While decks and back patios get plenty of attention in the outdoor living months, don’t forget about that gorgeous porch of yours.

Whether you have a front porch, a wraparound design, or a back porch, there are so many options for decorating it. With the right touches, it’s more than just an entryway or spot for holiday decorations — it becomes a place for entertaining and relaxing, too.

I highly recommend channeling some focus into your porch for this upcoming season. You can put as much effort (or as little) as you like into this home upgrade, because even small changes can be transformative.

In doing so, you boost your curb appeal and refresh everything just in time for summer. You’ll enjoy it so much more and you’ll have a space that you love where you can eat meals with your family, lounge around on sunny days, and spend long evenings with friends.

Need some front porch inspiration? Here are a few summer porch decor ideas I suggest to completely elevate yours.

Summer Porch Decor Ideas

Square Away Chairs and Seats

Porches are made for sitting! Once you have this foundational element squared away, you can continue decorating. Seats can also double as decor, adding to the overall theme you’re going for. Nothing beats a classic rocking chair or a porch swing. Rounded cushions, benches, and smaller outdoor couches give much more function to this space too.

As another gorgeous addition, try bistro and conversation sets, which make it easy to chat with friends or have a glass of wine in the evening.

Harpen Metal Bistro Outdoor Dining Set

Tiburon Sofa

Abbott Acacia Woven Outdoor Lounge Chair

Calhoun Hanging Daybed

Add Planters or Hanging Baskets

The key to perfectly framing a porch lies in plants. Hanging flower baskets, elegant planters, and window boxes or hayracks are all wonderful ways to enliven this area, both for front and back porches. With all the flower hues and leaf shapes that exist, you’ll have an easy time creating a porch with texture, dimension, and beautiful color.

I suggest picking a mix of tall, trailing, and shorter plants to create levels in your porch decor. Then transplant them into planters that match your outdoor aesthetic.

Ronan Ficonstone Indoor/Outdoor Planters

Mission Square Handmade Outdoor Planters

Zinc Hayrack

Paris Planter

Spruce Up Your Welcome Mat

Don’t downplay the power of a great welcome mat. Replace any old coir mat that’s become a little worn out over the years with something that’s functional (keeping sand, mud, and dirt out) but also pretty enough to contribute to the whole look of your porch.

As a little tip, I’d recommend placing a slightly bigger mat or rug under your doormat for a layered look.

Stripe Ivory and Natural Indoor/Outdoor Doormat

The Rope Co. Doormat

Three Striped Jute Doormat

Neighburly Initial Stripes Indoor/Outdoor Monogram Doormat

Infuse a Little Color

You have so many choices when it comes to bringing a little color to your porch. If you want a bigger-scale project, I think tackling the front door with a new coat of paint is a gorgeous way to revive a porch. For your back porch, you could go bold with a colorful new dining table or simply infuse your favorite shades through candles and rugs.

It doesn’t have to be much color if you’re a fan of minimalism or have a neutral scheme, but a small pinch goes a long way. I personally adore a blue and white palette and mix both colors around all of my outdoor spaces.

Eastport Umbrella

Bistro Dining Table

Sunbrella Single-piped Outdoor Chair Cushion

Cord Stripe Outdoor Performance Rug

Include Plenty of Comfy Pillows

Just like your indoor pillows, outdoor pillows bring a touch of warmth to a porch. Without these accents, couches and chairs sitting outside might feel a little bare or look more like they’re in a store showroom instead of a happy, loving home! Cushions and pillows instantly change this, and give you and your guests a comfortable place to chill. With all the cute patterns and colors available, it’s another fun way to bring some vibrancy to your porch.

Ishani Printed Outdoor Lumbar Pillow

Cadyn Outdoor Pillow

Floral Diamond Outdoor Pillow

AERIN x Williams Sonoma Home Jane Outdoor Embroidery Pillow Cover

Warm Up Your Porch with Lights

Let your porch truly shine (no pun intended) by lighting it properly! You can instantly make a dark, dingy space feel more inviting with the right bulbs and fixtures. For around your front and back door, try wall-mounted sconces. Pendant lights and lanterns are also great for placing on top of tables or next to chairs. I think this is a serious boost to your curb appeal and adds functionality to your space, too. You’ll be able to spend much longer on a porch if you can see each other and your nibbles and drinks.

