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New Home Tour & Design Plans

Home Tour & Design Plans: I'm basically walking you through the house and sharing my overall plans and ideas, both long-term and short term.

Greetings, friends! I’ll tell ya what, I’m having a hard time focusing on work — or on much of anything these days. There’s so much I want to do here at the house, and I keep jumping around from one project to another, one home blog to another, one retail website to another… I get distracted as I’m searching for a piece for one room and start thinking about a piece I need for another space… it’s a vicious cycle.

And then I got up this morning and realized I had no blog post prepared for today. I’ve been up for almost three hours, I’ve had two cups of coffee, and I’ve accomplished nothing except for a few emails and endless rounds of blogs and websites.

You all seemed to like the idea of a house project to-do list post, so I’m going to try to tackle that today, but I really should have allowed more time to take pictures and get them together, so I’ll be happy if I get this post published by noon. Still, I figured since the house stuff is what’s on my mind, I’m better off writing about that than trying to focus on some random fashion topic.

I shared my new house tour a few weeks ago, and I posted the pictures that I took the day we closed on the house when it was empty. Today I went around and took pictures again, but I’m warning you, I didn’t clean up much. This is how we’re living right now!

Originally I thought I would focus this post on a few projects I’m trying to complete at the moment, but I’m kind of all over the place with that, so instead I’m basically walking you through the house and sharing my overall plans and ideas, both long-term and short term.

I’ve mentioned before that I’m working with a designer on some of this, and I can’t tell you how amazingly helpful that’s been. I know what I like, but I have a hard time pulling it together, and she’s been amazingly patient with me as we tackle this project together.

So, let’s get started.

Welcome to my new home!

I sort of miss my front porch at the old house, as I liked the option to sit out front every once in a while, but with the backyard we have here, I can’t really complain about that, I guess! And I do like this little portico; it’s nice for a change.

Eventually I’d like to change the color of my front door and shutters — maybe to black, but that’s not really a priority at the moment.

I also want to change my lockset, as this one is kind of worn, and they did some funky thing installing a plain doorknob on top of that old handle. I’m trying to decide what color metal I want there, so I haven’t done anything with that yet.

Our front entryway is still plain. I am waiting for the designer I’m working with to give me ideas for a rug and new chandelier.

paint: BM Edgecomb Gray (walls) + BM White Dove (trim)

And that bare wall over there will be a nice spot for a console table with a mirror over top and maybe a lamp and some pretty accessories, but I’m not there yet.

Below, the hallway leads to the powder room, and the double doors on the left are a coat closet.

That brass light fixture on the ceiling is repeated throughout my house, and I hope to change those out at some point for something a little more modern, but the longer I live here, the less I notice them, so we’ll see… I’m doing some antique brass and matte gold finishes throughout the house, so I may decide those aren’t so bothersome after all.

paint: BM Edgecomb Gray (walls) + BM White Dove (trim)

Powder Room

I have plans to wallpaper the powder room for something fun and different, but since I don’t know when I’ll get to that, we had the painters go ahead and paint the walls and trim to match the rest of the house.

I got this toilet tissue holder at Target because there’s no storage in that room for extra toilet paper.

When we do wall paper, I will probably spring for a nicer mirror and some new fixtures, and maybe even a new vanity with some storage. If not that, then a larger pedestal sink… I’ve always loved the big square ones… something like this one. Then I could put a cabinet over the toilet for TP storage.

toilet paper holder // hand towels // diffuser (on sale!)

Living Room

The living room is right off the foyer, but there’s also a doorway in the back that leads to the hallway with the powder room. This picture was taken from that angle, so you can see the front of the room and the windows we have to work with.

And this is the view from the foyer and front entryway. That curio cabinet was Paul’s grandmother’s, and I have some of my treasures displayed in there. Some were gifts, and many were inherited from our parents and grandparents.

I hope to replace the couch someday, but in the meantime, I definitely need some more pillows with some pattern and color. I’m also working on finding something to hang on the wall over the couch, and I want to get a coffee table sooner rather than later. I do use this room often to visit with friends, and we could really use a spot to put our hors d’oeuvres.

lamps // end tables // pillows

Our piano fits perfectly in this corner, and I’m thinking of hanging my children’s 5-year-old portraits on that wall. The open doorway you see on the right leads to the hallway with powder room, and my office is behind that.

Here are all the pictures and wall art I still have to find a spot for…

marble round nesting tables // recliner

Dining Room

The dining room is on the left when you walk in my front door. This is the only room we’ve painted a color, and I love the navy blue above the chair rail. Our painters installed the molding below the chair rail to resemble wainscoting, which I think turned out beautifully.

I’ve already ordered a chandelier to replace this one. It should arrive on Friday!!!

