Un-Fancy

home, Interiors + Home

our home tour!

Hi, hi! Today is going to be fun — it’s house tour time!

When Aaron and I bought our 1930’s ranch bungalow in 2015, it was all wallpaper, popcorn ceilings, and carpet (even in the bathrooms!).

But we were up for the challenge — we wanted a fixer-upper. We’d always been captivated by the prospect of renovating a home ourselves and creating a deeply personal space — and this was our chance!

It took about four months to get it move-in ready. And believe me when I say it was the hardest work we’ve ever done — we did almost every bit of the renovation by ourselves in the heat of the summer. But it was a blast!

The house has come a long way since then, but we still have lots we want to do. For a while, I put off blogging our house tour because it wasn’t “finished”. But you know what? It may never be “finished” and that’s a-okay! Here’s to letting go of “finished” and enjoying the journey. :)

So let’s get down to the tour: in this post, we’ll look at our entry, sitting room, dining room, kitchen, and family room. We’ll save the master bedroom, office, and backyard for another post.

If you see something you like, you can shop it and support Unfancy at the same time by using the affiliate links below each photo. This keeps Unfancy ad free, and allows me to devote more energy to it, which I love to do — thank you for making it possible. It makes me so happy to share this stuff with you guys!.

Ready? Let’s jump in!

ENTRY

 

Ah, those red tiles. At first I wasn’t sure what do to with them. I couldn’t find any inspiration on Pinterest because they aren’t really “in” right now.

But then it hit me — they add a ton of personality and uniqueness to our home, because they aren’t “in” right now.

So we decided to embrace them, and now they are one of my favorite features in our home. Instead of downplaying the orange-y red color, I decided to repeat the color in a few other spots — like the rug and the little terra cotta planter. To me, that repetition pulls the room together.

I’m sure that surprises no one, since I’m the girl who likes to match her shoes and bag. :)

RUG (antique – similar) / CHEST (antique) / LAMP by West Elm / VASE (antique) / SILK PLANT by Ikea / DEER MOUNT (antique)

SITTING ROOM

We’re always drawn to the sitting room in the afternoon and evening because the sunlight pours in and warms the whole room. We intentionally kept this space TV-free, so when we’re in here, we love enjoying good conversation and listening to records.

Currently, our favorite records are Rumours by Fleetwood Mac, The Search for Everything by John Mayer, Stardust by Willie Nelson, and this wonderfully nostalgic, Old Hollywood romance album called Music, Martinis, and Memories by Jackie Gleason.

Also, in case you’re wondering, the paint color in our home is Pure White by Sherwin Williams. And all the curtains throughout the house are the Lenda curtains from Ikea.

CACTUS PRINT and ALOE PRINT by Laurel and Pearl / RUG by Ikea / LEATHER CHAIR by CB2 / SHEEPSKIN THROW by Ikea / RED STRIPE CHAIR by CB2 (old) / SOFA (old) / COFFEE TABLE (old) / BROWN THROW by Target / PILLOWS (antique – similar and similar) / CACTUS (old – similar faux cactus)

 RECORD PLAYER (antique – similar options) / LAMP by Target / FLAG by 1924US / SILK PLANT by Ikea (old – similar) / SONOS WIFI SPEAKER

 

BENCH (old – similar) / SILK PLANT by Target / BASKET by World Market

DINING ROOM

I’ll be honest. The dining room doesn’t get much use — we either eat in the family room or out on the patio. So we’re thinking of painting it a dark charcoal and turning it into an intimate library, where we can display all of our favorite books. The space is small and would only fit two comfy chairs, but I think it would make for a sweet couples space.

If we went that route, the ultimate dream is to add a fireplace one day. You know, keeping in line with the whole cozy vibe. Maybe one day. :)


RUG / CHAIRS (antique – similar) / TABLE by CB2 / LIGHT FIXTURE by West Elm

CHEST OF DRAWERS by West Elm / POTTERY (antique) / BUFFALO PRINT by The Animal Print Shop / BLUE LADY PRINT (antique)

MINI CACTUS by Target / WHITE PLANTER by West Elm (old) / CONCRETE PLANTER (antique) / SILK PLANTS by Ikea

 

KITCHEN

The kitchen is where most of our money went in the renovation, but we love the way it turned out! I’m possibly the only person in the world who feels this way, but I prefer a closed kitchen over the popular open concept. So this little galley kitchen is just my style.

People often ask me about our floating shelves. I’ll give you a quick run-down of how we did it:

Before we installed the tile backsplash, we first installed L brackets to the wall. Then we installed the subway tile backsplash, tiling over the L brackets. And finally, we attached the shelves to the L brackets. We attached the bottom shelf with the brackets on the bottom, and the top shelf with the brackets on the top — so you can’t see the brackets from eye level.


CABINETS and COUNTERTOPS by Lowes / HARDWARE by Atlas Homewares / RUG (antique) / FAUCET by Delta

CERAMIC MUGS by Canvas Home // I love these mugs because they look like classic tinware, but they are actually ceramic, so they are dishwasher + microwave safe.

