Home DecorThe Buffalo Bungalow Design Plan May 7, 2015I’m approaching this design differently than I’ve ever done before. When I designed our current house, I did go in with a feel that I wanted it to have. This time I’m getting a bit more specific. I’ve known for a little while before finding this exact house that we would be renovating and moving, so I’ve been giving design elements I wanted to try a lot of thought. Actually getting the specific house and knowing layout and some of what we’re doing has helped me nail down some of this too. In this “whole house” design plan, I’m talking about the feel I want the design to have, the colors I’ll use, etc. You’re not going to find very specific mood boards here for each room and details like what color the kitchen cabinets will be. All of that will come, my friends. Since we have such an open floor plan, I really wanted to challenge myself to develop ONE design plan for the whole house and stick to it. Each room will still be different with different patterns and elements, but I want to create a cohesive design that flows well. So, let’s move on with the plan, shall we? There will be some similarities to our current house, but there will be some big differences too. I’m really pushing my design boundaries on this one. I’m going for several overall goals in the feel of the house: I’m a sucker these days for graphic designs. High contrast pairings with both color and pattern are really appealing to my design eye. I’m hoping to make some bold, graphic statements in this design that really define rooms. My husband will be the first to tell you that I’ll choose aesthetic over comfort and practicality every day of the week. I really want to try to change that with this design. I’m bad about falling in love with a chair, bringing it home, and then later realizing it isn’t comfortable to sit in. When we host community group at our house, my husband always apologizes for some of my uncomfortable chairs. This must end! I want to create a beautifully designed home that I LOVE to look at, but that is also completely comfortable to lounge and entertain in. What good is a beautiful room that doesn’t beckon you to curl up with a cup of tea and watch a movie as a family? This one is probably an obvious one for me, but there will be rustic elements in this house. I don’t know that I’ll ever outgrow my love of lodge and rustic elements and my husband sure wouldn’t be happy if I did. There will be wood beams, chippy furniture pieces, and lots of rustic touches. I’m going for high contrast not just in colors and patterns, but also in textures and styles. I want to pair my wood beams with velvet tufted furniture and feminine chandeliers. I really love both of these design elements and as I started designing this house, I was sort of battling which direction to go in. Then it hit me, “Use it all!” I love collected, eclectic design and mixing these styles is headed more in that direction for me. If you’re a visual person like me, you’re probably going, “This sounds great, but what does that look like??” I hear ya. Here’s a little visual of how I’m going to carry this out. Brass and copper, wood, and tufting. That mix is killing me right now! Beyond just the feel, I’ve also developed a color palette for the ENTIRE DESIGN. Many of you have already guessed based on some inspiration I’ve shared that I’ll be using more color in this design. Well, you are right! As I began thinking about designing a new house, I do what all of us probably do. I took to Pinterest! I came across this image from one of my favorite designers, Jenny Komenda, and just stared at it for awhile. {via} It grabbed my attention and for weeks, I couldn’t get this image out of my head. As I started to breakdown and analyze what I loved so much about it, I realized it was the pairing of colors. The wall color here is Benjamin Moore’s Bavarian Forest, which will be coming into the design in a big way! This image inspired a color palette for this design that I am so excited about. I love that this room mixes two families of high-contrast colors, perfectly meeting my goal! I love the dark blue/teal and mint green paired with bright coral and peach. In bringing this color palette into our home, my goal is for every room to have elements of this. Every room won’t have all six colors and just these colors. All rooms will bring in additional complementary colors I’m sure, but I want each room to have an element of cool paired with warm. Having that pattern and these colors flowing throughout the house will give me that cohesive flow I’m after. While this image is super saturated, I’ll be using a lighter hand with these colors for the most part. They’ll mainly be accents, but I will have some bold graphic elements in these colors. There will still be some white walls in the house (I think it would be impossible for me to design a house with no white walls) with these colors layered on top, though there will be some colored walls and dark, moody rooms as well. For a little visual inspiration, here are some images that have really inspired where this design is headed. Obviously, I’m not recreating any of these exactly. Most don’t have elements of my color scheme and some have elements I don’t love. You’ll also notice that a lot of these spaces are super different, but each has an element that I’ll be pulling into the design (more will come on that as I share design plans for each individual room). Let’s get inspired! {via} Graphic, unexpected, and lovely. {via} I love the mix of styles here: the graphic tile floor, white tiled walls, black tub, and rustic wooden vanity. {via} Graphic tile, velvet tufted sofa, dark and moody. {via} Peach, red, and blue, and super cozy. {via} Those chairs, those moody walls, and high, high contrast! {via} {via} Cozy, cozy, and cozy. {via} Color pairings! Like I said, some of those are very different, but they’re equally inspiring to me and this new design! Any questions on where we’re headed with this overall design plan? Ask away! I’m creating mood boards and designs for each space individually now and will start sharing that soon!
