3 Years In Okinawa, Japan
Welcome back, friends! If you are joining me from Jen’s blog, Tatertots and Jello, welcome! Jen’s home always gives me a sense of love and warmth.
Today is Throwback Spring Home Tours from the last three years we’ve lived in Japan. I wanted to share some before pictures to give you an idea of what military housing looks like. We are not able to paint, change any fixtures, or make holes because the walls are made of concrete. The outside is like a fourplex so we are really close to our neighbors, there’s no curb appeal and we have silver metal doors (that’s been a sore eye for the last three years). But, you know what? We made it our home.
Let’s get started! The first picture was taken a few days after we received the keys to our new home. The blue furniture isn’t ours, it’s government furniture that they lend while your household shipment arrives.
Our household goods arrived 2 1/2 weeks later and I got to work! I played around with the layout, moved furniture left and right until I found what worked best with our sectional.
During spring I love bringing the outdoors in with plants. Fresh flowers are such an inexpensive way to add some spring decor to your home, plus you can never go wrong with plants!
Once the downstairs was done I headed to the kid’s room and decided to start with Juliet’s room. We literally one brought her bed, no decor, no accent furniture, just a bed. I had a lot of fun shopping and creating a cozy beach room for her. You can read and find more details on Juliet’s bedroom HERE.
Then it was Luke’s room. I wanted his room to have traditional coastal colors and for it to be calm and peaceful like the rest of the house. I soon realized that wasn’t going to work. Luke is full of energy, joy, always has a smile on his face, and has such a big personality… he’s a little ray of sunshine for sure. Plus, he’s only five and loves cars lol So why not have a little fun in this room.. right? You can find more pictures and details on Luke’s bedroom HERE.
Last but not least, is Scarlet’s cozy bedroom. I feel like Scarlet is always getting the hand-me-downs from her big sister Juliet. So even though they shared a room in our previous home, I wanted to give her something of her own. A space where there are no hand-me-downs and is her own. For more details on Scarlet’s room go HERE.
That completes my Spring Home Tour throwback! I won’t be able to do a summer home tour because we will be on the moving during that time and all of our things will be packed away and traveling to San Diego, CA! It’s going to be bittersweet leaving Japan, but I’m glad we made our little military house into a home.
This week is packed with beautiful spring inspiration! To continue with today’s Spring Home Tours, head on over to Rachael at This is Our Bliss for some bedroom spring touches! I hope you have the time to look through all the spring inspiration, I also wanted to give a big shoutout and Thank You to Krista The Happy Housie for hosting these lovely home tours.
xoxo- Norma
Also sharing today…
Wednesday
Shades of Blue Interiors // Finding Silver Pennies // Life is a Party // Bless’er House
Summer Adams// Tatertots and Jello // Paint Me Pink // This is Our Bliss
And sharing the rest of the week…
Monday
The Happy Housie // The Turquoise Home
Amber Tysl // Inspiration for Moms // Lemon Thistle
Southern State of Mind // Modern Glam
Taryn Whiteaker // A Burst of Beautiful // My Sweet Savannah
Tuesday
Jenna Kate at Home // Sincerely, Marie Designs // Town and Country Living
A Pretty Life // Hallstrom Home
House by Hoff // Tauni Everett // The DIY Mommy // Clean & Scentsible // Rambling Renovators
Thursday
Home Made Lovely // So Much Better With Age // Maison de Cinq
Craftberry Bush // Rooms FOR Rent
Maison de Pax // Zevy Joy // Place of My Taste // Deeply Southern Home // Kim Power Style
Susan
So beautiful Norma! I’m sure everyone that comes to your home feels like they are back in the States and at home. Your colors and decorations are so calming and joyful. I could move right in! Can’t wait to see your San Diego home. Safe travels!
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paintmepink
SusanYou are too sweet Susan! Can you believe that it’s been 3 years already! Time sure flies and sadly I’m not ready to give up Japan, I love this place so much.
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View CommentKrista
Oh, what a fun post! It was really cool to see the way you added your own touches to each of those spaces! We lived in RCMP housing for three years once, and I was the same – decorated our rental to suit us and our families style even though it was for a short time. So worth it! Good luck with your big move, Norma:)
View Commentpaintmepink
KristaThank you so much Krista! I think it’s very important to create a cozy home no matter where. Rentals can be hard to work with but not impossible! Thank you so much again for hosting these lovely hops it’s always a pleasure being part of them! XOXO
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View CommentLinda
So excited to see what you do with your decorating in San Diego, my hometown.
View Commentpaintmepink
LindaThank you, Linda! I can’t believe it’s been three years already! It’s going to be bittersweet saying goodbye to this beautiful country that I’ve fallen in love with 🙂
View CommentJennifer Hadfield
Hi Norma!
I love your home! Those pops of navy and pink with the white are so pretty! Gorgeous for Spring!
xoxo
View Commentpaintmepink
Jennifer HadfieldThank you so much, Jennifer!! I truly LOVE your beautiful home too! xoxo -Norma
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View CommentRachel
Such a pretty coastal vibe you have in your home! You really have transformed your home so beautifully in 3 years.
View Commentpaintmepink
RachelThank you so much, Rachel! I can’t believe it’s time to move again, I’m so not ready to go.
View CommentDannyelle
Wow what amazing transformations! So pretty and perfect for spring.
View Commentpaintmepink
DannyelleThank you so much, Dannyelle! It’s going to be bittersweet leaving this place.
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View CommentJo-Anna
Wow, you have done an amazing job decorating your military home Norma…it’s SO beautiful! I bet it is bittersweet to be leaving…good luck with your move to San Diego!
View Commentpaintmepink
Jo-AnnaThank you so much, Jo-Anna! I’m sure going to miss it! I’m so not ready to leave Japan 🙂
View CommentLinda
Wow! So beautiful! Any chance that you can share where you find all your coastal decor!
View CommentJamie
You’ve done such an amazing job with your home, Norma! I love all your spring details!
View CommentHugs, Jamie
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View CommentAmy
Oh, I like your home tour at Japan. It’s very inspiring and amazing.
View Commentpaintmepink
AmyThank you so much, Amy!
View CommentKay
Beautiful! Can I ask how you secured everything to the concrete walls of your base home in Okinawa?
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