WHITE BUD VASE (old – similar) / CHEMEX / SALT CELLAR (old – similar, similar under $10)

 


PRINT by Oh My Deer

TEA POT by Wayfair / WHITE DISHES by Crate and Barrel / STEMMED WATER GLASSES by Crate and Barrel / POTTERY (antique)

 

FAMILY ROOM

This room is where we do most of our eating, hanging out, and Netflix-ing. We love spending time in here because it’s the room that sold us on the house — all those windows?! YES and YES.

You’ve probably been picking up on this: I don’t like clutter, but I wouldn’t call myself a minimalist in terms of my approach to designing a space.

Instead, cozy is my guiding word.

The best way to add a little coziness to any room? Antiques! As you’ve probably noticed, our home is about 50% modern stuff and 50% antiques. It keeps our space cozy, grounded, and full of character.


SOFA by Ikea (old – similar) / COFFEE TABLE by Article / STRAW FLOOR SEATS by Ikea / SHEEPSKIN THROW by Ikea / WOVEN LAMP by Ikea / STRIPED WOOL BLANKET by Pendleton / BLACK PLANTER (antique – similar) / LARGE PILLOW by Wayfair / SMALL PILLOW (old)

WOOD TRAY by Crate and Barrel / MARBLE COASTERS by Wayfair / MINI CACTUS by Target (similar) / BERGAMOT CANDLE by Target

 


CHAIRS (old – similar) / RUG by CB2 (old – similar or similar) / CENTER TABLE (antique) / LAMP by Target / POTTERY (antique) / WOVEN PLANT BASKET (antique – similar) / CHEST (antique) / PILLOW (antique)

SILK PLANT by Target / WOOD PLANTER by Target


WOODEN PLANTER (antique) / SILK PLANT

And there you have it!

Now it’s your turn! You know my guiding word is cozy — what’s your guiding word when it comes to designing your space?

See you next Thursday — we’ll be talking summer reading lists and I’ll share my current favorite books. In the meantime, catch me on Instagram — I’ll be sharing a few before + after’s of our home over the weekend. :)

xo,

Comments

  2. Bravo my dear…you have done a wonderful job creating the Perfect LBD for your home! At our firm, we encourage clients to make their home a journey and let it evolve!-Laurel Bledsoe

    Reply

  4. Thanks for sharing your home tour! We haven’t found a place we want to settle and purchase a home, so for the time being we are renting. Along with renting comes the assorted mish-mash of cheap furniture you buy to fit that particular space, because you don’t know what your next space will look like. As time has gone on though, we’ve decided to stop that cycle, and invest in (hopefully) forever pieces, and it’s been tough! Buying quality items isn’t inexpensive, so it has been a slow progression. Your house tour is inspiring though! I like the idea that even if you are settled, you still may never be “done” with your house.

    I’m really looking forward to the befores-and-afters to see how far you’ve come!

    Reply

  5. My guiding word is cozy or relaxed! Crazy how that can come to life in such different ways! I love these spaces Caroline. They feel loved, thoughtful and “complete” but not over-styled.

    Also, you have totally inspired me to share a home tour of our farmhouse sooner rather than later — to hell with having finished spaces anyway! Lol

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  7. I love this! Although I really appreciate your focus on fashion/wardrobes, I’d love to see more lifestyle posts like this. You have great taste and I love the mix of antique and modern in your home.

    I would say that my guiding word for home right now is “calm”. My outside life has been a little hectic so home is where I go to be quiet and calm these days. I love the idea of a TV-free living room. We’re moving to a larger space in the summer and I look forward to having some room for a TV-free living room and other calm spaces.

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  8. Hi Caroline!

    Your house looks great! I agree with the comment about vintage pieces add some soul and character to a home. I moved out to West Texas myself a couple years ago but haven’t found any fun sources for antiques though. Do you mind sharing some of your favorite sources out this way?

    Thanks!
    Emily

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    • Hi Emily! Thank you so much! My very favorite antique store is in Abilene — it’s called Living Chic. :)

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  10. You home is so darling! I’m currently decorating my first home, and largely based on your wardrobe philosophy, I’ve been going very slow and waiting to find the right pieces. That said, I love your curtains! I’ve been trying to find something just like that. Light and airy. The Lenda curtains in the link have the fabric loop, did you cut those off and use the metal hooks? Or how did you get that look? I’d like to copy :)

    Reply

    • Hi Liz! Yes, going slow and waiting for the right pieces is the way to go! I didn’t mention this in the post, but it’s taken us 8+ years of slowly collecting to get to this point. But it’s so worth the wait for pieces we truly love. :) For the curtains, I simply folded the tab back and used the clip to hold it in place and keep it hidden back there. Enjoy your first home! So exciting! :)

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  11. My guiding words for my space are inviting and intentional. I have a warm industrial design aesthetic that is slowly developing as I replace my Ikea pieces with handmade or more unique items. When it’s not necessary to replace an item, I see if there’s a way to reimagine the piece-zinc paint coating, copper tips to end tables, reupholstering a chair. All this makes it more me without breaking the bank. I can’t wait until I can do the same for a house, hopefully in the next year!

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  12. LOVE those red tiles! So unique and interesting. Your home is super cute, thoughtful, and interesting. Just like I would have guessed!

