You guys know how much I like to talk about home decor, craftiness, and food…specifically pork products. And you know that I walk around taking photos of things, and projects, and renovations. And you can bet your bottom dollar that we have much more to come (HUGE project reveals in the coming weeks…HUGE!).
But the truth is, we are normal folk just like you guys. We don’t change our house just because we like grout under our fingernails, or because we need a designer’s approval or even because we think constantly about monetary return, but we change our house to make it a home. A livable space. A comfortable environment. An oasis of fun and laughter and love. And all the blood, sweat and tears is totally worth it when we enjoy time with our friends and family under our very own roof. Afterall, people are the most important thing you can put into a room, right?
Well, that is why I decided to share with you the peeps in our life that we love. That’s right…totally not home decor related posts. I know…it’s like Donald Trump talking about hair care. Doesn’t make a whole lotta sense, right? But what if I said that Mr. You’re Fired was a business tycoon because of his passion for hairplugs or hairspray? Are you seeing my point? Bower Power is not a shmancy establishment with millions in the bank…but we do have passion. And the people that we love are our hairplugs. That is why I feel it is necessary for you to get an inside glimpse into our lives. I want you to know not just the WHAT in our home…but the WHY.
Our reason WHY we invest in tools, drywall, and shrubs is other people. We love people. We love entertaining. We love serving. We love providing. We love loving…and I mean that in a totally non-gross way. The boyfriend and I have made a decision to think about our space not in terms of square feet but in terms of square people (those are our favorite kind!). What’s the point of space if all you do is cram non-living stuff in it?
So I have decided to show you our ‘WHY’s….aka our peeps that give our home a heartbeat. Each week, I am gonna feature someone that we care about…a friend or family member…and give you some info on how they have enriched our home and our lives. Consider this insight on who really puts the power in Bower Power 🙂
In the mean time, why don’t you share with me a little info of your own. I wanna hear about your house, home or apartment.
What do you live in? How big is it? How many square people do you think you could fit inside?
And then tell me the maximum number of people that you have had in your space.
Did you throwdown like it was 1999 with 20 other guests? Was it a dinner party with 4 other couples? Or perhaps the maximum number was just you and a special someone?
I’m off to crunch those numbers…it is just so hard to count while taking off these dang shoes 🙂
How cool! Our Berlin apartment is 480 sq ft. We had 12 people over for Thanksgiving. Couldn’t fit another person.
We’ll have three guests over for Christmas this year… where oh where will they sleep?
Love those candid photos of everyone.
katie
In our last home which was about 2200 sq. feet we had probably 50-60 people for family Christmas one year. Thanks to a very open kitchen/family room, dining room, finished basement and 3.5 baths we had room to spare.
In our new home, also about 2200 sq. feet I couldn’t imagine that as the kitchen is smaller and the basement not finished. But since we are now out of state, no more big family gatherings. Instead we are trying to figure out the best way to have some guest space so all the relatives and friends that we hope come to visit will have a comfy space.
Yep, it’s all about the people that make a house a home.
Oh, and enjoyed your candid pics, too.
Fun family photos!
We currently rent a home about 1200 sq ft with a little covered patio in back and a fenced yard for the puppy. When the hubs finishes grad school at the end of this year we hope to buy our first home – can’t wait!! At least this rental house has color on the walls and we can hang things – bonus for making any house a home.
We love to entertain and have probably had about 15 people over even though our space was crammed, the layout is weird and not that great for entertaining. Our max number of overnight guests was 8 on New Year’s Eve – 2 in guest room, 2 on futon, one on couch, one on LoveSac, and 2 on air mattress! Good times. : )
My house is about 2700 sq feet and was built in 1929. We had about 35 people here for a party last friday and it didn’t feel like that many were here. I loved having little groups all around the house. I’m guessing we could easily do 50 or more due to all the little areas around the house you can talk at. Heck, we had a group of ten on the front porch and it didn’t feel crowded at all! I love this house!
I recently moved into a two bedroom/one bath apartment with my boyfriend and our Boston Terrier (Hamlet). I think we have about 800 square feet. We recently had five people over for the Fourth of July and it felt quite crowded, thanks to our boxes still being unpacked and furniture not quite in its final configuration. Looking forward to hearing about your square people, they’re definitely what makes the world go ’round, decorating or otherwise.
Hey Katie Bower, Do you need a 2×2 picture of me? I didn’t make the collage! I guess because I haven’t been in your home yet. Can you print off a picture of me and put it on your fridge so I can be included as one of your house guests? Thanks!
