WEEKLY EDIT

Weekly Edit III

 

A new season, a time for change, sunshine, and new beginnings.

Spring in particular feels like such a fresh start at the beginning of the season. Especially here in Nashville where it does actually feel like Spring this time of year šŸ™‚ and we can get outside and start to come to life again. The trees filled in last week and the grass is looking so green giving me this fresh new feeling of life.

With closing on Haverford the beginning of March it feels like a whole chapter of my life and business came to an end. I’ve honestly found myself confused, having lost my daily trips to the house to check on the progress of things. It was such a habit, and with a few signatures, that’s all gone! But now that I’ve had a few weeks to settle back into the new routine I feel like I’ve embraced the change and ready for new growth as well. On to new projects!

 

DIY PINBOARD FRAME, DETAILS COMING SOON

 

One big thing that I changed this month was my office. Originally in the formal sitting room right off the front door in our home, I felt like I needed a more dedicated space without distractions. We have a small guest room upstairs that we barely use (to be honest we have almost never used all of our guest rooms at one time…) that I thought would be the perfect spot. It’s the smallest of the guest rooms, has some built-in shelves and is right next to a large closet that I can use, which means our entryway will no longer be cluttered with all my stuff.

While I would love to ā€œfinishā€ this space into a perfect office, but as Iā€™ve been brainstorming I realized that I wanted to finish it to be able to photograph it and share it instead of intentionally completing the space for my needs and aesthetic. So, I took a step back and decided to wait. Not only do we not know how long weā€™re going to be in this house but Iā€™m hoping to always need an office/dedicated space, and I want the pieces that I put in here to be the ones that stay there. So, this space may feel empty and undone for a while now, and Iā€™m okay with that if that means designing it intentionally and meaningfully.

 

 

I feel like all I have been talking about lately is porch and patio furniture, and I love it! We absolutely love our porch and spend so much time out here but the one thing that I felt like was missing was a little coffee area. There have been so many times I have wanted to sit under the covered area at a little table with my coffee or laptop to start the day but I didn’t want to make it a huge investment. Inspired by the RH Courtyard restaurants I got a cheaper version of their bistro tables and used two chairs from our outdoor dining set up to have here on a regular basis. I’ve already used it a ton and know that this table will be an easy one to fold in if we ever changed the arrangement.

 

SHOP THE LOOK

 

I felt like I hadn’t given a ton of information about the designs at Haverford Manor, so I started doing posts along with the social media reveals. Obviously everything has been revealed on the portfolio, but the videos and photos on social are more in depth and give you a better look at each space. So I decided to go even further with a post detailing the room: the floor plan, the design elements, and even links to shop similar items. So far this month we’ve done the guest room, the dining room, andĀ the living room. I’m hoping posts like this will be informational as well as interesting when looking deeper into the flip.

But now for the fun stuff! I’ve been dedicating more time and posts to fashion lately because I felt like I had neglected that area for a while. I’m still not promoting hauls or overbuying but I am sharing more of my staples and the many ways that I wear them. I did take spring cleaning to heart this year and cleaned out a ton of my closet that I felt I had been hanging on to for a while. You know those pieces, “well, I haven’t worn it in a while, but I might!”. I feel like my wardrobe is finally down to my essentials that I can and do consistently wear, and I have to say it feels so much better that way. Check out some essential Spring finds below as well as one of my new favorite Coastal Grandmother outfits!

 

SHOP SPRING FINDS

 

LINEN PANTS Ā | Ā LARGE VASE Ā | Ā CANDLE Ā | Ā SWEATER
PROJECTS

5 MUDROOM ESSENTIALS

 

I cannot tell you how much fun I had with this space. I know Iā€™ve said it a million times already but I love designing utility areas. There is so much character you can get from the finishes, cabinetry, and flooring and it is so much fun putting it together. But beyond it looking nice, these rooms in particular have to be functional, so this post is going to cover the five essentials you need when designing a great mudroom.

I know from personal experience how annoying these spaces can be when they arenā€™t designed well. Ours for example? Just a drop zone, not any closed storage, and completely visible from the living room! So when you hang up your coat, put down your bag, or throw off your shoes, you can see it all. The laundry room? The door opens inward covering up over half of the cabinetry. Itā€™s so annoying.

