My friend, Bre, just wrote a beautiful book called The Gift of Home. First and foremost, that title just speaks to my heart. I have always viewed our home as a gift and have wanted to create a warm and welcoming safe haven for friends and family. It’s not about the amount of rooms, the square footage or the latest and greatest in finishes. It’s about how people feel once they walk through your door. Bre asked a few of us to share our thoughts on home and some of our favorite aspects of our own.
A FAVORITE SPOT
Having just moved six months ago, we are in the throes of making this new-to-us house our home. A friend of mine once said, “There is no such thing as a perfect house.” Those words really resonated with me. I think it’s easy to look at someone else’s fancy new build house with a touch of envy or to over analyze our own and focus on what we don’t love. It’s a trap I fall into as well. When we bought this house we knew it wasn’t the style we were used to. We knew there could be a lengthy list of things we might do to make it more us. But there is so much joy in that. There is joy in knowing we can put our own stamp on this home and allow it to tell our story.
One of my favorite spots in this house is right when you walk in the front door. There is a small room to the right which we call our music room. I’m sure it was built as an office and it’s the perfect spot for that. I am a big proponent of using rooms for whatever best suits your family. It’s your house and you get to call the shots. As soon as I saw this house, I knew my parents’ piano would be at home in this room. It receives tons of natural light and we were fortunate to inherit these pretty built-ins.
THE POWER OF PAINT
We are on the lookout for a cozy chair to put in the right corner. My husband would love to be able to play his guitar in here. Learning to take our time with things and know that we will stumble upon the right one eventually. (Rugs in our home can be found here). One of the first things we did in this house was paint the room Iron Ore by Benjamin Moore. I will forever sing the praises of paint. If you’re feeling like a room in your home seems tired, try giving it a new color. It has the power to take on an entirely different feel. My daughter and I spent a day filling the shelves with things that hold special meaning to us. Most of these books are from my parents. My dad had a huge car collection so we chose the blue one you see to remind us of his passion.
Don’t get me wrong, I still love a good Target find and sprinkle those in as well. But it’s nice to walk into a space and have it remind you of people you love.
BEFORE AND AFTER
Here’s a look back right after we bought our home. The cream was pretty, too, but we just wanted something a bit more dramatic and moody.
INEXPENSIVE SWAPS
We recently gave our guest bathroom a few minor updates. It wasn’t reasonable to change out the major elements so we relied on small changes to hardware, lighting, mirrors and decor (before shown here). I have to say that I honestly love this bathroom now and it the changes were so minimal.
SMALL CHANGES – BIG IMPACT
This fireplace makeover was another huge change for very little money. We are still working on the new mantel, but it has come such a long way. This was a weekend project that transformed the feel of the room. And I promise, anyone can do this. Tutorial is coming soon.
DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START?
At the end of the day, my hope for home is that it feel cozy and welcoming. I want people to feel at home. That is exactly how I feel every time I see one of Bre’s spaces. She is incredibly talented and I adore her philosophy. And her book is such a gem.
I know many of us are itching to make changes here and there but we don’t know were to start. This book is your step by step guide with budget friendly ideas and gorgeous inspiration photos. Bre is gifting one of you this beautiful book so just click below to enter. And I would love to hear about one of your favorite places in your own home. Feel free to share in the comments below.
a Rafflecopter giveawayOTHER BLOGGERS SHARING THEIR HOMES
Head on over to meet Andrea from Pine and Prospect Home. She and her husband are in the middle of sanding and refinishing their floors and it’s so fun to follow along. You can check out all of our friend’s homes below.
- Melissa from – The Inspired Room
- KariAnne from – Thistlewood Farms
- Claire from – Claire Lynn Home
- Sarah from – Dreaming of Homemaking
- Bre from – Rooms for Rent
- Beth from – Homestories A-Z
- Courtney from – A Thoughtful Place (That’s me)
- Lucy – Craftberry Bush
- Andrea from – Pine and Prospect Home
Your home is stunning! Love the sentimental music room transformation! Judging that book by the cover, I think I’d enjoy reading it too!
I love seeing your new home! Mine is on its way to being more our style (after 8 years #facepalm). Thanks for sharing!!
Since we leave in Greece which has great weather,our balcony is our favorite spot.Reading a book or having an early dinner ,it’s where we feel more comfortable.It’s spacious with a great view of the sunset and realaxing in our cushions is the best!
Really great reminder that home is a gift, even if it doesn’t look Instagram perfect!
Love following and love your style!
Beautiful spaces in your new home!
I love my chairs in front of the fireplace on a winter morning.
I love your blog. This is such a timley post as we just moved into a new house last month. I have been trying to update things here are there to make it “perfect”. I look forward to reading the book for information and having it on display in my new home.
