Earlier this year I made a list of projects that we would focus on in 2023 and our primary bathroom was top of the the list as it was very close to completion—all this space needed was a few styling touches, some paint touch ups and a whole lot of cleaning.

For quite a few months after moving in, it wasn't a priority for us to finish up our bathroom as there were more important things to deal with so it became second nature for us to ignore the large box containing a light fixture for over the bathtub—even though it was blocking an entire linen closet. Stu decided to install it one weekend in January and we instantly felt like we gained so much extra storage and floor space in the room! This gave us some momentum to finish up the rest of the jobs...and now it's all done and we can check this room off the list. That always feels good.

There were some pretty big changes to my original design plan along the way, but I much prefer where we've landed to where I started. Sometimes you just need to start over with a design—and that's ok. I did have a lot of uncertainty with how it would turn out as there are a lot of different elements in the mix, but I think everything is working together pretty well and it is growing on me even more with all the final tweaks finished up.

Related: Some Big Changes to Our Primary Bathroom Design!

Here is the final design plan for the bathroom:

And here's how it turned out!

ANY CHANGES FROM THE DESIGN PLAN?

I ended up staying pretty close to the second design plan I came up with, with a few small changes:

• I went a shade lighter with the diamond floor tile. The colorway is described as "white" but I would say it's more of a light taupe. The undertones worked much better with our paint colors than the original colorway I had picked out.

• I ended up choosing pendants instead of sconces for the vanity area due to spacing...more on that later. I also decided on a stunning drum light for above the bathtub rather than a chandelier, so that it would be a more diffused light source.

• There was a mishap with measuring for tile in the shower and we ended up short...and then the colorway was discontinued and I couldn't order any more. Thankfully I noticed it ahead of time and was able to come up with a Plan B.

The solution? I found a local finishing company who were able to do a half wall of waterproof Tadelakt plaster above the shower shelf. We color matched it with the tile and it has turned out to be one of my favorite things about this bathroom! It feels very unique, and I think it looks like it was the plan all along. Budget wise, tile would have been much cheaper, but I didn't want to add a fourth tile into the mix, so I think this was money well spent, even if it was an unplanned expense. I LOVE how it turned out—although it was stressful to figure out at the time!

THE KEY PLAYERS

I have a lot of "favorites" in this bathroom—I've already mentioned the plaster, but I am especially pleased with the vanity/faucet/mirror combo. The vanity was a custom build by Brooklyn Roots who also built our laundry room cabinetry. We used leftover soapstone from the kitchen for the vanity countertop and shower curb, which was a good move as we only had to pay for the fabrication.

I had been drawn to wall-mounted faucets in a lot of my original inspiration photos, and I think this was the perfect bathroom to utilize them, especially with the matching wall-mounted tub filler. I chose Kohler because of the range of finishes—I wanted something matte and the "vibrant brushed bronze" is almost as if nickel and gold had a baby. It's very pretty and has just the right amount of warmth. I will say that it shows water marks badly which I was trying to avoid by choosing a brushed finish. I plan on reaching out to Kohler and seeing if there is a cleaning product that will help with that.

ANYTHING I WOULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?

This was a tricky room to design in comparison with others in our house that just "clicked". I went through many different tile options along the way, and the shower floor was one that I was pretty set on. In fact, I wish I'd gone for something different. The pattern competes a lot with the diamond floor tile, and I think something less busy would have been a better option. I even asked about plastering over it with Tadelakt to match the shower wall, which is an option, but it is way low down the list in terms of spending money on the house. It's nice to have that as a potential option for the future...and I don't mind the tile as much now that I've lived with it for a while.

Another thing I don't think I got quite right was the pendant lighting. The scale doesn't seem quite right to me, and they are installed a little too close to the wall (which was my fault.) This was such a tricky area because of the limited spacing, but I was set on having those gorgeous arch mirrors (no regrets) and I wanted to have "face height" lighting as overhead vanity lighting can be quite unflattering—and I need all the help I can get at 5am. It doesn't bother me enough to change them out, but it's something I would pay closer attention to next time if we ever build another house!

ON THE TO-DO LIST

The only thing left to do in here is to add wallpaper to the toilet room! I think this will be such a fun way to add personality and maybe even a splash of color to the space without it being front and center. We will likely look at installing it when we are ready to add it to the girls' bedrooms, hopefully later this year.

SOURCES

Wall color: SW White Flour
Trim color: SW Modern Gray

Floor tile
Shower wall tile (color is discontinued)
Shower floor tile
Plumbing trim—Kohler Purist Collection in Vibrant Brushed Bronze
Mirrors
Robe hooks
Pendant lights and lightbulbs
Flushmount
Door and closet hardware
Artwork
Rug
Teak stool
Vanity tray

Our landscaping plans are coming to life in less than a week! I almost didn't get this post written in time as things have been moving so quickly...it's usually the other way around with big projects so I'm very grateful for that, especially as this is one of those things that has felt overwhelming to me.

The main reason this project is happening so fast is that we decided to hire the whole thing out. We made this decision because:

1. we know nothing about plants and what grows well in Florida and everything keeps dying on us, and—
2. gardening is neither relaxing or therapeutic for us...yet.

Our first phase of backyard landscaping didn't quite go as per the plan. I tried so hard to research and make good decisions, but between my lack of experience, the landscaping regulations required by city planning and the fact that usually landscaping companies don't stick rigidly to the landscape plan as it depends what plants they have "on the truck" that day, our current backyard isn't anywhere close to the vision I have in my head.

Related: The Backyard Reveal That's Been a Long Time in the Making

In retrospect, we should have had the bare minimum amount of landscaping work done just to pass inspection, and then come back to it at a later stage...but it's just one of those things we'll know for next time.

My perhaps unrealistic dream for the backyard was a low-maintenance, Florida-friendly, English cottage-style garden. Something that wouldn't require hours of maintenance—nothing too fussy or tidy. Colorful, cheerful blooms that would remind me of home. Here are some of the photos I took in England that I was hoping we might be able to draw some inspiration from:

Luckily, I knew someone who would be able to help us. I met Kelly Tesiero of The Elegant Garden when we were in the early planning stages of building, and she promised to come back and help us when we were ready for "phase two" of landscaping. She is a garden designer of many talents with a passion for native and wildlife friendly plants that will thrive without harsh chemicals or lots of maintenance. I got on her waiting list in the fall and she came up with the most amazing plans that fulfilled the brief and more:

As well as adding all the beautiful flowerbeds, we also decided to replace the grassy area with gravel patio. The plan is to have the firepit set up in that spot...for the months of the year that it's cool enough to use it, at least. It also gives us that "English cottage" feel that I'm pining for.

I approved the plans almost immediately and we then met together with the landscaper. He spotted some areas of our yard that weren't draining properly and suggested some fixes. We also asked him to add a fence around our side yard so that we could put the grill there out of the way, and he also quoted us for a lighting package which we were able to fit into our budget.

Related: Backyard Design and Renovation: Dos & Don'ts

With Kelly as our "garden concierge" the whole planning process has been very smooth and painless which has been such a relief. In my project list, I categorized as a big project—but on our part it has been a lot less work than anticipated. Kelly fully understands my vision, and so I have been able to trust her with the process.

I've had my eye on furniture and planters and thought I'd wait to purchase until the landscaping work was complete, but a few of the pieces I'd been looking at went on sale so I went ahead and got them. Then a friend gave us a heads up that there was some brand new Article furniture at a nearby thrift store at 30% off the already heavily discounted prices, and we found the perfect comfiest chairs for the porch off the garage. (Side note: after having zero covered space at our last home, we opted for three porches at this house! No regrets at all. Shade is everything.)

Here's all the furniture and accessories we have picked out so far:

Dining set | String lights | White planter set | Gray rectangle planter | Coffee table | Lounge chair

To prep for all the work happening next week, we'll be scrubbing the siding and cleaning off the cobwebs. Thankfully it's not too hot yet. I can't wait to share the spruced up and beautified backyard very soon!