 

 

We had plenty of space to work with at Haverford Manor so I was lucky enough to have plenty of room to get creative as well as to fit all the essentials

1. SHOE STORAGE

I donā€™t think having open storage below the lockers is an awful idea, thatā€™s what we have and I fit large baskets but it is a little messier. Having closed drawer storage for shoes keeps things much tidier.

2. COAT HOOKS

Having a spot to hang your bags and your everyday coats is a no brained and the easiest thing to incorporate. But one thing that people donā€™t think about is tall coat storage. If you canā€™t put it in the mudroom itself, try and put it close by. If youā€™re anything like me you have coats of all kinds of lengths and you donā€™t want to have to walk all around your house to get them every time you want to wear them.

 

 

3. DURABLE FLOORING

And no, durable tile doesnā€™t have to be boring! These herringbone brick panels were a huge hit and to be honest they looked even more beautiful when they were installed + grouted. We went with an over grouted look to really play up the rustic vibe. But most importantly, we sealed them first. You want to make sure that they are styles that are easy to clean but also can handle when you are stomping around in your boots, or when your kids drop their bag of sport equipment.

4. A SLOP SINK

For me, this is an essential. I think that to have a spot to clean gardening equipment, shoes, or maybe even your kids craft stuff!

5. COUNTER SPACE

This one is definitely a luxury, but I do find it helpful. It can serve as a drop zone to store your keys or drop your mail even if itā€™s just a little extra space next to your sink. We were also lucky enough to have the space for an entire separate drop zone right at the back door of Haverford Manor so thatā€™s where they will drop their keys. But I would kill for the separate counter space in the mudroom to go through the mail, or maybe store all the returns that we constantly pack up.

 

 

If youā€™re looking for a design consultation on your own mudroom design, book a consultation or a discovery call to chat through your space! Our virtual design services can put all of the room finishes together and help plan out your cabinetry design with your cabinet vendor. Weā€™re here to help!

LIVING ROOM

HAVERFORD MANOR: THE LIVING ROOM

 

I think this is my favorite transformation of the entire house, let me explain.

This room stayed the exact same in size and location. Seriously! We knew the size of the room was plenty for a great living area and that the flow into the covered porch would work beautifully with French doors. Sure we could have had more square footage by continuing the second floor above this room, but come on, those vaulted ceilings? That’s a dramatic moment I didn’t want to miss. But let’s just do a quick side by side shall we?

 

 

Ya, loads better. And that’s not even to mention the horrible smell of dog from the carpet.

What you can’t see from the before picture is that the photo was taken from the old dining area, now the kitchen. And while that flow worked well for us, it was closed in a bit with walls and a large cased opening going into the living room. It was amazing how much bigger the whole space was when we simple opened up the entire opening to the room, taking down that drywall and cased opening. It completely opened up the space to what is now the kitchen making it flow much better and an open concept floor plan.

Because we added on the attached garage we lost the a set of windows, therefore a good amount of natural light. But by adding the French doors we kept that natural light and even enhanced it a bit. Plus with the vaulted ceilings everything feels lighter.

 

 

While I love wooden beams, I know they arenā€™t for everyone. And I felt like this house was a bit more on the traditional side to stylistically fit wood beams. So, as a compromise we ceiling beams in the same paint and finish as the ceiling. So there was still some dimension to accentuate the tall ceilings. I love how they turn out and think they really add a design element to the room, even when itā€™s empty.

And one of my favorite parts about this area? Is the view from the kitchen. I worked really hard to get the range and sink centered on the fireplace so that when you are washing the dishes, you have a direct line into the living room. And while I would have loved to have done a cast limestone fireplace surround, we went with Taj Mahal Quartzite. Definitely on the expensive end of materials but it was neutral enough to fit the space but nice enough to be a real accent in the living room. I added the 3 inch ledge around the outside to again, add dimension but to also give a little big of a ledge.

 

 

I absolutely love this transformation. It proves that you donā€™t need to completely change a floor plan to get a big new house. Iā€™m so glad we were able to accomplish what we wanted to out of this space and so thrilled with the result.

Sofa + Chairs

Coffee Table

Jute Rug

Mirror vintage c/o Gaslamp Too

Chandelier c/o Visual Comfort & Co.

