BEHIND THE DESIGNS: BRESSLYN MANOR

Here we are! Sharing the finished Bresslyn Manor, and I could not be more thrilled. This house was going to be a special project from the beginning, because of the location, size, and potential. But as we got further into planning, each space carried a special design experience for me that I am so thankful to have had. I am thrilled to be able to take you deeper into the designs of the biggest project that we have done yet. I want to give you an insight into the creative process behind the design decisions as well as a look at certain challenges, because while it is technically a “new” home, it never comes without its issues. Which is why I find posts like this so important! While there are times that a designer’s job is picking pretty tile and paint color, the other 87% of it is dealing with really unglamorous nuts and bolts of the build. Aspects that people don’t even think of when they see the finished product, but are such a crucial and necessary part to the job.

This home intrigued me before I even saw it in person, simply because of the location. It’s honestly one of my favorite streets in Nashville, full of huge trees and walkable streets covered with larger lots, giving you space and privacy. This lot in particular, while on a corner of a four-way stop sign is incredibly private. Already had evergreen trees in the back, and because of its positioning on a slight hill you really don’t see much of the neighbors on the other three sides. We started off with just over 3,000 square feet which means our usual model of taking the roof off, adding an attached garage and going up was going to bring this home to over 6,000 square feet. It was originally larger because instead of a standard ranch house it had a basement, which we are thinking was the original garage, then closed in years later. The size and spot of where we would put the new attached 3-car garage fit (almost too) perfectly. But as I got into the designs, I quickly realized how this 6,600 square foot house was actually going to be a lot of work. I mean, 7 bathrooms! That alone is enough to stress me out, but then there is the end goal of the design; a home rooted in timeless design with a touch of Cotswolds and a bit of southern luxury.

No pressure, right?

The style, truly, was dictated by the exterior of the home. This was where it all started after putting the floor plans together and deciding what the exterior finishes would be. The rustic and light stone matched with siding and accent shutters immediately set the tone for the interior of the home; classic neutrals with a pop. But one thing that I didn’t want to happen, was for a house of this size to turn into every other large home on the block. One of the first things I did was to make sure that the dining room was not a table in between the kitchen and the living room, that is a floor plan choice I cannot get behind. Sure, a breakfast table, but not your full dining space. I am with classic architecture on this one through and through, the dining room should be separate from your kitchen so that when you do host (no matter how rarely that happens), you don’t see the kitchen and the mess you made preparing the meal. So I spent months designing the floor plans for a spacious, functional, but also a timeless and comfortable home. It’s one of those homes that you see the number of square feet, but it reads cozier in real life.

After floor plans were done and all the inspiration gathered, I started with the living room and the kitchen; the heart of the home. This space needed to feel light but cozy, soft but functional. I kept my tried and true model of lighter perimeter cabinetry and a stained island to give the space depth, and put the same stone that’s on the outside of the house on the face of the fireplace to anchor the two ends of the space. The Shoji White cabinets are a lovely white to bring softness to the space and the stone brings some rustic tension to the space that can easily be elevated with more modern and luxurious furniture pieces.

Now, back to these 7 bathrooms. One of my main goals in all of my houses is that each bathroom has a bit of its own identity, I don’t want every bathroom to have white subway tile with a pop of marble. Instead, I want each bathroom to be able to stand on its own in design and character. Each bathroom has its different challenges and sizes, ranging from showers so large you could do jumping jacks, to smaller 30 inch vanities and a tub. But I chose to go big in design in the smallest bathrooms; think accent paint colors and Zellige tile. While these details can be expensive, doing them in a smaller space helps in that respect and keeps that small space from being boring or plain. I brought vertical v-groove into those two bathrooms for the touch of classic, painted them in an accent color for a bit of flair, and anchored them in tile design that immediately takes a small space to a designer level.

Of course you can’t forget the custom features that I always love to include: backsplashes, tile design, wallpaper and paint colors. Most of the backsplashes in the bathrooms are pretty standard, except for a little side splash detail. I couldn’t help myself! But this house I went bolder with color. The mudroom and pantry are a custom color finish and several of the bathrooms have their own color palette. Not one bathroom is without its own tile identity as well; from a border in penny rounds, to marble mosaic, or chair rail and pencil trim! This house is custom from the floors in the basement to the window shades on the second floor.

But just as I was getting comfortable with the designs and the direction everything was going, we realized that in order to improved our standing with the comps in the area, we needed a pool. So on top of everything else I needed to design an outdoor pool and pool house? Sure, twist my arm! But that changed everything. We expanded the covered patio, we changed the landscaping and added a pool house to anchor the back of the yard. I wanted it to feel like something that belonged in the Hamptons, and not just a ton of stone was thrown down, leaving your view from the kitchen window feeling like you were looking out a parking lot. I wanted custom designs in the stone work to break up the French pattern, and I wanted pergolas to further emphasize the Hamptons feel, and give alternate hang out areas and space for an outdoor kitchen. While this space didn’t look huge when it was just dirt, you can fit a lot into it when you really try and do it right.

