I don’t know if I’ve ever shared a post like this before but after years of stepping into my oh-so-cherished friend Nikita’s home for our monthly book club, I asked her if I could photograph her house to share on here with you. I truly felt like you’d be missing out if I didn’t! I hope that the content I provide is inspiring, that it brings you joy, or that you learn something with every post. I can’t help but feel that way every time I step foot in her house. It’s truly like the warmest hug and no coincidence that it’s her work at hand because not only does she give some of the best hugs but she’s also the warmest, most intentional, and vibrant person. You’ll find all of those qualities in the photos I’m about to share with you. Oh and did I mention that this house is ON COLUMBUS (Mississippi) AIR FORCE BASE? You’d never ever guess it. Again, another Nikita-ism I just so deeply adore.
Side note: we had our third babies a few days apart this past December. Her first baby girl and my first baby boy. It was so fun to walk through that season (and this new one!) with her. Because she’s one of the absolute best cheerleaders and I know she’ll read this, I miss you, sweet friend. You were one of the hardest parts about leaving Columbus. Okay I’ll stop with the sap now. Onto Nikita’s beautiful home!
In the military, timelines are never certain. For pilot families we typically get stationed somewhere for about two years and eight months but at a training base like Columbus, it can be a wildcard. Nikita has always known that of course but that didn’t stop her from making their on-base house a home. You’ll notice that she didn’t do anything “extreme” in here. Paint is her greatest tool! Pair that with her eye for decor and she has created so much beauty. It is all so intentional. She said something to me recently about how beauty inside the home points us upward and reminds us of just how much beauty the Lord creates everywhere around us. It was much more eloquent coming from her, of course, but goodness is it true and something I’ve thought so much about since.
We’ve never lived on base so I don’t know the fine print concerning the rules but I do know that essentially whatever is done to the house has to be put back in the original condition before leaving. For example, if you paint anything you have to paint over it with the original color or if you add any wallpaper/wall treatment you have to take it down. The first thing one sees when walking into Nikita’s house is this beautiful artwork that she did as an accent wall (she’s incredibly artistic and talented!). The question she often gets is something to the effect of, “Will you have to paint over this when you move?!” The short answer is yes. But I do know when that time comes she has mentioned asking housing if she can keep the walls and mural as is. Knowing the military they’ll say no but hey maybe they’ll be in love with it too and agree it should stay!
Something that I really commend Nikita for is how she utilizes the space in her home and she adjusts based on what is best for her family in that season. For example, she turned what used to be the homeschooling room for her boys into a nursery for her new daughter. Now the school room is next to the kitchen and so precious and functional!
Every month at book club in Nikita’s home we’d all enjoy sipping her freshly made tea out of one of her tea cups from her beautiful collection. You’ll notice throughout the house how she masterfully doubles things that they actually use as art of sorts in her decor.
Here is the precious nursery Nikita created for her baby girl out of the previous “homeschool room”. The new school room that I shared above used to be a reading area but now you can see she combined the reading area with the nursery. She is making the most out of the space!
Nikita is an avid reader and has instilled her love of books into her two boys. I’m sure that the same will apply for baby girl! This rug is PERFECTION. The colors are stunning and the pattern is gorgeous. She said she got a great deal on it by purchasing it Black Friday weekend on Amazon but I also noticed they’re currently having a birthday sale on the Ruggable site. Her love for author C.S. Lewis and The Chronicles of Narnia series runs deep so it’s even more fitting that this rug can be found in her home. It’s an added bonus that Ruggable rugs can be thrown directly into the washer if needed instead of having to break out the rug cleaner.
The nursery is full of vintage details and sentimental items. All of them make the room even more special. It was so fun hearing her talk about each one. They were all placed in this space with purpose! I just love that.
It’s easy to see where Nikita’s creativity stems from when learning that her mom “learned a new skill” and made this beautiful embroidery ring. STUNNING RIGHT?
And her dad drew this card for baby girl! His sense of humor made all of us giggle at her baby shower.
She has curated beautiful arrangements throughout the house filled with sentimental items that add so much character to what would be bare, neutral painted walls.
Nikita’s boys share a bedroom which is made most functional with bunk beds. Each boy has their own reading sconce above their bed.
There’s no shortage of books for them to get lost in! Like I mentioned, she has shared her (and her husbands) love of books with her boys. One simple way she does that in her home – have many books around!
I’m a sucker for a moody green bedroom. Have you noticed that she uses plants throughout the house to make the rooms come to life?
A funny and cute Nikita-ism I think about often that makes me smile: at book club we’d all bring a snack to share with each other. At the end of the discussion there would typically be a bunch of treats left over. One night when we were leaving we asked Nikita if she wanted us to leave some leftovers and she told us about how her and her husband have a tradition after book club in which she’d gather all the remaining treats and they’d have a picnic in bed together while watching one of their shows. I just love it. Also if you need an easy date night idea… There you go.
Nikita’s husband has a dedicated corner in their bedroom for his books and one of his hobbies, War Hammer 40K, which provides another example of how she utilizes their space so well.
The hall bath that the guests and her boys use is also painted in the same color as the kitchen, school room, and China hutch wall in the dining room – Nocturnal Green from Valspar. It appears navy in color but is actually a deep green.
Let’s do a little visualization exercise here… Imagine this same bathroom with neutral walls, take out the fun rug, and take out the decor. Pretty bland, right? Add some contrast with paint and touches of decor and you’ll see how Nikita has created a moody, cozy bathroom full of personality.
Onto the heart of Nikita’s home… The open dining room and living room space. Can you handle the book shelves?! Her husband built them! I know that because it was the first thing I asked when I stepped foot into her house. Ha! I would bet that 99% of her guests make some sort of comment about them. They’re amazing. Not only does she have a phenomenal book collection but she designs them to double as art! It’s always fun to see her creative brain at work during the various holidays when she adds touches of decor to fit the season.
One thing that I want to highlight about her intentional decor choices here. Notice how the room is vaulted so the ceiling slants upward. She has not only added books on top of the shelves to make the shelves appear larger but she has also placed large vases with real greenery (cut from one of the trees out back!) to take the eye upward and fill in the empty wall space. This makes the bookshelves appear more robust and is subconsciously so pleasing to the eye as it naturally gravitates upward with the ceiling.
Last but not least, Nikita’s favorite spot in their home – the back porch. This reminds me of one other story I hope that she’s okay with me sharing. Her sister actually shared it at Nikita’s baby shower and it also runs through my mind often. Nikita’s youngest son was looking for her throughout the house while yelling, “Mom!!! MOM!!!!” This went on for minutes apparently. The older son eventually got so fed up he screamed back at him, “SHE’S ON THE PORCH DOING HER PRAYERS!!!” There’s so much I could say on this. In fact, I could probably write an entire post but I’ll keep it short and say this- to be so deep in conversation with Jesus that you can’t hear the noise, to be living out your faith unapologetically for your children (and so far beyond) to witness, and to do it in a manner that is so consistent that your young child knows it is simply an expected part of your day is for lack of a better word, admirable. It is by far the greatest Nikita-ism. It is something I know I personally strive for and is probably why I think about this simple interaction between her sons so often.
One last thing! Nikita doesn’t use social media. Another thing I love about her! Otherwise I’d recommend you go follow her immediately. 😉 I did ask her though to share some things she’s loving currently because I always find this type of thing fun! Here’s that list and her comments on each item:
Thank you for sharing your home with us, Nikita. Both you and your home are such blessings and I hope that those that read this post feel blessed by it too.
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