Floor Lamp c/o Visual Comfort & Co.

Ottomans c/o Canterbury Antiques

 

BEDROOMS

HAVERFORD MANOR: THE GUEST ROOM

 

Formerly the primary bedroom, I decided to make this first-floor guest room special. And step one? The paint color.

 

 

While this room didnā€™t change in size at all, it feels sooooo much better in this layout. Originally, the closet was a build-out as soon as you walked into the door, so instead of the room you immediately saw a wall. We moved the closet to both sides of the window and a storage bench in between to keep that natural light. Plus, when we took the roof off we added a foot of ceiling height to the whole first floor making the clearance nine feet instead of eight. Big difference!

One of the struggles I had with the concept of flipping was the design portion. Youā€™ve got to appeal to as many prospective buyers as possible while also making a name for your style. So this room I felt like needed to stand out a bit from the rest. So I made sure to pick a bold paint color, unique hardware and also pay homage to the original home with the medallion around the chandelier (we tried to keep the original but was too warped).

 

 

I think the final product was a great blend of standing out, but blending with the style of the rest of the house. And it made me fall in love with this paint color even more! Plus, it gave me a space to use this vintage accent table that I found as a nightstand like I always imagined it. So many vintage elements blended with new to make this room feel like itā€™s been here for a minute.

But one piece that I love about this room and the whole house is the number of storage benches. We had three throughout the house to include as much storage as possible and to keep the windows open natural light. The first is in here on the first floor, and the other two are upstairs in the primary closet and the rec room. All great places for storage and all complete with custom Schumacher bench cushions.

 

 

Not a bad place to stay for a visitor. Actually, maybe so nice theyā€™ll want to stay longerā€¦ whoops.Ā Below weā€™re listing all of the good stuff!! All of the sources that I can, as well as the before picture. What do you think? A pretty good upgrade, huh?

 

 

Paint c/o Farrow & Ball Pigeon

Medallion around chandelier

Chandelier,Ā Bench Pendant, Nightstand Table Lamp c/o Visual Comfort & Co

Baroque Mirror c/o Chairish

Vintage nightstand c/o Patina & Co

Vintage Artwork c/o Winchester Antiques

Crystal Vase c/o Tuesday Made (use code MANOR10 for 10% off your order)

Velvet Throw Pillows c/o Jenn Stoffer Home

Drapery Hardware & Ivory Drapes

Door Hardware c/o Emtek

LIFESTYLE

ADD TO CART: SPRING FASHION

 

There is something about Spring fashion that is just so much better than the other seasons. Fall is fun because you get to wear sweaters and feel cozy, but Spring fashion brings you back to life! No more layering, no more coats, no more boots that ruin an outfit and look super clunky that youā€™re so tired ofā€¦

Need I say more?

 

 

Iā€™ve been linking a ton of neutral staples lately that I have worn year after year, and to be honest they are still some of my favorites. And one things about having a great neutral line up of classics is that you can easily interchange for countless new looks and layering options. I also recently did a huge closet purge of those items that I kept keeping year after year thinking ā€œI havenā€™t worn them yet, but I willā€. So now my closet has nothing that I havenā€™t worn at least a few times.

 

A FEW OF MY NEUTRAL FAVORITES

 

I think this is also a season where denim really starts to make a comeback: lighter wash jeans, jean jackets, denim shorts, etc. There are so many more options this time of year to style with your outfit. I even got a new pair of light wash jeans and I am only mildly obsessed. They are ultra high rise (duh) and just soft enough to be super comfortable. Iā€™ve had a hard time with length lately because I donā€™t think the 90ā€™s cut + length is super flattering on me, but I havenā€™t been able to find an ankle length pair that actually hit at my ankle. Theyā€™re always too short leaving a super unflattering fit. So I actually got these same jeans just in the short length and theyā€™re kinda perfect! About two inches longer than the ankle cut and about two inches shorter than the regular length.

I also refuse to even look at a pair of jeans that isnā€™t ultra high rise, or a pair of jean shorts that doesnā€™t have extra length. Thatā€™s what getting old and not working out gets you :-/ But Iā€™ve found this pair from Agolde that is both! Here are a few other new denim styles that Iā€™ve found lately.

