Tack Room: Complete

Well, it would probably be better to say "complete" in quotations because I'll definitely continue to tinker with this room for awhile to come (I'm already planning to modify the grain storage, alter the side table, upgrade the couch...). But for all intents and purposes, it's pretty safe to say that it is done. I'm really pleased with the results and look forward to spending more time in this room!

I painted the door this beautiful navy a few months ago. I love the pop of color it adds to the aisle. 
I'm also pretty pleased with how this whole area outside the tack room has come together. It's been a very slow process of figuring out what I have, what my needs were for storage, and the best way to go about it. Looking at the photo now, I can say with complete certainty that I was able to create all of this storage/organization purely by cobbling together random things I already had lying around. 

Opening the door to enter the tack room, there is a scrap of linoleum on the floor in the heaviest traveled area leading to the bridles, saddles, pads (behind the door), helmets, and other random necessities stored below the bridles in the IKEA trones. 

Pretty much the entire third of the tack room closest to the door is 100% dedicated to tack and riding needs. The shelf above the door holds seasonal needs. Currently, my winter stuff (riding skirt, vests, gloves, hats, etc.) are up there. There are also miscellaneous first aid needs stored in that space.

All saddle covers are by Amanda and her Bel Joeor Metier Etsy shop. The ribbons are those that Stan and Grif have won. Griffin's three are the non-wrinkly ones in the center from Loch Moy (HT) and Wyndam Oaks (dressage). All of the crinkly ribbons are from a show Stan and I did sometime around 2006. We won high point at that show and also have an etched plate commemorating that, but I've yet to hang it because I need to add some color to the etched text so it will show up against my wall. 

Griffin is forever lurking...
The counter is a bit of a catch-all place for miscellany. I also set their dinner buckets on it while they soak and then to add their supplements to (though I removed them for photo purposes lol). The mirrored medicine cabinet and accompanying storage above are something my dad pilfered from a friend's doctor's office (if I'm remembering correctly), yeaaaars ago. They were originally white/cream, but I opted to paint them a dark brown to fit the space better. 

You may find yourself wondering, "Why is there a childish pink carousel clock in the space? It doesn't fit?" Well no, it doesn't exactly fit. But I've had that clock since I was like...5. It has graced every place I have ever lived. It has an annoyingly loud tick-tock noise but damnit, I love it. I spent years day dreaming about this reality in all of the spaces that clock previously occupied. It's only right that it's final home is the tack room in my very own barn. 
As for the black IKEA bookshelf, it houses various equestrian magazines, books, training manuals, and some blankets. A TV and DVD player sit on top.

Various magnets grace the back of the door. The supporting bars for the shelf have little hooks that I've hung various things from.

The couch with it's oversized cover and super cute equestrian pillows I scored from a questionable Amazon seller. The framed print above the breaker box is also of carousel horses and was in my room growing up. Various drawers of storage are beneath the couch and the side table. 

Remember when Griffin was dark? It seems like a lifetime ago! The middle spot is vacant with hopes that Mandy will one day paint me a Stanley to go with Grif and Q.

The jute rug really pulls the space together. 
The "Cheers Bitches" banner was leftover from a bachelorette party. 
The bronze statue on the windowsill is a limited edition and was the last Christmas gift I received from my paternal grandfather. And, just noticing this, but the framed cross stitch to the right of the window of the two horses was also done by my paternal grandmother. Both items have followed me everywhere (like the clock).

I suppose I should one day share more about the gallery wall that is visible here. But honestly, the large majority of those images are littered across this blog. The artwork, too.

A closer shot of the pillow design.

I was trying to capture a photo of my kickass custom shade that I waited FOREVER for due to COVID. Norah, of course, had to make it about her instead. I warned her that she was backlit AF and wouldn't look good, but she insisted. Cats, man, what can ya do? Regardless, I ordered this custom shade at the very beginning of March when COVID was just becoming a Big Problem in the US. I ended up getting it for something like 50-60% off due to pandemic fears. Totally worth the wait! It's so nice. And way better than any curtains I could have hoped to put up.

And once again, Norah had to make it all about her in this shot of the side table. Though really, it's okay because I purposely left that little pillow there for her. Spoiled big-eared kitty. (More evidence of her spoiledness present beneath the table where the 32 cans of cat food are.) The stickered bin contains a wealth of first aid supplies.

I hope the final "reveal" has been worth the wait for those of you who have been curious about how everything with the tack room ended up! This time last year, we were breaking ground on the barn. It feels so nice to be nesting this year instead of merely dreaming of this moment.