, it’s not very interesting and the spaces don’t inspire me that much. Because of that, over the years I have been able to find some unique and very affordable hotels, inns, or glampsites. I’ll share one with you today, but be sure to subscribe now so you don’t miss out on future blogs featuring some very cool spaces. Now, on to why noticing creativity in travel is important to me.

why bother, it’s just a bed and a shower and you’re hardly there?

While this may be exactly what my husband often says, and while he may be technically correct, my theory is the same for this as it is for most things in my life. If I’m not going to try my best, why try it at all?

Let me give you a little history. I graduated with a bachelor of science from the University of Delaware where I studied to become an Art Director. My fellow classmates and I traveled in what might be called a small cohort. There were only 22 students accepted into the creative program that year long ago when I applied and we are all still very close today (thank you Facebook). During my time in the program, I was greatly inspired by our small team of 3 professors, one for each creative discipline: Advertising, Design, and Photography. What these teachers taught my cohort, changed my outlook forever. They challenged us to become, not just Art Directors, but also conceptual thinkers, who try to make the world a more inspiring place. Here are some mantras they taught that stick with me to this day.
Go big or go home.
Make it worth my time or please don’t bother.
Do great work and work hard to make a difference.
Therefore, I believe everybody, everything, and every place has an interesting story to tell. This belief has inspired my business and much of my life. So, I’ll share with you why I think it’s important, and fun to apply this philosophy here.

look hard, discover always

Late this summer my husband and I decided to take a short trip and visit a friend who had moved up to Maine. We are from Pennsylvania so the drive is about 9.5 hours. This is too long for anyone to drive non-stop, so I was tasked with mapping out the trip, and to be clear, this includes determining the route, the restaurants, the hotels, and the activities. All of it.

It took me a few days to decide which route through New England we would take because I always want to stop in Newport, RI. It’s one of my favorites and the victorian mansions are worth repeating. But this time I decided we’d travel a bit further and land for our first night all the way up in Ogunquit, Maine. Ogunquit is a town I was especially eager to see because it’s my brother’s favorite and I have never been.

After days of internet surfing and loads of Trip Advisor reviews under my belt, I just wasn’t finding anything…interesting. The bed and breakfasts, as much as I love them, seemed stuffy and expensive this time, so the search was difficult. Then my brother suggested I try searching in a neighboring town. That was the ticket. You’ll see what I mean in a minute.

notice creativity everywhere

I began googling neighboring towns to Ogunquit and I found the small town of York. I am not at all familiar with Maine, except for the popular spots like Bar Harbor and such, so let me tell you why tiny York captured my attention.

York is about 15 minutes from Ogunquit, an important fact for this trip as Ogunquit was our destination. But in York, I found this newly restored little, retro-boutiquey-motel-ish-like place. A super trendy new/old hotel whose conceptual website STORY inspired me enough that I called and booked a room on the spot. The hotel was The York Beach Surf Club and here is why I liked it.

My husband Michael in front of the York Beach Surf Club, York, Maine

the name got me

First of all, I’ll admit the name did get me, immediately. The York Beach Surf Club has a fantastic name. It’s unexpected, edgy, and really fun. I like that. It doesn’t sound like a hotel at all. Instead, it sounds like a really cool place to rest after spending some time away from home. I dug into the website a little more, learned the history of the name and the people responsible for that history, and I was hooked. Very happy with my discovery. So we took off from Pennsylvania on a Tuesday afternoon in pursuit of a Surf Club.

We arrived in York sometime after 7 pm and checked in at the front desk which was located in a small outbuilding right next to where Michael is standing. The very functional multi-use space is a lobby, a front desk, a gift shop, a cafe, and…bingo, a modern mini-bar, which was very welcoming Tuesday evening! I was impressed with everything so far, the overall design, the layout, and even the funky logo. Attention to detail is important. Logos are details and the first thing most people see. This one has the “vibe” we were looking for.

why it’s good to drink coffee

The room was nice and had a very simple, modern, clean design. We had an oceanfront room with a small balcony so we could see the sea. That was great. All good for our one-night stay.

The next morning we woke to hurricane-style “Maine rain”, lots of wind and rain blowing in off the ocean making it quite cold. A little upsetting as we only had one day to spend seeing both York and Ogunquit. But, through the gale, I somehow made it over to the lobby, front desk, gift shop, cafe, and mini-bar for my large cup of hot coffee, and luckily I did because guess who I met? None other than Taylor Perkins, the owner and restoration genius behind The York Beach Surf Club!