 

SPRING DENIM FINDS

 

Now, we canā€™t forget the most fun part! Spring dresses!! I have been dreaming of this day when I get to put on my favorite maxi dresses and layer with sweaters. It is so refreshing after Winter to be able to wear these styles again. Iā€™ve posted a ton about needing a staple white maxi dress, but letā€™s be real, you need several colors. I got this one from Amazon at least three years ago and have loved it so much that I got it in one new color last year, then another this year! Itā€™s the perfect length to wear with sneakers or sandals, and so fun to pair with sweaters. Plus, you canā€™t beat the price. Itā€™s an amazing alternative to this Jenni Kayne style.

Casual travel look? Pair with white sneakers and a white sweater draped over your shoulders. Patio brunch? Sandals and a denim jacket! I mean, you canā€™t beat it. But if you arenā€™t convinced here are more styles to check out that would be great additions to your wardrobe.

 

 

MAXI DRESSES

 

Now for my personal favorite, sweaters. No, not those heavy ones youā€™ve been wearing since the Fall, but light and airy sweaters. Ones that you can throw on with jean shorts when it gets warm out during the day. Or a sweater that you throw over your shoulders for that chic, mature look and to keep yourself just a bit warmer than without it. A sweater you can pair with a summer hat and feel like you are immediately transported to the Hamptons. Okay, I need a vacationā€¦

 

LIGHT + LAYERING SWEATERS

 

Donā€™t miss tons of outfit ideas and looks on my LTK page. Iā€™ve been much better about documenting my outfits lately, and now that itā€™s nice out and I canā€™t hide my ugly outfit under a winter coat, Iā€™m actually getting dressed šŸ˜€

KITCHEN + DINING

HAVERFORD MANOR: THE DINING ROOM

 

We had many discussions over this space with our architect during the floor plan stages. While he would have preferred to change the footprint to fit the stairs somewhere else to make the entryway a formal dining area, we knew it wasn’t in the budget and we didn’t want to spend that much money. And I knew that we could get a large enough dining space to fit a large table and sitting area, but it wouldn’t give you that formal feel that some people like.

This is where the great debate begins: formal dining rooms, or kitchen nooks?

 

 

Now this isn’t exactly a ‘nook’ in my opinion. The table pictured above is extended to 6 ft with room to spare so you could easily fit an 8-person table in here. But, it isn’t a separate dining space and is instead, right off the kitchen so not exactly a formal dining room either. I guess we built a sort of hybrid at Haverford Manor. We have had formal dining rooms in both of our homes that we have lived in, and you want to know how many times we used both of them? Less than 10 times in 8 years. Now, I understand the appeal if you have family visit a lot or if you host a lot, but us? I’d love a ‘nook’ area.

 

I wanted this space to be an extension of the living room, and started gathering pieces over a year before this photo was taken. But, there were moments I panicked and didn’t think it would work out. The hard part about flipping is that I’m not exactly styling and furnishing the house in the ideal way that I’d like to, or would with a client. I have to get pieces that I can resell or store easily, or maybe even borrow a few pieces from my own house.

 

CHAIRS: OAK NASHVILLE Ā | Ā TABLE: FB MARKETPLACE Ā | Ā PEDESTAL: CHAIRISH Ā | Ā VASE: GASLAMP TOO Ā | Ā SETTEE: FB MARKETPLACE Ā | Ā LIGHT: VISUAL COMFORT & CO. Ā | Ā ARTWORK: CUSTOM FRAMED PIECE BY HANNAH WINTERS

 

How would you feel if I told you almost every single pieces seen here was vintage, or repurposed? Aside from the light fixture and framed artwork, I got everything else either from a local vintage store, or revamped from Facebook Marketplace. The vase in particular was a last minute find from Gaslamp Too that I was thrilled (and relieved) to have to complete the space. Is this setup everyone’s cup of tea? Probably not, but I wanted it to tell a story and have some character as well as show prospective buyers what a space like this could do!