Summerland Outdoor Lantern

Dahlia Sconce

Summerland Outdoor Bell Pendant

Pure Metal Lanterns

Adorn Your Door With a Summer Wreath

Wreaths aren’t only meant for the fall and winter holidays. A summer wreath is a beautiful way to decorate your door or any wall around your porch. It’s also a chic way to bring a little plant life to your porch outside of your usual planters.

Try a succulent wreath, a ring laden with flowers, or a simple and sleek grass or woven option. There are just as many summery wreaths as there are design styles, so you’ll find a pick that works for you!

Faux Cream Lunaria Wreath

Fresh Ruscus and Statice Wreath

Painted Salal and Eucalyptus Live Wreath

Faux Olive Wreath

The post Summer Porch Decor Ideas That Will Spruce Up Your Space appeared first on Home of Malones.

When the weather is nice, there’s no better place to spend time than your patio. That’s why I’m all about finding outdoor patio decor ideas that make this space even more enjoyable to be in.

Now, I know that sometimes outdoor areas get put on the back burner when it comes to decorating, but it makes such a difference in your overall backyard layout. Even if your patio has seen a little more wear and tear over the last few years or hasn’t been cleaned up in a while, it’s amazing what a quick decor refresh can do.

After refreshing our backyard, I’ve found some personal favorites and outdoor decor recommendations that really make this exterior area a beautiful extension of your home. I hope these ideas are helpful and give you a little inspiration when it comes to sprucing up your own patio this season!

Outdoor Patio Decor Ideas

Upgrade Your Seating Areas

What’s a patio without the perfect chairs, loungers, and cushions? For a comfortable layout and one that looks like it’s been designed by an expert, you’ll want to get your seating right.

You can divide up a bigger patio area based on function. A larger couch or L-shaped sectional is great for gathering your whole family. A separate place with sun loungers or comfortable chairs is nice to have for relaxing. Then, you can create another area with a table and dining chairs for sharing meals together outside.

Huntington Wicker Outdoor Sofa

Outdoor Riviera Dining Chair

Huntington Wicker Chaise Lounge

Lucie Boucle Outdoor Daybed

Brighten Your Patio with Great Lighting

Summer is the season of more daylight, but it always helps to have lighting sprinkled around your patio when the sun finally does go down. It also allows you to spend more time outside on those surprisingly nice days in fall and winter. Plus, nothing adds ambiance like a beautiful light fixture!

I think a mixture of lighting options is best. For instance, you’ll want pendant or table lights for dining areas on your patio, string lights around pergolas, sconces for walls, and lanterns or accent lights for seating areas.

Carson Dome Sconce

Keyes Outdoor Pendant

Mosaic Cut Out Enamel Lantern

Clear Incandescent Globe String Lights

Add Decorative Touches That Feel Like You

If you’re feeling a little frustrated with a boring or basic patio, my best tip is to bring in elements that show your personal style. Patio decor pulls everything together and easily turns a standard patio into a beautiful one.

I reflected similar themes I had in my home out onto my patio and backyard area, which makes it all feel so much more cohesive. It helps to define your tastes in decor, too. Knowing that you like the look of coastal aesthetic over a rustic one, or prefer modern accents instead of vintage-inspired pieces makes it easier to shop for decor.

Boonville Coffee Table

Floral Block Print Outdoor Pillow

Laurel Wicker Tray

Veda Cube Planters

Hone In on a Timeless Color Palette

For my home, white is the primary color within my outdoor palette with touches of blue. It feels coastal, serene, and classic. Together, this creates a scheme that I won’t get sick of after some time. While you can really choose any colors for your patio, I recommend starting with a neutral base (like white, cream, gray, or beige) and then adding one or two accent colors.

Consider what the inside of your home looks like for inspiration. Or, look at your surroundings—maybe you’re near the ocean or your home is framed with trees—as these can be very inspirational when it comes to figuring out the colors and decor that you want!

Estelle Stemmed Wine Glasses

Blithedale Side Table

Resort Collection Round Designer Umbrella

Wilmette Citronella Candle

Organize Patio Must-Haves with Chic Storage

Storage and organization aren’t the most exciting topics, but they sure are essential for keeping a clutter-free patio! The good news is, you don’t have to settle for boring options. I’ve found trunks, baskets, towel racks, and hidden storage tables that add to the overall look of my patio rather than mess with the look I’m trying to achieve.