Another on-site change was the height of the basement ceiling. Originally planning on leaving the first floor on and adding from there, we realized how much more valuable a 9 ft ceiling would be on the bottom floor as well as ensuring the structural integrity of the rest of the house. So we took off the entire first floor and essentially started from scratch. It’s the first time I’ve ever had to do that and while it hurt my heart in the beginning, I knew it would be the right call in the long-run.

We also added an elevator from the basement to the first floor. Personally I’d use it for groceries but everyone knows there are instances where stairs are simply not an option: an injury, a grandparent, etc. Seeing as the garage access was in the basement we thought it would be smart to give easier access between those two main floors.

My biggest hope that people take away from this home and the designs is that new construction can feel timeless. While my other homes have been mostly renovations, this is considered new construction. But what I didn’t want to happen was that it looked and felt like every other new construction home on the block, and there are a lot of them. But walking through the project when it was done my realtor said that “it felt like it had been here for a hundred years”, and that is the biggest compliment you could give me. I know people are occasionally shocked at how traditional my style and homes are, but I am happy to lean into that genre of interiors which I think is an important lesson for everyone when it comes to your interior style. Don’t let trends, social media or other homes make you feel like you need your home to look a certain way. Your home should be extremely personal to you, and you should feel proud that it doesn’t look like anyone else’s. It’s going to take a lot more than a few people’s opinions to keep me away from the antique stores!

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BEDROOMS

12.8.24

THE NURSERY

You didn’t think I wouldn’t go all out for this room did you?

I wanted a room that I loved walking into, no matter what heinous hour in the middle of the night it might be. And I also wanted a room that wasn’t too masculine or feminine, that featured pieces that felt timeless and that we would also be able to incorporate into this kid’s rooms years to come.

One hiccup in our house is the paint color of all of the doors on our second floor. We didn’t build our house and those who did thought that it would be a good idea to paint all of the bedroom doors a dark color. Unfortunately that means that you either have to compliment that color or not do anything with the walls in the bedrooms. I grappled with getting them all painted white so that I could get creative with the trim in the nursery. Ultimately since we don’t know how long we’re going to be in this house I decided to just stick with the wallpaper and give up my perfect paint selection for the trim 🙁

Yes, you could argue that putting up wallpaper is just as big of a deal, but there are several bedrooms and closets upstairs and that just wasn’t something I was in the mood to deal with.

I love the wallpaper so much and originally found it when looking for a potential wallpaper for a bathroom in Bresslyn Manor! There is a beautiful blue shade in this style, but I wanted to go neutral for versatility. Since it’s such a subtle stripe I decided to go with color + texture on the windows, giving the room a little pop without being too overwhelming. I loved the soft blue of the drapery we selected and I went with the natural shades to compliment the ones we have on our first floor. Both are from Two Pages Curtains and the process was so easy! Not only to order them but to install them, too. The linen of the drapery is such high quality and falls so nicely that they honestly look better than some custom/higher end brands I’ve used in my project!

ISABELLA PINCH PLEATED MEMORY TRAINING DRAPES IN WINTER SKY | RAE OUTSIDE MOUNT CORDLESS BAMBOO SHADES IN GOLD LEAF (C04) | ROOM DARKENING CURTAIN ROD

While I initially had envisioned a darker, moodier, Ralph Lauren lounge vibe for the nursery, I decided that would be the direction for his room as he gets older. The inspiration felt a little mature for al little guy so I went lighter with the scheme, a little more kid-like, but with touches of old luxury. The changing table is a vintage dresser that I was on the hunt for since we started trying. We wanted something a little taller (if you knew my husband you’d see why), and a piece that could live in his room for years to come. I think touches like this really bring a depth to any room that you are furnishing and I’m so glad we were able to find a functional antique piece to keep this room in theme with the rest of the house.

I decided to compliment the furniture piece with the custom framing of the artwork. I went back and forth with that artwork theme, vintage football photos, old cars, equestrian, etc. and decided to bring that Polo Ralph Lauren equestrian style back into the artwork. I love these pieces from Hart Equestrian, especially the vintage Parisian saddlery print. I’m hoping he’ll grow up loving The Colonel and wanting to keep him in his room as he gets older. And I’m actually obsessed with the light taupe matting we did around the jockey prints and how it blends with the wallpaper.

One big focus of mine in any room is always lighting; do we have enough and is it in the right spots? Some genius decided to put all the light switches on the opposite side of the room that you enter, so I’m just waiting for that first stubbed toe at two o’clock in the morning trying to get to it. But to combat that, as well as an imbalanced electrical plan, I got these sconces to hang on the wall above the changing table and used these Amazon rechargeable light bulbs to avoid having to hardwire anything. To be honest? I’m obsessed! We stuck the remote in an easily accessible place right as we walk in the room, and you can make the bulb warmer, whiter, dimmer, and even set it on a timer! I mean, way better than the alternative.