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    • I’m also on the semi-closed-kitchen train with Caroline! Ours is connected to the breakfast nook only, with a small pass-through to living room. I love having defined spaces where you can’t see kitchen mess from relaxing in the other rooms. It also gives me a little space to make dinner without the little one wanting to be glued to my side. Plus, there’s permission to experiment and decorate a little differently in each room because it’s not one giant space that all flows together.

      Reply

    • Thank you Sydney! Great question! To me, a closed off kitchen just feels cozier. I also like that the kitchen can be a mess, but it doesn’t affect the rest of the house. Overall, since I work from home, I like having several contained spaces, instead of one big open space — it means I can always change rooms for a change of scenery + energy. :)

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      • So true! I work from home a day a week…and likely in the future it will be 2 days. Our kitchen is open concept to our living room area, where my office nook also is. And while I love the open concept floor plan most of the time, I do find it so hard to work if there are dishes in the sink!

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  15. Wow your house is even more beautiful than I expected! I have serious kid-free house envy. my space is just littered with toys on a daily basis no matter how much I try to keep them out of the living room/kitchen area. Someday…sigh. :) A couple questions… what kind of wood is your flooring? it’s gorgeous. And the floor seats from ikea…does anyone sit on them? or do you just use as footstools? My cat would have a heyday scratching those, but they are so pretty and textured!

    Reply

    • Hi Sara! Our floors are a wood laminate — Milwaukee Cider Hickory by Shaw. (I’m pretty sure you can only get them at Carpet One stores.) And I actually sit on the Ikea floor seats daily — in fact I’m sitting on them right now! :) They are the perfect little stool to sit at the coffee table comfortably. I use them when I’m on my computer or when we eat dinner + watch a show.

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      • great thanks! I would never have guessed in pics that it wasn’t hardwood! I live in Canada though, so I will have to find a similar type from a store here, when we re-do our floors someday. Thanks for the info though! And if it wasn’t for the cat issue, these would be great stools. I did away with our big rectangular hard coffee table when I had my second baby… too dangerous with the sharp corners. I have two ottoman/footstools in front of the sofa now. but they are soft and squishy and my 5 year old sits on them constantly. They are not holding up well…not really made for sitting/bouncing on! :(

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  17. Absolutely gorgeous! I love your friendly-earth style. its inviting and visually stimulating at the same time!

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  18. Hi Caroline, it must have been a great effort to renovate your home. The pictures of your house are lovely, very comfortable. Where do you buy your antique pieces?
    Lena

    Reply

    • Hi Lena! We are lucky enough to have excellent antiquing in Abilene! My favorite antique shop of all time here is called Living Chic. We always find exactly what we’re looking for there. :)

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  19. Thanks for sharing this! Your home is so lovely – I adore all the sunlight.

    I would love to hear more about how you think about the types of things you buy for your home – what you think about the Target and Ikea items versus the higher quality pieces and antiques. You have such a thoughtful way of talking about responsible clothing choices, while continuing to wear some less responsible brands – I would love to hear if you have some thoughts on how to weigh tradeoffs when the price differences are even larger, in home goods.

    Thanks!

    Reply

  20. Lovely lovely LOVELY Caroline! You’ve created such a pretty, cozy space. I have similar brick tiles in my entryway (I live in Waco TX in a home built in 1959) so I get you about the conflict. I’ve learned to love that floor as it is pretty unique right now.

    Also – THANK YOU FOR USING FAUX PLANTS. I’m a total black thumb, and even as an interior designer I’m always recommending fakes to my clients. Ain’t no shame in the faux plant game. :)

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    • Hi Lesley! Fellow black thumbs unite! :) :) Another bonus on silk plants: we tend to move quite often (our current house is the longest we’ve ever lived in one spot) and the silk plants always survive the move. Yay. :)

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      • Can I jump in here and ask a question about your plants? I also love the fact that they are all silk and I was wondering if you bought the nine or 11 inch wood planter from target that is featured in your family room.

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          • I should definitely consider buying faux plants. I was obsessed with the idea of having flowers and plants all over my apartment… all of them died in a week :-(

  21. Caroline, you have made a lovely home! So pulled together, airy and cozy at the same time with lots of your personality!
    Could I suggest a wooden tray to gather bottles and cooking supplies next to your range? Attractive, unfussy and practical at the same time.

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  22. LOVE YOUR STYLE! (SORRY, I’M NOT YELLING — THE CAP LOCK WON’T UNLOCK – HAHA!) I HAVE A SMILIAR VIBE AT MY HOUSE: RELAXED/COZY. I WALK IN THE DOOR AFTER WORK And instantly feel: “ahhhhh.” quick question: your silk plants are beautiful…why did you choose silk? do you like them? our house is on a wooded lot adjacent to landtrust ACREAGE, which is great, but we don’t get much natural light inside the house. real plants JUST DON’T SURVIVE inside. curious on how you select good looking silk ones? thanks FOR ANY POINTERS!