I have a 2600sq.ft. bungalow style house and I think the biggest crowd I’ve had so far is about 50-60 family members over for my grandfathers 70-something b-day bash a couple years ago. Love having family gatherings, we do it frequently at my grandparents house! Plus it’s a money saver with the economy these days – just have everyone bring a dish and you’re all set (as long as your not stuck with the meat)!!!
Awesome post Katie, sounds like a great idea!
We just moved from a townhouse into a single…and yeah, I’m terrible, I don’t know the first thing about sq footage. I know that it’s big but not too big and I love it.
About a month after we moved in, we volunteered to host my best friend’s rehearsal dinner for 60 people after a emergency-frantic-plans-fell-through sort of deal. So we had a week to freak out, clean & decorate and get our stuff together and hope that we could fit that many people comfortably. And we did it. And it was awesome. So now we’re planning our official housewarming where we’ll do it all over again.
Fun pictures! Our house is 1850 and I don’t know how many people were here for my girls 1st birthday, but we were busting out the seams! Must have been about 40 and it seemed that everyone wanted to hang out in the kitchen.
I live in a wannabe cape cod (single center hall, buys sketchy knock-off handbags) in a subdivision built on an old horse farm. We’ve got about 1,500 square feet, and we fit 15 people in it once for my son’s first birthday. We have a GIANT hill in our backyard (topped of by a large oak tree that has a branch sticking straight up out of the top, Whoville style) and I’ve always wanted to go sledding down it, but we haven’t had enough snow in the past few years to do that (I live in NC).
I love your pictures…and your spirit! Our house is 1400 sq. ft. and we’ve had about 35 people over at once, either for my boys’ birthday parties or holiday get-togethers. We do have a big backyard and we live in California where the sun is usually shining, so we definitely take advantage of outside entertaining/living!
I love this idea! I can’t wait to read more about all the important people in your lives.
Our condo is aroun 1000 sq ft. We don’t entertain often, because I alway freak about not having enough room. I think we had 14 family members over for Thanksgiving one year. Another year I have 20 of my hs friends over to celebrate Christmas. When I do entertain it helps me realize that sometimes cramming a lot of people into a small space is a good thing. People feel cozy. Cozy makes people feel comfortable. Comfortable can result in complete crazines (aka FUN)!
Our house is about 2000 sqft. We recently had our first cookout with about 25 of our friends and family. Im not sure I will be doing that again… Im too paranoid that something will get broken or spilled or stained to enjoy myself with that many people. We do have a lot of game nights with about 5 or 6 other people. Those I enjoy (because I can keep an eye on everyone!) 🙂
We haven’t exactly moved into the 1600 sqft rowhome we’re pouring our blood, sweat and tears into yet. But I hope we cram A TON of people into it. Family & friends are really imporatant to us.
But, to answer your question, my parents host an annual New Year’s Eve party at their home for about 70-80 people every year. It’s a really good time! I hope to continue the tradition in our rowhome, if they’ll all fit. 😀
Three months ago, Hubby and I bought/moved into our first house. Exactly two weeks – 14 days – after that we hosted a “Youth Group Reunion” of sorts and had 30+ people (counting kids too)! It was fabulous fun/awesome, and as soon as everyone left we looked at each other and said, “Let’s do that again!” We have 2200/3000 sq ft of finished/unfinished space and believe me, we could pack a lot more people in there! Our home was built in 1948. I love old homes, the older the better! But for being older, it still has a very open layout, which holds a lot of people.
we have a 1700sqft 3 bd 2ba.
we have hosted up to 12 adults and their corresponding 15 offspring. it was a bbq but being that it was in FL, most of the time was spent inside (except for the kids… get OUT!)
I love the way you did your family and friends photo. Adorable.
We had about 100 people at our house for our housewarming, but most were outside. It was packed though.
Our house is about 4300 sq. ft. Apart from a few friends here and there, we haven’t had time to throw any big parties yet, only having been in the house for a few months. We have been doing some major renovations – taking down three walls and all the flooring. Hopefully in the next few months we will have enough done to throw a house warming partay!
Three weeks after moving into our first house we threw a party for 50 people. Yes, before we’d even gotten our first morgatge bill. Our house is 1,400 sq feet 🙂
What a great idea!! Our new home is about 1800 square feet and we hosted a HUGE housewarming BBQ Memorial Day weekend for over 100 people! Luckily, most were in our backyard, but it was a great time. Even though there are many projects still to be completed, it was great to entertain! I love having people over and can’t wait until we have our first dinner party!
I think the fact that I’m number one is really, really significant. I love you too, Katie. There, I said it.