2022 was the year we finished our house and moved in. It was also the year we figured out some of the Big Things (jobs, businesses, visas and some major life decisions) and all of that left me feeling a bit creatively zapped.

We did manage to finish the blue room, (I thrifted a lot of furniture as I didn't want to make any expensive mistakes...and I love it just the way it is!) made some great progress in in my youngest daughter's room and the living room...but there were lots of weeks (and even some months) where I had to ignore house projects completely.

As frustrating as it felt in the moment, I don't regret it. Slow decorating has its perks. I'm getting to know this house, and we are giving each other space to grow.

2023 feels surprisingly fresh and hopeful for me. I used to feel that way about every new year, but the last few years have knocked us back a bit. Thankfully we are getting back into a rhythm now, but I'm also trying to be gentle on myself...hence why this list of projects took me a month to come up with.

Some of these I've labelled "quick win" projects—not necessarily because of the scope of the project but more that I have a vision and/or a plan, so it's just a case of implementing them. Other projects are going to take me some time...and I don't want to rush the process because I know if I do that I'll be wanting to redo it again next year!

So here are my ten projects that are in the pipeline. (I didn't plan it to be ten but here we are and it's a nice number so I'm not complaining at all!)

PRIMARY BATHROOM (quick win)

This is actually something we've been working on in January, so now it's just a case of tying up some loose ends—Stu installed the light fixture over the bathtub which was in a box blocking the linen closet door...so with that out of the way I reorganized the contents of the vanity. After that I made some decisions on art and a rug for the space. We also installed some shutters in the shower and toilet room—the downside is we've lost a lot of natural light...but I'll take that for the sake of privacy!

Related: Some Big Changes to Our Primary Bathroom Design!

OFFICE/MUSIC ROOM (quick win)

I am VERY excited for this one. This room is currently a big mess which will make the transformation all the sweeter. Once it's all cleaned up we'll be installing window treatments, some open shelving and adding our guitars to the wall above the piano. The girls have just started music lessons so I'm happy that they will have a dedicated place to practice.

We are also switching out the light fixture...I knew as soon as I saw it installed that the scale wasn't quite right for the room, and we also need something that puts out more light. I'll hopefully be able to sell it on marketplace and recoup some of the money we spent...choosing lighting for an entire house at once was a tricky task and I think for the most part I did well, but this one wasn't a good choice for the space. You live and learn!

DINING ROOM (quick win)

Our dining room is crying out for some drapery and I think it will cozy up the space and help the room acoustically too—it needs dampening!

I found the console on Facebook marketplace shortly after we moved in, and I love the scale and style but not the finish, so I plan on staining it dark to contrast with our table, which also needs a quick refinish.

Related: How NOT to Refinish a Dining Room Table

Lastly, I had my eye on some new chairs which will tuck under the table and give us more room between the credenza and the table, and was able to score some even prettier vintage ones instead! They are lovely, but in dire need of a deep clean. I think I'll try cleaning the upholstery first, but they may need some fresh fabric at some point.

PANTRY (quick win)

Our pantry is currently stuck in the dreaded 95% zone. I have some caulking and paint touch ups to finish in here, and I've bought a multi-outlet for the charging center which should streamline things a bit. I also have a felt board to install which will come in handy for school papers etc.

I was planning on buying some new clear containers as the seals on our plastic ones are loosening...but we have a pretty high turnover on the items I store in there so it isn't a problem right now. I'm amazed how perfectly the containers and baskets from our last pantry fit in here—win!

MUDROOM (quick win)

This is another room that just needs a good tidy up and some organization systems establishing. I may end up getting a shoe rack—we have a lot of amazing built-in storage but I tend to leave my sweaty running shoes out to ventilate a little after runs...and they rarely make it into the drawers before I use them again.

I'm planning on adding a paper roll to cover the electrical panel which worked well in our last home, and the opposite wall could use some art too.

The cement tile in here also needs attention...unfortunately during construction it got some dirty marks on it that aren't cleaning off. It was covered with paper but there were a lot of people in and out and the tile took the hit. I haven't tried anything other than multi-purpose cleaner yet, so I need to do some research and work out how to get it back to it's original state.

BACKYARD (big project)

This one is a bit overwhelming for me. Our landscaping looked fine at first, but 10 months on it's not looking so great, and there are some tree placements that are not going to work longer term. I think in hindsight I should have just asked for the bare minimum in terms of landscaping...but again...you live and learn.

Since I know almost nothing about planting, I hired Kelly at The Elegant Garden to draw up a plan for us. I said I wanted it to feel like an English country garden...but using as many low maintenance, Florida-friendly plants as possible. She has an incredible eye for design and knows her stuff when it comes to plants so we are in good hands.

Here's one of the photos I took in England that I sent to her as inspiration:

Kelly has connected us to a landscaper who also knows his stuff. He has pointed out a few areas that need to be fixed in terms of drainage, so that will help the planting longer term and stop the mulch getting washed out every time there's a downpour. We hope to get this work done this month/next, which is exciting!

Once we have the landscaping sorted, I'll begin to think about furniture. We'll need some kind of dining furniture, lounge seating and some chairs to go around the firepit (maybe I'll also look at a coffee table to sub in for the warmer months...)

LIVING ROOM (big project)

I made a lot of progress in the living room at the end of November thanks to the realization that we needed a comfy space to gather over the holidays. I added a rug, some accent chairs and splurged on a coffee table, and plastered the fireplace.

I didn't get the chance to finish up the fireplace project completely (95% club strikes again...) so I need to go back and touch it up in places. Once it's all done I'll share how I did it and the products I used!

There's a big empty niche that needs a built-in, but we are still saving up for that (the landscaping is the priority right now). I'm also pondering what to put on the big wall next to the niche...perhaps some DIY art? It's worth a try at least!

I guess I should also add that unfinished puzzle to the project list.

Other than that, this room just needs some finishing touches—the unfinished console table needs staining, I'm thinking about adding some simple roman shades, and we need more lamps as the overhead lighting is too bright at night. I don't want to overdo it in terms of styling...but I want it to feel complete.

BIG KID'S ROOM (big project)

Designing a room for a 10yo who doesn't really know what she wants is quite the conundrum. Unfortunately, we've landed in a bit of an awkward spot where I've ordered things here and there but nothing is quite working together. I need to put some creative time into this...and as much as I want my daughter's input, I think I need to go it alone for this one. I know her, and I have a pretty good idea of what she likes and doesn't like. I think it would be fun to move her out of the room for a week and then let her see the big reveal. Or it could be a huge fail. But I'm at the point where I'm willing to take the risk.

This room has a ton of potential—the window bench is so dreamy!

One thing is for certain—we're going to be adding some bunny wallpaper in here! She hasn't wavered on that idea in at least...6 weeks?

Related: Patching, Painting, and (Wall)Papering

FINISH UP LITTLE'S BEDROOM (quick win)

We made so much progress in this room including building the loft bed, choosing furniture and a rug and purging and organizing all her belongings so it fits nicely...but I haven't added many final touches. The girls shared a room in the last house, so all the artwork needs to be sorted through so we can decide which works best in each space. They also have a little vestibule outside their bedrooms where the doll house lives—and this could be a fun spot for a gallery wall. I don't think it will take much to finish it up, but I probably need to wait until I have her sister's space figured out.

PRIMARY BEDROOM (big project)

This one is lowest on the list because we need to purchase furniture and I have NO clue yet of how I want this room to look or feel...other than I know I'd like a sitting area.

I'm an introvert and a homebody which means that occasionally (ok...at least once a day) I need my own space away from everyone else. Our bedroom is actually bigger than I wanted it to be...but now I'm envisaging a corner with a settee and an ottoman and I'm thinking it could end up being my own little spot. I'm going to keep dreaming and we'll see where it ends up!