Kristina says May 7, 2015 at 10:20 am I love this, but it makes me laugh! If you’d told me, way back when we were looking at design blogs in the fireplace room in Tryon, that you’d design a house with so much color, I never would’ve believed you! 🙂 But it totally makes sense after seeing your journey. Can’t wait to see it all come together! PS I’m going to SC for a month in June-July and would love to come up and see you, even if it’s only lunch since I know you’ll be super busy. Just a heads up-I’ll email you later. Love you! Reply
Lindsay says May 7, 2015 at 10:48 am Haha, I know! I’ve continually liked more and more color 🙂 It will be added on top of a lot of white and neutrals too, though. Would love to see you! Reply
Kari @ The Sunset Lane says May 7, 2015 at 11:14 am Oh my gosh! I love all of it and just bought an old church to redo and that Jenny Komenda room is the inspiration for my bedroom and I totally agree that the whole house needs to be cohesive! That’s what I am planning out. I feel like most of it is in my head, I just have to start working toward it 🙂 Also, I picked up a gold tufted velvet couch from goodwill for $20 and it look similar to the one in the pic above. I couldn’t just leave it and my new place is too small for it….I know you’re far away and I am in Kansas, but seriously if you want it it’s yours!! I already pulled the skirt off and we’re using it as a prop for my brother’s wedding June 6th. 🙂 The couch pic is on my instagram account and I tagged you in it! Reply
Katrina @ hurricane sandwich and the casita says May 7, 2015 at 12:40 pm This is such a gorgeous direction! I was glancing at some of your recent pins yesterday, and fell in LOVE with that “spanish kitchen”, that includes that lovely yellow sofa in the reading nook. Beautiful! Reply
Megan says May 7, 2015 at 1:36 pm I think it’s interesting that the color palette in the Bungalow seems to work perfectly with the decorations you have for Rosie’s current nursery. 😉 Looking forward to seeing how it all comes together! Reply
Jessica says May 7, 2015 at 7:10 pm Oh my! This is right up my alley. I love all your photo inspirations and some of the photos chosen are by my absolute favorite designers….This is what I envision when I purchase my house. I am getting so excited. I feel this style is SO classic in so many ways, but yet trendy. I love it and I cannot wait to see it come together! Reply
Corinna - For My Love Of says May 11, 2015 at 7:17 pm Loving your inspiration pieces! A few not quite my cup of tea, but I’m anxious to see how you incorporate those elements with your style. It’ll certainly be stunning! Reply
Kristin @ Bliss at Home says May 15, 2015 at 10:29 am This has to be so fun for you friend! To design a whole house at once for yourself 🙂 That is the stuff of dreams! xo Reply
zandra zuraw says June 1, 2015 at 9:53 pm I so appreciate your vision! I think giving all this thought to your home is the best part. This particular post is just so inspiring because we get to see how your vision has come together in your head. Thanks! Reply
Wesley says April 14, 2016 at 2:23 am Hi, I love some of your ideas here. I’m remodeling my bathroom, and really like the graphic tile on the photo with the black tub and wooden vanity. Where did you find that tile? Thanks so much!! Cheers Reply
Lindsay says April 18, 2016 at 11:29 am Hi! That isn’t my photo, so I’m not sure. If you click the “via” below it, it will take you to the source. Thanks! Reply