I have curtains ready to hang, I’m just waiting to catch Paul when he’s in a good mood with an extra hour on his hands… haha!

I’m planning to order the same curtains for the living room (we went with white) but there are four windows in that room, and that adds up! I have other places I’d like to allocate that portion of the budget right now, so we’re waiting a while for those.

This big, bare wall needs something… some day. I’m not sure what or when. The nesting tables in the corner are just there because I don’t know what else to do with them. They may end up on Facebook Marketplace, lol!

I futzed around with styling my china cabinet again yesterday, and I came up with this, but I’m not sure I love it yet. #workinprogress

This sideboard (along with the china cabinet) came with the house. While they’re not what I would have picked, they actually work pretty well with our antique dining room table and chairs, so I’m keeping them for now.

This is where the previous owners had the sideboard placed, but I’m thinking it’s kind of small for this wall. I might move it to the other wall (the bare wall shown above) and the find something longer for here… I’m not sure yet. I also want to do more with styling it; I just threw a few things on top for now.

rug // curtain rod // curtains // paint: BM Hale Navy (walls) + BM White Dove (trim)

Kitchen

The kitchen and family room are in the back of the house, and the door you see on the right of the picture below leads to the mudroom, a back door, a door to the attached garage, and a back staircase. I didn’t take a picture of that area, but I have high hopes of installing a bench and storage unit eventually — something like this.

I may replace the pendant lights over the island, but they work okay for now. Someone said I can just change the globes, and that might be a good enough fix for now.

I really like having my sink in the island, but I’m used to a larger bowl and I find this double sink frustrating at times. I’m also not in love with this granite, so maybe next year we can switch out the counters for something less busy and get an undermount sink.

I like the cabinets, although they’re not in the best condition, and I’ve always dreamed of a white kitchen. We may gut and re-do the whole thing someday, but that’s the 10-15 year plan!

I have plans to replace the light fixture over my table eventually… as well as the table and chairs, for that matter, but that’s all down the road a bit.

lattice rug // dish towels // bar stools

Family Room

For some reason, I didn’t get many pictures of the family room. Ooops! The fake ficus tree has to go, but I do think I need something green in that corner. Ideas??? I’m not opposed to a live plant either… as long as it doesn’t require much care.

The print over the fireplace is like 20 years old, and while it works, my designer suggested this mirror, and I really like it. Paul really likes the print there, though, so… I don’t know. We’ll see. He doesn’t have a lot of opinions on decorating, but he placed it there and was happy we have a better spot for it in this house.

The new couch arrived last week, and I’ve got curtains on order. We’re working on finding some decorative pillows to jazz up the couch, and we’re also looking at a big square upholstered ottoman for the middle of the room.

The kids would love for me to get rid of that glass coffee table so they have something more comfortable to put their feet on when they’re watching TV, and I think it would be a nice way to add another fabric/pattern to the room — maybe some stripes.

We’re planning to put the white chair in my bedroom and the leather chair in the corner by the entertainment center (not shown), and then get a new chair for beside the couch, but again, budget restrictions and all… I’m trying to pace myself and choose my priorities wisely.

All of the above – curtains, ottoman, pillows, and the couch, are coming straight from my designer, so I don’t have links.

My Office

My office is still a mess — I have wood floors coming in next week, so I haven’t unpacked much. I ordered this rug, and some day I’d like to update my desk, but not right away.

I saw this one in the Ballard Designs store at the mall a few weeks ago, and I think it would be so pretty in here, but then I’d need to find something else to hold the printer, and a way to make up for the lost space I have in all of those drawers.

I’m also bummed that the ladder shelf is too small for this room — it was perfect for my old office. I may give it to one of my daughters and get a larger one for in here.

I’m not sure I’m keeping this bookcase in here, or at least not in that spot, but I’ll see how it comes together once the wood floors are installed and the rug is in place.

Master Bedroom

Okay, I’m trying to wrap this up! I plan to paint the master bedroom the same color as the rest of the downstairs, and I’ll probably get new pillows for my bed, but I’m happy with my lamps and bedding for now — they’re not that old.

I need to find something new for the wall over the bed, though, since I’m using the piece that used to be there for my guest room.

My dresser doesn’t look great in this spot, so I think I’ll move it over to the other area of the bedroom, where I’m hoping to create a blogging area with my hanging rack and full length mirror.

You can see my makeshift full-length mirror propped up there on a shoebox, oh and yes, there’s the Windex I use to clean it regularly. I guess I should find a better spot for that! #yougottadowhatchagottado

Here’s the area I referred to that I plan to make into an area for my blogging/mirror selfies/facebook live broadcasts, etc. I may also set up a full length mirror in my office for a change of scenery. Like I said, I didn’t really clean up for these pictures… ha!

