About a year or so ago, my mom and her fiancé Nick started the process of designing and building their dream home on a huge acreage property. After wanting something a bit more customized to their wants & needs, they decided to enlist the help of Ryan and myself instead of going with a builder. Now, home building is something very foreign to us but we jumped at the chance to learn the process and to help our loved ones out! Ryan project managed and I helped out with the overall home design and product selection. It was definitely a long road with some challenges that raised stress levels but after seeing it all come together, it was worth every second of effort! I’m so excited to share different sections of the home with all of you, starting with the main floor’s kitchen and living room. The front entry looks incredible with a show stopping chandelier that draws the eye up the door to the large, bright windows. I also love that we kept furniture to a minimum in this space. Just a soft bench, an antique console table, an area rug and a few accessories.
Walking into the space literally takes your breath away. We kept the staircase spindles white to blend with the gorgeous, soft white walls. Then the dark wood railing ties in with the stairs and the kitchen cabinetry.The first thing everyone notices when they enter the main area is the slope of the ceiling and the expanse of windows! (and yes that Restoration Hardware chandelier steals the show too!)
Another beautiful addition to the design was the dormers that bring in even more natural light. The wine barrel chandelier sits perfectly between them.The fireplace was a must on my mom and Nick’s list. They were so excited to be able to have a wood burning fireplace to keep it cozy in the winter. The stacked stone and rough cut, oak mantel add just the right amount of rustic.
I feel we really achieved a balance of textures in the living room, which was an initial concern. We didn’t want it to feel too rustic or dark, or even overly masculine (just the right amount of course for Nick!) So we brought in dark leather pieces, a plush accent chair, wooden baskets and a reflective glass coffee table. A pouf here and there brought in even more softness along with some toss cushions.I absolutely adore this nook and all the natural light streaming in. Can you say perfect spot to read??
From the living room, we can stare lovingly at the giant wooden dining table… and kitchen. One of the things my mom HAD to have was a big enough table to seat everyone around at various holidays. And she got a pretty big one I’d say! Complete with a wooden pew that is actually much more comfortable than it looks. And now for the kitchen…
This turned out to be a one of a kind, dream kitchen! And I am absolutely floored with how the design came together. We started with dark cherry cabinets and found a sophisticated white Quartz that looked similar to marble for both the main kitchen countertops and island. Even though we had ample lighting from the pot lights, we opted for three glass pendant lights above the island for even more task lighting. I love these pendants because they are simple but lovely. The open glass shape is light and airy…perfect to add to the space without taking away from any views into the kitchen and dining rooms.
Having some glass front cabinets gave us the opportunity to show off some of the incredibly beautiful and unique pieces my mom has collected over the years including many dishes passed on from her grandma that were once staples at the old farm. So much heritage needs to be on display!This view is stunning outside which makes washing dishes at the sink a pleasure. We brought a little of that greenery inside too.At the cooking station, we added a glorious gas cooktop and large hood fan. An extra splurge was the pot filler, which makes cooking all that delicious pasta so much easier and double ovens (with smart technology!!! seriously the coolest thing I have ever seen!), which makes Christmas cooking a total breeze.
At first I thought that basic subway tile would be more than sufficient for the kitchen backsplash but after seeing this high gloss, texturized tile, we couldn’t look back. That added detail really gives the kitchen a glamorous feel. The view into the dining and living area can’t be beat…I helped mom style her open kitchen shelving with accessories both new and old. My favourite are the stacked tea cups and the vintage bells. And of course some more family memories styled together on the countertop are never a bad thing.
So what do you think? Can you picture yourself cooking a meal here or sitting at the island with a cup of coffee and a good magazine? I can! Thanks for stopping by! I can’t wait to take you on another tour to see more of this dream home and the all the design choices we made. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Architecture done by the amazing Ashley Hutchison Interiors (you can see the actual drawings for the home on her site!) | Contracting by Ryan & Revive Contracting | Quartz countertop in Cambria Torquay | Kitchen Craft Cabinets in Espresso Cherry | Large Map, Counter stools & Corner Accent Chair from Reside | Dining table from Ideal Home Furnishings | Couch & Settee from Finesse | Fireplace basket Chapters | Wall Colour Simply White by Benjamin Moore | Front entry rug & Mirror Urban Barn | Bench & accessories from Home Sense | Chandelier Restoration Hardware | Pendant Lights Robinson Lighting | Backsplash tile Julian Tile | Jars from Anthropologie
K, this just reaffirmed everything we chatted about over coffee. you’ve got the perfect eye & this space turned out magnificently.
PS – based on decor alone, our mamas would be very, very good friends!
Haha let’s set our moms up too!! Thank you so much hun!! At first when they said dark cabinetry my heart sank but we made it work!!
Aislin, I’m going to second that! Kristina this space is so lovely! What I also find hilarious and adorable is that my parents just moved into their dream home a few weeks ago that I’ve been helping select the finishes for (really just affirming my mama’s amazing taste in decor) and that there are SO many similarities to this space that I’m seeing? I think we’re going to get along so well, and I also think my mama would be right in there gabbing with your mama and Aislin’s mama! Too funny 🙂 BlogPodium is going to be so much fun with you gals!
I can’t wait Nicole!! It’s going to be amazing! I think our mom’s should meet too! lol
This space is stunning! I love how bright and open it is- you guys did a seriously amazing job! My mom and her fiancé have been renovating their home in beaumont and she would love this! So much fun to get to help out family with design, especially on a major project like this
I totally agree! So much fun! Thanks D!! xo
Hi Kristina,
I know this is an older post, but I’m hoping you could tell me what white you used for the trim and doors?
Thank you!
Brittany
It’s actually just basic white “trim paint” from Home Depot…Behr may have been the brand…It does say right on it that its for doors and trim or ceilings. Hope that helps!