Pacifica Storage Trunk

Trapani Aluminum Towel Stand

Madaket Outdoor Basket

Modern Eco Outdoor Cooler

Add Comfortable Rugs and Mats

Forget scalding your feet on patio pavers or walking around on rough surfaces. With the help of an outdoor rug, your patio can feel just as comfortable as any other room in your home.

Layer a couple of rugs together or replace a plain doormat with something more colorful. Keep an eye out for materials that are specifically made for placing outside. These will be easier to clean and can handle whatever the weather throws their way.

Outdoor Performance Rug

Boat Stripe Rug

Scalloped Edge Braided Outdoor Rug

Frame Performance Doormat

The post Outdoor Patio Decor Ideas to Try This Season appeared first on Home of Malones.

As most of you know, we live on the water here in Florida, and to say that we lean towards the “coastal” aesthetic is an understatement! This beachy vibe seems to go with all seasons here, and many of us tend to decorate our homes with this style in mind. When the beach is nearby, it’s pretty tempting to do!

I am always a fan of a blue and white theme, as well. I recently had the opportunity to shop Walmart’s newest lines for the home, and they have really delivered this summer! Here are some of my favorite pieces in this collection. Many of them will be featured in my home year-round.

I especially love a coastal theme in my outdoor living space. I think that this wicker outdoor furniture set would be indispensable, and at a great price point! It will truly go with everything – just change up your accessories with the seasons or if you just want to set a different pace.

To add a quick touch of refreshing blue to your space, how about these washed denim floor poufs? Perfect to add a little bit of cozy comfort to a family home.

I really love this area rug. Yes, it is technically an outdoor rug, but I’ve always been a fan of saving my space from kids’ messes by using an outdoor rug inside! This pattern would look great in the front hall, kitchen, kids’ rooms – just about anywhere – and of course, would be a highlight of your outdoor living space.

Talk about coastal – I really like this lamp with a coral reef-shaped base. I love the neutral sophistication of the white color. They would be really striking as a pair, as well!

You all know that blue-tinted glasses go perfectly with many of my tablescapes. I have found these closely related water glasses at Walmart! Love the patterns of these, and they will go with everything! My wheels are turning for my next dinner party!

While we’re at the dining room table, I love these blue and white accent plates. The pattern is so classic and reminds me of many that I’ve seen for several times the price. I’ll definitely be using and re-using these!

I love a blue-and-white themed bathroom. The combination is just so fresh, clean, and spa-like. These striped towels would perfectly fit in just about any of the bathrooms in my home.

Finally, to add some interest and some greenery, how about this artificial palm tree, paired with a white planter? This would work well inside or out!

I’ve created a collage that shows all of my favorites in one place! They complement each other so nicely!

Shop my coastal favorites from Walmart here!

Let me know what you think! Are you a fan of coastal decor? Is it popular where you live? I think that even just a few touches will brighten the mood, in every season!

Thank you to Walmart for partnering on this post, and to my readers for supporting my blog. I have made all my product purchases, and all reviews are my own.

The post My Coastal Home Decor Favorites from Walmart appeared first on Home of Malones.

Here are your favorite home decor and organization items from 2021! You may recognize many of these from my tablescapes throughout the year. You all have great taste!

I love both of these goblets for a neutral addition to any tablescape.

You all know that I love these blue-tinted wine glasses! They are both classic and unique.

These napkins and this table runner are the perfect addition to a neutral tablescape, year-round.

This utility cart is a consistent best seller! I never run out of ways to use these.

Shop your favorites for the home, here!

The post 2021 Best Sellers | For the Home appeared first on Home of Malones.

It took me quite a while to narrow it down, but I am finally sharing a Christmas wish list of my own. I would love to find any and all of these special gifts under my tree this year!

Chloé canvas tote. Need I say more? What a gift! So chic, and goes with everything!

The Facial Oil by Thomas Grove contains anti-inflammatory ingredients and plenty of vitamins. Hydrating, soothing, and anti-aging – it’s the all-in-one product. I have heard so many wonderful things about this oil and can’t wait to try it for myself.

Vitamix Ascent Series Blender – I can’t wait to make smoothies with this! I have read so many glowing reviews – it is truly the best in its class!

