HOME.
We’ve been in our new home six months now and it’s been such a freaking dream. We have been planning and dreaming this for years, and we found the lot and area we wanted to build on in April 2018. We scrambled to put a deposit down while we were out of the country (in Banff, Canada!) and they broke ground in August 2018. It has been so much fun (and incredibly stressful 😂😂) this whole process of a brand new build. We originally thought we wanted to start from legit scratch. Like, buy a plot of land, hire an architect and building and plan from nothing. Well, first off, that’s basically impossible where we live unless you want to live 40 mins from Target and I’m not about that life. ✌🏻
I randomly drove by a new development being built one day, and decided to pop into the open house - mainly to convince myself I didn’t want to do a build with a development.
Wellllll, the house was gorgeous. The neighborhood was perfect. 10 houses on a quiet cul-de-sac. Only a few houses were built, leaving plenty of choices for which lot we wanted. We scoped them out, and found the most perfect space - the flag lot. It was tucked behind the rest of the neighborhood, and surrounded by trees. We then realized that this wasn’t your typical cookie-cutter house build - everything was able to be customized. So much easier and faster than starting from scratch 😂😂 And only 5 minutes from Starbz and Target 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
We quickly figured out how to make it work (it was a stretch. But I don’t know if you’ve met me yet, but when I want something I will find a way to make it happen🤣) and put a deposit down.
From then on, we had a million and one decisions to make!! I had a pretty clear vision of what I wanted our house to look like. White board + batten, black windows. Light floors. Tons of light. White walls. Metal railings.
We started meeting with different vendors and making decisions!
Here are a few tips and things I love about our house and a few things that I wish we had done differently in the building process!
TIPS:
+ Don’t put outlets below windows. They are useless. Put them on either side of the window. Put more outlets than you think you need, and even then, just know you’ll be calling the electrician once you move in to add more.
+ Give yourself a bigger mudroom/pantry/laundry room than you think you need!
+ Bump the wall out behind your fridge so you can get a bigger fridge (not counter depth) but it will LOOK counter depth.
+ Get shelves in your closets 😂 We ran out of money by that point and when we moved in had no shelves. So alllll the space in the world, but it wasn’t really usable other than to pile crap in.
+ Make your island bigger than anyone thinks is reasonable. Ours is extra long and wide, and it’s perfect for entertaining. Everyone doing our house thought it was too big and it’s perfect.
+ Make the aisle between your stove and island extra wide too. Even a few extra inches is so helpful when you have multiple people cooking and prepping dinner.
+ Get two pull out trash cans - one for your trash and one for recycling
ROOMS
Couch: Restoration Hardware Maxwell (This was our dream couch and a huge splurge for us. We will have it for years and years. Here is a less expensive dupe from Wayfair , a West Elm option 1, and option 2, and here is the Ikea Kivik we has in our old house that everyone loved! It is a GREAT affordable fabric option (less than $800!!!!!) with washable covers)
TV: The Samsung Frame is LIFE. It’s totally flat to the wall, with a thin frame that looks like a picture frame. When it’s off, IT IS ART. You can choose different styles , or upload your own photos. It’s so beautiful!
Chairs: Wayfair Zinus Chairs
Rug: Rugs USA White Braided Wool
Rug: Vintage from Kentucky Rose Designs - follow her IG @kyrosedesigns (Similar vibe here: Rugs USA and vintage rugs here; ESaleRugs)
Coffee Table: Wayfair Rosecliff (Sold out but darker wood here: Union Rustic)
Console Table behind couch: Wayfair Darby Home
Pouf: Target Opalhouse
Blankets: Saranoni Cream, Mudcloth
Pillows: Anthropologie (All Roads Yucca and Tufted Mila)
Oil Shelf: Essentially Curated
Plant Stand: World Market
Vase: Arhaus Eva (Brass bowl, Black bowl seen on coffee table sometimes.)
Ferns: Target Hearth & Hand
Gold box: CB2
Salt Lamp: Amazon - I also get them from Home Goods and Target!
