HAVERFORD MANOR: THE PLANS

I love being able to write these posts because that means that things are really happening! If you missed the last post it talked about our initial plans as well as all of the “before” images of the house. But now, I get to talk about what we’re going to do with it!

AS-BUILT FLOOR PLAN DONE BY W. MICHAEL DAVIS ARCHITECTS

Getting the plans done took longer than expected, but after tinkering with them for a few months we have them done and I really think that they’re perfect. We have maximized the space in the whole house to be able to fit 4 bedrooms upstairs, one downstairs and a home office. On top of that we were able to include a huge primary bathroom, walk-in closet as well as an upstairs laundry and seasonal storage closet.

It took a minute to accommodate the stairs and two-story entryway height, but by maneuvering the Jack + Jill and taking a little bit out of the rec room above the garage we were able to make this home a 4,600 square foot, 5 BR 4.5 BTH home!

HAVERFORD MANOR NEW FLOOR PLANS

Once these were done and we started to work on the permits we got to work on the interior demo. There was tons to do because everything had to come out to get the house ready to take off the roof and start the footings for the new 2-car garage. The upside of the way we designed our plans is that there is only one wall that has to be moved. There are several being taken out, and some even added to a certain space, but our I think our efforts to minimally mess with the original floor plan paid off.

The part that I learned the most from when discussing the plans was the elevation. My interests and skills start with the interior so talking about the roof and gables and dormers was a whole new aspect to this that I got so excited about. And the first thing that I did was think about the effect the front elevation would have when you drive up to the house, not only for a prospective buyer but also for the neighborhood. We could have done a 1 1/2 story elevation, but I felt that since we are over doubling the size of this house and there are so many large new constructions on the same street that we needed to maximize the updates. So we took it to a full two stories and included dormers for aesthetic. We’r keeping the original brick and taking new brick up to the second floor of the original “square” of the house. Board and batten is a popular option for exteriors that is a little more modern than traditional siding. Our house actually has board and batten and I like how it blends with the traditional (and textured) brick.

While we were waiting on the permits I really dove into the design and aesthetic of the interior. I had a general idea from the inspiration boards that I had gathered for each room over the months but it is a whole other ballgame to get into the minutia of each design: every cabinet knob, base trim, doorknobs and hinges. But so far it is coming together even better than I had imaged… only because it’s real 😀

I started with the mudroom because I absolutely love these spaces, and this is the first room that someone would see when they come home and enter through the garage. Now, when we added the 2-car garage we needed to bring the floor of the new mudroom up to be level with the rest of the house, which means stairs. To accomplish that we put a storage closet in the garage, and added a drop-zone next to the stairs so it wasn’t a waste of a wall or just an empty hallway. Now when someone comes home the first thing they can do is drop their keys and wallet/sunglasses right by the back door. Now, I know this space seems like not much and is super small, but it’s vignettes like this that make me excited as a designer. Taking what would have been a boring hallway into an opportunity for something beautiful and efficient.

I want it to flow well with the mudroom and the hallway so I worked on the concepts together. I’ve been dying to lay brick in a herringbone pattern and this mudroom was the perfect spot! But to be honest, I think this whole mudroom is a dream. The amount of space, the storage, the efficiency, the details! Oh my! A few things I was adamant about wanting to include:

tall storage (whether that be for vacuums, mops, ironing boards, tall coats, whatever! We don’t have any of that near our back door and it is beyond infuriating.
A charging drawer
Efficient “locker space”: a place for your everyday coat, your bag, several pairs of shoes you alternate. Things like that.

Lately I’ve also really started to hone in on the living room and kitchen which is crazy exciting! We all know that the kitchen is the center of the living area these days so I cannot wait to bring my vision to life and create what I think will be a beautiful new space. I’ll put more of those updates in the next post, but don’t miss out on any demo pictures or videos that I’m posting on social. Between those posts and the newsletter (scroll to the bottom of the page to sign up) there are tons of way to get all the dish on Haverford Manor!