Once you make the leap to a Le Creuset dutch oven, you won’t look back. The enameled surface provides such a smooth and even cooking experience, and it’s a gorgeous statement piece for the kitchen when not in use. There are so many beautiful colors to choose from – I know I can’t go wrong with any of these!

Floor to Ceiling Grid Gallery Wall – How striking is this grouping of frames? I absolutely love this look and the way it makes the room.

The Ember smart mug is such a game-changer for consistently and constantly hot coffee, for as long as you want to drink it!

I love these cobalt blue-tinted wine glasses – they go with so many tablescape designs and I would love to have another set!

I have been playing tennis more regularly over the last few months, and would love to carry this stunning bag! I love the classic color combination.

Shop my Christmas wish list picks here!

(insert link)

What do you all think? Am I missing anything?

Drop me a note and tell me what’s on your Christmas wish list this year!

The post My Favorite Things | Christmas Wish List appeared first on Home of Malones.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are quickly approaching, and I am so grateful to be hosting some out-of-town family and friends this year! As I prepare my spare bedroom and home for the holidays, I have been keeping my future guests in mind. I want to make sure that they feel right at home. Here are a few pointers that have been helpful in my past experience with hosting, and I hope they will help you as well!

This probably goes without saying, but this is a great opportunity to clean and organize your guest bedroom! Many of us (myself included!) are often guilty of using our guest rooms for temporary storage, especially over the past couple of years, when this space has not been used as often. Before crunch time begins, take some time to survey the room, get rid of clutter, clean, dust, and vacuum. Many people have trouble sleeping in beds away from home, and there is nothing better than walking into a guest bedroom with a beautifully made bed, great pillows and wonderful sheets. It makes all the difference!

I was recently gifted a set of sheets from Thomas Lee, and wanted to share my experience with you. After trying these sheets out for myself, I know that these won’t just go on the guest bed…I’ll be purchasing an additional set for myself! These sheets are unlike anything I have ever used previously. The comfort is amazing, and this company’s story is even more incredible (more below).

A comfortable guest bed is a top priority, but it’s just one piece of a successful and fun stay for my guests! When I am entertaining and preparing my guest room, I like to make sure that there are a few items readily available that will make them more relaxed in my home. I like to include the following items to greet my guests – both the practical details to ensure that their stay will run smoothly, and the thoughtful touches that will make them want to come back again!

A Practical Welcome

• Make sure to have a phone charger with easily accessible plugs nearby – have a power strip available, if necessary.
• Take a moment to write down the Wifi password, as well as any home alarm codes that they may need to know.
• Include a suitcase stand or a similar hard surface to open luggage.
• Speaking of unpacking, I also like to clear out a drawer or shelf, so that guests can unpack and store their belongings. We want them to make themselves at home!
• Extra blankets are always good to have nearby for a nap, or for those who may get a little chilly at night.
• A sound machine is a great extra item to have on hand, for those who may need some white noise to fall asleep.
• Have a basket of extra toiletries, fresh towels, washcloths, and a hairdryer displayed in or near the guest bath.
• Make sure that all of these items are prominently displayed in the room, so that the guests know right away that they are taken care of!

Fun and Thoughtful Details

• An arrangement of fresh flowers is such a cheerful and thoughtful way to welcome guests! I like to include a handwritten note next to the flowers, welcoming them to our home.
• Stock the bedside table with a couple of bottled waters and snack options. I love to include a few gourmet chocolates for a little indulgence!

Depending on their familiarity with the area, the length of the trip, and their personality, try to anticipate their needs and plan accordingly. If they would be interested, plan a few local activities!

If you are planning many activities over a busy time, try to have as many meals taken care of as possible (aside from reservations at your favorite restaurants, of course!). Your guests are there to spend time with you, and you want to have fun right alongside them! It is so convenient to have a breakfast casserole ready to pop in the oven, muffins and fruit available for mid-morning or afternoon snacks, or even a made-ahead meal ready for dinner after a long day. I recently posted about some of my favorite meals to make ahead. Click here for some ideas!

With that being said, be sure to plan for plenty of rest and down time if needed, especially if your guests have traveled a significant distance. Chances are, your guests won’t mind an opportunity to take a quick power nap during a busy day…or will happily take some extra time to lie in bed in the morning! They are on vacation, after all!

Here are a few facts about this brand and company that I want to share with you.