So there they all are. 11 months of the year left and 10 projects to go. Honestly, I'm not sure how far into the list we will get this year, but as long as we are plodding along and enjoying the journey of settling into our home, I'll be delighted!

Well, it might have taken a while but our kitchen is now completely finished and I'd say it was definitely worth the wait! The neverending appliance delays definitely tested our patience but we will never take them for granted again. Let me tell you, dishwashers are a MAGICAL GIFT.

In order to get our final inspection passed we installed a temporary cooktop that I managed to find at a discount warehouse and later sold on Facebook Marketplace. Our fridge miraculously arrived the week before we were due to move in, but we were still missing an oven, a dishwasher and a downdraft vent so we did a lot of grilling and a lot of dishes for the first few months of living here.

While I'm on the subject of appliances—we are SO glad we chose an induction cooktop. At the time we weren't sure it was worth the upgrade but it's such a breeze to clean. I also love our fridge choice with the internal water dispenser (no drips on the fridge doors!) and the matte black finish is gorgeous. Our wall oven was only available in a stainless finish but I actually prefer the contrasting finishes since the two appliances are side by side.

Here's the design plan I landed on (after much back and forth over some of the details...)

And here's how our "organic modern" kitchen turned out!

ANY CHANGES FROM THE DESIGN PLAN?

We made some pretty big layout changes from our original plan which involved putting a cooktop in the island and having a wall oven instead of a slide-in range. I have no regrets about these changes as the layout functions SO well for us. I was a litle concerned that the cooktop in the island would spoil the aesthetic of the soapstone, but since it's dark gray it sort of blends in. I love being able to cook facing the rest of the room instead of having my back to everyone—it feels nice and sociable.

The rectractable downdraft vent hood was a headache to install (and that's being polite) but it does its job very well and I love that it's hidden when not in use.

Originally I had wanted a big plaster hood over a slide-in range, but with all the windows in our kitchen it just wasn't feasible to fit everything in, hence moving the cooktop to the island. I'm planning a plaster fireplace wall instead which will make up for it!

THE KEY PLAYERS

I was drawn to the idea of soapstone from the very beginning of the design process, and despite some reservations we ended up going ahead with it. Lots of people have asked whether we like it 6+ months on, and that topic probably deserves its own blog post! Aesthetically I have ZERO regrets—it is so stunning. In terms of maintenance, I haven't done much at all. I added some oil to it once as an experiment, but I haven't felt the need to keep up with that. Maybe when our list of projects is a little shorter I will get into the routine as it does look even prettier when it's freshly oiled, but for now it isn't a priority.

The only downside has been that it chips easily along the edges. I'm hoping that as the surface patinas and ages they will become less noticeable, but that first chip did sting a little! It is possible to mend the chips with epoxy but I'm going to see whether we can live with them. Would I choose it again? I'm pretty sure I would.

Related: All the Countertops We Considered, and What We Ended up Choosing!

Another key design element is our backsplash tile which is 4x4 Moroccan Zellige from Riad Tile. I went with the natural colorway vs. the brighter white which turned out to be a great match for our kitchen cabinets. I love the contrast in texture between the tile and the flat front cabinets and it adds so much character since every tile is unique.

Our open shelving was another decision I made early on that I questioned along the way! I'm happy to say that in terms of storage we haven't missed the upper cabinets at all, especially with a walk-in pantry next door to the kitchen (more on that to come...) and I have only wiped the shelving down once so far since April! I think it helps that it's mostly decorative items on there, so it doesn't matter if they get a little dusty.

We used heavy duty L brackets in a natural clear coated steel from Cascade Iron Co. for the open shelving. The metal finish ties in beautifully with the other accents in the kitchen, and we used the same brackets in our hallway niche for some shelving made from our countertop remnants—they are super sturdy and I can tell you those shelves are HEAVY!

For the kitchen we used the brackets L side up so the tile underneath was uninterrupted and aded notches to the shelving so it ran flat against the wall. For the hallway we flipped the brackets the other way so that the soapstone wouldn't need any notches. Those little details really make a difference and are worth the extra thinking effort in my opinion!

ANYTHING I WOULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?

I've gone back and forth on this question! I do wonder whether I made the best choice for our cabinet fronts. I originally had my heart set on inset slab cabinet doors, but alas they were out of our budget. The full overlay slab is just not the same look, but I went ahead with the slab front (vs. shaker) as I wanted something that would be super low maintenance. They are definitely easy to clean, and I think they will hold up well over time. I added some decorative panels on either side of the island and I'm really glad we have that detail.

Related: The Vision for Our "Organic Modern" Kitchen

Our dishwasher is hidden behind a cabinet panel which I love, but we didn't think ahead about adding a matching toe kick. It's not too noticeable, but it's something I'd like to look at adding. It would need to be removable, so perhaps something attached with command strips might work.

The other thing I wish I'd thought about ahead of time is our outlets. They are bright white and stick out like a sore thumb (I hid them with some strategic styling for the photos so you'll have to trust me on that one!!) and it would have been an inexpensive upgrade to purchase some off-white/taupe receptacles which would blend so much better. Luckily that's an easy fix, it just hasn't made it to the top of our list yet.

ON THE TO-DO LIST

Along with upgrading the outlets and adding a toe kick to the dishwasher, I may upgrade the sconce lighting one day. The ones we have look fine from a distance but they are not the best quality. I also may have had them wired a smidge too low, so I'm wondering whether choosing a different fixture style would work better. Watch this space!

SOURCES

Wall and trim color: SW White Flour
Wood flooring: Floors For Life Sea Island New Inverness
Cabinets: Medallion Cabinetry in Chai Latte finish
Shelving brackets
Cabinet hardware: knobs | pulls
Backsplash
Pendant lighting
Sconce lighting
Counter stools
Rug: vintage

This post is sponsored by Lutron Electronics. The content and opinions expressed here are my own.

The den. The TV room. The guest room. The...blue room? The name hasn't been settled upon yet, but we've been working hard on creating a cozy space in here and I'm excited to finally share it!

I knew from the moment we moved into this home that installing window coverings was a necessity for this room...and sooner rather than later! It is right at the front of the house and very close to the street so we feel a little overlooked. It also gets a lot of sunlight and has a tendency to heat up quickly, especially in the mornings. This is a frequently used space that serves multiple functions, so I wanted to choose shades that would be easy to use with all the functionality that we needed as well as something to complement the aesthetic of the room.

Serena Smart Shades by Lutron checked all of these boxes, and after deliberating over samples (which was tricky as there are so many great options!) I measured our windows (many, many times) and opted for battery powered translucent roller shades from the Harbor fabric collection in the "Sand" colorway. The linear texture is so classic and timeless, which was exactly the look I was going for in here.

Along with the shades I also ordered a Pico Smart Remote. These shades can be controlled via the Lutron App and Smart Bridge but I wanted them to be easy and for my kids (and any guests) to operate. We may end up adding the Smart Bridge later on so that we can get the full functionality of automation, but for now the remote is working great for us.

After deciding on our Serena shades, I worked on other details in the room. I had been planning on using our existing media console and coffee table in here, but sometimes as expected while decorating, the pieces didn't translate as well as I thought.

I ended up selling them on FB marketplace and managed to find a couple of secondhand pieces that were absolutely perfect for the room. I also added a rich burgundy rug which just so happened to have the perfect blue tones in it to tie in the wall color and sofa bed. I love it when a plan comes together!

The Serena shades arrived within a couple of weeks and were very quick to install—and we are NOT the most DIY-savvy of people! Stu installed the rails for each window and I hung the shades, added the batteries and programmed the Pico Smart Remote so that all four shades were synced up. The shades made an instant impact to the room and really made it feel finished—prior to this it had the "did you just move in?" vibe...if you know what I mean! One of my favorite details is the fabric wrapped fascia—it really makes a difference. I was thrilled to find a practical solution for our windows that added the comfort and warmth that had been lacking in here.

