We are so excited to introduce a new series, "At Home With". In this new column we invite people who inspire us to share their favorite space in their home. We love peeking into another person's world, don't you? Our first guest is Denise Bovee. She inspires us each day with her beautiful instagram photos of family life. Here's what she has to say about her favorite space, an outdoor patio: 
"I live in a teeny tiny apartment space. It's my 2 girls, my husband and I in a 2-bedroom, 1-bath apartment. There is a perk: It has a open patio area. Picture a sun room, but with no roof, just trees hovering above. Although at times I've felt trapped by the tight quarters, I feel we've made the best of the space given. We have made this outdoor spot our hangout. We use it for homeschooling, dinner with friends, hang-drying our clothes, housing our chickens, etc. Basically it's the heart of our home."
"I have an old American flag hanging above our outdoor table. It belonged to my biological father. He gave it to me recently, along with a box of old records and random drawings he drew of Mick Jagger. I love it so much and feel it completed my outdoor space."
"My absolute favorite item in my space is my spun-fiberglass patio set. I found it on Craigslist for $70 bucks! I pretty much die over them. I drove about 2 hours to pick them up and have never regretted one second of that drive!"
"We have lived in our apartment for 2 years. When we first moved in, I thought I was using the space well… I was wrong. It's taken me 2 years to really understand how to utilize such a small space well. I'm a little embarrassed by that time frame, but sometimes it takes a while to see how you function in a space. Every corner is important to us. If it's not being used, well I'll figure how to. It's a mixture of pattern and texture, and I feel it finally represents us well… or me well..heeehee"
"I'm a homeschooling photographer. Every morning we wake up, weather permitting, and do our outdoor studies. We feed our chickens, sweep the porch, read some books, yada yada. I will say, my favorite time is when our friends or family are over enjoying a dinner. We listen to music, play games and eat dinner…it's a dream. My heart is on the road in an outdoor setting. This satisfies my heart for the time being."
Thank you for sharing your space, Denise! Be sure to check out her blog, We Go To & Fro.
112 Comments
beautiful.
xo, cheyenne
such a cute inspiration for my two bedroom apartment!!
valentina, the font is called Gotham. XO
hi! i would like to know which is the font you use for the posts’ titles? i am looking for a typography exactly like this to use in titles…
thanks!
Wow! So awesome!!!!!
What an inspiring space! I just love those chairs and the little play tent for the kids. It’s just gorgeous!
That is an amazing space right there.
xoxo,
Rachel Nicole @ Summer Breeze
rachyracheshobbycorner.blogspot.com
Aw, such beautiful and heart-warming photos. Denise has a beautiful family. Thanks for sharing this lovely space with us. I love the new feature 😉
xo, Adriana.
http://horsesofares.blogspot.com
My parents have the same fiberglass patio set! We actually have a love seat and chairs and barstools in addition to the table and chairs you have. My Grandmother paid several thousand dollars for the set about 25-30 years ago, so $70 was an amazing deal. And we have left them outside for those 25 years and they still look in perfect condition!
It looks like a magical haven! <3
Nice! Her home looks like something you see in a magazine.
http://shopaholicundercover.com
awwww i love.
I’d love to wake up every morning and have this space to drink tea and relax with my husband. So sweet.
Also, I love the “I Love You” on the little tree ladder.
How lovely! So very inspiring. I have a feeling that I’m going to like this new series!
Love her space and love her blog as well! This is a great new series and I cant wait until more “at home with” posts.
Kim
azulhome.com
I’m sure this is going to be among my favorite features on your blog. It’s so wonderful to see how different people use space to cater to their families needs. Can’t wait for more posts!
i adore this space!! it looks simply magical. thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Gorgeous! That’s what I dream to have for my future little babies. A childs dream space 🙂
Xo Inna, Baking in Couture
So beautiful! What a lovely home 🙂
OH my gosh, that little outdoor space is so precious I may throw up! AH! This segment is gonna be awesome 🙂
this is going to be an exceptional series. so excited to see what comes out of it!!
omg this would become one of my fav reads at week, lovely home from Denise
Love this space! It is so great to remember that you don’t need a huge house to live well!
http://kneehightoaladybug.com/wordpress/
I love this new feature! This patio is just gorgeous, I love the teepee and the fairy lights.
Love her place! Seems so relaxing
This is such a beautiful space! I’m pretty sure I’m going to enjoy all of this new series!
http://lifeoflovely.blogspot.com
I’ve never seen a sweetest home! seems so perfect for children, or young people, for dreamers!
Love, Pili.
http://elsuspirodelmar.blogspot.com.es/2012/10/40s-vintage-dress.html
Sooooooo lovely!!! I’m crazy about the patio furniture!