I’m sure we’ll find a whole list of things that we wished we did differently once we get the little guy in here and start actually using the room, but for now, we’re quite pleased with it. And a huge shoutout to my mom and sister who helped me hang the window hardware, sconces and all the artwork! We actively pushed the men out of the room knowing it would be easier without them 🙂

SOURCES

Outfit: Sweater Dress, headband, earrings

Wallpaper: Sandberg Alfred in Sand

Flush mount: Milton Flush Mount

Wall Sconces: Jane Wall Sconces and bulbs

Floor lamps: Dorchester Swing Arm Floor Lamp

Vintage Changing Table: a vintage piece from Chairish, linked similar here

Changing Table Kit

Glider + Ottoman: Restoration Hardware Wingback Glider

Crib: Liberty 3-in-1 Crib

Rattan Hamper: Serena & Lily Double Hamper

Acrylic Bookshelves: Clear Acrylic Book Ledges

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PROJECTS

10.27.24

INTRODUCING: BRESSLYN MANOR

I did it again…

And when I tell you this one had me nervous, that’s a bit of an understatement! So, I actually bought this house a year and a half ago, which was before we even bought The Manor Cottage! It was at a time that we were right in the middle of Woodvale construction and had no idea we would end up holding three properties at one time, but this was a property that we could not pass up. The size of the existing house and the footprint, and the acre lot! There were too many factors going on to not consider it.

Now, more about this house…

To be honest I had seen it on the apps for a few days and kind of dismissed it, never looking at where it was in the area. When I got a notice about a price reduction I pulled up its location, grabbed my keys and went for a drive. Y’all I got excited immediately. The neighborhood is absolutely amazing, loads of beautiful homes, with massive trees making it feel like it has been there forever. Not to mention that there are at least 3-4 new construction homes on the verge of being finished in the next few months, which is always a great sign for resale.

For a house built in the 50’s, it’s in great shape. As my contractor said when we were walking around the basement, “this house has been loved”. Which is not always the case, as my realtor and I can attest to the experience of being in homes we are genuinely afraid to stand in for too long. So the first item off the check list? It was in great shape and didn’t need to be torn down; the structure is there to build on.

And that’s not even including the fact that it’s on an acre! The lot feels huge and while it needs some work to clean up, you don’t need to do much to make it look beautiful. We might have to do a little bit to the front to add a retaining wall and some steps leading up to the front door, but when you find a lot almost perfectly rectangular like this that can fit a much bigger house? You jump at it!

Luckily we won’t need to touch the footprint too much because it’s already 3,000 square feet. Now, that includes the basement but the original structure is there to build a big house and the lot size allows for it too. The area’s comps call for 6,000 square feet or more but our immediate thought would be to add an attached garage in place of the carport, then taking everything up and add a second floor. When you do the math, that’s a 6,500 square foot house!!

That’s a huge house.

I never thought I would have an issue with an old house/lot where it allows for too big of a house! But in this area, there are actually 7-10,000 square foot homes so the resale is better for larger houses around here. However, a house of this size does present a few concerns:

On the design front, this is a very lateral home, meaning it is just one long rectangle. That’s great from the standpoint of redesigning the interior, we don’t have a weird shape we have to fit rooms into, but for the curbside appeal? That would mean you drive up to the house and see aaaaalllll 6,500 square feet. There isn’t anything hidden in the back, it’s all right there in front of you, so it could feel almost too big.
There are going to be a lot of bedrooms and baths! So the balance of an affordable design cost but also maintaining the level of home needed for resale in this area is going to be a focal point during the process.

One thing I have spoken to my realtor about when designing the plans is efficiency is what features do people expect when looking at a house at this price point and size? I’ve never dealt with a house this large so having the space to play? That’s new for me, but we want to be smart about it and ensure we aren’t adding things that just sound great but people aren’t really looking for when buying a house at this size.

But I think we have reached an amazing place with the plans, and I’ll be talking all about it next week! Stay tuned.

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LIVING ROOM

10.21.24

ROOM SPOTLIGHT: THE LIVING ROOM AT THE MANOR COTTAGE

What we think they did a few decades ago was close in a single car garage and then add this living room space on to the original home. The space had a large wall closing it off and had 8 foot ceilings and literally no light. Other than the two windows on either side of the fireplace, this space didn’t even have recessed lighting!

The first thing we did was take this wall out! And the new floor plan fit beautifully, moving the kitchen into the old powder/laundry/storage area just on the other side of the wall pictured above. We immediately got more light into the living room just by removing this wall, but we knew we needed more so we added two sets of French doors and two huge windows!

And as if that wasn’t enough, we vaulted the ceilings with panel detail to accentuate the height and bring your eyes up a bit. Just like Haverford Manor, this space is the same size as it was before, but with a few alterations (like windows and higher ceilings) it makes it feel so much bigger.