Our house is 1030 square feet (tiny but I love it) and we had 25 people over for our housewarming party and it was perfect. Now I’m thankful that the dining room is as big as the living room!
We bought a brick Cape Cod built in 1950. We’ve crammed quite a few family members and friends into our house for parties. Last weekend we had a cookout with about 35 people hanging out on the patio. It was a great time!
Our house is about 1800 sq ft. I love having people over but my husband and I are gone so much that it doesnt happen very often. Shortly after we moved in 5 years ago, we had a house warming party (emphasis on the “warming”). We had about 40 of my family members over and about 3 hours before the party started our a/c broke-in the middle of July! Fortunately one of my husband’s friend’s is an hvac guy so he fixed it and it had cooled off a little by the time the party started!
Sounds like these posts are going to be awesome and heartfelt.
Mr. McB and I live in a small apartment. Actually, it is a decent size, but not with the clothes I have and the stuff we accumulate. We have two bedrooms (the second doubles as our office), a closet area of washer/dryer, a small bathroom, and a decent size kitchen and living room. We also have a decent size storage unit under our stairs and a small balcony and a large balcony. Overall, it will do for now. As for people, to be honest, I think we have had around 20 people there prior to a football game.
What a cute idea for a post! Our townhome is about 2k sq ft. We hosted my 30th birthday party two months after we moved in – about 30 people I think. What originally bugged us about our space (no open layout between the kitchen and living room) ended up being an asset – it created two parties: one around all the food in the kitchen/dining area, and one in the living room playing Guitar Hero and DDR. Our friends claim they had a great time!
very sweet, but wow, you kids don’t live in a diverse area, do you? i can’t imagine all friends of one race here!
2,000 sq ft house. The house I lived in from 2 years old till 5th grade! My husband and I are now pulling down wall paper my mom put up in ’84!
I have had 50 peeps in the backyard for a bbq. Some good friends of mine are dog sitters in LA for the stars. Ooo La La They were on a cross country trip from LA to NYC where the actress moved when the filming of her show switched coasts. The dog is far too big for a plane so the actress had our friends drive the Huge pup in their tiny car! I should not say who the actress was but I will tell you her dog sure was not Ugly. 🙂
We had a lot of people who wanted to meet the dog. Silly, I know. In Oklahoma we don’t see many famous people……or their dogs. ha ha
Hey Jenna –
Actually we live in a HIGHLY diverse area. Atlanta is a mix of every background you can think of…and I am very proud to be part of that melting pot. As for our photos – it just so happened that most of those photos are of family…who hail from the land of Caucasia. Stay tuned for future posts – we plan on divulging lots of fun info on the people that make us weak in the knees…so you will get a chance to read up on how diverse these folks are – both inside and out.
XO – Katie
well, McStudly and I live in a 2 bed 1.5 bath rownhome… and we’ve fit quite a bit more than we probably shoul dhave at a time or two for Super Bowl parties, New Years shin-digs, and just why-the-heck-not kind of hooplas. We love love LOVE entertaining, even if we should learn to say no at times. Our house is slowly, but surely, becomming a home… complete with wrongly-picked paint colors, and “oopsie – did I do that” renovation mishaps. gotta love life, right?! But it’s even better together with each other and friends and family in the mix!
Hey Katie~
I was really diggin’ your post yesterday…err…still currently diggin’ it as well! Our teeny tiny 692 sqft one bedroom, one bath holds a lot of love between me, my hubby to be and our 2 fancy mutts! We have big dreams for our first future home together one day, so I guess you can say our teeny tiny apartment also holds our larger than life visions for what’s to come. We have the occassional visitor here and there, but for now we like to house crash on friends and family who have a little more space for us!!! In the mean time I am always keeping track of design ideas while I’m crashing!
I can’t wait to get a peak into your friends and family. Not in a creepy way, of course! These posts are really great because they give us readers validation that you awesome designing blog women are a little like all of us!
🙂 Steph
We have a large home, I think about 2600 sq. ft, but much of it is taken up by our tenants. However we have thrown a few parties of about 20-30 people in our living room/dining room/kitchen.
And then last summer, we got married here! In our very own backyard. It was amazing and wonderful. It was a small wedding, 50 people. We had “afternoon tea” as our theme. We rented vintage mis-matched china and vintage pastel tablecloths and a big white tent, and we had built two small waterfalls back there so we had the lovely sound of trickling water and sun coming through the trees. SO nice!
That sounds unbelievable! You had me at vintage mis-matched china 🙂
xo – kb