    Reply

    • Hi Angie! I mostly chose them because I have a black thumb. :) However, I’m trying to get better and I’ve got a few in there that are still thriving — like the giant fiddle leaf fig in the family room, the cactus in the sitting room, and a few others that are outside right now because they needed some sun and fresh air. As far as choosing, it really just comes down to how they look in person — I only get one if I can see it in person first. Hope that helps a bit! :)

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  24. Love your kitchen. We are purchasing a fixer-upper and will use your photos for inspiration. Thank you!

    My design words – home and breathe – meaning I want it to feel like a home and I want it to be a place that you take a deep breath to relax.

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  25. What a beautiful place to call home. I love how you can see your personalities throughout it. Thanks for sharing :)

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  26. Oh, wow! Thank you for doing this! It’s so interesting and helpful. When I saw your first picture, my immediate thought was, “Oh, what a beautiful floor! That tile is gorgeous.” I’m so glad you didn’t tear it up!

    I don’t believe that a person’s wardrobe choices are independent from other lifestyle choices. For example, you prefer clutter-free in your home and on your person. Not only is it fascinating & inspiring to see your home, but it helps me understand your fashion choices–and my own–as well.

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  29. I love this!

    Can you tell us more about those gorgeous floors? We are in a 1950s New England ranch, and (finally!) at the point in our renovations where we can repair and refinish the original wood flooring. I’d love to darken them, but even so, there are so many dark tones and finishes. I love the warmth and light you’ve achieved. :-)

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    • Hi Rebecca! Absolutely! There was only a little bit of original hardwood left in the house when we bought it. We had hoped to save, but it was all chopped up — as in, parts of a room were original hardwood, other random chunks were concrete. It would have been out of our budget to repair and restore them in that condition, so we put down a budget friendly wood laminate — Milwaukee Cider Hickory by Shaw (you can only get them from Carpet One stores so you may have to google around for a location). I hope that helps a bit! :)

      Reply

      • So helpful! If I can track down a Carpet One, I’ll have something to show the floor refinisher. (As in: Here! Make it look like this!)

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  30. My favorite part is seeing how you’ve combined some mid century modern pieces with older antique pices. My husband and I just bought a “move in ready” mid century modern house but our stuff is about half mid century and half older (family) antiques. I felt like our house was having a bit of an identity crisis but I can see here that it works and looks excellent. As my husband says, “embrace the eclectic, otherwise it’s boring”. You all have done an excellent job. Enjoy your home!

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  32. Thank you for sharing your beautiful home! I love how fresh and airy it looks with the bright, open, white spaces warmed up with natural colors and textures.

    You are not alone in loving a non-open kitchen! I love mine too! I like the idea of a separate, cozy space for friends and family to gather and help with the work, even if that “help” is just pulling up a chair and socializing. I also love the idea of being able to shut the doors on the mess on big holidays (because there is always a last minute rush with big meals) so that I can enjoy the party instead of tidying while the food gets cold. I also like it because it is historically correct for my house!

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  33. I’m DROOLING over all that natural light! Such a beautifully designed space. I’m so impressed by how well you balance modern looks with antiques. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful home!

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  34. Spot on, Caroline, and the type of classy home I expected you would have. Like you and K., I enjoy having a separate kitchen. In fact, I love the overall layout of our 1979 house, with separate areas that flow by way of multiple openings, off the main hallway. It makes the home more cozy, plus it makes for a quieter atmosphere.

    You and your husband have done an excellent, excellent job of weaving modern with vintage/antique pieces while giving your older home a contemporary and fresh feel.

    Cheers, Ardith

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  36. Ohh my goodness, I LOVE your home Caroline! (The red tiles are definitely my favourite!) I love how you mix modern with antique. So cool! My guiding word is eclectic…HA! It assures me to do my thing and not worry about making it look like something else.

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  37. Curious about the curtains – did you cut off the loops at the top that are normally used to hang them? The Ikea ones you linked have those big fabric loops that end up looking a little bulky sometimes. I love the contrast of the white curtains and the black clip rings/curtain rod. So classic!

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    • Hi Erin! I actually ended up simply folding the tabs back and letting the clips hold them in place. :)

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  39. What a lovely house. I would describe our house as cosy and organic (meaning, it’s always changing and hopefully not over styled! ). We are currently going through a serious decluttering, 15yrs, 2 children and a big, old house have meant too much stuff! We have been doing one room at a time as rooms have needed an overhaul. Feel so good ;).

    I love your antiques mixed in with your more modern pieces. Our house is 1850s, and has quite a lot of period features, such as ceiling roses, fireplaces etc. We also have seceral pieces of furniture that have family meaning, e.g. a rocking chair my grandfather made, a kitchen table that belonged to my partner’s parents and grandparents. I totally agree with the idea that a house is not finished, it is totally evolving to reflect the personality and function of the family in it.

    Love your terracotta tiles, too.

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  40. hi caroline,

    bEAUTIFUL home!

    I WAS WONDERING WHERE YOUR WHITE CURTAINS ARE FROM? (ALSO PLEASE IGNORE THE ALL CAPS! – MY COMPUTER IS ACTING UP!) :)

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  41. I really appreciate your use of accessible–Target & IKEA–things as well as the incorporation of silk plants. I would say you’ve nailed cozy!