The fireplace needed a bit of an upgrade as well, but we kept it simple. With a layer of paint and a premade mantel, we then accentuated the existing windows with tall and soft drapery.

We did in fact replace the fake wood flooring in here with new hardwood flooring in a Dark Walnut stain.

And while this space is rather long, I really love the idea of a small breakfast table under this window. I’d had this pictured in my head since we set the floor plans and think it would be a perfect use of the space. Either that or putting two love seats over there for a little coffee corner. I did add extra seating around the kitchen island so if you’re like us and super casual with most of your meals, that’s still a spacious place to eat.

Trim Paint Color: Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee

Wall Paint Color: Benjamin Moore White Dove

Floor stain: Dark Walnut on Red Oak

Drapes: Everhem Tailored Drapes in Bone with Brass Hardware

Rug: Rugs USA Jute

Breakfast Table Chairs: Slipcovered Armless Dining Chairs

Vintage Drop Leaf Table: mine is from a local shop in Nashville, but linked are some similar!

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LIFESTYLE

10.9.24

MY (NON)MATERNITY WARDROBE

The last thing I wanted to do when I got pregnant was buy a whole bunch of clothes that I would never be able to wear again. And as I thought about getting pregnant, I started paying attention to the clothes that I already had and realized a lot of the dresses and sweaters that I had would probably last me for a long time. So I got to looking into all of my favorites as well as some bestsellers that could fit for at least the first two trimesters and maybe even after.

SHOP THIS LOOK

I was the most comfortable in dresses, as I usually am. And luckily most of the maxi dresses that I had still fit! I am officially in my third trimester now, but I am happy to report that I have not purchased one dress specifically for maternity, but I’m sure that’ll might change in the last months. My hope is that I can get away with a large sweater dress and maybe some maternity leggings this Fall, but the first thing to go for me was my jeans and jean shorts. While I wasn’t “showing” per se, I was definitely bloated and immediately got wider more than anything. I really only started to show around mid June, and early July was when I was starting to narrow down my wardrobe choices, but these dresses were a constant for me for comfort (and the heat).

DRESSES

Now, remember, everybody’s body reacts differently to pregnancy. So while these are all things that I’ve been able to wear the last seven months, I’m not saying they will or should fit everyone. These are just items that I felt were spacious enough to look cute but also give me room to grow. I did end up buying a few pieces from maternity brands like Hatch, Legoe Heritage, and Bodily but was super intentional about what I did purchase. Legoe has great knit pieces that you can build several sets out of and wear throughout your pregnancy spanning different seasons. They also have great dresses that stretch a ton and would be very comfortable to wear postpartum.

And once I started to really pop and my sweatpants started to tug on my tummy, I didn’t go with maternity pants. I ended up buying sweatpants from A&F in men’s large. I knew that I loved them because I had them in women’s and honestly I just wanted to be comfortable and feel a little normal. So far they have accomplished just that and I still have room to grow!

SHOP THIS LOOK

But my saving grace this summer when it was so oppressively hot and humid? Rompers! I found this delightful linen number and not only is it adorable but it is also the most comfortable thing ever, and has tons of room to grow in because it’s already an oversized fit. I got it in black and natural and wore them constantly. I also wore this Tuckernuck Romper a ton once I realized how much room it had, I was even tempted to get it in another color because it was a great comfortable option that still felt elevated and not too oversized or messy.

We had our annual family trip to the lake house and I chose to get a few more Hunza G swimsuits instead of anything maternity so that I could wear them after as well. I bought one of their styles last Summer and it was so comfortable I knew I’d want to get another one anyway, so I went with a black bikini and one piece and both were very comfortable and I felt stretchy enough to probably wear if I was even a bit bigger!

WHAT I PACKED

For our week at the lake.

I’ve found lots of styles that were just generally comfortable and forgiving as I grew in the first two trimesters that I wore a ton before I got pregnant and will hopefully be able to wear afterwards as well. Shop all my first/second trimester outfits here!

Going into my last two months as the temps cool off my focus is going to be anything that I can layer with leggings. I’ve only bought a few pairs of maternity leggings knowing that between workouts and everyday athleisure I’d wear them a ton. I can still layer some of the dresses I link above with sweaters and jean jackets for those nicer outfits, but you really can’t beat a leggings + oversized sweater outfit in the Fall. Even if you’re not pregnant! Below I’ve linked leggings that I got to grow into and hopefully wear through to the end and in the fourth trimester. I really started to need maternity leggings about a month into my second trimester, and these have been a huge hit.

LEGGINGS

I bought to grow into and through the 4th trimester.

I’m likely going to have to make some changes during my last trimester as I grow to the size of a house, but for now, all of the styles above have been amazing. Check out a list below of a few of my favorite things these last seven months of pregnancy!

MORE RECENT LOVES

that I wore throughout my first two trimesters.