We have his and hers walk-in closets #hooray but they don’t have any organization, so we ordered a custom system from Closets By Design. They’re getting installed in a few weeks — that’s why I haven’t bothered to unpack those boxes in my bedroom. I’m just going to have to move it all out in when they install my closet system.

And here’s a quick shot of my master bath. We have separate vanities too. It’s fine for now, and the space is such a luxury, but we’d  love to paint and get nicer vanities and fixtures eventually.

I thought I was really going to miss not having drawers in my vanity, but we each have our own closets, so that gives me plenty of space for all my stuff. It’s not organized very well, I know… but I have enough room that it doesn’t really matter.

In case you’re wondering, we store our bath towels in Paul’s closet because he uses up less shelf space than I do, and also, his is right beside the shower.

And on that note, I’m going to abruptly end this post! I was joking when I wrote that i was hoping to finish this post by noon, but it’s 11:25, and I haven’t even read through it yet, so I guess that wasn’t such an exaggeration after all!

I wanted to share my plans for the laundry room as well as the kids’ bedrooms and bathrooms, but that will have to wait for another post. We have plans to paint all those rooms, so I’ll share before and after pictures when I share those room makeover posts.

Also, my backyard outdoor living space is another area I want to update and add to… all in due time!

With everything I want to change, I hope it doesn’t sound like I’m ungrateful or complaining — it’s not that at all. I love the house as-is, but it’s fun to dream about all the ways we can update it and make it more our own. This is what happens when you binge watch every season of House Hunters Renovations, ha!

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124 Responses

  1. Your new home is lovely! I’m the same way…I’m an HGTV groupie so always remodeling or redecorating….in my mind at least. 
    For the corner plant, maybe a rubber tree? Or ask a nursery about what would be easy to care for. If you want to keep the ladder piece in your office, balance out the wall it’s on with wire organizers or some other type of decor. 
    Let hubby keep the picture…lol…but add some other decor that doesn’t match but makes it interesting. Thanks for sharing!

  2. I love your blog and would sign up no matter what you are talking about! 🙂 We moved into a new house 3 years ago and yet we watch home reno shows all the time! My old house was REALLY colorful, but the new house is all neutral. I can’t tell you how many throw pillow covers I have, so I can change the pillow colors with the seasons. Heehee. The backyard is on our list for the fall, or maybe next year. We just got all new patio furniture this year. Keep up the great work Jo-Lynne! Love ya!

  3. A friend of our’s got the rug you ordered for your office for their family room and it’s gorgeous. I think you’ll like it.

  4. Take a month off!!  Give yourself grace to enjoy and soak up the last month of your son around!! You can return after Labor Day with a terrific Fall outfit and be recharged!!  No-guilt blogging is the way to go!!  (BTW, gorgeous home and plans)

    1. Thanks, Bonbara. Tempting… but fashion blogging just doesn’t work that way. LOL! I gotta pay for all this decorating I’m doing. 😉 But I understand your sentiment, and taking a day off here and there may be a good idea. 🙂

  5. Lovely house! Glad to see you are enjoying making it your home. I did notice your stemware on the 2nd shelf of the china cabinet – we have the same ones from our wedding and I love them! 🙂

    Since fall is on the horizon and that is when most class reunions are, do you have any suggestions of what to wear? My husband’s 30th is at the end of September. Mine isn’t until next year. They have a homecoming football game on Friday night, then Saturday night is a party/event at the hotel they have rooms blocked off. It is a small/mid-size midwest town in northern Ohio so it will not be formal! Love to hear any suggestions you have!

  6. Absolutely LOVE the navy couch and wall…. I want to redo my house now . lol

    Thanks for keeping it real .. it’s hard to organize when you’re still waiting for things. Love it all!

  7. Your new house is beautiful and so spacious!  Isn’t it fun to dream and plan projects and improvements?! But I’m a lot like you, I pretty much leave everything as is for years. Although, I recently switched my dining room rug with my family room rug. Husband never noticed 😂

    1. Haha, that’s funny! My husband doesn’t care much about the decor, but he’s a creature of habit, so he does notice change. I can’t sneak much by him. 😉

  8. I am thoroughly enjoying the posts and Instagram stories about your new house. They are inspiring me to tackle some decorating projects in my country cabin. Even though my house is literally a cabin in the woods I am getting lots of motivation and ideas from you as you share your home with us.