Love this – such a beautiful space!
The whole space is lovely, but what caught my eye is the little mirrors on the wall – I love that! Thank you for reminding me to keep working on figuring out how to use ALL of our space well!
This is insanely beautiful!
There is just something so beautiful about imagination! My neice has made her teepee into a castle, a fort, a store, a bank, you name it. Love this!
I love this series already! What a great way to kick it off. SUCH a beautiful home– I would’ve driven two hours for that patio set too. 😉
Gosh – I love this post so much. FYI, I’m a big reader, each day I make sure I read A Beautiful Mess followed by your two lifestyle blogs. I’ve been too shy to comment but this is so lovely and inspiring. I’m a student and currently searching for a flat somewhere in London so it’s so good to see what you can do with small amounts of space!
Have a beautiful day, Amy x
I love this series. My husband and I have been in our home for 3 years and we still don’t have a lot of things figured out, so I love the creative inspiration that comes with all things interior design. Her photos are incredibly dreamy and her theme is simple and rustic. I love it so much! Thanks for sharing.
Oh no, this is the cutest thing ever! ♥
http://joyfuldiary.blogspot.de/
I really love this!
I live in an apartment myself so I absolutely love how she transformed a small space into heaven:) What a great post!
http://www.popsparkleandshineclub.com
http://lauralistar.onsugar.com/
That patio setting is beautiful! Wow! Just goes to show what a little inspiration and love can do to a cemented space. xo L
WoW! Lovely pics!!
http://doitnaturalnow.blogspot.com.es/
I’m excited to see the rest of this series! Her patio is so beautiful, what an inspiring place to learn in.
Faye x
this was beauitfull..
What an amazing place ! I just put the pictures in my “dream house” folder ! Lovely
Love it all especially the chairs!
This outdoor is really a dream for little ones and adults!
Oh my, that is truly magical! I think your girls are really happy children having their own fairy tale to live in! Wow, just WOW! I could live on that patio! hehee
xx,
Erika
OMG this is supercute!
love this new section!
This home is amazing!
http://mykitschworld.blogspot.com.es
So beautiful!
xx
GIVEAWAY – http://biskvittka.blogspot.com/2012/10/giveaway.html
that’s a super lovely home!
xx
www.ireneccloset.com
Amazing pictures. It’s so inspiring!
Love the dreamy touch!
http://dipitblack.wordpress.com
Great new series..I’m excited to more posts! I do like to peek in other peoples living area’s, it’s really interesting 🙂
This first place looks soo adorable, loving and warm. Even if it’s small it has more vibe and homey touch that most big spaces. I love it 🙂
xo
www.evesbreeze.blogspot.com
i love their house! so pretty & whimsical… 🙂
So cute and so well used!
www.creativityandchocolate.blogspot.com
i love Denise!!! & her space is the cutest!!
http://peachonearth.blogspot.com
Such a dreamy little home. Simple yet full of personality! 🙂
So glad you started this series. There is something about people’s home that tells more about them than anything else. And specially beautiful to see how these creative people live their daily lives!
This space is absolutely divine! I was homeschooled growing up and I spent hours upon hours outside.
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who loves taking a peak into how other people live! This is such a fantastic idea! My favorite part is that there is a tepee on the patio- that is absolutely fabulous! Can’t wait to see who is next!
-Ashley Kdottie-
That is so cool! I am homeschooled, and it’s cool to see things about other homeschoolers sometimes. Thank you for sharing!
I’m loving this series already! I really do like to see how people utilize space. I used to daydream about living in the itty bitty apartments in Ikea. And this takes me back to my homeschooled days. We didn’t have anything like this, but we did keep all the frogs we found in our pool! Love it!
Oh my gosh this is inspiring! I surely would have loved places like these when I was a kid, it’s like a fairytale, thanks for those ideas and those inspiring pictures!
cool i love the outdoor area with the teepee!
I always love to see how other people decorate their space
http://floatingthrufields.blogspot.com/
These photos are so gorgeous!!
xo Heather
http://ahopelessnotebook.blogspot.com/
Love the patio space! Wish my apartment had that, I only get a small balcony 🙁 Her girls are beautiful!
your outdoor space is heavenly. It’s so well decorated, not to mention your photographs make it just that much more sweet. Your girls are lucky to have such a fresh space to study in!
xox
fashion415.com
So love that space.. 🙂
http://lovesimplegreen.blogspot.com/
Love this series. What a beautiful space to teach kiddos! I’m such a sucker for outdoor lighting.