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  42. Beautiful home. I love the mix of white and natural fibers and wood. But I’d encourage you to get some real plants! Silk? blah. Real plants are so beneficial for your air, mind and body.

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  43. I LOVE that you embraced the tile in your front entry! I’m sure it is complementary to the original architecture of the home, and I have a feeling they’re going to be “in” again sometime soon :)

    And, like you, I lean towards minimal, cozy spaces. Your home is so refreshing! Thanks for sharing!

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  45. Yay! I’ve been looking forward to this post since you mentioned you’d be doing a home tour!

    What a lovely home! We have similar styles–somewhat minimal, cozy, and personal. I’m usually Googling and Pinning “Scandinavian” style as I find it strikes that perfect balance that always feels fresh and timeless.

    I agree on the brown tiles–they’re a classic. I’m also with you on the enclosed kitchen. I think I’d pick a compact but highly function kitchen over a sprawling one any day!

    Thanks for sharing your space :)

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  46. Hello,
    this is wonderful. I love how you keep showing what you love and following your passion, from clothes, to decorating. Thank you. I enjoy your posts and most importantly your energy. Your house looks fantastic and a great place to be and love and share and fill your soul.
    Sabrina

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  48. I’m another who leans Scandinavian, guiding word being “hygge!” …. so pretty much the same as “cozy”. I loved how in Meik Wiking’s book he described it as decorating as if you were a Viking squirrel, although I think I’d be a minimalist squirrel. Like others, I would love to know more about the flooring and if it was something you installed yourselves? You have some serious DIY skills. Also would love to know the details of the kitchen counters. It would be great if you could get some kick-backs for referrals on those big ticket items.

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    • Hey Elizabeth! We started installing them ourselves and then realized we were going to need a lot of help! :) So we had some professionals come help us mid-way through. Couldn’t have done it without them!

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    • Love that term “Viking squirrel”. We are currently in the 4 to 5 year process of serious downsizing from a big house, 5 bed 3 bath ect, to a tiny house of 160 sqft. The process is very different than going in the opposite direction. I have attached myself to my Danish ancestral way of decor and am decorating my new tiny house in the hygge way. Like Carolines way of dressing and home I am decorating it with only the things that I love and are useful. This is quite the journey. However, your blog Caroline has been so useful to me the last few years. It has truly inspired me exchange my clothes hoarder ways to very minimalist. Something I never thought I would be. It’s been a wonderful exchange and now with transitioning to a small house my decor is going through the same process. At age 42 I’m gathering less STUFF and exchanging it for more time for people and experiences. Thanks Caroline for inspiring us Unfancy readers that less is more!

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  49. Okay I love it!! Thanks so much for sharing! I have to admit I was so encouraged to see how many silk plants you have- I keep assuming to have pretty green plants in my house I’ll have to keep them all alive, and honestly, that will not go well. haha! So thanks for linking to the ones you have! We are about to move across town in the next few weeks, and I’ve gotten several ideas from this post! My words are simple, pretty, & welcoming- I love having “vision words” too! :)

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  50. Very nice, thanks for sharing! Would never have guessed that it was “unfinished!”

    Question – do you find that your open shelving in the kitchen (and the dishes etc) get covered in grease from cooking? Especially since some are right over the stove?

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    • Hi Stephanie! Great question! That can definitely happen if something sits up there too long, but we use all of our dishes a few times a week, so they get washed often and nothing builds up. :)

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  51. That looked like a lot of work to showcase your home for us. Thank you for all the beautiful photos and links. Your house looks like The Easy Sophisticate. You can add me to the list for loving a separate kitchen (my reason is that I’m not neat enough to have a kitchen for all the world to see, so what do I have?, an open floor plan :( Also, your amazing family room, was that original to the house or an addition? All your labors paid off, you have a home that is a keeper! Congrats!

    Reply

    • Hi Kathryn! Yay for a fellow closed kitchen fan! We didn’t add on to the house ourselves, but the previous owner added on the family room in the 60’s. :)

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  53. Ok, your home is ridiculous…just gorgeous! I knew it would be. I hope you both live and enjoy it in happiness, prosperity, and health.

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  55. Thank you for sharing you’re beautiful home. I love the Texas flag. I’m moving away from Texas in a month – would love something like that in my new home. Where did you get it?

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  56. YES YES YES to all this….love your simplicity, the way that the things you love and use come to life to define your space, and the way that old + new = you. I feel like that’s so cheesy, but it’s one of my guiding principles for making a home: old + new = you. Come to think of it, given my love of vintage styles, it’s also kind of how I think of my wardrobe. Light bulb!

    My word for anything aesthetic is parsimonious. For most people it means “miserly” or “frugal,” but for those of us in the statistics world, it means “elegant by virtue of simplicity,” or mirrors the sentiment of Occam’s Razor, “the simplest solution is most often the best solution.”

    Thank you so much for sharing your home…I’m feeling so inspired for when I finally have my own space to do this with! Cannot. Wait.

    https://everydayjoys.blog/

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  57. So beautiful! Do you mind sharing where you get your natural wood frames? I have been having so much trouble finding them in appropriate sizes!