Your music room takes my breath away every time I see it. Congrats to Bre on her new book.
the dark paint in the music room is just right. love the mirror over the piano.
The homes outside of California are so different! In Palm Springs everything is a “drywall box”. The trim, mouldings and treatments have so much personality in homes in different states. Character sometimes is hard to create.
Love following your journey with your new home and am loving the pull towards natural elements, earthy stuff! Thanks!
Karen
I love watching you make your new house a home!
I love my entry hall where I display the roll-top desk my father made.
Love that moody paint color on your built-ins!! Perfect for a cozy room like that.
Please share the other paint color in your music room. LOVE!
So true. My favorite room
Is the kitchen and master bedroom
Great colors in your music room!
I have been following your blog for a few years and love all the changes you make in your homes! Your style speaks to me. I am looking forward to reading this book! I have rooms in my home that I just can’t get right . I just don’t know how to bring them into my idea of what I want . Then there are other rooms that I absolutely love! I love our family room but can’t quite get it completed. Looking for some great ideas!
My favorite room in our house is our sun porch. It is all windows and we have a great backyard. Even when it is winter and the yard is covered in snow, it is a lovely room to be in to watch TV, read, take a nap or just take in the scenery.
I adore the entire music room, Courtney! Where did you get the mirror hanging above the piano? I adore it! My favorite room in my house is the family room- designed by you!
Love the Iron Ore paint color in your music room. Trying to figure out a space to use it in my own home. Thanks for the inspiration!
Love the dark color of your music room! And of course, the bookshelves!
Sounds like this book was written for me! I am trying to update my house but sometimes it seems so complicated and where do I start! I would love to have the opportunity to read this book.
Love your music room! And I totally agree that our homes should be welcoming not perfect.
What paint and color did you use to paint your built ins?
Love how you have changed things rather than replacing, good reminder.
Love this post! As a Real Estate agent in Chicago this message and post really resonated with me.
I always take into account when working with my clients that their move is a HUGE life change, emotional, and financial. My goal when I work with my clients is to make the process seamless and filled with joy and possibilities!
That book has a beautiful cover. Would put it on my coffee table in my living room. Yes, I still have a formal living room and we use it. I am a book ambassador for a couple of groups, so I will want to share this book with them. Thanks for letting us know about this book.
Beautiful… I have been in my home for 8 years and you have done more than I in such a short time.
I’m a long time follower and appreciate how genuine you are. I love the built ins in your music room and the color that you chose to paint in there. I always love seeing what you’re up to!
I love how you have transformed your office to a music room. The paint color is perfect.
Love your home! Especially the music room and the fireplace makeover you just did. It’s been fun watching you making it to your own style especially when you do the work yourself.
I love your home – especially the music room and the fireplace makeover you just did. It’s been fun watching you making it to your own style especially when you do the work yourself.
It is amazing what small changes can do to make a big impact. It is so important to feel comfortable and peaceful in your own home.
Love having breakfast on my porch during the warmer months.
We are three years in and taking our time. Our upstairs main level is farmhouse/shabby chic/coastal vibe-bright and sunny, light, and cozy at the same time-the formal living room is my favorite!
I just love that music room! How special to have pieces from your parents to welcome you into it. This sounds like a wonderful book – always nice to be reminded that our homes are wonderful gifts!
What a beautiful music room – you sure have a talent for transforming spaces! My favorite room in our home is the dining room. Mostly all thrifted pieces, but it turned out so well – I’m still so proud of how I pulled it all together.
What’s interesting is that my favorite room of my house is actually my daughter’s room. We got the paint color just right, and the windows in there are just perfect. I just love the feeling in there.
When I put up my red curtains whose fabric looks like it is crocked and added my bird pictures and plants, my dining room became my favorite room. Now to tackle more rooms to make them favorites too!
Love seeing how you styled these shelves; and it’s amazing the difference paint can make!
Hi Courtney! I’m so thankful for coming across your blog while searching paint colors on Pinterest. I have ordered one of your rugs for our entryway and a lamp to go on my granny’s cabinet that I’m refinishing . Excited to receive the delivery soon of the cream sweater you modeled recently.
I look forward to your “Monday Morning Wrap Ups!” Thanks for the inspiration & sharing your beautiful home! Sending Blessings to you from not that far away, the Hoosier State!
My favorite room is our living, dining , & kitchen area facing the south which is very warm, bright & cheery when the beautiful sun is shining!
There’s a little room upstairs that gets light all day since the sun circles around it, from window to window. It’s the quietest and brightest spot in the house and I love it so much.
Thank you for sharing all your tips, big & small.