It’s our first southern snow day of 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. All the schools are closed and our neighbors are roaming the streets in their snow suits and sleds. I have been secretly hoping for snow since we stayed south for the holidays. I think we have close to 5 inches! That’s kind of a big deal for us.
I enjoy fresh fallen snow because it acts as a diffuser. My home is beautifully lit and the sun isn’t even out. I had my camera gear out so I took the opportunity to snap a few photos of our home decor updates.
Our story
We purchased this house in the fall of 2016. It is located in a neighborhood of homes designed to look as if they were plucked right out of Charleston, South Carolina. Our goal is to be fiscally responsible with this investment. That means smart, long term upgrades. The initial purchases were non-decor oriented, but necessary. After living for a year in the house, with guests arriving, we decided to make a few updates to the house.
The decorating updates I’m sharing with you were cost effective and made a huge impact. Our realtor stopped by and we showed him the transformation. He was ‘wowed’! I’ll share links to all my decor finds as well. (Disclosure: Some of the product links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small affiliate commission.)
Interior design inspiration
My interior design look is a combination of coastal chic meets Restoration Hardware meets Pottery Barn. I literally lived on the ocean in Rye, New Hampshire, before I met Nick. The ocean has always been my happy place so I naturally design with elements that remind me of my time there. I grew up in rural NH and spent much of my younger years in the woods skiing, hiking and biking. Natural wood grains and textures give me rustic accents to offset the clean, light coastal pieces. Lastly, I have a girly side that likes a little glam. A bit of gold or champagne and silver here and there fulfill that need without being showy.
Breakfast Nook Design
Before: Realtor Photo
After
The eat-in kitchen is one of my favorite spots in the house. The morning sun shines through the windows and brightens this spot. It’s hard not too feel rejuvenated and ready for a new day here. It may seem like a night and day difference between the two designs, but we only made a few changes.
- Paint Color: Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter
- Antique Silver Curtain Rods
- Linen Curtains: IKEA
- 5-Piece Round Dining Set for 4
- Velvet Chair Cushions
- White Beaded Chandelier
The curtain rods are from Amazon at an awesome price! We have used them throughout our home and the quality for the price is fantastic. You can’t beat 90″ washable linen curtain panels for $20 each at IKEA. The chair cushions and beaded chandelier are from World Market. I watched them every day waiting for a sale. I believe I received 20% off plus free shipping! We sold our dining room table when we moved from Virginia. I used the cash from that sale to invest in this affordable table and chair set. It fits four people comfortably and has room for a fifth, if you should need it. The whitewashed finish works perfectly with my painted wood chandelier.
Living Room Design
Before: Realtor Photo
After
The only changes we made to the decor in our living room were:
- Paint color: Revere Pewter
- Antique silver curtain rod: Amazon
- White linen curtain panels: IKEA
- Silver ceiling fan light fixture: this ceiling fan is remote controlled and super quiet. It can be paired with rustic, cottage chic, modern farmhouse or contemporary interior design.
The largest change in this room was the light fixture. My inspiration came from The Flip House: Episode 15 – The Giraffe House via Magnolia Market. Check out the living room photos on Joanna Gaines blog. I liked that Joanna’s room had multiple fixture and decor finishes in a room with neutral color palettes. My living room has black, silver, gold and wood grains (just like hers!). I scoured the web looking for that ceiling fan with remote and feel I found the exact match (if not, extremely close)! What do you think? (Here’s the link to the fan without the remote control.)
I’m so excited about the changes we are making to this house. We met our goal of keeping our upgrades to a minimum. Nothing fancy. Each investment added a timeless value to the home. What house projects are you working on?