Table: Restoration Hardware French X-Base (Similar vibe at a lower price point here)
Chairs: Target, Wishbone
Vase: Arhaus Eva
Ferns: Target Hearth & Hand
Plant: Bloomscape
Windows: Anderson 400 series in black
Glass Cabinet: Crate & Barrel Ventana
Bowls: Year & A Day high bowl, low bowl
Vase: Target, similar vibe
Ferns: Pottery Barn
Glass Serving Platter: CB2 Cupola Wood Covered Server
Baskets: Target
Plates: Year & A Day
Wine Glasses: Crate & Barrel
Wood Bowl: Live Edge Sono
Crib - my daddy made this for Grey, and Mila uses it now! This is the Babyletto crib we modeled it after, and jt comes in a ton of finishes!
Crib sheets - Solly
Curtains - Here is a really similar style from Anthro!
Dresser - IKEA! We have used this dresser for three baby’s rooms, and I change the knobs each time for a different look!
Changing basket - Design Dua! We have their Moses baskets too!
Slings - Wildbird all the way! I love the Modal for newborns and if you’re new to slings. Then I skip right to the Doubles!
Rugs - KyRoseDesigns is EVERYTHING!
Chair - How sweet is this bamboo chair?!
SOURCES:
+ Builder: Oxford Land Development
+ Unique Video & Sound (Andrew Polin) : Nest Camera Install, TV install and mounts (all boxes are in basement, and not a single wire showing anywhere), Sound System
+ Kitchen: Sterling Kitchen (Bill Hall)
+ Deck, Landscaping + Planning, Fence: Sal’s Nursery & Landscaping
(They helped us plan the landscaping and flow of our front and backyard. We are also working with them for some bigger projects down the road for the backyard!)
+ Floors + Tile: Feasterville Floor (Keith)
+ Alarm System - JBD Security
Brooks helped us figure out exactly what we needed to stay safe! (215-361-2643 brooks@jbdsecurity.net)
+ Blinds (manual and automatic!): Budget Blinds (Mitch Bergman)
+ Mudroom + Playroom Built-Ins - KitchenView Custom Cabinetry (Contact: Barb - 717.687.6740)
These will be installed in December! We have a friend who used them and their finished project is STUNNING. Their mission is quality - so be prepared to wait a bit.
+ Master Closet: Unique Custom Closets, Fran
I will post pictures of our closet soon! It’s almost finished and AMAZING.
+ Handyman services: About The House / Dane Stek (danestek@gmail.com)
(We used About The House to get our old house ready to rent! Any project we threw at them, they helped with! They replaced sinks, caulked tubs, painted, cleaned gutters, power washed, repaired things, removed and got rid of our trampoline and Grey’s house bed... they are AMAZING!)
+ Basement - KBM Contracting: Kyle Musika (kbmcontractingllc@gmail.com)
(We are currently getting our whole basement finished - 2 rooms, full bath, kitchenette, and space for team get togethers! Kyle has been so great with helping us plan everything to fit the space!)
DESIGN
+ High Street Market: We hired them to help choose lighting! They also do interior design, and have the cutest shop!
+ Hunt + Gather Goods: Online custom interior design help! Maggie does everything virtually, works with what you have and within your budget, gives you mood boards and then sources all options!
FINANCES/HOME
+ Accountant - Ed Parker
Ed is our accountant and he is great. He never makes me feel dumb and is amazing at explaining things and helping us stay up to date with our finances.
+ Financial Planning: Isaac Laubach
Isaac helps us do our IRA, retirement, life insurance, education for kiddos, investments, savings.. basically helps us figure out how to get our lives in gear lol! He can work with any budget - we have been using him for life insurance (SO IMPORTANT for both spouses!!!!!!!) since both Chris and I were working our corporate/salon jobs years ago.
+ Mortgage - Meghan Tomilson
Meghan was a dream working with us to make our dream house happen! Any issues that popped up - she helped us figure it out.
+ Real Estate Agent: Bob Oswald
Bob helped us navigate the buying of our home!