 

In the last year or so pedestals have come into style as home accessories again, and there are some beautiful ones out there. I love it as an option to fill an empty corner or to bring in some height. This is just a standard white one you might have found in an art studio in the 90’s, but I’m thinking about doing a DIY project soon to make it look a little more like a natural material like what is so popular today. You’ll see burl, travertine, or maybe a natural wood that would be beautiful to add texture to a space. In this room with the trim and chairs, I went with plain white as not to add too many elements.

SHOP PEDESTALS

 

And don’t get me started on this settee, which I currently have in my own home now! I actually had no intention for this when I first bought it off of FB Marketplace, but it was in amaaaaaazing shape and only $150… a six foot couch! So I got it reupholstered and now she belongs in a beautiful English sitting room. Or maybe a setup like thisĀ in a guest suite one day. And while I’m currently designing a proper kitchen nook, you unfortunately won’t be able to see the finished product for another year or so. So in the meantime here are some pieces I found to fancy up your own eating area, whether it be a formal dining room for hosting holidays, or a small area for you and your partner to have coffee in the morning. I love both!

 

 

DECOR

ADD TO CART: LUXURY OUTDOOR

 

Nashville has had touches of Spring (and even Summer) the last month and it has me so excited for patio season. That time of year when you want to open the windows and doors and let the smell of fresh air into your house, when you get to sit outside and bask in the sun after hibernating for months. It’s the best!

And ever since we moved into our home here in Nashville I have come to appreciate the important of a well styled porch or patio. And not just that it looks good, which is obviously of utmost importance, but that it is also functional and can withstand the elements. For us, those elements tend to be heat and sun, as our porch and patio get direct sunlight until about 3-4:00 in the afternoon. So I knew we needed something that wouldn’t get hot to the touch, that it came with covers, and a dining table that had an umbrella spot. My husband wasn’t as keen on that last part but, shocker, it’s been the most essential part to that dining area.

So before you pull the trigger on any furniture, make sure you think about the elements, the use and the flow you want for your porch or patio.

 

CHAIR Ā | Ā SECTIONAL Ā | Ā COFFEE TABLE Ā | Ā PILLOWS Ā | Ā VASE

 

If you have a fireplace, centering the furniture around that area is a good place to start. Whether it’s a fire pit or a built-in fireplace, you can find a great seating arrangement to enjoy your company and the fire on a chilly Spring evening. But I’ve included some great fire pits below if you’re not of a mind to build a structure and want to be able to move it in and out as well. That’s what we did at our home in Minneapolis where we had a small 10 x 10 sitting area but wanted to enjoy a fire occasionally.

But the one thing that I will always preach when it comes to making your porch and patio feel like an extension of your home is to focus on the finishing touches. I’m talking the color of the cushions, the pillows, and even adding a side table with planters or lanterns for an added touch. You put so much work and money into the interior of your home, you don’t want the style to go downhill the second you step outside! So let that style flow out to your patio with some of the great finds below.

 

 

WEEKLY EDIT

The Weekly Edit II

 

Iā€™m still in a little bit of shock.

12 hours after Haverford Manor was officially listed on MLS, we got an offer. A great offer. And less than 24 hours later, we were under contract. And now that we are officially closed I can take a sigh of relief, for so many reasons. There was quite a bit of drama during the last 30 days and to be honest I was 90% sure that it was going to go back on the market. Luckily we worked through it and I have a bomb realtor, and the papers have been signed!

 

 

You guys, this was my first baby! And I took care of her and raised her for 18 long months to get her to the point where I set her free, but it is so bittersweet. I love this house and the journey that Iā€™ve been on with it and the lessons that it has taught me, so seeing it empty again and walking out for the last time was more difficult than I thought it would be. Sure Iā€™m thrilled (and a little proud) to know that this project has come to a successful end, but itā€™s hard not to become emotionally attached to something like this.

Iā€™ve been so caught up in producing the final imagery and videography that sometimes I have to go back and look at the old images of the house to remember how far we have come. But Iā€™ve been trying to provide as much progress content on social throughout the reveals as possible, so we can go on that journey together.

Last week we revealed a whole lot of bts footage of the progress of this area. The mudroom + drop zone + powder room area is one of my favorite parts of the house and full of functional goodies.But to be honest I think Iā€™m more excited about whatā€™s to comeā€¦ the kitchen reveal!!