Are you ready for a tour??

I had been on the fence deciding between blackout and translucent fabrics for the shades, but ultimately went with the translucent option which means that we can lower them during the day as needed and still enjoy the natural sunlight. For the benefit of our overnight guests I turned the lights on at night and did a privacy check from the outside of the house and can confirm that the shades are perfectly opaque!

I was a little unsure about how the scale of the leather ottoman would feel since it's pretty large for the space and considered using it for our living room instead but we really love it in here! We've always found the sofa a little uncomfortable to lounge in, but the ottoman has solved that problem as we can kick our feet up. It's also great for board games and all the snacks. We'll have to move it out when we set up the sofa bed for overnight guests, but that is pretty infrequent for us at the moment and totally worth the hassle since it adds so much comfort to the room.

I made a textured canvas piece to go above the sofa which I intended to keep as a placeholder while we find "real art"—but it's growing on me! I tried a few different pieces in this spot but ultimately wanted to keep it simple, so this piece fulfilled the brief.

If you are considering motorized shades or blinds for your home I would definitely recommend checking out Serena shades—the quality is beautiful and there are endless options to customize to your own style. I was impressed with how easy they were to install, and they have made our "blue room" a comfy cozy space where we can hang out day or night!

SOURCES

Wall and trim color: SW Smoky Blue
Window Shades (fabric: Harbor Sand)
Light fixture
Door hardware
Rug
Similar ottoman
Dresser - FB marketplace
Side table - no longer available
Sofa bed - no longer available
Throw pillow
Lamp
Lampshade
Faux tree

We've been in the house for a little over three months (and it has flown by!) and decorating progress has been a little slow as we settle into our home. I have multiple projects and ideas on the go but not a whole lot to show for them just yet—but that's ok, it's all part of the process of creating home.

I'll admit it has been frustrating for me at times because I just want to feel "at home" right now thank-you-very-much. But I also know that sometimes it's better to let things take their sweet time rather than jumping in and making a bunch of decisions and purchases that I may regret later. This house build was a big creative project for me and there were definitely some stressful moments along the way, so I'm trying to be patient and take the pressure off the timeline now that we are safely moved in and sort-of-unpacked.

With all that being said, there has been a bit of a design breakthrough upstairs in my younger daughter's bedroom and it's coming together almost effortlessly which feels like such a gift. I thought I'd jump in and share as we go...who knows, perhaps this will kickstart some visible progress in other areas of the house too!

Before I get into the decorating details, let me catch you up on a big design element of the room that has been taking shape behind the scenes! Originally I wanted to do built-in bunks in here, but after thinking it through, I decided a loft/platform would be more versatile. I sketched it on paper and our GC built it out. Here's how it looks so far:

After it has been painted, Brooklyn Roots (a local design company who built our laundry room cabinetry and primary bath vanity) are going to be installing a slat railing and ladder and we can start decorating!

The bed will go perpendicular to the wall (I found a low-profile platform bed which will still give her plenty of headroom) and the space on the right will fit a little desk. The loft area above will be used as a play/storage area and she also has big plans to create a cozy reading nook with pillows and blankets.

And the decor? Now that my girls are no longer sharing a bedroom, I wanted to give them an opportunity to decorate in their own style—with a little direction, of course! I loved their last bedroom (and I think they did too!) but they are much older now and definitely have their own opinions about what they like and dislike.

This design plan came together after I asked my seven year old to pick out a sheet set. She was drawn to a pretty blue floral print, and the rest of the room took shape pretty quickly from there! Here's what we have so far:

Dresser | Sheets | Desk | Sconce | Rug | Mirror

I think it will be the perfect blend of modern/whimsical style—she loves a good print but is also drawn towards clean, simple furniture lines. (I showed her a few antique dressers but she said they were too "curly"...!)

In addition to what's on the mood board so far, I'm on the lookout for some pretty pillows to add a bit more color, and I'm planning on adding a little something to the window. Curtains aren't an option as they'll get in the way of the ladder, but perhaps a faux roman shade or even a valance to hide the roller shade mechanism. I think we'll see how the main pieces look together first. I'm very excited to start putting this room together!

We've been living in our new construction home for a couple of weeks now and I'm so excited to give you a tour of the kids' bathroom and laundry room—it's a 2-for-1 today! These rooms are right next door to each other and I designed them to complement each other, so it felt right to share them in one bumper reveal post.

Most of the house is still full of boxes and we have a long list of projects plus furniture to buy that will keep us busy for...years, probably? But all these two rooms needed were a thorough clean and a few finishing touches. It feels good to have at least one small part of the house put together!

Let's start with the kids' bathroom. Here's where I started out with the design plan:

And here's how the bathroom turned out!

ANY CHANGES FROM THE DESIGN PLAN?

Aside from the choice of vanity and mirror, we stuck pretty closely to the original mood board. The bathroom vanity I had originally picked out wasn't available in the timeframe I needed it, so I ended up choosing the Hytes mahogany double vanity. I have to say I LOVE the richness of the darker wood with the blue tile, and I'm glad my first choice wasn't available! It's solid wood and HEAVY so I think it will hold up well over time. I opted for a slightly wider mirror which matches the width of the vanity exactly.

THE KEY PLAYERS

The whole room design started with the Jardín de Luna Rabbit tile from Clay Imports. We used three mix-and-match tile designs and had fun laying out all the different pattern options before we landed on this combination:

Aside from the whimsical design, I also chose this tile because it is extremely low maintenance. It is glazed, which means no sealing is needed at all...ever! And it's so easy to clean—ideal for a kid's bathroom. I'm pretty smitten with this tile and I would choose it a thousand times over!

ANYTHING I WOULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?

The only thing I would change in here is the bathtub. I just went with whatever the plumber picked out (still not quite sure how I let that slip through...) and I would have preferred something with cleaner lines. Thankfully it's a minor thing and there's absolutely no chance of us replacing the tub unless something catastrophic happens, so I will try and learn to like it!

ON THE TO-DO LIST

I originally thought about adding a gallery wall in here but I'm not sure it's needed. The room feels balanced as-is, and I'm not sure I want to anything else since it's quite a small space. So, I'll tentatively say that this room is complete.

SOURCES

Wall and trim color: SW White Flour

Vanity: 60" Hytes Mahogany Double Vanity (quartz top is "feathered white")
Floor tile: Clay Imports Jardín de Luna RABBIT | DEER | HERB
Shower wall tile
Sconce lights
Double mirror
Faucets
Handheld showerhead
Robe hooks
Towels
Bathmat
Shower curtain: (no longer available—similar)
Vanity tray
Door hardware

Our laundry room is located right next door, and because of this view as you walk up the stairs, I wanted to make the rooms feel like they belonged together:

We used the Jardín de Luna tile tile in both rooms, and I love the cohesive look it has created. I also used a similar color palette in both rooms—blues, pinks and greens.

THE KEY PLAYERS

I spent a lot of time in the design stage working out the layout of the custom cabinetry, and it went through a lot of different phases. I absolutely love where it landed, and it provides us all with the hidden storage we need plus adds a lot of personality and style to a primarily functional space.

We used a local design company (Brooklyn Roots in Jacksonville) and they took my initial sketch and turned it into something pretty special. I wanted mostly wood tones to keep it neutral, but for the sink cabinet we added a splash of color with the green lacquered finish.

ANYTHING I WOULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?

We had to design the cabinetry around the placement of the window, which means that we have a small gap where a rod for hanging clothes is going to be installed. I am happy with the way it's worked out, but I think it might have been easier to plan the layout of the room if we had foreseen the awkward window placement when we were drawing up plans. This is also the reason we installed a pocket door instead of a regular door, as the door swing would have hit the washer. Overall this room has been a bit of a puzzle to figure out, but I'm definitely pleased with the outcome.