Thomas Lee sheets are made of percale cotton. Percale is a weave, not a fabric, and that weave helps it regulate the temperature at night. Percale sleeps cool and comfy, lasts a lifetime, and is truly luxurious. It is durable and gets softer with frequent laundering, if you can believe it!

I really enjoyed learning more about this company’s story, which truly makes it a no-brainer to make the choice to support them.

• Thomas Lee is woman-owned, operated and manufactured – staffed entirely by working moms. Let that sink in for a moment!
• Their management makes sure that all manufacturing employees have access to FREE healthcare and education.
• The percale cotton is grown right here in the United States, supporting over five thousand domestic farms.
• The products are sustainably manufactured, using recycled rainwater and windpower.

To read more about this incredible company, click here.

After trying Thomas Lee sheets for the first time, I know that my guests will be especially happy about their comfortable sleeping arrangements – whether for a nap or a good night’s sleep!

I love this product and company so much, that I would like to share it with as many people as possible, and Thomas Lee has agreed. They have graciously given me a discount code for my readers to use. When you are ordering online, enter the code HOMEOFMALONES at checkout, and you will get an amazing 25% off your first order! I hope that you will be able to take advantage of this offer, as you prepare for the holidays at your home!

What is your favorite way to make sure that your guests feel at home with you? I’m looking forward to a busy holiday season!

The post Welcoming Holiday Guests To Your Home appeared first on Home of Malones.

Paint colors can be such a tricky process, but with the exception of one little problem we had with a color (I’ll explain that more in a moment), we really had an easy time with this.  My decorator, Lacy Phillips,  presented me with some great colors and we were able to make the decisions pretty quickly.   You guys have asked several times on social media about paint colors, so I thought I would share it all here for you in one spot!

Here’s a look at all of our colors and the rooms or cabinets that we used them in.  Our Simply White is the main color throughout our entire house.  When they put the first coat of our paint on the walls, I basically walked in and cried.  It was terrible.  It had a strong tint of green to it.  I lived with this through the building process for a long time knowing it was not right, but then also really worried about what it was going to look like when it was right.  The short story is that it is a Benjamin Moore paint that our painters had Sherwin Williams match and it was incorrect.  I don’t know how often that happens, but they did go back and get the paint from BM and it all turned out SO.MUCH.BETTER!!  So, I just wanted to share that experience in case you have something similar happen.

Let’s talk about Simply White for a bit… it is a beautiful color.  I have been SO happy with the end result.  I will say that simply white is a warmer white.  I think there was a good bit of time at the beginning of our project that I was very worried if it was “white enough” for me.  I didn’t want a creamy white, I wanted a bright white.  Our trim is painted simply white and so is our cabinets.  It is important to keep in mind that those whites can look a little different too because it is a different type of material that it is painted on, so I found that it could look slightly different.  All in all, everything came together BEAUTIFULLY, but I won’t say that I didn’t sweat this part quite a bit.  So, do you best to do your homework.  I often times have a filter or have edited some of the photos on instagram, so the white may look brighter there. Look at the photos below and I will mention if I have edited any of the photos below.

Simply White

• All walls in our house with the exception of the ones listed below – Painted in Flat sheen
• All Trim in the house – Painted in Satin Sheen
• Our entire exterior of house
• Kitchen cabinets
• Family Room built-in shelves

Mellow Pink

• Molly’s Bedroom
• Girls Jack and Jill Bathroom
• Girls Bathroom Cabinets

Yarmouth Blue

• Laundry Room Cabinets
• Pantry Cabinets
• Office Cabinets

Van Courtland Blue

• Mud Room Cabinets
• Brodys Bathroom Cabinets
• Bar Cabinets

Wickham Gray

• Master Bathroom Walls
• Master Bathroom Cabinets

Soft Chamois

• Brody’s Bedroom
• Brody’s Bathroom

Blue Porcelain

• Outdoor Shutters

Woodlawn Blue

• Guest Bathroom Walls
• Guest Bathroom Cabinets

This first photo below has been brightened and edited.  All the cabinets, walls, trim and doors are Simply White in this picture.

The rest of these photos are from the first night we slept in the new house.  They have not been edited at all and it was dark outside.

This is Brody’s Bathroom in Soft Chamois.

The girls bathroom and cabinets in Mellow Pink.

My bathroom and cabinets are Wickham Gray.

Our bedroom walls and ceiling are painted Simply White.