  9. Such a beautiful house how happy you all must be. I cant get over how much you’ve gotten accomplished already. We lived in our house for years before I hung some pictures on the walls ( believe me I like to get everything done ASAP but I just wanted to get a feel for the house i guess). Now I’m in the position after 11 years of wanting to change things up a bit and paint..,,our daughter is getting married next summer so our fall project is to have the main part of the house including the kitchen and family room( open concept) re painted( I just did the bedrooms not long ago) I also want to get some new chairs. We just replaced our coach and love seat last summer and I haven’t found chairs I like yet to add to the family room.., like you…  all in due time. Thanks for sharing, this was a great idea and I look forward to more updates. Definitely a nice change from fashion. I’m over buying summer clothes and not quite ready for fall shopping yet; although a package from old navy just arrived 😁 oh well:)

  10. My husband and I too are renovating our house and too because of budgetary restraints it’s been a slow process. But I’m actually glad because after we’d lived in the house for awhile I’ve made some different choices that I’d originally planned that worked better. I’m sure you’ll discover that too. 

  11. Jo-Lynne,  your house is beautiful.  I don’t blame you for wanting to get it all decorated.  I can relate to exactly how you are feeling right now too!  As a breast cancer survivor, I take a preventive medicine that does the same thing to me. I have two years to go on it and will be so glad to have my focus back when I can stop taking it!!

    https://www.dressedinfaith. com

    1. That would be rough. Best wishes for getting to that next milestone! I don’t think I have ADD, but social media has definitely reduced my attention span. I have to work on focusing, especially at times like this when there’s so much going on. 🙂

  12. Gorgeous home! Hope you have many joyful days there with your family.
    You are inspiring me to do a little updating in my own home!

  13. I love the stone on the front of your new home! There’s always stuff to do/change in an old home, newer home or even new builds. I don’t think changing things in our homes is any different than updating our wardrobes. Our homes are a reflection of us. I don’t think it sounds ungrateful at all. I’m happy to hear you say you too struggle with what to post from time to time. Sure makes little ol’ me feel better about my many days when I’m drawing a blank. Happy Tuesday!!!!

  14. Hi Jo-Lynne! I love your home and all your ideas. And I think your china cabinet looks great the way you’ve styled it. Sooo different from what you showed on Instagram. I love the color in the serving pieces above and the way you’ve stacked dishes on the bottom. I’m like you and don’t change things very often. But this just may inspire me to redo my china cabinet…which hasn’t been touched in 13 years!

    Kay

  15. Congratulations on the new house!! It is so beautiful. Just have fun with the designs and don’t second guess your choices 🙂 anything you come up with is going to be amazing <3

  16. I am so impressed that you took the time to take pictures and write all of that! Your new house is beautiful and you’ve done so much work already, and just back from the beach, and moving your son to college! Don’t get sick! 😊 Your energy amazes me! Thank you for sharing with us.

  17. I think taking a break from your “job” is ok and brings a fresh perspective. I was kinda surprised you didn’t take a vacation when you went to the beach. I think it’s harder to take a break when you work from home and have your own business. It’s ok to tell us readers you are taking a vacation or blogging about something else. I too am over the Nordstrom sale but not into fall yet for fashion. CABI just came out with it’s new line and right now I’m kinda meh about it. So blog away about your house or just tell us you are taking some time with your son. I think we will understand.

    1. Yeah, vacation and blogging don’t really jibe. Haha! I mean, I know I could, but I’m in the habit, and honestly, writing the blog posts are fun and relaxing. It’s all the other stuff — the tech stuff, the negotiating, photo shoots, the analytics, the nitty gritty — that gets old. But I enjoy posting and the conversation that develops in the comments. My son isn’t really into hanging with me, but having him here at home is really nice. We have our family dinners and our get togethers with friends and neighbors. I’m not always working, I promise! 🙂 And I do appreciate the encouragement to take time when I need it. That time may come later this month, and I’m okay with that! 🙂

  18. I love the grain of the wood on the cabinets in your dining room. A chair on either side of the cabinet will help fill that wall. Also, a nice big mirror over top will reflect your new chandelier and look amazing against the navy walls.
    Nice big lantern style lighting would look nice over your island. The style is to go big. I’ve seen a couple of makeovers on decor blogs and upgrading the lighting made a huge difference. Your little lights are early 2000s (sorry). 
    It really is a beautiful house! I’d love to live nearby and help you decorate. It’s a passion of mine.

  19. A new house is SO overwhelming…  You were smart to get a designer on board…could have saved myself angsty decisions if we had done that.     Since you’re in the market for pillows, check out Pop o Color or Lynn Chalk on etsy….beautiful pillow covers.  I am currently crushing Chiang Mai Dragon in mocha…it elevates everything you put it with and looks amazing with modern geometric prints (like the ones in your guest room).  It comes in a bunch of colorways and the saturation of the print is stunning (which is why it’s speedy fabric).  I had a sample on my sofa and three of my 20somethings–including my son–volunteered how much they liked it.  You can get a very generous sample for $7 from InsideStores.com IF you have any interest.    
    Fun post!!!  Thanks for sharing!