 

 

I know I know, itā€™s already out on the portfolio but there is something special about seeing it come to life in video. Weā€™ll have the full video and then a progression video as well which reminds me just how far we came with this house. But Iā€™m going to share a few of my favorite parts of the kitchen

1. I hounded the team to make sure that the sink + oven/range were centered on the fireplace. My dream was to have someone standing at the sink washing the dishes and being able to enjoy the fire at the same time.

2. I love a ledge in a kitchen, and I chose to blend this into the line of the cabinetry and incorporated in the slab backsplash.

3. I also love a double knob drawer front šŸ™‚

But letā€™s all be honest about what weā€™re really excited aboutā€¦ Spring!! Itā€™s been feeling so nice here and really starting to warm up and I am here for it. We live on our patio when itā€™s nice out so hopefully weā€™ll get a chance to power wash and clean her up really well so we can enjoy the seasons outside. And speaking of patioā€™sā€¦

 

HAVERFORD MANORā€™S PATIO STYLED WITH STOREHOUSE NO.9

 

Another part of Haverford Manor that I absolutely love! And it was actually a late add to the construction plans. I love how it flows within the floor plan as well. Enjoy the fireplace in your living room, then step through these French doors to enjoy your outdoor fireplace and patio area. I mean, I actually hope the buyers invite me over some time. As I was staging this area in January I was dreaming of putting planters out and fresh plants on our patio. So, needless to say I have been on the hunt for good additions to our outdoor area. Here are a few

 

 

And please, please can we have a moment for dress season. I have three or four that I wear aaalll the time that I cannot wait to dust off. Thereā€™s something about having a single piece of clothing to choose from and pairing it with a cozy sweater? Nothing gets better than that. Iā€™ve been very particular and selective about buying any new clothes so if I do add another dress to my closet this season youā€™ll know itā€™s because I plan on wearing it for years to come. Here are a few finds that caught my eye so far.

 

WEEKLY EDIT

The Weekly Edit I

Itā€™s been quite a few weeks! I knew that it was going to be busy, and overwhelming but I think I underestimated all of it.

The Open House for Haverford Manor was amazing. To be honest, I had thoughts several times that week that nobody would show up, but so many people did and showed their support and I was so pleased with the evening. It was so much fun showing people the project that I had been working on for the last 18 months, but even more exciting was sharing the reveal on social! I felt at times like the progress was moving at a snailā€™s pace but being able to share the portfolio and finished videoā€™s calmed all of those frustrations.

This past week we shared the before + after of the entryway which looks very different! Adding the stairs, and a two-story ceiling height, the former formal sitting room is a grand entrance.

 

 

I also started to share what we did with their old second sitting room. What we think this was their old single car garage that they closed in years ago and turned into a laundry closet, powder room and sitting area. However, they didnā€™t do anything to the floors so it wasnā€™t exactly the homiest of rooms. So we leveled this room with the rest of the first floor, and built a drop-zone, mudroom and powder room as well as access to the pantry and kitchen as well as the entryway. And to be honest, I think that this is one of my favorite areas of the house!

The drop zone is so insanely functional and I have to say Iā€™m pretty jealous. To have a spot right at the back door to drop your keys, as well as an easy and quick flow to the pantry to drop off your groceries from the garage? A dream! Hereā€™s a sneak peak at some of the reveals that will come this week.

 

THE BEFORE

 

AFTER

 

And the reveals are just going to keep on coming! I have loads more before + after stuff planned for social media along with videos and details of the house.

Iā€™m also beyond ready for Spring and weā€™ve had a few previews of warmer weather here in Nashville, so Iā€™m starting to think about shifting my wardrobe. Here are a few finds that Iā€™ve added to my wardrobe as well as staples that I wear season after season.

 

 

So whatā€™s next? The full reveal of the mudroom as well as starting to get a look at the kitchen! Everyoneā€™s favorite. Donā€™t miss those reveals on Instagram but also exclusive info in the newsletter. There is still so much to share about Haverford Manor

HOLIDAY

ADD TO CART: THE HOLIDAY SHOP

PROJECTS

HAVERFORD MANOR: AN UPDATE II

 

Well, this took a lot longer than anticipated…

I’m not gonna lie these last 3-4 months of the process has been frustrating. We hit delays with windows, and then more delays with windows which put everything on the interior on hold so there wasn’t a whole lot to update you on. But after two months of ‘we aren’t sure when your windows are coming in’ we finally got them and finished installing them. And that means that we could get going on the interior: hvac, electrical, mechanical and inspections.