Cabinets in our bar are painted Van Courtland Blue.

Simply White

Van Courtland Blue on our lockrs

Guest Bathroom cabinets on the right is painted Woodlawn Blue

The post Malone Maison | Our Paint Colors appeared first on Home of Malones.

I had plans to share this stuff with you guys months ago, but COVID and LIFE have definitely gotten in the way!  But if you follow me on social media, then you saw that we are currently installing the wallpaper in Madelyn’s bedroom; so I thought I would show you what her inspiration board looks like!!

I make my inspiration boards using Canva.com and use this site for most all of my blog collages and boards.   I wanted to give our interior decorator an idea of what I was thinking for each of the rooms in our house and I used these boards to show random items that I found, saved and liked.  That way I could show her what direction I was heading in each room and we could talk it out and let the rooms evolve from there.

So the first photo below is a look at Madelyn’s design board, but not necessarily all the items were using.  I don’t really have links for you on items, but just wanted to share the inspiration.

On this second photo below, I gathered the photos that I had found and loved that inspired me for the design board above.  This was by far my boldest idea of the whole house, but I just loved it.  I highly recommend using these design board ideas to really look at and plan a room.  It helps me so much to see all the items in one place and play around with different ideas and items!

All photos via Pinterest

Here is a look at her room while they are putting up the wallpaper! I can’t wait to show you guys the final product!  It looks better than I could even imagine!

I can’t wait to show you guys the final product once were moved in!!

The post Madelyn’s Bedroom Inspiration | Malone Maison appeared first on Home of Malones.

 Lighting has been one of the most fun things to shop for in the new house!  There are so many great lighting options and it can really make a big impact.  There was definitely a few fixtures that I have seen over the last year or two that I knew I had to use somewhere!  I was able to find places for a lot of them but even more that we didn’t have a place for.  I will try to share some of those below too! I have done my best to source lighting for you guys but since I am using an interior designer (Lacy Phillips Designs) on this project, there are some fixtures that I do not have a source for.  I will try to link as much as I can!

Guest Bedroom | Office (similiar)| Guest Bath | Entry way | Living Room | Master Bath | Playroom | Kitchen | Pantry | Laundry | Girls Bathroom | Mollys Room | Office | Dining (also here)| Madelyns Room (also here)| Flower Reading Nook | Bow Reading Nook

Living Room Lamps | My Closet | Master Bathroom Sconce (similiar) | Madelyns Lamps | Guest Bedroom Lamps | Stairwell Sconces | Dining Room Art Light | Mollys lamps (similiar) | Brodys Lamps | Master Bedroom Lamps

:: SHOP LIGHTING FAVORITES ::

The post LIGHTING | Malone Maison appeared first on Home of Malones.

It has been MONTHS since I have given you guys new house updates on the blog and I apologize for that.  You can read my first Malone Maison post here from September and I promise to take some more pictures soon of the house and do a new update.  I do update more on my Instagram stories and have them saved under highlights.  One is NEW HOME and I just started a new one called HOME DECOR that I will save more of the design elements to.

I shared on Instagram some of the toughest decisions we have had so far while building our current house.  These are some items that have to be decided on fairly early on in the building process.  One item that I did forget here is PLUMBING FIXTURES.  That is definitely are really hard one to and one that has to be decided at the VERY beginning.  It is weirdly one of the first decisions you have to make because of the valves that have to be used in the slab and framing process.  We are using a mixture of polished nickle, gold and chrome!!  eeek! The rest of these were all tough decisions for me too!! The thing is that I liked them all…so having to choose just one for my house was sometimes super hard.  But we went with our gut and some great direction from our builder and decorator and made the decisions and stuck with it!

O N E

Shingles vs Tin Roof

We didn’t get stuck on this one for too long.  Matt felt strongly about shingles and I was totally fine with that.  I do like the looks of a tin roof and for the type of style that our house is, you see a lot of houses with tin roofs.  But they look great with shingles too and I was totally fine with that.  Matt mostly doesn’t like the noise of tin roofs and I don’t think he particularly loves the look of them.  So that is totally a personal preference!