ON THE TO-DO LIST

I styled the shelves with what I could find at the top of our boxes (we haven't finished unpacking yet!) so I will most likely revisit that at some point. I think this could be a really fun room to add a gallery wall, perhaps above the shelf on the back wall. I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for unique pieces to collect.

SOURCES

Wall and trim color: SW White Flour
Hallway trim color: SW Modern Gray
Sink cabinet color: SW Pewter Green

Floor tile: Clay Imports Jardín de Luna RABBIT | DEER | HERB
Backsplash tile
Faucet
Sconce lights
Pocket door pulls

This post is sponsored by Emtek. The content and opinions expressed here are my own.

If there was a competition for the top spot of which decision during the house build has been the hardest to make, then choosing our interior door hardware would be a strong contender! It was important for me to find a style that would work well throughout the house, a metal finish that would complement the other fixtures and quality hardware that would hold up over time.

Door hardware is probably not the first thing you'll notice in a room, but it's definitely not something to be overlooked. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again...details like these make a big impact on the way a home feels, so I don't regret all the time I spent going back and forth on this!

With all the different styles, finishes and types of hardware to choose from, it can be a little overwhelming to know where to start and how to narrow it down. I learned a whole bunch through the process of choosing our interior door hardware, and I'm going to break it all down here.

START WITH FUNCTION

A good starting point is with the practicalities, and working out what kind of door hardware you will need in your home. I used our house plans to make a list of all the interior doors, and then tallied up the different types of hardware we would need:

Passage hardware (for doors that don't need to lock)
Privacy hardware (for doors that need to lock eg. bathrooms)
Dummy hardware (one-sided "fake" hardware for reach-in closets and the fixed side of a set of double doors)
Flush pulls (for our pocket doors)

With this list in hand, the next step is to consider the style of interior hardware that will work best with your home.

CHOOSING A STYLE

Door hardware is a great way to reinforce the overall design style of your home. It's subtle, but it really does make a difference. Although I'm definitely mixing it up with different decor styles, overall I want the bones of our home to feel timeless and classic, so I was drawn to more traditional hardware that would bring some age and depth to our new construction.

The other thing to take into consideration is the interior door style. Our interior doors are simple 2-panel shaker style which have the potential to feel very modern/minimalistic paired with clean-lined door hardware. Instead I opted for a classic rectangular rosette which has a decorative detail around the edge, along with simple Providence Knobs to hopefully achieve a more transitional look.

For the most part, this is the style of hardware I'll be using everywhere in the house, but there are a few doors that get special treatment. All the pocket doors (the office, laundry room and toilet room in the primary bath) will have 6" flush pulls. The dining room french doors leading to the back patio will have Merrimack Levers instead of knobs since they are exterior doors. And the kids' bedrooms upstairs will have Melon Knobs with Rope Rosettes for the closet doors—a fun little detail that will only be noticed once inside the room.

Overall, I am keeping the style as consistent as possible, but it can add interest to change it up a little, as long as it's done with intention.

CHOOSING A DOOR HARDWARE FINISH

Picking a finish was the hardest part of the process as there were so many good options to choose from. I changed my mind multiple times because there were a lot of different elements to consider.

My first consideration was the practicalities of each finish. I love the look of unlacquered brass and polished nickel, but could my perfectionist side handle the fingerprints? Probably not. For that reason, I decided to stick with a matte option.

That narrowed things down a lot, so at this point it was choosing something that would complement the door color (SW Modern Gray—a light taupe) and the other fixtures I had already decided on in the house. The hardware finish would essentially become the main metal finish in the house since it's repeated everywhere, so it was important for me to get it right.

I eventually landed on Oil Rubbed Bronze which is something I never would have considered at first. I think I'd discounted it as brass and matte black are having a moment right now, but when I took a step back and looked at how it might work in my home, I realized that Oil Rubbed Bronze could be the perfect match.

Emtek's Oil Rubbed Bronze finish is a beautiful rich black/brown with an aged feel. It provides that high contrast look—similar to matte black, but with more softness. It's a true "transitional" finish—it feels both modern and timeless, exactly what I wanted. It will complement the accent metal finishes I'm using (brass and nickel) and act as a neutral anchor to pull it all together.

METAL FINISHES: TO MIX OR NOT TO MIX

I’m a big fan of mixing metal finishes when it’s done well. It adds a lot of depth and character to a space. However, my personal preference is to stick to one metal finish for all the interior hardware so that it feels cohesive throughout. I will be layering in different metal finishes in other areas—lighting, mirrors, and plumbing fixtures.

The one area I'm breaking my own rule (although you might not even notice) is with the flush pulls, which are actually solid bronze vs. brass with a bronze finish.

It's also a good idea to match hinges and accessories (eg. flush bolts, ball and catch) to knobs/levers. Emtek has matching hinges available for all their finishes.

MY TOP TIPS FOR CHOOSING INTERIOR HARDWARE

To recap, here are my tips for choosing interior hardware:

1. Function goes first: make a list of what you need.
2. Consider the style of your home and your interior doors.
3. Mix up styles if you like, but don't overdo it.
4. Choose a finish that works with the style of your home—don't worry about trends.
5. Be consistent with your door hardware finishes throughout the house. Add accent metal finishes with lighting and other fixtures.

If you are on the hunt for hardware for your home then look no further! Emtek is such high quality and I cannot WAIT to see this beautiful hardware installed in the house—just a few short weeks away now.

UPDATE!

Our home is built and I am thrilled with how the door hardware looks. It is timeless and looks like it belongs—exactly as I was hoping! Here's a few sneak peeks of our new home:

Drumroll please for the very last mood board reveal for our house build!! This also happens to be the only post of this series where I could share a snap of the actual room in 3D since we are all framed and ready to roll, so this post feels like a bit of a milestone.

So far I've shared a light & bright primary bathroom and a whimsical yet functional kids bathroom. In contrast, this downstairs guest bathroom will be bringing allll the drama.

I started off with a 1x6 black mosaic tile which I bought almost a year ago now after being inspired by Audrey's showstopper of a shower:

The tile is currently gathering dust in our storage unit but I wanted to snag it because it was on clearance. Then I stumbled upon some very affordable patterned ceramic tile which gave me a color palette for the rest of the bathroom design:

The hardest tile to figure out was actually the 15 sq ft of shower floor tile! Gosh I must have ordered at least 8 samples, but I finally landed on some simple black 2x2 mosaic.

Since this is a small-ish bathroom, I thought it would be a cost-effective room to add a trim treatment. I decided on beadboard to tie in with the mudroom, but this time it will be painted a deep green (Sherwin Williams Still Water). We'll carry that green around all the trim work (the door and window casing included) to give it a cohesive feel. The walls above the trim will be painted in SW White Flour.

For the metal finishes, I'll be going with brushed gold plumbing fixtures and lighting, and oil rubbed bronze for the bathroom hardware. The fixtures are classic in style to contrast with the modern shower tile. I want the overall feel of our home to be transitional...which to me means the best of both worlds.

I had originally wanted a console sink for this bathroom, but I ended up changing direction on that as I couldn't find a good metal finish match for the exposed plumbing. I'm definitely pro mixing metals in a space, but I try and keep it consistent withing a category (eg. plumbing, lighting, hardware...) and there was no good option that I could find to go with the Moen brushed gold faucet.

Related: Vanity Mirror Round-Up, and Some Thoughts on Mixing Metals

I ended up going with a pedestal sink which gives us that vintage/traditional style but will hide the pipes. We won't have any storage with this choice of sink, but we do have a linen closet nearby and since it's a guest bathroom I think we'll be ok. It's probably one of the few choices in our home where aesthetic is winning over functionality!

The last detail I wanted to share is the color of the toilet/pedestal sink as they are actually off-white. I would never have thought of going with anything other than white for a bathroom, but the more I stared at our cream based tile the more I thought a crisp white toilet and sink pedestal would "pop"...and not in a good way. So, after much deliberation I opted for Kohler's "Dune" which is a very very light beige. It's subtle, but I think it will make a huge difference.