Favorite Workout: A Peloton power walk! They have all kinds of classes and they still feel like a good workout

Favorite Pajamas: These SKIMS Sleep Set is not only incredibly soft and comfortable but I’ve had plenty of room to grow! I have worn my original set (bought pre-pregnancy) the entire time.

Favorite Belly Oil: I stuck with Bio Oil which I’ve used before, but I started using these on my thighs and belly week 4 and used it twice a day every day. I really think that’s why I don’t see any stretch marks!

Favorite Leggings: These Zella High Wasted Maternity Leggings are so soft and so stretchy but still supportive. I wore them mostly for workouts but they are great for everyday as well.

Family Photo Outfit: Mango Pleated A Line Dress

Favorite Maternity Undies: I really resisted this for some reason, but once I got the Bodily All-In Panty and realized how soft and comfortable they were? I bought another 3-pack!! I highly recommend

Favorite Slippers: I don’t know if it was swelling or just usage, but my feet started to really feel the pain towards the end of my sixth month. These were my saving grace!

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LIFESTYLE

9.22.24

THE FALL EDIT

My favorite season for fashion, and this year is giving all the feels; 90’s looks, loafers, chore coats, lady jackets, the works! My current trend that I’m loving the most? Dark hues; I’m talking dark browns, and burgundies.

Trends I am seeing and loving?

Monochromatic layering
Trousers
Split vests and sweaters
Midi Skirts
Loafers

OUTERWEAR

FOOTWEAR

SWEATERS

LADY JACKETS

DARK HUES

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KITCHEN + DINING

9.18.24

ROOM SPOTLIGHT: THE KITCHEN AT THE MANOR COTTAGE

Relocating this kitchen was a no-brainer.

We took in the old side door entry, and powder room/laundry room and turned that into a larger, open floor plan kitchen and living room. Now this old space where the kitchen used to be is a walk-in pantry and laundry + mudroom so not only were we able to update the kitchen but also add more function to the first floor in its entirety.

The designs for the new kitchen came together really quickly and were easy to visualize. Not because it’s a smaller house or a smaller kitchen than I’ve designed in the past, but because I had in my mind exactly how I wanted it to look right from the beginning. This designs as a whole came together quickly but I felt like this kitchen and living room space was an easy space to accentuate the overall style and feel of the home: luxury coastal cottage. With v-groove trim on the ceiling and soft taupe cabinetry, I wanted the space to feel open and light, but with a touch of warmth and texture.

Like other projects I went with a contrasting island in a stain, but added extra seating on one end of the island. So if you don’t have room for a kitchen table, you have more seating available here. While it’s not a huge island (unlike the 10 footer we had in Woodvale Manor), it still has a good amount of storage with a built in microwave, plus some beautiful posts to support the extra counter overhang and add character.

I think I have a new favorite countertop material! I went back and forth, but ended up choosing Starlight Quartz because of the taupe-like hues and beautiful grains that emulated real stone. I love how it looks on the island by itself, but cannot believe how well the range backsplash turned out. I really went for it here because I wanted to do something different than just a plain full backsplash across the entire wall. I love how the shape adds a touch of character and dimension as well as how it keeps this space feeling lighter. While I’m not a huge fan of tile backsplash in a kitchen, I am warming up to it. But if I had to choose between something like this, and tile? I’d choose this beauty all day long

Anchoring the range and this perimeter cabinetry is the kitchen hood that I got from Hoodsly. The second time I’ve used them and just like Haverford Manor, they did not disappoint. I went with the Sloped Hood Without Trim so that it could blend into the cabinetry seamlessly. I loved the sloped with trim that we used last time because it could stand alone and felt that it needed the trim to not get lost in the design, but this design’s simplicity blended beautifully with the whole kitchen while featuring a beautiful slope detail. They have loads of beautiful styles to choose from and you can use code MANOR15 for a discount if you choose Hoodsly for your next kitchen project!

One aspect I knew I wanted to include was a counter to ceiling cabinet in the corner to anchor the space. With the fridge on the left I didn’t want the space to feel unbalanced, plus I love having different layers of upper cabinets and we were able to include an outlet in the bottom shelf so you can use this as a coffee cabinet and keep those small appliances off your countertop. We had something similar in our kitchen in Minneapolis and that’s where my beloved Keurig machine would go, and I loved not having to look at it everyday but knowing it was easily accessible.

And you all know I love “a moment”. This sink vignette above was one I was really looking forward to. This is actually the first non-island sink that I designed and I kind of love it! We added this window set to not only give loads more natural light, but also give you a lookout from the sink, and I wanted the window to be prettier than just a normal window. I wanted to add more light above the sink as well as give it a designer touch, so I added a portrait light in a warm brass finish, as well as a custom linen Roman shade. This isn’t just for function but also to add a softness in the textiles in an otherwise cold and hard space like a kitchen.