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DECOR

1.30.22

A GUIDE: MIXING BURL INTO YOUR HOME DECOR

It’s a love-hate relationship for people; either that or an “I-have-no-idea-what-that-is” relationship when it comes to Burl. To be honest I knew I had seen it before, but didn’t know what it actually was until a few years ago. Now, I’m obsessed. What I love most about it is that burl is actually a deformity in wood. Don’t you love that? A deformity that makes something so beautiful and sought after, that’s a life lesson right there. It comes in different patterns and finishes of course but is a beautiful way to make a piece of furniture or accent feel a little more glamorous. But I do understand that it might not be some people’s cup of tea. It might be a little busy, or look a little too glam or maybe they like it but just don’t know how to incorporate it into their house without it being too much?

Because of the pattern, larger pieces like tables, etc. can be overwhelming. It will immediately be the focal piece of that room so unless you’re ready for that, I would find some smaller ways to incorporate this wood into your home. And there are tons of ways to do that! I have a few small pieces like this box throughout the house, but I also have these burl frames in our hallway nooks. They are a perfect way to add a pop of style without distracting from any other elements in the space.

Finding other cool pieces like burl boxes or even burl trays for your shelves, or maybe your coffee tables is another great way to include it in your home. That way you can move it around as it suits your taste or the season. I got his box on a trip to Minnesota and I love the light finish and the pattern because it makes it such an interesting piece. These items can easily stand alone as a decorative object because of the material! It doesn’t need much else to accompany it because it’s already so decorative by itself.

This table 😀 We wanted this to be the focal point of our entryway because, well, that’s the whole point! After looking and looking and looking, and looking some more I found this style and absolutely loved the burl finish as well as the style. It’s the right size that it doesn’t dominate the point of view, so when you’re in my study or dining room or even in the living room (where you can still see the table from different angles) it doesn’t distract or clash with anything else. It’s a small enough piece in a large enough space that it can handle its independence as well as blend in with the other rooms. While this table is custom, here are a few others that are beautiful accent pieces.

Either way, I love this material and know that it is an incredibly long living material in small doses. Meaning, you aren’t going to be hopping on a trend and immediately regret your decision. Burl has been around for a while and will make its way back and forth again and again. But adding it in small doses to your home is a great way to add some eclectic style to your home. I mean, just look at it!

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DECOR

1.19.22

HOME TRENDS YOU’LL SEE IN 2022

While I’m not a proponent for jumping on trends, especially in the home, I still think that it’s important to know what you’ll be seeing popping up in the coming year. Classic and timeless style had to come from somewhere, and who knows, there might be a trend in 2022 that you love so much that you’ll want to keep in your house for years to come. And one good thing to come from this quarantine situation is an appreciation and emphasis on your home, and that won’t be dwindling any time soon.

Color + Patterns

While people may have been conservative with colors and patterns in the past, all of this time at home has made people want to bring more vibrance into their home. While people are starting to use really bold colors in their homes, mini textile prints like stripes plaids and checks are all making more appearances than usual. I know that I personally am loving everything plaid and striped right now!

A way to easily incorporate this trend is to use textiles like pillows, throws and rugs, or maybe even paint a wall. If you’re not ready to jump on the bandwagon with a bold piece of furniture or wallpaper that is more of an investment, that’s fine. The pillows and throws are an inexpensive way for your home to feel up to date and not break the bank.

Mixing + Matching Materials

No more matchy matchy. Mixing materials will bring a warmth and texture to a space while also creating dimension. It won’t come up flat because each texture will pop individually, leaving you a fun, warm and character driven space. You don’t even have to do this to an extreme to get that feel, but avoiding the same colors and finishes across the board is a good start.

WFH

These rooms are getting more love than ever before. And that’s not going to stop any time soon. People need to accommodate their Zoom meetings as well as feel good about their work-from-home space. They want it to feel inviting so they feel better about sitting down to their desk every day, and maybe even inspired!

A plus of this need in people’s homes is that it is forcing people to get creative. Corners of their home that weren’t meant to be functional or used are getting huge makeovers and as a designer I love that so much. Built in cabinets are an amazing way to easily accomplish a sophisticated WFH space. By decorating the open shelves you can garners some inspiration and warmth and then the lower cabinets are great for storage.

Antiques

This is something I am absolutely here for!! I’ll be preaching this for years to come but antiques don’t get the credit they deserve in mainstream design. It is such an amazing way to add character as well as a unique design to your room that no one else can get because they can’t go to the retailer and get the same thing. Plus? There are no crazy lead times 😀 when you go to the antique store around the corner you might find some amazing pieces that you’d otherwise have to have made custom and wait 20 weeks for.