I think that just about covers it! Three very different bathrooms each with their own personality. This one was especially fun to design, and it's not long now before it will really start to take shape.

Want to be the first in the know? Sign up to my mailing list here!

Catch up on our house build plans:

Exterior
Kitchen
Living Room
Main Bathroom
Dining Room
Guest Room/Den
Laundry Room
Mudroom
Kids' Bathroom

This past weekend I finalized all the trim work for our new home! Although we are only at the beginning stages of construction, having all the little details ironed out ahead of time is going to be important in keeping everything moving along—even if we end up adjusting plans as we go.

Cover image: Amber Interiors

Trim is one of those things that isn't necessarily on the top of the list when it comes to choosing selections for a house, but it's actually a pretty important part of the overall aesthetic of a home. Now that it's on my radar I have become low key obsessed with snapping photos of any trim work that inspires me, and even busting out the tape measure in friends' houses from time to time...!

With all the "newness" of our house, I want the trimwork to add some character to our home. However, adding decorative trim details can add up to a lot, so I need to be intentional and thoughtful about where I can get the most visual impact for our investment.

BASEBOARDS, DOOR CASING & WINDOW CASING

Let's start with the necessities first! I've chosen a traditional 5-1/4" colonial style baseboard which has a little bit of decorative detail, but is still simple and classic. If budget wasn't a consideration, I probably would have opted for taller baseboards, but I think the 5 inch will still look substantial enough with our 10 foot ceilings.

I'm going with something a little more ornate for the window/door casing, providing some contrast to our cabinetry throughout the house which is mostly slab front.

Related: The Vision for Our "Organic Modern" Kitchen

I think this pairing will really create that transitional style I'm hoping to create. For me this modern/traditional combination is the best of both worlds!

CROWN MOULDING & CEILING DETAILS

Crown moulding is beautiful and adds so much character to a space, but it can also become very expensive when used over a large area. For this reason, we opted to add it to two smaller rooms at the front of the house—the den/guest bedroom and the office. Concentrating it in these rooms will hopefully pack a punch without breaking our budget. I'm going with a 7 inch crown with lots of decorative detail, as I want it to be a stand out feature.

For the office, we are also adding a planked ceiling detail. Since there are large windows on two of the walls and double doors on a third, we decided to focus on the ceiling details for this space, rather than adding moldings to the walls also.

For the guest bedroom/den ceiling, we are adding a ceiling medallion for a decorative accent—it looks pretty fancy but in actual fact this one is very affordable! It is made of polyurethane and will be painted to match the ceiling, so will mimic the look of a solid wood medallion.

Related: Double-Duty Room Design: Our Den/Guest Bedroom

And in the dining room, we are adding a coffered ceiling. This was originally planned for the living room, but we ended up moving it to the dining room as it's a smaller, more defined space vs. the large open concept kitchen/living room. Although it's still technically open concept, I think the ceiling detail will separate the dining area nicely and give it its own identity.

WALL TREATMENTS

Lastly, let's talk about wall treatments! Wall moldings and paneling add instant character to a space. For our home, I've chosen four areas to focus on—the mudroom, the guest bathroom, the guest bedroom/den and the primary suite.

The mudroom will have a shoulder height beadboard treatment around the whole with a wall of shaker pegs added along one wall. This is both a practical and aesthetic detail, as the beadboard will be painted in a satin sheen (rather than matte like the walls) which will be much more durable against the inevitable scuffs and marks that will occur in such a high traffic room. (I just noticed the other day there is a big shoe print halfway up the wall of our entryway in the apartment...not sure how it got there!)

We are also using beadboard in the downstairs guest bathroom at a lower height. I haven't shared the design plans for that room yet, but I can reveal the beadboard in that room will be painted a delicious moody dark green! (SW Still Water) The door casing and window trim will be painted to match.

In the guest bedroom/den, we are adding shadow box trim and a chair rail on all four walls. This will all be painted a rich blue so it will add a ton of visual impact to the room (along with the crown moulding and the ceiling medallion.) It's also much more budget-friendly than full wainscoting as it uses less trim material.

For the primary bedroom and primary bath, we are adding vertical paneling to a few accent walls (either end of the bedroom, behind the vanity and behind the bathtub.) This will be painted the same color as the walls and ceilings, so it will be a subtler addition yet still adding texture and interest to the space.

I think that just about covers it! It definitely took a bit of planning and studying, but I think it's time well spent. Details are my jam, and that has been one of the fun things about designing this house. Ultimately, I'm hoping these trim choices will feel like they belong with the house. I'm excited to see how it all turns out.

I've had my heart set on soapstone countertops since the very beginning of the design process—almost a year ago now. When I initially shared that on Instagram, I got some very mixed responses—some people raved about it, and others warned me not to go anywhere near it!

I was initially drawn to soapstone because its classic beauty and of all the beautiful veining. I had also heard that it was durable and didn't require much maintenance. Could this be the perfect combination of beauty and function?! Perhaps. However I had received some stories of firsthand experiences of soapstone that concerned me a lot. I started to do more research into soapstone and tried to work out why there were such polarized opinions towards it.

Related: How Our Kitchen Plans Have Evolved so Far

SOAPSTONE ADVANTAGES

As I already mentioned, one of the main appeals of soapstone is its aesthetic. Soapstone varies a lot from quarry to quarry due to it's veining, which gives it a very individual and unique design feel.

Contrary to popular opinion, soapstone does not require any sealing as it is completely non-porous. However, many people choose to oil/wax soapstone countertops to give it a darker appearance and even out water marks/spills.

Soapstone is also heat resistant so you can put hot pans directly on the surface.

SOAPSTONE DISADVANTAGES

One of the biggest concerns with soapstone is how soft it is. There are different levels of hardness depending on the slab, but the chances are that with the normal wear and tear of kitchen use, it's going to get scratches and nicks to some degree.

I took home a couple of soapstone samples to mess around with and found that it did indeed scratch easily with a knife, but the scratches were easily "blended" with some oil to the point where they were hardly noticeable.

It is also possible to sand out deeper scratches, although I tried that with one the samples and it was very obvious where I used the sandpaper. I don't think I used a fine enough grit, and definitely would not be jumping into that project too quickly if it were my actual countertops!

Cost is another disadvantage to soapstone—it is one of the more expensive options for a countertop, although it does vary from slab to slab.

SOAPSTONE ALTERNATIVES

We did our due diligence and looked at lot of options that would give us a similar aesthetic to soapstone without some of the disadvantages.

Honed Granite

The first alternative to soapstone that we looked at was a honed granite called Nero Mist which has a beautiful matte finish. It has a similar aesthetic to soapstone but it is a lot harder and doesn't chip or scratch easily. However, it is porous so requires sealing periodically to prevent staining. For our kitchen, the quote for the honed granite came in around 25% cheaper than the soapstone.

Quartz

We chose quartz for our last home and loved how easy to maintain it was—it doesn't need sealing and is a breeze to clean. There are lots of darker quartz options with veining, and some are available in a honed or suede finish—although these finishes do cost more than the polished quartz.

Quartz options that have a soapstone vibe:

• Charcoal Soapstone by Silestone
• Nero Soapstone by Corian

PaperStone®

This choice was suggested by someone in the local area who had been following our build journey on Instagram. She was kind enough to give me lots of information and even let me come and see her PaperStone countertops in person. And yes—in case the name didn't give you a hint, it's made from recycled paper! This composite surface is extremely durable, easy to maintain and has a smooth, velvety texture.

Dekton

I did some research into Dekton after a friend sent me a photo of a kitchen with what looked like soapstone countertops. In fact, they were Dekton which is a type of extremely durable man made quartz. This surface is heat-proof and comes in large slabs which is great if you want to avoid seams. I liked the aesthetic from the photos, but didn't get as far as looking at samples in person—I had read a couple of horror stories about incorrect installation leading to cracks and that was enough to put me off since it's not a widely used material in our area.