SOURCES

Perimeter Cabinetry Color: Sherwin Williams Taupe of the Morning

Countertops: Starlight Quartz

Cabinet Knobs: Top Knobs Dakota 1 1/4 inch Mushroom Cabinet Knob

Cabinet Pulls: Top Knobs Ascendra Pull

Bridge Faucet: Edalyn by Studio McGee Bridge Faucet with sprayer

Island Pendants: Goodman Small Hanging Light

Portrait Light: Cabinet Maker’s Picture Light

Roman Shades: Everhem Flat Roman Shade in Birch Linen

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PROJECTS

7.14.24

A CLOSER LOOK: THE MUDROOM

This space seems to be everyone’s favorite on social media, so let’s take a closer look.

One of the most ignored spaces in builder homes are the utility spaces like the mudroom, laundry room, pantry, etc. which has never made sense to me. These are spaces you use literally every single day! So why wouldn’t you make them as functional as possible, as well as in style with the rest of the home.

This mudroom is a long rectangular space full of functionality; 9 foot closed storage with three double door locker space and shoe drawers, a coat closet fitted with the ability to add a secondary stackable washer/dryer, and a bench (pictured above) with spaces for more storage and baskets. Not to mention the super durable slate tile, Accessible Beige colored cabinetry, custom perennials bench cushion and accent designer lighting.

While this space has access to the garage, a door to the driveway to take out the trash, and immediate access into the kitchen and pantry separately so you can walk in from the garage with your groceries and drop them off into your scullery without traipsing through your house at all.

Honestly the colors and hues of this mudroom came out so dreamy. Accessible beige is such a lovely warm color that I think is such a nice alternative to white and paired beautifully with the slate. And don’t even get me started on this custom bench cushion! Of course in a durable cushion because… mudroom… but the fabric was a beyond perfect fit with the rest of the finishes: Perennials Tatton Stripe in Basalt.

As someone who personally only has a drop zone in their house, I’m a huge advocate for proper mudroom spaces. I think everyday life is just messy enough that they are absolutely needed! And this one is a dream. You can’t see any of the (potential) mess from the living areas, but it is incredible close and accessible to where it needs to be every day.

Long live a good mudroom.

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BATHROOMS

7.3.24

THE BATHROOM TILE AT WOODVALE MANOR

Seeing as I don’t get to furnish or really decorate these houses the way that I have dreamed in my head for 18 months of working on it, I make sure that I go really big when I can. Bathrooms and utility areas (while some people overlook and find boring), are a great place to show off character and design. I just cringe when builders leave a laundry room empty with everything but the washer/dryer and a sink, or when they have a great sized bathroom and they just do white subway tile and a glass shower door… come on! Get creative!

I absolutely love selecting tile because for me, it’s a bigger process; matching the trim color, or maybe a window shade, or contrasting the floor tile! The options are endless and you can really give (what otherwise might be a boring space) a ton of life.

I went pretty traditional in Haverford Manor: marble and neutrals. And while you can’t go wrong with those classics, Woodvale Manor had a sense of character and color from the start that I wanted to lean into. It was the cottage vibe that I wanted to evoke, but instead of lots of patterns (that lots of people might not like) I decided to go with subtle colors and details.

Bathroom No. 1

The downstairs guest bathroom was very small, but I knew what I wanted from the very beginning in this space and I never wavered. The mosaic floor tile was complimented by the shower wall Carrara tile for a classic and timeless look that I then paired with a toile wallpaper. And instead of a regular mirror I went with a polished nickel recessed medicine cabinet for extra storage (again, a small space), and instead of a regular wall sconce I went with a portrait light.

And another great way to add character is a unique shower curtain! The one I chose for this bathroom matched the hand toile with a scallop detail which I thought was so fun.

Bathroom No. 2

This bathroom belonged to my favorite guest room in the house. While it was the smallest, it had the adorable diamond grilles windows, loads of angled ceilings, and two hidden storage closets that would be perfect for a little kid hideaway. So, I made the bathroom just as adorable!

You can’t beat stripes, pretty much anywhere they are a classic and timeless pattern, so I chose to do that with the tile too! In fact the darker tile is the same that I used in the Jack + Jill at Haverford Manor, but I thought it was a perfect neutral to try out these vertical stripes for the first time.

Plus, any tile that has an exposed brass shower hardware is pretty much the most amazing bathroom.

Bathroom No. 3

I’m living in my green era, and I loved the paint color I used on the trim in the powder room so much (Farrow & Ball French Gray) that I wanted to use it again. This tile was a beyond perfect match so I went for it. Nothing too special with the application but I loved the pairing with the brass hardware so much.

Besides, green is a neutral!

One thing I highly recommend is using your shower hardware as more than just function. Use it to pop or accentuate a tile color that you have in the bathroom. It doesn’t always have to be boring polished chrome, just because. I love how this unlacquered brass pops off of the green. Just because something serves an important function doesn’t mean it can’t be a design decision as well.