There are several antique shops around Nashville that I go to weekly because they have something new almost every day. But if you’re not up for scouring the shops in your area, Chairish and 1st Dibs are great online shops for these things. I’ve even found some local antique shops Nashville on there and have added to my field trips 🙂

Curves

Whether that be in architectural details or in furniture, these pieces can add an instant pop of character to a room with their shape.

Other trends that I’ve seen pop up are greens, warm neutrals, and display pedestals, elevated outdoor spaces and kitchens and nature-inspired designs. I absolutely love all of these ideas and cannot wait to see how they translate in the year to come.

Inspiration: Veranda, Brick, Decorilla, Vogue, Studio McGee

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PROJECTS

12.31.21

WELCOME TO HAVERFORD MANOR

My first flip! I cannot begin to tell you how excited and nervous I was at just the idea of doing a flip! I mean, this is the dream, right? Free rein of design, a whole house to play with? And Chip and Joanna Gaines make it look so dang fun 😀

And yes, it’s obviously a ton of work too.

Originally built in the 50’s this guy was in need of some serious love. I don’t think it has been updated at all since it was built except for the living room which looked like it was an addition, as well as the weird laundry/sitting room that looked to have been the old garage. So, while they did increase the square footage, let’s just say we had some other improvements in mind.

The biggest change we have planned? Adding a whole floor! That’s right, we are taking this puppy vertical. We’ll be putting the primary bedroom and three other bedrooms upstairs along with a MUCH improved primary bathroom + closet. Jon literally could not believe his eyes when he saw this bathroom. Not only could he not even fit into the shower, but the overall functionality and layout, woof. That’s not even mentioning the pink plastic shower.

The biggest item we had to figure out was where to put the stairs and how to maximize the kitchen. There were a few issues with the location of the Mudroom and its proximity to the kitchen because I didn’t want that entrance to interrupt the kitchen or to lose counter/cabinet space to that door. So, we are adding a hallway from the back door that will have access through a pocket door to a HUGE pantry. So you’ll be able to easily drop off your groceries and access the kitchen if you’d like to, but also be able to walk through the hallway to the front of the house as well. We’re also going to be making the powder room way more glamorous than the scary one they had in their “garage”.

The only downside to the plan we have right now is that we are not able to provide a formal sitting room and/or dining room. Now, personally? I never used either of those rooms when we had them. And most people don’t want a formal dining room now days. I totally get it! But I would have loved to have been able to offer the option of that. Instead we are making the entrance the absolute best that it can be. And to be honest? Jon is already scared that we are going to move into this house because it is going to have an awesome kitchen nook 😂.

A benefit to adding a second floor is that it is no problem to raise the ceiling heights as well! So we’re aiming for 9’ all around the first floor and I’m hoping to find a way to vault the living room. I’m hoping we can afford the roof pitch to be able to include some dormers as well! I know there are going to be so many things that I’m going to have to give up and I am fully prepared for the final project to look VERY different from what I have in my head, but as long as I can manage those expectations and stay within budget? I’ll be a happy girl, and this will (hopefully) be a beautiful home!

I’m so excited to share more of the plans with you as they become a reality!

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DECOR

11.7.21

HOLIDAY HOME TOUR

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year”, and my house is feeling it for sure. I love decorating for the holiday season but have only really ever been able to fully go for it a few times. Now that we have all of our decorations in one spot, we know we’re not moving and all that fun jazz, let’s do the darn thing! Garlands, candles, wreaths, oh my! My favorite spots to work with are stair railings, fireplace mantels and front porches. These are really easy spots to be able to add a little kick of holiday cheer. And our fireplace in our new place is ssssoooo much better than our old house so I knew I had to do right by her. But first? The ribbon…

If you think that ribbon makes things too frilly or girly, I have three words for you: frayed, vintage, velvet. My goodness there is some gorgeous finds out there but the kind I’m using this year I think might be my favorite. I went with what is labeled as “brown” but to be honest it’s more of a beautiful rust color. I thought it would pair well with the new ornaments I got from Brooke & Lou that oooohhh my goodness you’re gonna die when you see them! I knew they were large, but these are the largest Christmas balls I’ve ever seen 😀 Right, back to the ribbon… and you can use it anywhere and you don’t have to tie it into bows if you don’t want to. It adds more texture and color without any frilliness (can you believe that’s actually a word?). It’s also a great way to decoratively hang your wreaths inside your house. If you don’t like command hooks or not sure how to hang them, I think that this is a great way to do it because it also adds a pop of color and ties the decor/rooms together.