  20. Wowee! You guys have done so much! Have you even been there 2 weeks yet? Yikes! I think I share everybody’s sentiment….. I’m summer shopped out. Hearing about your home is also a fun thing to follow.

    Thank you for putting so much work and thought into your blog. I really look forward to it everyday. (I do have my own life but it is sure fun to step into yours.)

    1. LOL! I guess it’s only been about that long… crazy, huh??? I don’t waste time. 🙂 But I do try not to rush into things I’m not sure about. It’s a balance.

  21. I love your new home and especially love hearing about all of the things you want to do with it. That’s half the fun of a new home….making it personal and fitting your family’s life style.. No need to apologize for anything! August is too hot and not a good time to try and come up with ‘what to wear’, etc. so really enjoying the tour and blog on your new home!!!

  22. Your new house has beautiful spaces which, in time will become uniquely yours, with all your great ideas and finishing touches. Have you considered painting the cabinets in the kitchen white? They look to be in great condition.

    1. Hey Gilian, I have, but the doors are kind of flimsy, and they don’t all close quite right. I’m not sure they’re worth painting, and I’d worry about them chipping. BUT I might consider it since gutting and redoing a kitchen is so expensive. I don’t mind the color as is, so we’ll probably leave them for now. But it’s worth considering down the road!

  23. Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful home with us. I will look forward to seeing your progress as you make this home your own.  I always would enjoy a combination of fashion and home decorating. You are having some pretty major changes with your new home and sending your son off to college. These are all wonderful things but are very stressful on our emotions so be kind to yourself.  This is the first year since 2008 that we will not be packing someone up to move into college and it does feel wonderful, both emotionally and financially. I’m sure many of your readers will be interested in your insights and feelings as you move your son into college, too. It’s such a major change as you set one less plate at the table, but no worries, he will be back before you know it. It is amazing how quickly a semester passes by! Best wishes to you and your family as you enjoy this next chapter in your life, 😊

    1. Wow, that was a long run! I guess I’m in that boat… I have quite a few years ahead of me if all my kids follow the traditional path. I will miss my son, but seeing him happy makes it a lot easier to handle. 🙂

  24. Love the house – I love moving and unpacking….NOT the packing to move part though. In our last house we didn’t have any drawers in the bathroom either and so I bought a 3 drawer Rubbermaid rolling fixture – didn’t put the wheels on it and it fit perfectly under the cabinet – I’m sure you can find something similar to fit your space and then you’d have a couple of drawers under your sink which might be helpful.

    1. Good idea! I do have a couple of things like that under there, but I don’t find myself needing the space that much. The closet is narrow, though, so I think if I had drawers, I’d enjoy using them. All in due time… 🙂

  25. I love that navy on the dining room walls.   I keep thinking about doing that to my dining room as I have navy accents.  Would you mind sharing the paint color?  I have 3 weeks before I return back to my school job, I better get going on some projects!  Thanks for the motivation!

    1. She said it’s Benjamin Moore, Hale Navy. It’s a great colour. We used it for an accent wall in our living room. 

      We put a dark switch plate cover on to replace the white one on the navy wall. It camouflages it well.  Jolynne- your dining room is gorgeous. May I suggest switching the vent cover and the light switch cover on the navy wall for something that is closer to the wall colour? It’s a simple, cheap upgrade that makes a big difference. 😊🙋🏻

      1. Yes, the painters offered to paint the vent cover navy. I might do that. I like the idea of switching the light covers — thinking matte gold to match the other finishes I’m putting in the room.

  26. Thanks for the tour JoLynne! I love anything house related so please post more. Your new home is lovely.

  27. Thank you for sharing, Jo-Lynne. Love it! Clothing, decor–it’s all girlfriend stuff, and we enjoy it!!!!!!

  28. Ok … I’m reading your email and post at work in my cubicle and my cube neighbors are probably wondering why I’m laughing so hard.  Your story about the beetle (or bird) had me laughing out loud. Thanks by the way because I really needed a good laugh.  😂🤣

    Love how your house is coming along.  I know it’s hard because you want everything done at once but all in good time.   I really like the mixture of your grandmothers China with yours.  ❤️  And I have to agree with Paul (without seeing a mirror there) Ilike that painting over the fireplace with the stone background.  😊

    And … don’t stress so much about not posting fashion every single day.   Post what you like – I really enjoy hearing about you and your family and what’s going on.  

    Blessings

    1. Thanks, Gina! I really appreciate that. I guess I’m in such a habit of posting daily, I don’t even think about another option. It’s fun to share a little about the house for a change.