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    • Hey Kristen! :) They are from Ikea, but sadly I don’t think they make that color anymore. Such a bummer!

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  58. I love that you use a guiding word to create your space. I hadn’t thought to take that approach to decorating my home before! Do you like having fake plants? I’ve always struggled to keep them from getting dusty. What’s your approach to avoiding that?

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    • Hi Lana! They came pre-painted, so I’m not sure. However, we had a paint match done because we painted our bedroom walls the same color as the kitchen cabinets. So the most similar color is Urban Bronze by Sherwin Williams. :)

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  61. The horse shoe in your dining room is upside down!
    An old wive’s tale, I know….but according to the legend if the shoe-ends are pointing down, all the good luck leaks out. If you turn it around, the ends point up & the good luck stays in!

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    • Omg I love it! This is totally my style. I love mixing antiques with IKEA, lots of neutrals with pops of color, tons of plants and the southwestern elements. Your space is beautiful and I love all those windows in your family room.

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    • Beth! Thank you so much for your comment! The horse shoe belonged to the original owner of the house, so we loved it and wanted to incorporate it in the decor. I knew it was a symbol of good luck, but I definitely didn’t know the ends needed to point up. I just went and turned it over! :) Thanks so much! :)

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      • I thought the same thing as soon as I saw it, haha! So glad you have your horseshoe catching your luck now!

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  63. Such a gorgeous house! It’s my dream to one day have a fixer-upper too. Do you have any real plants? It seemed like the only real one was in the kitchen. I love those wicker Ikea seats!

    Reply

    • Thanks Nicolette! :) I have six real plants in the house — the giant fiddle leaf fig in the living room, the cactus in the sitting room, the golden pothos in the kitchen, and three others that are outside right now getting some much needed sun. I have a black thumb with plants, but I’ve kept those five alive for about a year so maybe things are turning around! :)

      Reply

  64. Caroline, can you share your process on clutter, or rather, how do you avoid clutter! I am a clutter bug but I hate it: I don’t know where all my clutter comes from! I tidy one day, and then a few days later there’s stuff back where I tidied. I can’t seem to keep table and bench tops clear and I don’t understand what it is I have or even don’t have, that seems to result in the build up! Would love to hear your ideas.

    Reply

  65. Hi Carolyn,

    I’ve been enjoying your blog for a few years now and appreciate your style and candid approach. I just wanted to share that I noticed you have a horseshoe in your home that is turned upside down. It’s said that when you display a horseshoe this way, the luck drains out of it, so I just wanted to suggest turning it over (like a “U”). For context, I always correct this when I see it happening in my friend’s homes, and just couldn’t refrain from mentioning it to you too.

    Thanks again for your great blog!

    Robyn

    Reply

    • Robyn! I love your comment! :) When we moved in, we found the horseshoe, found out it was a symbol of good luck, and then found out it belonged to the original owner of the house! I just loved that it was a piece of the home’s history, and wanted to incorporate it into the decor. However, I definitely didn’t realize it was supposed to be turned up like a “U” though! So thank you for pointing that out — I just went and tuned it the right way. Thanks! :)

      Reply

  66. I love the room with the leather chairs! I live in the Bay Area and it’s so much harder to find affordable antiques here than it is where I’m from in Virginia.

    I just bought the same curtains from IKEA for a wide window in my living room and I had to buy 4 panels to cover the width. Is that what you did in the living room with the leather chairs? Did you sew any of the panels together?

    Reply

    • Hey Mackenzie! I didn’t sew any of the curtains together, but we definitely had to buy multiple panels to cover those windows. :)

      Reply

  69. You guys have done such a great job with your space! I love it! And your plants look so good! I would have never noticed that you snuck some silk ones in there.

    A few questions…
    1) Did you find it hard to source an antique rug? And did it feel ‘clean’ when you got it?
    2) Did you do quartz for your kitchen countertop or something else?

    Reply

    • Hi, hi friend! :) Thank you for your kind words!

      1) We got lucky with our antique rugs. We found the one in the kitchen in a vintage shop in Austin and it just happened to be perfect. It definitely felt used, but not dirty or gross. We just set it out in the sun for a few days to freshen it up and then gave it a serious vacuuming.

      2) Yes! Our countertops are quartz. We are messy in the kitchen yet they never stain — woohoo! :)

      Reply

  71. I like your space. It looks very cozy for a cup of tea and good book. I love spaces that remind me of the beach because that’s where I grew up. We are renovating the first floor of our house (kitchen, living room, dining room), and are going with light soft colors (grey/blues/white). I have a sea glass collection that I want to incorporate in my decor and my mom bought me this Samantha French painting (Emerge, Clear Waters) from Etsy that ties in perfectly with light, bright and beach. No seashells or anything themed that way, just the feeling you get when you go the beach.

    Happy and relaxed in my case.

    Reply

  72. I knew i would love your home Caroline! My favorite room is definitely the family room with all these windows and that light coming in, so beautiful! I also would spend long hours in that kitchen… Thanks for sharing that little tour of your beautiful home! xo
    Melodie
    http://www.happymelodie.com

    Reply

  74. Love seeing the mix of old and new! Thank you for sharing your lovely home. The brick tile entry is unique – so glad you kept that.