I have to say, our mantel is my favorite. Our fireplace as a whole is kind of amazing and now that we have some decor around it and get to use it with the colder temps? Just makes me love it that much more. I didn’t want to do much with any height on the mantel because of the TV as well as the speaker, which, is unfortunately used a lot :-/, but thought that by adding some candlesticks to the opposite side of the stockings that would be a good contrast. I mixed in some standard pillar candles to give it a little more substance. The log holder is here all the time, but it fits perfectly with holiday decor. There are some fun festive finds that you could get to be creative if you’d rather. But I like the classic look of this one to anchor the space.

If you want to make sure your mantel garland is full, double up! I used the 9 foot and the 6 foot together. The 9 foot provided length so that I could drape it over the side, and after I layered it with the 6 foot and fluffed the greenery a bit, it was perfect. Fake garlands can be tough because most of the time they aren’t super full. Really good ones can be, but then they’re like $200 or more. I thought that these were affordable enough and I liked the cypress so thought that doubling up would do. And don’t get discouraged when you first lay out your garland! It’s going to take fluffing and playing with. And even when you think you’re done and it settles, you’ll have to fluff some more.

Now for the front porch! We haven’t gone all out yet since it is still only November, but added the slightest little changes to make it feel al little more festive. The best and easiest way to make a change? The bottom layer outdoor rug. I love this one because it has a subtle holiday vibe to it. I have used these planters all year long and was able to pop these outdoor trees from Target right into it! The coal bin is an old style from McGee & Co but I t think it adds a little charm, especially with the bundle of logs in it! Can’t beat it. I think the key to any good front porch is finding items that you can use several seasons throughout the year like this vintage crock and the planter. there isn’t anything particularly trendy or overdone about this set up and I think will work all November long! Might get a little more festive as the weeks go on, but for now I think understated is the way to go.

Check out the entire Holiday Shop to see tons more holiday decorations to add that finishing touch to your home. Still to come at our house? Putting the tree up and using our new tree skirt as well as putting up these wreaths in our kitchen. One for each 😀 and maybe even adding some garland to the beams outside. Stay tuned!

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DECOR

10.24.21

OUR ENTRYWAY + ENTRY TABLES

We’ve never really had a foyer before, so this is a new challenge for me. And I think one thing that I’ve learned while moving into this house it is that we are not “fancy” people. While our home has nice things and we want it to look nice, the “glamorous” items and style isn’t really for us. With that, the foyer was an interesting space because we didn’t want it to feel too fancy but also wanted to use the space and make it a nice entrance for those coming into our home.

Continue with the fancy conversation, we immediately switched out the pendant. It was a little too glam for us and the rest of the house. Plus we found that there was a very complimentary pendant to those we have in our kitchen so to tie those spaces together, we went with that one.

The former owners had two console tables set up on either side of the opening to the living room, which was a good idea and I had even considered two antique Demilune tables on either side but then I reconsidered. There is just so much character and detail in the trim and millwork that I didn’t want to cover that up! Plus it would have left so much empty space in this very long zone, so we went with a pedestal table.

Only select spaces can fit a pedestal table in an entryway, while most are more suited to a console. Jon was initially hesitant because he thought it would inhibit the flow of traffic, but even I don’t get that many Amazon packages 😉 We got the right size to not get in the way of the door, and because the space is large enough it is easy to walk around when needing to. The upside is that this isn’t a heavily trafficked pattern, meaning walking into the office from the dining room and vice versa isn’t a common path we take. So we weren’t worried too much about it getting in the way.

Something to think about in any room is the focal point. Is there one in the architecture, or do you need to create one with your selections? That’s what we did by putting this piece front and center at the front door. It accentuates the pendant and gives the eye direction when coming or looking into the front door.