Bathroom No. 4

Everyone’s favorite bedroom had a pretty special bathroom too. While this room would be ideal for a cool bunk room or a long term guest, this bathroom suits all those needs. My architect really wanted to avoid the window at all costs but I said no way! We’ve got to use it! So placing the vanity in front of the window offered a unique design and nice natural light.

I did a checkered tile in the Haverford Manor laundry room with a ceramic tile, but I decided to go fancier for this space. Bardiglio Gray tile paired with Carrara Pietra Marble 12” x 12” laid in a diamond checkered pattern was a beautiful selection and I’m so happy we went for it.

Due to budget we had to switch out the original marble tile in this shower with simpler white ceramic. But you know we couldn’t just keep that basic tile in there alone, so we threw in a Carrara pencil border to accent the niche and the hardware. I’m obsessed

I think small touches like this can make a huge difference in what otherwise might be a boring space. Don’t want to do the marble pencil? Do a ceramic chair rail! Just because it’s subway tile doesn’t mean it has to be plain. Another way to instantly elevate a shower is to use marble slabs at the shower opening instead of tile. Don’t want to go to a stone yard for this? You can find threshold pieces at Lowe’s and other stores to cut down if you need to.

I think my next project I might try a shower wall with a small square ceramic checkered tile layout! Stay tuned!

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BATHROOMS

6.4.24

A CLOSER LOOK: THE PRIMARY BATHROOM

The bathrooms in my projects are where I spend so much time and thought on the design. Because I don’t get to style and decorate the homes to completion the way that I’d like, areas like the bathrooms and utility rooms are where I get to shine! And this primary bathroom in particular was everyone’s favorite.

My builder in particular kept raving about the tub! I have never heard him so excited about something, so I knew that was a good sign. And my husband said many times that it felt like a suite at the Ritz, but I’m pretty sure he just knows the way to my heart. I wanted this to feel classic and clean, but luxurious.

While I am the first person loving on the fact that people are embracing non-white cabinetry, there are certain areas where I think it still shines. The combination of soft white cabinetry finishes, polished nickel and soft white linens in the custom relaxed Roman shades, the layers of textures are what give the bathroom the luxurious finish we were hoping for. The classic touches come in the marble floor and traditional bathtub faucet, which I have to say is so fun!

In Haverford Manor I designed a tile layout with pencil trim in a picture frame around the walls which gave it a traditional and elevated touch. But in this house I decided to let the shower hardware stand out and added a touch of natural light with the window. While this isn’t a huge shower, it does feel nice and spacious while still a useful niche and bench.

One focus in here was the lighting, something that didn’t feel like it necessarily belonged in a bathroom but still provided plenty of light. For instance the flushmount above the tub was my favorite touch of character as the cherry on top of the custom shades. And I chose the sconces that provide some depth to what otherwise could be a fairly flat wall of mirrors.

With plenty of natural light but loads of privacy with the growth in the large trees around the house this bathroom will never feel dark or cramped, especially with an almost 9 foot double vanity. I have a hard time doing normal 4 inch backsplashes so I fitted it with a 10 inch ogee edge instead, increasing the height and accenting the faucets. Overall in a bathroom like this it was the little touches of character that I think increase its character and style. Sure, we went with white cabinets and white marble but it still feels unique. While I wish we had been able to fit a little bit more storage I’m pleased with what the vanity offers and the proximity to the walk-in-closet as well.

SHOP THE ACCENTS

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KITCHEN + DINING

5.10.24

A CLOSER LOOKS: THE KITCHEN AT WOODVALE MANOR

The center of the home. Where you spend so much time, whether you intend to or not. I’ve found that it doesn’t matter how nice the rest of your house is, people always end up hanging around the kitchen. So let’s dig into the one at Woodvale Manor

I wanted to get away from white kitchen cabinets in this house and think that the result was so worth it. It can be scary to do something different with something like cabinets that can’t just be easily painted over. But this soft grey is so beautiful and I think the perfect solution. And the brass hardware on the range compliments it so beautifully

The overall layout of the kitchen was something that I never wavered from. When I was putting the floor plans together my architect kept trying to push me in a more square direction but once we came up with the footprint I knew what I wanted the kitchen floor plan to look like. With immediate access to a side door outside, maybe to take the trash out, as well as to the large butler’s pantry and buffet cabinetry and a breakfast nook this kitchen has loads of features that not only look lovely but also lend beautifully to functional everyday use.

While a typical upper cabinetry layout would have provided more storage, I knew I wanted the wall around the range to be a focal point. From the point of view of the kitchen, this was going to be a focal moment. So not only do you have the storage of the counter-to-ceiling upper cabinets but you also get the design element of the alcove layered by the island lighting. Plus you absolutely need this beautiful range to be a focal point, I mean, gorg.

Continuing with the cabinet design, my designer kept calling this space as ‘the pantry’ because it quite literally is big enough to serve as one. You know me and storage, you can’t have enough of it! And it mirrors the paneled fridge right next to it for a symmetrical look.