Very excited for this new series! I love peeking into other people’s homes ha ha! xx
Kate {Modette}
http://modetteblog.com
Wow, that is a really great use of space. I am really digging that tee pee. I think I might need one in my patio area.
xoxo
Jen
Beautiful blog, beautiful home… thank you for the introduction to both x
WOW! I would have loved if that was my homeschooling space when I was little! I was homeschooled all the way till high school and even a little through high school! An open patio? Ah!
I love this new column! Great idea! I love seeing how others decorate their space!
I super want this to be my life. I don’t have a mini-me running around but I think I would enjoy myself in that space as much as any 3′ + unders.
This is such a great series! I love looking to other people’s homes for decor inspiration. This first one was just lovely, thanks for sharing! -jb.
http://madewithlovebyjackieb.blogspot.co.uk/
Denise is one of my favorite people ever. So glad you featured her. She absolutely deserves it! Love her spirit.
Gosh I am so excited about this new feature!!! Have always loved Shelby style interventions in creative homes. Big thumbs up girls! I am currently hunting down inspiration for how to turn our backyard into an amazing space so this was great for that too!
What a whimsical oasis 🙂
♥ Naomi {Starry Eyes + Coffee Cups}
I have been following her for quite some time on Instagram and I absolutely love her photos. I can’t get over how large her back patio looks considering how small she says it is. Such a precious space, and of course love the teepee.
Wow and I thought people in New York did a lot with small spaces! Almost didn’t notice the kitty in the corner.
These photos are amazing!
meli!
Gorgeous.
http://iliska-dreams.blogspot.com.au/
Love this space! It is utterly adorable. The twinkly lights and teepees are my favourite. 🙂
-Lindsey
http://ettu-tutu.blogspot.com
Oh my goodness – I am SO excited for this series!!! This home is beautiful – I love love love the outdoor space. Going to check out her Instagram and blog now:)
Love,
Stephanie May*
http://www.maydae.com
what a lovely space!
That is a seriously great outdoor space. My entire childhood was spent outdoors on a farm, there is nothing better!
Your outdoor space looks like a perfect fairy tail setting – complete with with little fairies – those kids are so cute!
XOXO
-Daisy Nguyen from PS BANANAS fashion blog:
http://psbananas.com
This is an absolutely fabulous space!
xo Jennifer
http://seekingstyleblog.wordpress.com
I love that space – It looks like such a happy place!
http://www.futurusticblog.com/
I love how her optimism turned this outside space into their family room. It’s so airy and beautiful! Who wouldn’t love a schoolroom like THAT?
http://catherinedenton.com
Catherine Denton
The garden and the kid s tent are amazing!
Xx
www.pretpenser.com
oh how lovely…and thank you for the link to denise’s blog..i so know the challenges of living in a small space with kidlet! as my blog readers will be tired of hearing no doubt! xx
what a lovely space! so great to have usable outdoor area, especially with a teepee!
http://ahandfulofhope.blogspot.co.uk/
Since i love everything about interior designing, i really like the idea of the ‘at home with’ series. For as far as i can see it’s a lovely place, i’d do anything to have a patio!
http://bravebrunette.blogspot.com
omg! custest little tent ever! What a special little home 🙂
http://slidingdrawersblog.blogspot.com/
I LOVE this new series!!! Denise makes home living look so…well, homey. I love the evening photo.
– Sarah
agirlintransit.blogspot.com
THE MOST AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME place ever!!!!
I am so loving and wanting more of this series!!
Can’t wait to see more
I love this new section!
This is fantastic and beautiful! Truly!
love love love this!! did i say i love this? inspired me to redo!!
I cant imagine a better place to relax. I love everything about this place!
-Melissa
shakeshakee.blogspot.com
I love this new feature! What a great space Denise has created xo
This is so beautiful and inspiring. Wish I had a place like that. But, as I learned from this post, it’s about making something special our of what you’ve already got.
That is to cool! I’m homeschooled too. Great idea for a new series.
xoxo
Philothea
These photos are amazing! I love that patio set!
So absolutely beautiful! I have total house envy. What an adorable family they are.
What a great use of the available space! The patio looks like a cool place to hang out!
Wow, I’m in love with this patio, and just the idea of this life, really! I am yearning for more of a simple life, for not just my sake, but my kids’!
I love this! I live in a small apartment with my two kids and this has inspired to use our space a bit better! Thank you!
www.packingrainbows.com
I adore Denise’s instagram and her photos or her home and girls, thank you for sharing her thoughts/photos on her sweet space!
Lovely.
Gosh that is the cutest patio ever, perfect! Very pretty photographs too, loveee this new series.
that is an absolutely awesome backyard! it’s what little girl’s dreams are made of.
-ale
This apartment is sheer loveliness I heart the way the indoor and outdoor spaces are so seamlessly sinked! It really looks like an idyllic space and a great setting in which to raise children. A x