This piece was custom, which I don’t do often but needed to for the size. Any entry table needs to be a tad taller than a traditional side table so it was difficult finding one that was high enough but not too wide. I started looking at small dining tables and bistro tables, but nothing fit the right dimensions or the look that we wanted. So I sourced this and am so happy that I did.

If you’re on the lookout for some entry tables, here are a few finds that I discovered on my search.

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DECOR

10.15.21

OUR BOOKSHELVES

We have tons of shelves in our living room, like, tons! Which is great and so much fun but is also a design challenge. A few bookshelves are great, but have a bunch and you have to find a good balance. I was looking back at old pictures I took of when the previous owners lived there to see if I liked how they styled it. They had too many objects; meaning vases, jars, and boxes. That’s kind of all that was on display. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good vase and adore decorative boxes, but when that’s all you have on your shelves it can look more like storage than intentionally decorative.

I used tons of books to break of the monotony of objects as well as to lighten up the space. The color is a lighter version of urbane bronze so it’s pretty dark already. So I used old paperback books, turned them around, and did three shelves allllll books. I love how it turned out, and I loved that I got to put my old reads to good use! This is a much simpler way to display books, you don’t have to worry about titles, or colors of the binding, and the variation of paper colors gives nice dimension. It’s subtle, but enough.

Now, this took me months, and I’m still tweaking. Every time my husband catches me looking at the shelves he tries to avert my eyes because he knows that I am thinking of was to improve/change them. And you know what? I’m sure even when I absolutely love them I’ll find antique favorites that I’ll want to incorporate which is such a fun way to subtly change your room.

A shelf styling trick? The triangle method. Put similar items at each point of a triangle, so if you have three white jars? Spread them out a bit at those three points. It might take some moving around a bit and trying things out but it helps bring balance to the shelves without being monotonous.

I stuck with neutrals because we had so many shelves. I didn’t want to try and include pops of color because to do that consistently would be pretty tough with this many shelves. Plus, I’m just a sucker for neutrals anyway 😀 I also spread out the different finishes. There aren’t a lot, but I have a few pops of brass with the bookends and objects, and then those vintage trophies that I love so much. But spreading those out helps to keep anything from clumping up too much. But by adding finishes like that those can serve as your pops of color.

But one of my favorite parts about these shelves is how many unique items there are! I have been collecting goodies from antique shops since last Spring and I think it really paid off. That’s a great way to get a unique and chic look going in your home that no one can truly replicate because you can’t find these items from your regular retailers. As long as you know what your overall look and theme is you can hone in on your search. Things will come together over time and you will be able to mix in other staples like books and vases to keep it from feeling too “old”.

SOME OTHER GREAT FINDS

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OUR HOME

10.3.21

OUR FALL FRONT PORCH

I’ve grown to love styling my front porch. Even at our old place where no one could really see it, I loved the outdoor accessories and styling that you could do with a few square feet. And don’t even get me started on the holidays and seasonal decor. So exciting!

Our front porch in Nashville is on full display for the neighborhood so I really wanted to step up my game. I did have to upgrade our doormat and outdoor rug which we had out for a few years in Minnesota. They are linked below and while they are a little pricier than some, they really hold up and are amazing quality! Keep in mind, we left them both out during the summer and only took them out during the worst winter months so, I think lasting a few years is pretty good! I kept the doormat the same, but decided to change up the rug layered underneath.

I wrote a post about layering rugs a while back, and if you scroll to the bottom it shows a graphic of how to and not to layer outdoor rugs. I’ve seen all kind of no-no’s out there, so check that out there and make sure you aren’t one of them! The general rule of thumb is to stick with a 3×5 outdoor rug and your doormat to be about 2×3. Some of the less expensive ones will likely be smaller so make sure to try and get the larger ones if you have room for it.

DOORMATS

OUTDOOR LAYERING RUGS

You can’t forget the planters!! Even if you don’t want to get a planter and just get a basket to plop a plant down into, the effect I believe of having live plants styled at your front door will immediately raise your grade 😀 I’ve had these rattan planters for years and love the basket-like feel to them as well as the neutral color that is great to pair with a stone planter. I found mine from a local garden center, but love the neutral look because it can go with any shade of pumpkin :-D.