And let’s not forget the 10 foot island, huge farmhouse sink, bridge faucet and paneled dishwasher! Overall this kitchen was a joy to work on and came together even better than I could have imagined. I envy the mornings you could have in this area; making a coffee in your butler’s pantry, cooking pancakes on the beautiful 48” Italian range, then sitting in your breakfast nook enjoying your Saturday morning. That sounds pretty good to me

If I had to pick my favorite features?

1. The panel ready fridge

2. The statement backsplash and pot filler

3. The huge farmhouse sink and bridge faucet!

4. You still have loads of space to use and enjoy a huge kitchen island

5. The hardware. It’s got the sweetest little design detail to it that is such a great departure from the boring handles you see everywhere.

Overall I am so pleased with how this kitchen turned out. It’s got character, depth, and loads of function.

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LIFESTYLE

1.2.24

THE 50 BOOKS I READ IN 2023

AND MY READING LIST FOR 2024

I have been on a roll these last few months and I attribute it all to my new library membership. There is something freeing knowing that you can pick up and drop off all the books you want! And to be honest it’s even taught me delayed gratification, while these days if there isn’t something available somewhere we’ll just go on Amazon and buy it. So when I saw that I was 250th in line to get a book I really wanted to read, my first thought was, “I’ll just buy it”. I had to actively tell myself to wait and instead, find other books to read in the meantime!

And thank goodness I didn’t buy it, because it really wasn’t all that good.

I’ve been relying on the social media posts by Book of the Month and Reese’s Bookclub for recommendations, but I’ve started my search for books to read in 2024 elsewhere. There are a few articles with good lists that I’ve noted to get me through the first few months of the year, but would love to get more recommendations from you too! If you read anything amazing this year, drop it in the comments and we’ll start our own list.

The Everygirl

The Best Books of 2023

The NYT 10 Best Books of 2023

Bazaar’s 45 Best New Books of 2023 You Won’t Want To Put Down

The first 10 on my list for 2024?

I did find this year that I need to learn to pace myself. Because I’m a speed reader, there were some weeks where I powered through three books. But then I look back at the list of the books I’ve read this year and there are some I have to google to remind myself what they were about. So this year, I’m going to keep myself to one book a week. That way I can still read about 50 books a week, and hopefully I’ll be able to remember them all a little better 🙂

Of the 50 books that I read this year, there were some that I absolutely loved (I’m talking crying at the end, didn’t want to leave the characters), some that I thought were good enough to recommend (most of the time those are my “beach reads”), then others that I was disappointed in. And this is where you have to remember these lists are completely subjective! Everyone has different taste in books and that’s part of the beauty of it. I rarely don’t like a book enough to put it down on that list, but I did provide explanations as to why I didn’t like them to give some context.

Let’s see what I got up to this year…

BOOKS I ABSOLUTELY LOVED

You will notice that all of Kristin Hannah’s books are on this list, she is 4 for 4 in books that made my cry in the end. And she has a new book coming out in February! Can’t wait.

BOOKS I LIKED ENOUGH (EASY BEACH READS)

I was actually kind of disappointed in Tom Lake, that was one that I was over 200th on the waitlist and expected it to be really good! And a lot of these weren’t bad, but they weren’t good enough to really keep me interested enough that when I closed the book I go, “ugh! That was awesome!”

BOOKS I DIDN’T LIKE VERY MUCH

Okay, hear me out. It takes a lot for me to not actually like a book, and again, this is just my opinion. 1) The House In The Pines was predictable, and I didn’t have that gasp moment that I should have had 2) The Marriage Portrait and My Last Innocent Year didn’t really grab me. As I kept reading I was waiting to really care of be drawn in by the plot 3) Maybe Now was the sequel to Maybe Someday and the story should have stopped with the first one. 4) L.A. Weather felt disjointed and other than one thing, nothing really ever happened. The characters and plot didn’t really develop well so I never really connected with anything. 5) Honestly, I skimmed most of Happiness Falls. It really could have been an on-the-edge-of-my-seat kind of book. Maybe it was just the mood that I was in, but I felt like there was so much filler that the whole story just fell flat. There were so many questions, with so few answers that you just kinda left the story like… okay? 6) It’s funny because The Survivaslists was on a lot of people’s “favorites” list but I honestly did not like one second of it! I don’t know maybe it was the mood that I was in or what but from chapter one, I knew that I wasn’t going to be into it. And when I got to the end, I was right. Personal opinion? Nothing happened. The order of events didn’t make sense. And you aren’t sure you like even one of the characters. Overall it is just confusing and I would suggest this be a pass.

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BEHIND THE DESIGNS: BRESSLYN MANOR

THE NURSERY

INTRODUCING: BRESSLYN MANOR

ROOM SPOTLIGHT: THE LIVING ROOM AT THE MANOR COTTAGE