Yup, all the fun stuff :-/

 

 

Waiting for the windows didnā€™t just put a delay on the interior but the exterior as well. We couldnā€™t apply the brick until the windows were in, but it didnā€™t take long to go up which led to an immediate sigh of relief! Same with the drywall and hardwood floors. Luckily both of these groups started early and worked quickly so the progress started to feel real and exciting.

 

Now, for some changes to the plans.

Originally we hadn’t planned on a porch or patio of any kind merely because of cost. However, after we saw the way the neighborhood was improving and the recent comps in the neighborhood I decided we should have one. So, we extended the living room roof line and voila! Our covered porch. With a fireplace and vaulted ceilings I think this is going to be a major selling point! I know we use ours so so much and I think that this space is going to be beautiful.

Another change to the was adding a butlerā€™s pantry. Instead of having a (too) big mudroom, we decided to take up some of that space with a powder room and instead put a butlerā€™s pantry in the place where the powder room was before. So now there is a whole area for storage and then the second half that has a wall oven/microwave combo and more upper and lower cabinets as well! So much storage.

 

 

This past week the cabinets went in, and while weā€™ve had more scheduling issues with that, a majority of them are in and Iā€™m really starting to feel the designs come to life. The next big step here would be countertops, which have been selected and templated and we expect install the week after Thanksgivingā€¦ hopefully! Because then the real fun begins; trim outs for faucets, and other hardware that I have been laboring over for months. Iā€™m so excited to see all of those to go in, in particular the light fixtures! Hopefully all of that will start sooner rather than later.

 

From now until the big reveal Iā€™ll be sharing all of the updates and teases on social media, but cannot wait for the big reveal on my portfolio in mid January. To stay up to date on everything as well as the date of the reveal, sign up for the newsletter below! In the meantime, take a look at my social channels for an inside look at everything going on at Haverford Manor

HOLIDAY

OUR THANKSGIVING TABLE

 

Weā€™re hosting Thanksgiving this year and it will be the first time my nephews come to Nashville! So the pressure is on to plan a fun holiday weekend but also to have a top notch Thanksgiving dinner. So Iā€™d be lying if I said I hadnā€™t been thinking about this table decor for a while now.

 

 

Just like everything that I look to buy for my home, I donā€™t ever want to buy anything that I canā€™t use more than once. So I stuck with low key neutrals and a touch of glam with these CB2 votives. Itā€™s the perfect touch to add some light as well as a touch of decor for the holiday. I went back and forth between tall candlesticks but I think the short ones are easy to use for other events and the tall candlesticks can be hard to see the little kiddos across the table.

Now for the centerpiece. I have to admit that Iā€˜m not very good with floral arrangements. I had thought of doing a greenery arrangement in this compote that I have but I didnā€™t think I was up for the challenge. SoĀ I went with a garland as a centerpiece because that felt like a great seasonal touch and an easy get from the local nursery or to use your holiday garland before you hang it up. I still wanted height in the center though so I used my trusty votive from Target that I have used for just about everything plus a large pillar candle. Candlelight is a great and easy way to add decor without too much ā€œstuffā€, and it just makes it feel so cozy!

 

 

I found these little place card holders that I just couldnā€™t resist! I think the texture adds a nice touch to the whole table so it isnā€™t too flat. They have them pictured with Polaroids of the person instead of a written name which I think is a great idea! Could give a kiddo an activity during the day to collect everyoneā€™s picture and adds an even more personal touch. And plus, theyā€™re just so cute!

I love a touch of brass or gold during the holidays and think that the table is the perfect place to do it. Itā€™s so much warmer than silver and will instantly make your table feel more glamorous. I found these napkins rings from H&M that wonā€™t break the bank and would be super easy to use for another event as well. I love the festive ones with bells or greenery, but that feels too holiday specific. I wanted ones that I could use all year round and think that these work perfectly.

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday, and if youā€™re hosting Ā and in need of a few more items for your table, check out some of the links below to put together your own similar table setting.

 

 

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