Don’t have room for two planters? No big deal! You could get one large and one small, put them on either side and pair with some lanterns at varying sizes as well. Smaller planters are also great if you have steps. You can intersperse them with pumpkins in the Fall or lanterns throughout the rest of the year. Tons of options!

PLANTERS

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OUR HOME

8.23.21

WHAT’S IN MY CART

I’ve been shopping for my own home a lot as we have been getting ready to move into our new place. And since we’ve had all Summer to really think about things and sort through all of the options, I have been able to find some gems and currently have them in my cart and ready to pull the trigger to get them in the house.

Let’s check them out!

The Miraya Vase

We have tons and tons of open shelving in our living room. Like an entire wall of them so I have been on the hunt for shelving decor from day 1. Because it’s in our living room and the shelves are a dark color, I’d like to get contrasting decor to lighten it up as well as simplify the look. I don’t want too many colors or items so things like this are perfect!

You Are Here Artwork

Artwork can be really tricky and I am trying to find the right blend of unique/vintage and not letting the house feel too old. I absolutely love this piece to put in my study! I am thinking of putting it front and center in the open shelving but might have to rework that idea once we get in. The message is just the best though! A good reminder everyday.

3′ x 5′ Plaid Outdoor Rug

I love this rug to layer under your doormat outside for the Fall. It is plaid without being overtly plaid (doesn’t scream lumberjack) and is a great neutral color so odds are whatever material your front porch, or color your house, it will go well!

Theresia Side Table

If you have the space for a nice sized side table, I say go for it! We’ve never really been able to have one because of the layout of our living rooms. And to be honest I’ve always kind of overlooked them. But I think that missing side tables can make a room feel unfinished. So I’m really excited to get more pieces into our living room to make sure that this one will in fact work!

Montford Floor Lamp

I love these little classic library lamps. I think that they are the perfect solution to when you want a floor lamp but are short on space and don’t want a big looming lamp shade in your face. I am considering getting two to put on either side of a little settee in the study!

OTHER ITEMS I HAVE MY EYE ON

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OUTDOOR

3.27.21

OUTDOOR + PATIO FURNITURE

This is my favorite time of year! Well, pretty much any time that I can sit outside or do things outside = my favorite time of year! And I will find any excuse to get outside too, just ask my husband. I love yard work merely because I get to be outside. I will sit on our patio with my coffee and my book first thing in the morning just to be able to be outside for a few hours before it gets too hot in the summer. And last year in particular it was needed. To be able to have a space other than a home office or our living room to spend some time, well, it made the quarantine less constricting.

While I think that people’s home improvement projects will remain focused on home offices, gyms, and other functional areas, I think people might be looking at their yards a ton this Summer too! A lot of people might have already done a bunch of interior projects, so with outdoor entertaining becoming more and more possible by the minute, those beautiful patio set-ups are looking a lot more appealing.

I’m personally in the market for a new lounge set up as well as a dining set up! So I’ve been on the hunt for a bit and found some absolute beautiful combinations. I personally love the mix of light textiles and vibrant materials: like a teak dining table or woven light pendants. I also think that outdoor dining doesn’t have to be boring! If you think of mesh dining chairs when you hear “outdoor dining”, I’m here to help cure you of that. There is no reason that this space can’t be just as chic, elegant and inviting as your indoor dining room.

This is a design concept I put together that I just love. I’m a sucker for natural light pendants, and think that if you have the ability to do so, adding stylish lighting to your outdoor space will elevate it immediately!

I know what you’re thinking: upholstered chairs are bold and/or just silly to put outside! Not when they’re slipcovered!! If you are doing any chair in a dining area I URGE you to make it slipcovered. Even inside! Even if it’s a performance fabric, to have the ability to remove it from the chair and wash it is huge! Now you have the ability to keep it looking clean and new as well as having a softer look to your dining space. This is also a great opportunity to add in style when you have two different kind of chairs; one at the head of the table and another along the sides. You’re going to want them to be complimentary, but just different enough that they can stand out from each other. Like in the concept above, the fabric on the woven side chair’s cushions could be the same fabric as the upholstered chairs. Or just making them the same color and you’re golden.

Here are some other great outdoor furniture and decor finds that will make your outdoor space, no matter how big or small, seem like an oasis.