Taylor offered me a danish, but I kindly refused as I’m reducing sugar these days, and instead, I turned the conversation to what I was obsessing over and burst out with: “SERIOUSLY, YOU’RE THE OWNER!!! :) THIS PLACE IS AMAZING, HOW IN THE WORLD DID YOU DO ALL OF THIS???” That may have been exactly what I said, with precisely that amount of enthusiasm as, by now, we were both sitting on the sweet pink chairs pictured below at the mini-bar turned morning coffee bar. Remember, it was torrential outside and so Taylor and I had lots of time to chat.

create a mystique

While we sipped our lattes, Taylor shared his story of growing up in York, its historical relevance, and why he came back home to renovate an old Motel and gave it a crazy, funky name. He explained that he spent a long time looking around for a property that his family could transform. They had a vision and wanted to create a cooler “STAY experience” for younger, travelers looking for something less intimidating than stuffy, upscale bed and breakfasts, but nicer than traditional, old Maine motels. After months of searching, they found that The Old York Harbor Motel was for sale. It was perfect, situated right on the ocean and it had good bones and loads of history. It even had a pool that could be brought back to modern life. Taylor shared his photo album with me and told a few stories of the difficulties and setbacks they suffered through during the pandemic restoration. He told me about his close relationship with his father and about his dad’s love of surfing. He even shared a painting of his dad that he has prominently displayed near the lobby, front desk, gift shop, cafe, and mini-bar. His heart was really in this and it showed.

Taylor’s dad, Sonny Perkins, was the first surfer in the State of Maine with a fiberglass surfboard and in 1963 he started a surfing club with a loose coalition of surfers/friends to represent York in surfing contests along the east coast.

So 2020 when Taylor and his team of friends and family began the extensive renovation of the old York Harbor Motel, they were looking for a name. Since Taylor had grown up hearing the stories of the York Beach Surf Club and its members, they decided this name created the perfect mystique. And so became the York Beach Surf Club, hotel.

After a multi-million dollar restoration with the addition of the new pool, food & beverage cafe, and fully renovated buildings and bungalows, the property was now ready for its next 50 years and generations of York visitors. The York Beach Surf Club just celebrated its first season as it opened in the Spring of 2022. I am happy to report we are two of its early adopters!

why details are cool

All photography throughout the hotel is curated entirely from locals, of locals and I think this is so important when you are creating a style or building a brand. The photos reminded me of photos I’ve seen of my parents and that warmed my heart as I walked down the halls. You can see my reflection in the photo below. I took this photo because this woman is the spitting image of my aunt circa 1964. Wow. The images were enlarged, framed, and neatly hung down the hallways and in all the rooms. A nostalgic touch that I think was very well done.

inspiring interest

In the small lobby, the resort also pays homage to the original 1960’s surf collective, The York Beach Surf Club, and tells the unique story of the evolution of surfing in Maine. There is also a prestigious collection of 1960’s Longboards, lots of logo-imprinted swag & Maine Surf Photography available to guests.

SURF MANIA: 1963-1980 MAINE

York, Maine has a deep history of being the playground of the northeast, and one of the top summer hot spots on the east coast. Originally located at the end of the whistle stop, vacationers would take the train up to York to enjoy a stay in one of the many beautiful victorian hotels dotting the oceanfront. As the evolution of the automobile changed commerce in the area, the shift to exterior corridor motels took the country by storm, creating a dynamic couple of decades of design in the building styles celebrating the culture of the automobile and travel.

As a locale for summer migration with a permanent influx of travelers, York Beach inevitably found itself at the frontline of the wave of 60’s surf culture. A place infused with the spirit of rebellion and the creative experimental edge of the 60’s, surfing found a place here amongst the southern Maine youth.

Some surf club perks today!

Pineapple All-Day Cafe
The Pineapple Cafe, located in front of the York Beach Surf Club, is an all-day cafe opening at 7am daily with breakfast, lunch, and dinner served all day.

Heated Saline Pool
The new heated saline pool has over 3,500 feet of saltwater complete with beach entry, splash pad for laying out, and poolside food & cocktail service for guests of the surf club!

The Rolling Pearl
The flagship food truck camper, the Rolling Pearl, is open on weekends and for special events with cocktail service and snacks by the pool!

Surfing and Surf Instruction
The York Beach Surf Club is partnering with local vendors to offer summer surfing camps and private lessons!

The Daybreak Coffee Company
The Surf Company’s own coffee brand, Daybreaker Coffee Co., has a retail store located in the Pineapple All-Day Cafe.

Rooms and Spaces
The room photographs below were captured by Photographer Craig Capello. If you are interested in hiring Craig for a photo shoot, you can contact him here.

Photography: Google Trusted Photographer craigcapellophotography.com

Photography: Google Trusted Photographer craigcapellophotography.com

Photography: Read McKendree

I hope you enjoyed this Inspiration about how to find an interesting place to stay when you travel or go on vacation. I’ve included a few creative books below that you may find to spark your interest. Please be sure to leave comments as well. I’d love to hear your interesting STAY STORIES.

I’ve included the York Beach Surf Club’s contact information below should you want to pay a visit the next time you head to Maine. If you do, please mention Kim from Studio Sprig as Taylor would love to hear how you found him. Thank you.

Instagram: @YORKBEACHSURFCLUB
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YorkBeachSurfClub
Web: www.yorkbeachsurfclub.com
Email: reservations@theyorkbeachsurfclub.com
Phone: 207-363-SURF

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Learn: Top 25 books to unleash your creative potential. A great list.
Create: Find something you think needs “reviving” and take serious steps toward changing it.
Inspire: Share this post with the next real estate professional, contractor, or builder you meet. Be the change.

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I’m always here to help you with your creative journey. Follow Studio Sprig on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. I look forward to connecting. - Kim

Photo credits: The owner’s historical footage, Kim Bensing, Craig Capello and Read McKendree

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