  29. Jo-Lynne,  it’s ok to take time away from the  fashion part of the blog. You have so much going on with your home, house guest coming, getting the kids ready for school.  I love you sharing about yourself and family.  It’s like catching up with a girlfriend.  If you don’t stop and breath you are going to crash.  Give yourself permission to slow down and just share life for a couple of weeks.  By that time more fall fashion will be coming out and you can jump back in without skipping a beat.  I personally have enjoyed getting to know this side of you.  😊

  30. This was so much fun! What a bright and beautiful house. I enjoy both fashion and decorating blogs so look forward to seeing future updates on your house.  I love the paint colour you chose. Thanks for letting us take a stroll through your new house. 

    1. I am obsessed with Stone Gable, and I recently discovered that she lives like 45 min from me!!! Too funny. I also love Maria Killam’s blog. I don’t subscribe to many others, but I do google topics and then end up going down a rabbit trail… 🙂

      1. Oh, I love StoneGable and Maria Killam (my first blog). Designthusiasm and Kelly Nan are two other great decorating blogs. 

  31. Jo-Lynne, you have had a crazy busy summer and it’s only the end of July! I think it is natural that you are feeling the way you are. If your mind is on house decorating, not fashion, then I think that should be your focus for right now. By reading the comments here, others are wanting to hear about your plans and ideas for your house. I think it is fun to be able to tag along as you decorate….like our very own HGTV show, lol! Having said all that, if you feel the need to cut back on blogging as your son starts getting ready for college, go for it! Your loyal readers will be right here when you come back.

    1. Thanks, Bev. If my son wanted to spend time with me, I might be tempted, lol, but he’s very independent. It’s still really nice to have him around, though. And we’re having company next week, so a few days off may be in order. 🙂

  32. It’s beautiful!  So fun to see it all.  I think the china cabinet looks really good now.  I like how you redid it.  So many other things to compliment and comment on, but I’ll just say it all looks good and it’s such a fun time, when you move in and are making the house your home.  Enjoy!

  33. I love your new house. I would not get rid of those dining room pieces that they left. They look like they blend with your dining set. They’re not too matchy! 

    1. Thanks, Paulette. Yes, they do fit in amazingly well, don’t they!?! They aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. I may add a piece or a couple things to that long wall and move the sideboard, but I like the pieces, and they have good storage space.

  34. If we spread ourselves too thin with too much on our ‘plates’, it always shows. So, sometimes a little break or change of subject is a healthy thing. The house is lovely and I’m sure you can’t wait to put your stamp on it.

    1. Thanks, Diana, so true! I usually thrive under pressure, but it’s when I’m coming off the high that I start to feel burned out. That’s happening right now. 🙂 So yes, maybe a break is in order… or at least a diversion. The house is a nice neutral topic after so much fashion.

  35. You are doing a great job! I have Edgecomb grey in my house and I love it! My home is similar to yours and we live in Doylestown, PA. I enjoy watching what you are doing on it. Gives me ideas. Thanks!

  36. Great post!  Know what you mean about the HGTV shows.  You get so many ideas but there’s not enough money to do it all.  It’s nice to dream though!

    1. Funny thing, I was obsessed with that show long before we had any inkling we might move. And now I feel like I’m living the show! But not really… our “renovations” are quite minor, for which I am thankful!

  37. Congrats on your new home! We finally bought a home here in Cary, NC after looking for over two years. We definitely bought a fixer upper and shortly after my grandmother passed and it wasn’t her time, so it hasn’t been easy. Seeing you with your new home is inspiring me to get back to my home. It was built in the 80’s and only had one owner. It’s got great bones! We did paint the kitchen white, it was yellow including the ceiling. And we did remove popcorn downstairs and add recessed lights throughout. Our master is downstairs which is a miracle is this area. We had so many ranch homes back in Orlando, FL, but not here. Luckily we found a two story with ranch living, two bedrooms down and two up. Looking forward to seeing your updates. -Marie

  38. Your house looks great! FYI it is relatively inexpensive to paint existing cabinets (if you want white now as opposed to 150 years from now). The new paint/technique makes cabinets look new – not painted

    1. Yes, I have debated that… the doors don’t shut real well, though, and they feel flimsy. I think I may just wait till I can replace, but yeah… PRICEY! I wonder if refacing is an option — don’t they just replace the doors? The insides are fine.

  39. Love the break from fashion and the Nordstrom sale! It was great reading the post on your new home and decorating ideas! I just had someone paint my foyer and hallways and, like you, have not put up wall decor yet. looking forward to seeing what you find! I agree with Paul on the art piece above the fireplace It looks good against the stone. Happy decorating!!