Ultimately, after all our resarch we came to the conclusion that every material has its pros and cons—the challenge is finding the material that is in line with your priorities and that will work best for the way you live in your home. It really comes down to personal preference.

OUR FINAL CHOICE!

After weighing up all the options, we ended up going with our original choice—soapstone! Here's our slab:

The big caveat is that I'm going into it with the mindset that it will get dents and scratches, and it will take time to settle in and patina. I'll probably commit to waxing it regularly to help the process along. (Tip: when looking at soapstone slabs, ask the salesperson to wipe it down with a wet rag—this will give you an idea of the appearance when it is waxed or oiled.)

I did give the slab a scratch with my fingernail and it held up fine—apparently the softer slabs can be marked as easily as that, so I wanted to road test it and make sure our choice was more resistant!

There is a lot of variation and movement in our slab which I think will help blend any scratches and nicks that are made along the way. The veining was one of the reasons we wanted to go with a natural stone countertop. I had already chosen some very modern features for our kitchen (slab front cabinets, minimalist sconces and stainless steel accents) and I wanted to balance it with some natural veining to give it that "organic modern" feel.

Related: The Vision for Our "Organic Modern" Kitchen

The way soapstone develops a patina is another feature that won us over—in a new construction where pretty much everything is going to deteriorate, it's a nice thought that our countertops will hopefully improve and show character over time.

As a perfectionist, I'll be honest and admit I am a little nervous about my choice. But then I look at our wooden dining table which has years of wear and tear showing on it, and it doesn't bother me at all that it isn't perfectly pristine—it's just part of the character. I'm hopeful it will be the same story for our soapstone.

FABRICATION

As soon as I had decided on a slab, I got in touch with the fabricator and explained that I wanted to use as much as the slab as I possibly could. I did a rough sketch and worked out that I could also use it for the primary bathroom countertop and shower threshold, the laundry countertop and shelves for a niche in the hallway.

This hack is making our countertop budget stretch a lot further as we are only paying for the fabrication for all the extra rooms. I'd definitely recommend looking at what you can squeeze out of a slab if you are in a similar position.

Check out all of the mood boards for our new house so far!

We are getting tantalizingly close to breaking ground on our build—our permit just got approved so it’s almost go time! Anyway, I still have a couple of room designs to share with you—let’s start with the kids' bathroom.

My goals for this space are for it to be low maintenance and easy to clean, practical in terms of storage and also cute and fun since it’s the for the kids!

Our kids' bathroom will be located right next door to the laundry room—which will be convenient for all the clothes that will no doubt be dropped on the floor. To create flow and continuity between the two rooms (since the doors will likely be left open) I decided to use my favorite floor tile again:

There's a practical reason for this as well though—this tile is glazed clay which means that they are very durable and won't get at all bothered by pools of water on the floor at bathtime. For the shower surround, I'm using a simple textured ceramic tile in a vertical stacked pattern. I'm opting for off-white grout since it will be easier to keep up with, and we are looking into epoxy grout for the ultimate low maintenance option. (If not epoxy, then we'll definitely be sealing it!)

I've picked out a teak vanity since it is naturally water resistant (and hopefully toothpaste resistant as well!) If our teak step stool is anything to go by, it should be very durable.

For the plumbing fixtures, we'll be using brushed nickel since it's so easy to wipe down. And for the accessory fixtures (mirror, TP holder and hooks) I'm mixing in some oil rubbed bronze to and some contrast. Mixing metals is a great way to add interest in a bathroom, as long as it's intentional—my rule of thumb is to choose one metal for all the plumbing and then layer in accents elsewhere.

Related: Vanity Mirror Round-Up, and Some Thoughts on Mixing Metals

Speaking of plumbing—let's take a moment to talk about the toilet! I specifically picked out a skirted toilet (with concealed hardware) because it's going to be a breeze to clean. It's the small details like this that are my favorite thing about building a house—I've been keeping a running list of random things for over a year now! Another detail is installing a handheld shower vs. a regular showerhead. I may not be washing the girls' hair for much longer, but my back is going to thank me in the short term.

To keep it simple and streamlined, I decided on one large mirror vs. two individual ones. Two sconces will be added above in a gorgeous blush tone—another nod to the laundry room where we are using pale pink tile for the small backsplash.

Related: Form and Function in Our Laundry Room Design

So to recap, here's some of the elements that will make this kids' bathroom extra functional and low maintenance:

• glazed, durable tile choices
• non-white, epoxy (or sealed) grout
• teak vanity with an easy-to-wipe quartz top
• lots of vanity storage for all the things
• brushed metal finishes
• kid-friendly plumbing fixtures

Even though it's a very practical space, I also think this room also puts some FUN into functional (sorry, couldn't help myself!) with the bunnies frolicking around and the powder coated modern sconces. I'm thinking a gallery wall on the opposite wall would be a great addition too—perhaps a spot for the girls to display their own masterpieces. I'm sure we'll have lots of projects on the go once we finally move in!

Want to be the first in the know? Sign up to my mailing list here!

Catch up on our house build plans:

Exterior
Kitchen
Living Room
Main Bathroom
Dining Room
Guest Room/Den
Laundry Room
Mudroom
Guest Bathroom

We're around ten months into plans our new home (yes...it's taking some time!) and that's given me some time to make tweaks and adjustments here and there to the finishes. There has been absolutely no need for me to rush into any decisions given our build timeline!

Some changes have been subtle, and you might not even notice them if I didn't point them out. But in the case of our primary bathroom there's been a complete change of direction.

WHY CHANGE IT??

I really liked the original plan, but it wasn't quite sitting right with me, and I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was. That "gut feeling" is so important to me in this house build process—if I don't feel good about something, I can't help but keep trying different things out until it feels right!

As I played around with different combinations of finishes and went down a rabbit hole of tile, I came to the decision to start with a blank slate, and the new version came together from there.

TILE CHOICES

I thought I had my heart set on patterned tile for the primary bathroom, but since I'm using it in every other tiled room in the house (!!) I decided to do something a little different in here. I played around with using a geometric shape on the floor vs. a patterned tile, and found some hex tile that I liked. When I went to the store to check it out in person, I stumbled upon a rhombus shape which worked perfectly with some pretty special marble mosaic tile. (Budget tip: save those $$$$ splurges on smaller area like a shower floor or niche!)

For the shower surround, I landed on some textured tile a couple of shades darker than the floor for a tone-on-tone look:

WALL TREATMENTS

Since I am going pretty neutral with the tile color palette, I wanted to add a fun accent of color and pattern with some wallpaper in the water closet. I'm going for something bold and organic, to add contrast to the geometric tile shapes. Here's my shortlist, and how they'd look alongside our tile choices:

A // B // C

I'm leaning towards option A, but wallpaper will likely be installed after the build is complete, so I don't have to make a decision on it just yet.

I orginally planned on doing a half wall of vertical paneling to break up the pattern, but that isn't going to be possible with the pocket door framing, so it will be floor to ceiling wallpaper. (Go big or go home, I guess?!) And although we can't do vertical paneling in the water closet, I'll be adding accent walls behind the bathtub and vanity.

Related: A Guide to Choosing Wallpaper for Your Home

METAL FINISHES

Somewhere along the line, I made a decision to switch to oil rubbed bronze for all the interior door hardware. This meant that the matte black plumbing fixtures needed adjusting, as I didn't want to mix the black and dark bronze in one space. I'm sticking with the same fixture line (Kohler Purist) but I'll be going with "vibrant brushed bronze"—at first glance it looks very similar to brushed nickel, but it's got a much warmer undertone which will look great with the tile selections.

Here's the Kohler finish sample next to the brushed nickel handles in our apartment—see the difference?

Since the metal tones in here are quite subtle and muted, I'm adding some polished nickel mirrors as an accent.

Related: Vanity Mirror Round-Up, and Some Thoughts on Mixing Metals

THE MOOD BOARD

Ready to see an updated moodboard?!

