At home: our renovation plans and design inspiration part I
“Life is a journey, not a destination.”
I’ve held off writing about our house project for a few reasons. And I’m wishing I hadn’t.
It’s one of the reasons I wanted to start this blog - to capture the progress of such a monumental thing. Home is a reflection of who you are and all you’ve been through; but I’ve had a lot of mixed emotions around it. For starters, I moved into a home that previously belonged to my husband in a lifetime I wasn’t yet part of. There were already memories made in this house so it didn’t feel like a fresh start to me. I try to remember that many houses lived in start the same way, though. Unless you’re fortunate enough to build from scratch, most homes come with history, a story not yet your own.
Little by little we’ve been making changes, but it was always a priority to renovate (not demolish) the house to make it feel more like us. It also needed some love (things like single-pane windows and drainage had to be addressed, along with building out a master suite).
With our wedding behind us, we’ve jumped back into picking up the renovation. We’ve been planning this project since before the pandemic. Living through it has been tough, so we’re all ready to be more settled in.
The house was built in the early 1930s and is located in a quaint town in the Bay Area. Known for beautiful landscapes of homes layered in the hills, our location is in the flats and within walking distance to the downtown - something we really enjoy! I had a hard time figuring out the true style of the house. Craftsman and French Tudor popped up in my Pinterest searches. Essentially it can be characterized by its pitched roof and eave entryway, and while its not massive by any means, it has room for what’s important to us and space for outdoor living (which we love!). Our goal with the design is to maintain the natural charm and character while maximizing daylight and modernizing finishing touches.
What started out as a simple master bath addition, quickly unravelled into a full on remodel project (sound familiar?). As of this moment, we have been through 2 designs and 38 architectural iterations. The process can be grueling at times, but we have the help of some family members to give us perspective and keep pushing through!
I don’t want to understate the heaviness of a renovation like this. While its exciting and beautiful (thinking of all the after photos!), it is also time consuming, emotionally taxing, and a massive financial investment. I feel like many home blogs and design studios don’t talk about this enough. It is not for the faint of heart! And I want to be transparent that we are fortunate to be able to do this, but it is not without much time, energy, and thought. I always come from a place of sharing in hopes to inspire/connect, not to flaunt.
OK, now for the fun part!
We worked with a local design firm to initially help us hone in our vision. Much of our design inspiration came from European style homes and cottages with a lived-in feel. But we also have a bit of an edge (as my husband likes to say!), so mixing old and new is a priority to get the right vibe. As you already know, I love all things neutral and knew I wanted that to guide our design. To me, having a neutral palette is calming and classic so I know it will never go out of style.
Our overall palette consists of creamy whites, off-black and rich wood tones with brass accents. Having a mood board has helped us design both the exterior and interior. For example, it informed our decision to go with black windows as I loved the contrast between the panes and creamier hue of the house. I pinned a lot and over time have started collecting books from designers I admire (I especially love Amber Lewis!). I also take cues from places we visit like San Francisco or other travels. Finding inspiration is an important part of the process, and it also helps to hone in on your personal style. For me, I found I gravitated towards earthy hues, natural materials, and a clean but homey aesthetic.
While I’m trying my best to be patient, I’m so looking forward to how things take shape. I’m planning to put together a post for our family room project that is finally underway, so stay tuned!
Images via Pinterest