T W O

White Windows vs Dark Windows

This is another big one that you are seeing a lot right now and especially in the style house we are building.  When I say dark windows, they don’t have to be black.  They make some really pretty dark brown windows that I love too.  This was definitely one that I went back and forth on a lot.  One big thing to look at with this is whether you plan to have shutters or not.   A lot of times you see this dark window look with no shutters.  We have shutters on our house, so I took that into consideration.  Another big thing to think about is that when you go with dark windows, it means you have dark windows on the interior of your house too!! Now this is something that I see all the time and think is soo beautiful.  But it can make a pretty big statement on the interiors, so you just have to make sure that is the aesthetic you are going for! I don’t think there is any wrong answer here, but we chose white in the end because white is never going out of style.  Its just one of those classic things and we decided to keep it safe!

T H R E E

Inset Cabinets vs Overlay

Okay, this was a BIGGIE for me.  Matt totally didn’t care either way here and didn’t have much of an opinion.  He is a penny saver, so he may lean more towards overlay if he had to pick because it is the less expensive choice.   But, my main decision came from the fact that inset cabinets take away a lot of your cabinet space!  We do not have a HUGE kitchen in this house and I felt like we were already lacking a bit in the cabinet department, so despite the fact that I love the look of inset cabinets so much, I decided to go with overlay.   If you look closely at the photos below, the inset cabinets have the space around each of the drawers.  So you are losing inches on each side of the drawer by having it this way.  Hope this makes sense, but even though it is a small amount of space, it can be the difference of plates fitting in or not! When Jillian Harris did her remodel of her house, I remember that being her biggest gripe of her kitchen.  She did inset and she wished someone had told her how much space she was missing out on.

  F O U R

Marble vs Quartz

This was definitely a big decision that I had to wrap my head around.  I went to instagram and asked for everyones opinion and let it be known that there are LOTS of opinions about this topic!  My basic struggle is that I ABSOLUTELY LOVE marble and to me, nothing really replaces it, but for the sake of my marriage and my husbands sanity; I chose to go with Quartz.  It is beautiful.  It is called Farrow Quartz and its from Superior Granite in Pensacola, but it is not marble.  My husband can not handle the etching and staining of countertops and doesn’t look at them as a beautiful life being lived, but rather the imperfection!! haha. I dont know how else to describe it, but those of you that have lived with marble and know….then you know what I mean.  From what I have heard from some, Quartz is not indestructible either, so we may end up learning that along the way too.  I really don’t know what the answer is here, but I went for the safer option and I will happily come back and share my opinion once we have lived with Quartz.  We are using marble in some of our bathrooms and other areas of our new house that are a little less likely to stain, so I am happy about that.  In our current home, we have a Rhino White Quartzite which is stronger than a marble but still porous.  We have had our fair share of staining with this as well!  But it is beautiful.  Best advice is to educate yourself on the different stones the best you can and then decide what is import to you.

F I V E

Antique Brass Hardware vs Flat Black

So I chose these two options because these are the two that I really narrowed it down to, but of course you could also include chrome or polished nickel hardware in there too!!   So in the beginning, I had told myself I was NOT going to go with brass.  It was too trendy, Matt didn’t really love it, and although I really like brass, I just didn’t want it everywhere.  Well, then….I came across a house that I just fell in LOVE with it in.  Like, I just started lusting over all the antique brass hardware all over this house that I saw.  And I started second guessing my decision obviously.  My feelings on chrome and polished nickel hardware is that they typically just disappear in the house.  To me, they just tend not to get noticed which can be really nice sometimes.  The antique brass and the black are a little bolder.  And I was pretty sure I wanted bolder.  On one of our weekend trips down to Seaside, we stayed in a townhouse that I loved and they had the black hardware and I loved the way it looked.  That is pretty much what helped me make up my mind.  Its so crazy because most people would NEVER even think about hardware.  You don’t even think of it or notice it unless you are looking for it yourself during a build or remodel!!!  So don’t kill yourself over thinking it ! haha.

So I hope this helps you guys!!! And I hope the takeaway from all this is still that you can’t go wrong with any of your decisions even though it can be so tough to make them!! All these choices are beautiful and we just have to decide deep down what it is we want.  And sometimes even with that, we just have to pick one because we really like BOTH!!

Coming soon, I will share Paint Colors, Lighting Choices, Mood Boards that I made throughout the house (but then have been tweaked with my decorator), and Tile Choices.  We are currently in the trim phase of the house, a base coat of paint is up, and soon we will be putting in tile in the showers and tub surrounds.  So fun things are ahead and I will bring you along for the ride!

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