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It has been a couple weeks since we painted the main floor. We took a much-needed break and celebrated our 5-year anniversary and Slav’s birthday. Let me tell you, I feel like a million bucks. Without unfinished tasks on sight, I can finally relax without constantly thinking about what to do next. Lessons learned – better not to live in the space we renovate!

Of course we still have a few things to do for our living space, including refinishing the floor and replacing a few windows. But freshly painted walls have improved the living space so much that I already feel like decorating. So the past weekend, I finally unpacked the frames and art that have been sitting in moving boxes since our move 17 months ago.

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I made this little “less house, more home” art year ago. I had just moved across the country and into my own 1000 sqft apartment. It was my first time furnishing a space, which really got me thinking about my own style of home. It was also around the time that I started reading about minimalism. This quote really stuck with me since.

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This anatomy art is my favorite and I got it for $4 from a thrift store in North Carolina! Best. thrift. find. ever.

Above the sofa hung our cow art. These are 99 cents IKEA cows decorated by our friends and family. We adore them.

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At the living room corner is a painting from a Polish artist and a family friend, Adam Faglio. We love his paintings of landscape, which are often based on sceneries of Slav’s hometown.

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Next to the living room thermostat are two more arts from Slav’s hometown. On the left is the castle, which is a landmark of Slav’s hometown and a local’s favorite. And to the right is the same castle in sunset from distance. This castle is quite significant to Slav and his family. Not only Slav grew up playing there, his parents also fell in love while working on a restoration project of the castle in their early 20s.

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In Slav’s office there is another framed art picturing Slav’s hometown. See the castle in the background? Slav definitely has a thing for it.

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Slav also has a thing for cute animals. Several posters and greeting cards in IKEA frames make a gallery wall in his office.

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On either side of the new office doorway I hung a pair of art which we bought when visiting Portland, OR in 2014. They were hung on either side of our bed in our North Carolina apartment.

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In the little hall way to the bedroom, we hung a simple, snowy village art we got also from our Portland trip. I love the calm and peaceful vibe it gives.

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Another painting from our favorite Polish painter dominated the bedroom. Yes you are looking at the castle again!

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Winter castle.

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On the night stands are two Chinese paper cutting arts of our zodiac animal signs. I am a ram and Slav is a dog.

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Also hung in our bedroom are a set of framed art we bought during our first visit to Denver in 2016. They were shipped to North Carolina and now are back to Denver again.

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Our wedding photo is hung between the his-and-her closets. This is the only photo of us (or in fact, people) that we have in the house.

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I had a bit fun with the kitchen gallery wall. The pencil art of lady with teddy bear is another thrift find and all the old kitchen art were purchased from a North Carolina artist.

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This is not an impressive collection by any means – in fact, most of the art are thrifted. But I love the memories and feelings they bring out, which make a house ours and home. I am happy to see them on the walls again!