“Wow, I LOVE that!”
That’s what we’re going for. Whether you’re building or updating, we can help you find lights you love, in your budget!
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This house was a blast with an awesome couple that both love big rustic sparkle for their house, a lot of sentiment, and wanted it set up for family and friends to be there. We worked on paint colors, wallpaper, floor and wall tile for the bathrooms and laundry room. Thank you for letting us be a part of it!
This project included lights, cabinetry, hardware, and fireplace design. We also sell mantles and brackets! They’re from American small businesses that are creating beautiful products that we love.
Just over a year ago, my own parents told us kids that they sold the farm. We knew it would eventually come and there was a lot of speculation as to when... But it was done. The “last”s had begun. The farm had been in the family since 1910, I believe. My great grandma grew up in that house, my grandma, my dad, and then us. They had renovated which was great, but still left a lot to be desired. They were ready for new- a quarter mile down the road.
So began the designing of the new dream house…. All the things they had been wanting for so long. Big windows to see the lake. Open concept for lake views and to all be together - gathered around the island, sitting at the dining table, and hanging out in the living room. Space to move- 4’ hallways and wider doorways. In keeping with their ever-conservative natures, it was to be a simple house with good quality but didn’t have to be the most expensive.
My mom let me help…. I did not get full design control- which I totally wanted!….. I say this with a laugh and big hug for her! She knows what she likes. She wants new and modern, while keeping her favorite colors. She loves mid-century design, often remarking that it’s what the kitchen looked like when she grew up, but wants the comfort that mid-century lacks. AND, she has this flare for glam crystals and sparkle.
She may have posed the biggest challenge for me yet! And in the end, what matters is that my mom, and my clients, move into homes they absolutely love, that is their dreams brought to life.
We went with modern black finishes on the lights and gave the island pendants a touch of the wood tone. We picked a traditional chandelier and fan. She wanted some sparkle and had to have a fan in the master bedroom. The master bathroom feels like a spa retreat with the simple elegance of it and nickel finish on the lights.
To bring in the mid-century modern style, we put it into maple cabinetry to minimize the grain and added a caramel color stain. We picked sleek brushed nickel finger pulls to let the wood flow through the rooms. One creamy beige paint color coats the walls throughout. Then her furniture is all a comfortable traditional style.
The stacked stone fireplace with a large hearth brought it all together in with light and dark gray, white, and beige stones.
I love that I got to help my parents make a longtime dream happen. They went without for so many years, and now they get to enjoy. I have a flare for big and attention-grabbing style, but I hope I always keep my mom’s thrifty, functional, understated, and pretty style with me.
This year I got to work with Bridget and Dustin on their new home build. Such a wonderful, fun, and sweet couple. They just moved this last week after a two year haul. It is so sunny, beautiful, and warm with ample large south-facing windows looking out on the fields! There is a warm gray paint color, medium wood tone floors, dark bronze hardware, and white trim. Lots of wood tones in the lighting fixtures in the open living space. The two-sided gas fireplace divides the kitchen and living room. It is amazing to be in there with the fireplace on and the pretty mantle made by a friend for them. There is lighting under the mantle and the cabinets for the evenings.
This is their “Autism Castle” for them and their two boys with autism. This was a team effort between them, the builder, subs, Cozy H&L, SDSU, and Lake Area Tech to build a home that is Bridget’s dream home (and Dustin’s too!), and that functions perfectly for their boys.
The boys, Preston and Caleb, are middle school and upper elementary age. Preston, a big teddy bear, has a lot of energy and can be busy through the night. Caleb, a little shy, warm and loving, is an expert in South Dakota facts and navigation. It has been such a joy getting to know this whole family!
With travel being limited and most of their time is spent at home, there need to be places to retreat and do your own thing. Bridget has a piano that we installed sconces for, a craft room/office, and a master bath with a beautiful chandelier (to be installed) where she can escape to for peace and quiet.
The house is large! Caleb’s upstairs room has special spaces for him. A soundproof closet with a quiet reading nook and a climbing wall to another nook. He likes to drive his cars so a ledge was installed with color changing lights and effects. There is a wall mounted control for him to change effects as he wants.
Preston has a lower level bedroom that is designed to be an apartment down the road if they choose. His bathroom is spacious and easy to clean with onyx wainscoting, plumbing fixtures, and a drain.
There are two other rooms on the lower level for the boys besides the family room. There is a movie room without windows but does have a two way mirror to look into the play room. It’s huge and will have a tunnel with a wraparound sitting space to look out the windows and play. Plenty of outlets for these tech-loving boys. There will be a ceiling mounted swing that will allow them to push off the walls- something Preston loves. We installed extra recessed lighting that is at 4000K in this room to make it more like daylight to help wear off energy in the evenings and on darker days. They can play downstairs for hours and feel like it’s daytime!
Bridget came up with an ingenious idea that we all will be wanting! In the pantry off the kitchen there is a small door on the floor that opens to the garage. They put their groceries in the laundry baskets and slide them in the room. There is no hauling groceries past the kids taking off coats and shoes, and through the house. It all goes straight inside!
This large pantry has its own passcode lock to keep the boys from sneaking their foods all the time, a second refrigerator, and lots of shelving.
One of the most special spots in the house is in the fireplace wall. There is a custom built-in shelf. It will hold their family Bibles going back to Norway, and grandmother’s catechism book from their Lutheran church.
At the end of the time with them and we were chatting about how their house looks like a magazine, Dustin said to Bridget that it’s been 17 years, “we’ve earned it.”
The love this family has is wonderful. Many blessings on their new home and for many, many sweet memories to be made!
A Modern Geometric home for the holidays. Stunning with black and gold finishes.
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COZY Home & Lighting is a lighting and home finishings store- lights, rugs, furniture and more. Design assistance available. Great prices that you can feel good about. We help finish homes all the way to installation!
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