  40. Your house is very nice.  My house was built by me n 1993 and I’m slowly going through the rooms, one by one and making updates.  It’s so hard to do it all at once, don’t stress out, it’ll get done.  I’d be tempted to put the house artwork above your bed.  I typically don’t like mirrors above a fireplace, it’s too expected, but better than a TV!  I painted my dining room completely in SW Indigo Batik and love it!  I’m struggling to find just the right chandy for over the table plus I have two sconces on the wall, do I match the chandy, do I go with a mixed metal effect…decisions.  The sideboard and hutch you inherited from the previous owners are beautiful.  I love the striated wood!  I just emptied my entire china cabinet out and only put a few select things on each shelf.  I consigned, donated, and stored away the rest.  It was cathartic.  My front door is almost the same color as yours, mine is SW sun-dried tomato.  It’s a bit more red.  I love the red in the fall and Christmastime.  I would love to do a dark gray door, but my siding is tan, so I’m not sure how that would look.  I love your portico.  Just having a covered area is nice, mine doesn’t.

  41. This is so fun ….thanks for sharing!
    As I moved when you did…I also hv a green couch in my
    New place and the beige white leather chair in the bedroom.
    Love Paul’s pic over fireplace and think large footstool/table with
    Stripes will look great!
    Also love your gold end tables ….you need
    Serving cart you showed during N sale!
    Got it and gold wine glasses you showed…
    Perfect in my new dining room.
    Happy decorating!!

  42. JoLynne—you can have your painter paint the dining room vent cover and switch plate cover the same navy color as the walls rather than buy something else.  They’ll blend into the wall rather than draw attention.
    Also, I suggest taking your time with everything and concentrate on one room at a time,  I find if you try to do every thing at once, you end up making costly mistakes and in the long run spend more money than necessary.  Save for what you really want and don’t just settle for second best.  You’ll never be completely satisfied.  
    I’ve seen many friends and family rush to finish a room just to end up changing it in a few years later because they didn’t buy what they wanted originally,  I’ll leave a room unfinished or even empty until I can afford to purchase or make the changes I want.
    When we moved to our home 15 years ago, I waited a year before I hung most of our art work.  I didn’t want to make unnecessary holes in the walls, especially after paying to have the house professionally painted.  Good luck and enjoy the process.

    1. Hey Rose. They asked us if we wanted the vent white or navy, and we weren’t sure. They left us the paint so we can paint it navy if we want — and I think we should. I like the idea of a nicer switch plate cover to match the metal finishes in the room — a matte gold would be nice. I did that in my old house.

      Thanks for the encouragement to take my time… I do tend to like things done RIGHT NOW, but I know that making decisions under pressure can be costly, so I’m trying to pace myself. My mom is a great example of that. She always waits until she can afford what she really wants, instead of settling for something right now. I admire that level of patience!

  43. What a fun post to read!  I loved clicking on the various links to see your wish list items & those you already have ordered. That dining room is just gorgeous!  I’m
    loving the last arrangement of your hutch.  Actually I like to switch mine up from time to time & display other treasures I have. The space you have amazing.  I can  see why you’re excited to
    “Make it your own”!  And wise to take things step by step.  It will give you time to get comfy in the house & get to know it!  Can’t wait to see what else you got going on!  

  44. Hi
    I’m enjoying the house journey so please continue!! Like you I’m not ready for fall clothes while it’s so hot and shorts and t shirts are just boring after awhile . Thank you for sharing!

  45. For some reason my iPad is not bringing up all of your pictures today.  I have tried numerous times throughout the day, but they still aren’t showing up.  🙁. I love the front entry to your home!  I kept a two piece stackable side table set that my mom bought years ago.  Now I have separated them to use in two different rooms, and they fit the space I have perfectly.  I love the toilet tissue holder you found at Target!  I can’t wait to see more!!!

  46. It’s all so pretty Jolynne!!  I love everything you’ve done so far!  The paint colors are so pretty,  and I’m super jealous of that bathroom!  Also I really love that stone fireplace!  A lot more unique than brick or marble!  

    I think the kitchen is really pretty as is, but I do understand wanting white.  It might not need a total gut job though.  If you like the style of the cabinets but not the color,  you could get your painters to take all the cabinet doors off and paint them (and the bases) to match your island.  It would look like a whole new kitchen for a fraction of the cost.  I did that with my kitchen and it turned out great!  

    If you haven’t figured out a solution for that blank dining room yet,  have you considered a plate display wall?  Think your china cabinet looks great btw!   Also dont know if anybody has suggested this but some topiaries would be really pretty by your front door!   Especially at Christmas! 

    Have fun with the decorating and keep us posted on the results!  I bet y’all are going to really love it once you’re all settled! 

  47. That pesky budget gets in the way of things, doesn’t it? I am looking forward to seeing your progress and seeing if you go with your original plans or if your design ideas change along the way. I think my 2nd favorite room is your dining room, love the navy and white! It looks so good! My favorite room is the guest bedroom lol!