    Reply

  75. I so enjoyed your home tour! The word “intentional” really stuck with me while I browsed. It’s a word I’ve just embarked on trying really hard to embrace in my own life… not an easy task when you have a penchant for seasonal tchotchkes and 2 kiddos under 4! Anyways, I discovered your blog when I decided to start a capsule wardrobe, and I’ve been enjoying all of your content! Cheers!

    Reply

  78. Its soooooo beautiful!!! Your kitchen is charming…are you cabinets wood or a dark paint? Hard to tell….I would love to do something like this in a future renovation!

    Reply

  79. Hi Caroline,

    I like how your house is all light and space but still cozy with all the furniture and items completing the whole picture.
    I think I have a few words as a guidance for my house ideas: warmth, coziness, confort, memories and good vibes.
    When we renewed our house look, we made a color in every room so we can have our favourite spots delimited.
    Using a light grey paint and white furniture in the bedroom made it intimate and the lilac blankets completed the picture.
    I like to see pictures, records, gifts, books and everything that represent us and remind us of places we have been and friends and family we have.

    Have a nice weekend!

    Reply

  80. Thank you so much for posting a little about your open shelving process! Love the look of the crisp white subway tile with the warm wooden shelves. Did you find flat L-brackets, or did you do some building wizardry when you tiled over them? Would love to recreate that look in our new kitchen.

    Reply

    • Hey Kirin, great question! The L-brackets weren’t flat — we shaved the sheetrock back a little so the brackets could be flush with the rest of the wall. :)

      Reply

  81. Oh my god, I thought I was the only one who didn’t like open concept kitchens. My husband and I joke that they’re becoming so popular that by the time we’re ready to buy a house there won’t be any other choice. Please noooo. Ha!

    Beautiful house! Thanks for sharing. :)

    Reply

  82. Hi Caroline, just wanted to say what a beautiful picture of you! So relaxed and, literally, at home. xo, Louise

    Reply

  83. Not a homeowner but in my current renting situation my guiding word is “sanctuary.” A safe space for thoughts and relaxation. Lots of serene blues, whites, and some gold accents with just enough occasional whimsy to keep it fun.

    Reply

  84. I loved your house! It is beautiful, charming, very cozy and calm. All that things are so important for you feeling in home. I hope more posts for your house with anxiety.
    Thank you for inspiring people like me!!
    Júlia

    Reply

  85. Hi Caroline! Your house tour is amazing. I was wondering: Would you mind sharing your floor plan as well? Best wishes from Munich

    Reply

  87. Caroline, awesome home and decor ~ just what I had envisioned. I especially like that you have included several pieces I feel are Southwestern in style … that also lend an additional mood to your beautiful decor.
    My hubby and I travel from Texas to New Mexico and Arizona often, and I always find the area ~ its heart, its core ~ to be soothing, peaceful, and grounding, with its color and beauty. The mix of old and new you enjoy in your home is really well done: I commend you both for having excellent skills!
    Perhaps you should be giving tips on curating our homes, along with wardrobe suggestions!?!
    My words for our home are “warm, welcoming and comfortable.” I’m afraid “more is better” often overtakes them, tho’ … !

    Reply

  89. Hello Caroline!

    LOVE your house tour; thanks for sharing! Was wondering what white paint you chose to use!? And are you happy with it? We’re looking for one that has lots of warmth and your’s looks great :)

    Reply

  90. I love your floors! Did you put in hard word or laminate? My husband and I recently purchased our first home, and it is a fixerupper as well!

    Seeing your beautiful home gives me hope that we can finish ours as well!

    Reply

    • Hey Michelle, we did wood laminate flooring — Milwaukee Cider Hickory by Shaw (from Carpet One). :)

      Reply

  91. I LOVE the balance between modern and antique pieces. I’ve never been an “antiquer” but you are inspiring me to hunt for some antiques to mix into my home! ♥️

    Reply

  92. So you just made dinner in your open kitchen… you were a little messy and you’re tired. How could you ever relax in your living room looking directly at your messy kitchen!? I could never ever ever LOL. Hide that behind walls so I can at least pretend it’s not a disaster. I am so with you on Team Closed Kitchen.

    Reply

  93. Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful home, Caroline!

    Quick question – where did you find the credenza shown in your sitting room? I’ve been looking for something similar that can hold records + has shelves, but unless I missed it I don’t see it listed in your links. I really love that combo of wood and white.

    Appreciate your help!

    Reply

    • Hi Lisa! It’s actually an Ikea hack! My husband took a KALLAX shelf unit and installed hairpin legs on the bottom and wood on the top. :)

      Reply

  94. Beautiful home, Caroline! I really enjoyed looking at the before/after photos on IG. We are updating our kitchen backsplash and wondering where you got your white subway tiles? thank you!

    Reply

  95. I thought these pictures were gorgeous when I saw them on your blog, but what was *really* impressive was your instagram post showing the before and after. WOW!! You guys have done so much work and had such a vision with what could be done with the space. It’s super impressive! Great job!