I've said it many times, but I think one day I will be grateful for the delays to our build. As frustrating as the waiting feels sometimes, the extra time to mull over decisions and ideas has been a huge advantage. I'm pretty confident that this version of the primary bath design is "the one"...but watch this space to find out!

Check out all of the mood boards for our new house so far!

Wallpaper is a fantastic way to add instant personality and character to a space. It's definitely something I'm going to be incorporating in the new house in various spaces, and I already have a shortlist of favorites on the go!

However, with so many different patterns and styles available, it can be an overwhelming decision, so I'm going to walk you through some things you may wish to consider when choosing wallpaper for your home.

WHERE TO INSTALL WALLPAPER

You might already have a spot in mind for where you want to use some wallpaper, but if not, that's the first decision to tackle!

Wallpaper makes a great accent wall, or you could divide the room in half with paneling for the lower section and wallpaper above. It adds a pop to a small space like a nook, a powder room or a pantry. And don't limit yourself to walls—it's perfect on ceilings and lining the back of built-in bookcases. And if you're not ready to commit fully, you could start with framing samples for a fun twist on a gallery wall or use it to line drawers to get your feet wet. There are endless options!

Obviously a larger area requires more wallpaper coverage, so keep this in mind when it comes to budgeting for your space. Many online wallpaper retailers will tell you how many rolls you need based on your measurements, which is a helpful tool to look out for.

Having a clear plan on where you will install your wallpaper will determine the rest of your design decisions.

TYPES OF WALLPAPER

First off, you'll need to decide what type of wallpaper is right for your home. The main three to choose between are unpasted wallpaper, prepasted wallpaper and peel and stick.

Unpasted (permanent) wallpaper requires the most skill and tools to install, but is often the better quality/longer lasting option. This is probably a good option if you are hiring out the job, and for a space that you don't intend to redecorate again for a while.

Prepasted wallpaper is simpler to install as it has adhesive on the back of the paper that is activated by water. It's permanent, but easier to remove than unpasted wallpaper. It's a great option for DIY-ers and there are lots of high quality options available.

Peel and stick wallpaper is removable which makes it a great choice for rentals. It's also less expensive than permanent wallpaper and the most forgiving of the three to install, so it's less of a commitment all around.

CHOOSING A WALLPAPER PATTERN

Once you've decided on the type of wallpaper you are going to install, you can begin your search for the perfect pattern for your space.

If you are starting with a blank canvas, then the wallpaper world is your oyster! This is how the girls' bedroom design came to be—I saw the wallpaper first and built the rest of the room around it.

Related: Patching, Painting, and (Wall)Papering: One Room Challenge Week Three

If you don't come across something that you love straight away and get stuck in decision fatigue then my advice is to browse inspiration photos. Use Pinterest or Google Images and search for “wallpaper” plus the room you are decorating eg. “wallpaper bathroom". Pay close attention to the images you are drawn to, and this will help you figure out your own style preferences. As you gather images you will hopefully notice a pattern emerging, which will help narrow down the wallpaper search.

If you are adding wallpaper to a room that is already decorated, you'll need to consider the other elements in the space. It's still a good idea to track down some inspiration images to refer to, and take a note of how the patterns are mixed in the room.

My preference is to create balance between contrasting elements and patterns in a room.

For example:

• in the girls' bedroom, I paired a geometric patterned rug with a whimsical bunny wallpaper
• for our primary bath in the new house, I'm planning on using a gray hex tile with floral wallpaper
• using bold wallpaper somewhere like a pantry/laundry room is a great way to add some fun to a utalitarian space
• grasscloth wallpaper is great for an open concept space as it adds texture without being too busy or overwhelming

And if a repeating pattern isn’t your thing, then you might look into a large scale wallpaper mural—these are great for accent walls. (My daughter has asked for a sunset mural in her bedroom so I’m currently researching some options for her!)

Choosing the right wallpaper design ultimately comes down to your personal preference (what YOU love), along with balancing it with the existing decor elements in your room.

MY FAVORITE WALLPAPER BRAND

My go-to brand is York Wallcoverings. There is a huge range of designs to choose from, and the quality holds up too. I particularly love their prepasted option, especially if you are DIY-ing the project.

Here's a round up of the patterns that have caught my eye for our new home:

I hope this post gives you confidence to try out some wallpaper in your home, and a starting point if you are overwhelmed by the process! If in doubt, start small, gather lots of inspiration and go with what YOU love.

Welcome to my new favorite room in the house build so far! I'm serious! Laundry is a chore that I don't mind doing. Call me a weirdo, but there's something quite therapeutic about folding clothes fresh out of the dryer plus I get to watch a movie or listen to a podcast while I tackle the pile. Anyone with me??

Since laundry is my chore of choice (Stu would rather do the dishes which is A-OK with me) I get to design this room all for myself. What a luxury! First and foremost, it needs to be functional (much like the mudroom) but I also love the challenge of adding thoughtful design to a functional space. If I'm going to be spending a few hours a week in here, then why not make it beautiful as well?

Related: How to Declutter & Organize Clothing

I've already shared some beautiful laundry room sources over on Instagram, but the main inspiration for this room actually came from a local bakery! I snapped a photo of some bunny tile a few months ago and I haven't been able to get it out of my head since. After searching for it online for hours (ok, maybe 30 minutes) I gave up on finding it. Then my friend Amber sent me a photo of the very same tile, and I told her I loved it but couldn't find it...18 minutes later and she had found me the link. Everyone needs a friend like Amber.

Alright, are you ready to see the moodboard including (possibly) my most favorite tile on the planet??

Here it is!

Side story: Bunny love in our home goes back a long way—I had a pet rabbit growing up and then another soon after getting married. We don't have plans for pets anytime soon so bunnies are making a few appearances in our home decor instead!

CABINETRY DESIGN

We are adding some custom cabinetry along one wall of this room, and it's been fun to work through different options and come up with a design which works with the way the room will need to function for us. Since this is a small room, it won't be too much of a budget-killer, but allows us to make every inch of the space work hard for us.

Let's talk through each version...

This was my initial plan, but the position of the window means that there isn't enough depth on that wall to build cubbies around the washer/dryer without encroaching on the window. We couldn't flip the sink and the appliances because of the doorway on the other side. I went back to the drawing board and decided to shift the washer/dryer to the center of the wall, and create a hanging space next to the wall. Bonus: it creates a nook to hide our drying rack too:

I felt good about this design, until recently when I wondered if the pedestals were really necessary. I wanted to add them as extra storage since we don't have much cabinet space under the sink, but pedestals meant sacrificing counter space. Enter winning version three: adding upward opening doors between the edge of the shelf and the counter, which gives us closed storage for detergent etc. and counter space! (My technical drawing skills are limited—but hopefully you get the idea...)

We'll be spending a bit extra on the cabinetry design with this version, but we'll save a little on not buying the washer/dryer pedestals.

KEEPING IT COHESIVE

With the cabinet design and the bunny tile in place, the rest of the room design came together fairly easily with a few accents to tie in with those key elements (plus the rest of the house too.) I have to say, the further along I get into this house design the easier it is to make decisions—for example, we'll be using an offcut of the kitchen countertop for the sink surround in here, and the cabinet will be painted the same color as the mudroom lockers (SW Pewter Green). Pulling in elements from different rooms will hopefully help the house feel cohesive.

I'm opting for dark gray appliances in here, as I think white will clash with the creamy walls (SW Alabaster). And yes—they're front loaders! I had a lot of advice on Instagram to steer clear of front loaders, but I've personally never had an issue with them and they work better for this layout—it allows us to have a counter over the top. I'll let you know if I still stand by my decision in a few years!

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Catch up on our house build plans:

Exterior
Kitchen
Living Room
Main Bathroom
Dining Room
Guest Room/Den
Mudroom
Kids' Bathroom
Guest Bathroom