  48. Thanks for the home tour. Your new home looks lovely and spacious. I am interested in some fashion and home decor combo on your blog. Everything you write is interesting. Enjoy getting back into the groove of settling in to your new home. Looking forward to future posts!

  49. Don’t apologize for sharing all of your plans for your new house! I love Home blogs and seeing how people update and decorate their homes.  This is an exciting time in your life and I’m glad to share your joy.  I know you’ll get back to fashion when we get a little closer to fall, but as you said, this is an awkward time to share fall clothes. So just share any and all you want to about your new home. 

  50. Ohh, how exciting!  Your home is beautiful!  I’d be in big trouble — decorating all over.  That’s a lot of home to furnish.  I can see why you are using an interior designer to help pull it together.  I’m overwhelmed just looking at all the options for drapes, pillows, linens, rugs, let alone tables, wall art, and knickknacks that make a house a home.

    I joke to my husband I’m watching mommy porn every weekend, a/k/a HGTV:-)

    My disease is growing — now I’m fantasizing about renovating a beach home — for my imaginary coastal/Caribbean home we don’t have!  LOL.

  51. It’s so fun to get an inside view of your home. I LOVE home decorating! I think your home is great as is, but has loads of potential for you to improve and customize it over the years. Maybe when you add the new ottoman coffee table, you can move your glass coffee table to the room in need of one. I think the dining room paint is very striking and the neutral paint in the rest of the house lets your furniture and accessories shine. I also think your second styling of the china cabinet looks great! We’ve been in our “new” 1870’s home for 18 months and I’ve painted every room and all the trim. Now I’m stripping paint off my front porch columns to reveal the original brick and painting the exterior window trim (the previous owners had very different taste in paint.) Renovating has been my part time job this summer, but it’s been so fun to see things transform. Next week hardwoods are being installed to replace the nasty carpet in my living room. I can’t wait! It’s fun to see what others are doing in the meantime. I helps me stay motivated. Enjoy the process!

    1. That sounds so exciting! Before our previous home, we owned a 100-year-old Dutch Colonial. I loved that place. We painted every room and the trim a few times over in the 7 years we lived there. (That’s when I learned the value of hiring a designer to help, haha!) Old homes are so fun. Maybe our next one will be older… although Paul says the next time he moves it’s to a retirement community. 😉

  52. Started reading yesterday, then my computer locked up…
    Ha! I had those builder’s brass light fixtures in my old house. We didn’t do a ton of decorating there-never changed them. Luckily, we have tons of recessed lights now, so we won’t have to deal with it. Love your paint! I’m considering White Sand (about 98% sure) but I may have the pain consultant bring a sample of the Edgecomb Gray. It looks very warm–doesn’t really come off as gray. Or is it just the photo? My husband thinks all the grays look like cement, lol! 

    1. It’s definitely a warm gray — but neutrals will always look different from house to house, depending on the amount of light and your furnishings. I’m with your husband, I didn’t want cold gray walls.

  53. I didn’t get a chance to read your blog until this morning, and by the amount of replies, I’d say we all love being included on the house projects!
    Your new home is beautiful…the amount of windows, and natural light pouring through, just gorgeous. Great choices in the dining room, that navy with the light color underneath really accentuates the walls and gives your dining area a formal but inviting feel. 
    Can’t wait for the back yard pics! 😊

  54. I’m behind on my reading, so only getting to this post today (sorry!). I love your new home–it’s looking really beautiful. It’s so interesting to see what you’re doing with it, and to sort of dissect what makes things look really good vs. just okay. You’re on track to full on really beautiful! The dining room furniture you “inherited” does look really good with your table/chairs. Proportion-wise, I think the buffet is a little small relative to the wall it’s on, so I agree with you that you might want to try it on the wall with the kitchen door. Photos can be deceiving, but I think from the view from the LR, your table sort of visually blocks the buffet where it is now. If it works on the other wall, perhaps you can find a large art piece to go where it is now, picking up on colors from the LR? I’d also like to request more of a view of your backyard–the little bits you’ve posted so far look really so pretty, and more like a garden than a yard. Thank you for sharing with us!!

  55. Such a beautiful house, congrats! Did you consider spray painting your kitchen cabinets white, and also putting the nesting tables in the living room while you decide on a coffee table.

  56. I mentioned how much I liked your Edgecomb gray before…I finally got a sample and painted a board. (We have a store here that sells tiny samples of B.M. paints for about $2.) I actually think I’m leaning toward it. It is just warm and doesn’t have too many undertones. Your home is looking so beautiful!! 

    Hubby still prefers White Sand. I am hoping our designer will be our tie breaker, lol! 

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