    Reply

  96. Looks so comfortable! I’m curious: if you paint your dining room gray like you mentioned… is it a room with doorways, or does the wall continue into the kitchen. How will you split the wall from charcoal to white?

    Reply

    • Hi Sorilea, the dining area is it’s own separate room. There is a doorway leading to the kitchen, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to break up the colors. :)

      Reply

  97. I absolutely love that you left the original tile in the entry way. It is a huge pet peeve of mine how everyone wants to tear up everything and replace it with whatever is currently trending on Pinterest and then everyone’s house looks the same. And five/ten years from now everyone will be wanting to replace it again with the newest trend. Embrace what you have, make it your own, be unique. I don’t have to tell you that though because you already get it :) Your house is beautiful! I love the mixture of antiques and new items. The leather chairs are gorgeous! There is just something about old leather that makes me want to fondle it, haha! All the different textures in your home definitely make for a cozy feel. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply

  100. Love your home and the style! Your tip to mix new and old is very good. I might steal that one hah. Thank you for sharing!
    May I ask do you have real plants? I struggle to keep some of them alive but I love them so much. I have had some luck with a few succulents indoors. And one huge cactus as well.
    Have a lovely week and I’m looking forward reading your posts.

    Reply

    • Hey Henna, I do have a few real plants and have done pretty good keeping them alive so far. I should win some sort of award! Haha. I love them all! :)

      Reply

  101. Hi Caroline, thanks for your sharing! Look forward to your next post. Could I ask one question regarding your wallpaper? How did you remove the wallpaper and paint it? I have the same situation here because we bought an old house (1960s) full of wallpapers. Thanks!

    Reply

  102. I love your house!! You have created a beautiful space! I am wondering where you got our curtain hardware?

    Reply

  103. I couldn’t love this post more if I tried. I LOVE your blog and your fashion, but clothing is not a major part of my life/priorities. My space and my home is though and I have been in love with all your IG posts about your renovations!! A beautiful and wonderful space that inspires me so much. My guiding room for my home would be “welcome” and then I usually have a word for each room as well. I sit in the room and just ask “what does this room call me to feel?” then I build around that. Thank you so much for sharing and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do more of this.

    Reply

  104. Hi–Love your aesthetic! I have two questions. First, do you have personal photographs anywhere, or is it a conscious design choice not to display photographs? Also–books. You wrote that you may change your dining room into a study, but meanwhile do you have any book shelves or are your books in storage?
    Thanks!

    Reply

    • Hey Emily! All of our books are currently in storage — frowny face! And I’m just not a picture frame type of gal for whatever reason. We have a slideshow of our personal pictures on our TV screensaver and we love it! :)

      Reply

  107. I turned a tiny space (sorry if this is caps) into a library. My hubby made floating shelves for some antique books, and we have an electric fireplace. Very cozy. What also is great in a library is ….a bar cart with your favourite drinks!

    Reply

  108. Thank you for sharing, Caroline!! Loved it and it gives a completely other dimension to your style, so warm and cozy! You’ve done a beautiful beautiful job, congratulations!

    Reply

  109. So generous that you shared a peek into your beautiful home. The word that inspires me with home decorating is “sanctuary”. I heard a designer use that word on TV once and it resonated with me. I like to think that’s what my home is… A sanctuary from the outside world. :)

    Reply

  110. Love it! Just went out and bought Lenda curtains for my new house. :) where did you get the curtain rings and hooks from? I didn’t see any at IKEA. :(

    Reply

  111. Just looking at these photos makes me feel so calm! What a beautiful house you have. The unique style you have certainly shows in the way you’ve chosen to decorate. I particularly loved the mock tinware mugs, what a great idea! I wish I could get those in Australia without paying for so much shipping :(

    Reply

    • Hey Chase, It’s actually an Ikea hack! My husband took a KALLAX shelf unit and installed hairpin legs on the bottom and wood on the top. :)

      Reply

  117. Hi Caroline, your home is so pretty! I have loved the Lenda curtains you put up, but I’m curious, did you take the tabs off the top of them? I have been wanting to get them for my house, but I didn’t know if you folded them over or if you removed them, and the only Lenda ones I see have the tabs at the top. I love the look you did with the hooks instead!

    I hope you are doing well!

    Heather

    Reply

  118. Your home looks absolutely stunning! The colour scheme and everything! I like the balance between minimalism and cosiness. The antiques really do the job, but I have a question. How are these leather chairs so well-preserved?! They’re old, but, honestly, I’ve never seen old leather upholstery in such immaculate condition. Do you clean them often? Clean them less often? What’s your magic?

    Reply

  121. Hi there – I absolutely love the tour of your home. Beautiful job! I was curious how you hung the ikea curtains. Did you cut the hole things (sorry can’t thibk of the technical term) that the rods go through at the top. Did you cut them off or just use clips to hang them. Thank you!

    Reply

  122. Hi Caroline,
    Recently found your site….and want to say: I LOVE your home renovation!!
    Quick note about the horse shoe. Old-wives-tale’s claim that an upside down horse shoe drains away luck and the U-shape holds it for you. Consider flipping it up!
    Wishing you the very best of luck in all your ventures!
    Yevonn

    Reply

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