What You Will Learn

• Minimalist interiors embody the principle of “less is more,” focusing on simplicity and functionality.
• Core principles of minimalist design include simplicity, functionality, and intentionality in selecting decor.
• Combining minimalist aesthetics with styles like Scandinavian and Japanese enhances tranquility while reflecting personal taste.
• Incorporating sustainable materials supports eco-friendliness and adds natural beauty to minimalist spaces.
• Adopting a minimalist lifestyle can lead to improved focus, mood, and financial savings by reducing clutter.

We Want to Hear From You!

As you consider the principles of minimalist design, what aspect resonates with you the most? Is it the simplicity of forms, the easy maintenance, or perhaps the tranquility it brings to your space? Share your thoughts below:

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Recap of Key Points

Here is a quick recap of the important points discussed in the article:

• Embrace Simplicity: Focus on minimal forms and clear functionalities, eliminating unnecessary clutter.
• Utilize Neutral Colors: Use a limited color palette, including whites, grays, and soft earth tones to promote tranquility.
• Prioritize Functionality: Ensure every piece of furniture and decor serves a specific purpose within the space.
• Incorporate Sustainable Materials: Use eco-friendly materials like bamboo, reclaimed wood, and natural fabrics to enhance your minimalist design.
• Foster Open Spaces: Design layouts that facilitate easy movement and create a sense of freedom.
• Explore Blending Styles: Combine minimalism with other design styles, such as Scandinavian or Japanese, for unique aesthetics.
• Commit to a Minimalist Lifestyle: A minimalist approach can enhance focus, improve mood, and simplify maintenance in your daily life.

The fabric for the foyer bench came in this weekend, and I don’t think I like it. Well, to be clear, I love the actual fabric, and as soon as I took it out of the package, my first thought was that I’d love to wash it and make a throw out of it. When I had my interior decorating business, I had an office in a local furniture store downtown called Spice, and they carried beautiful, washed velvet throws and bedding. I know that washing velvet isn’t really something you’re supposed to do, but it really softened it up and made for some beautiful bedding.

Anyway, I do have enough to make a throw out if it, which is a good thing because I don’t actually like it on the bench in the bedroom foyer.

I don’t really know what it is about it that I don’t like. Too dark? Too busy? Too green? I can’t put my finger on it. And I certainly don’t like it with the tea towels that I bought to make one of the pillows. So I thought I could just keep the two pillows I already have, but I don’t like those with it, either. It just seems a little too blah.

Of course, I will be hanging this picture on that wall above the bench. But even at that, it still seems too blah for me.

So I’ll washing that velvet fabric and turning it into a throw that I’ll either keep by the recliner in the bedroom or in the living room. I’m always wanting a comfy throw in the winter. Or I might make some throw pillows out of it for the bedroom, although I think the pattern might be a bit too bold for the headboard fabric. I’ll have to wait and see on that.

In the meantime, I went rummaging through my fabric stash to see if I could find anything that would work. I didn’t really have anything on hand that would work for the bench, but I did find this scrap of fabric and decided to try it out just to see if I liked the overall pattern and look. The color itself is all wrong. It’s too blue to go in a teal foyer. but I do love the pattern and how the more geometric pattern looks with the colorful tea towel (i.e., future pillow cover).

And I really like how it all looks with the picture that I plan to hang on that wall above the bench.

So, since we no longer have any fabric stores in town, I went back online to see what I could find in a teal and white geometric pattern. This time I went straight to Spoonflower since they have well over 750,000 designs from thousands of independent creators. I just searched “teal and white geometric” under fabrics, and then narrowed it down to a few favorites.

It also comes in this green color, which might be a fun contrast to the teal grasscloth wallpaper that I’ll be putting on the upper walls in the foyer and bedroom.

If I stick with the teal and white, I think this one might be my favorite. It’s a fun pattern, and it has just enough white to keep it light and interesting without the white being too stark. At least, that’s how it looks in the picture. We’ll see what it looks like when I get the sample.

It also comes in this pretty green.

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Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.

Beautiful window treatments add subtle elegance to your home as if they’re part of the architecture. However, the wrong treatment—whether it’s a faded jacquard valance above the kitchen sink or mismatched, pleated drapes—can make your space feel cluttered or outdated.

Whether you’re starting small with a fresh fabric or rethinking the entire look of a room, knowing which styles to retire is the first step toward a more natural, contemporary space. Here, we turned to interior designers for their take on the treatments that date a room and what to use instead.

Heavy Drapery

Few elements can date a room faster than heavy, ornate drapery paired with oversized valances.

“[It] overwhelms a room and blocks the natural light that so many homeowners are craving,” says Jasmin Reese, principal designer of Jasmin Reese Interiors. “The key is execution. Using the same fabric for both cornice and drapery, playing with multiple tassels, or experimenting with a sculptural cornice silhouette can transform the look from old-fashioned to an artful statement.”

Matching Roman Shades

For most spaces, however, Reese recommends a lighter hand. “I use a lot of colorful, sheer panels in my projects—just make sure they go from the floor to the ceiling no matter the height of the window,” she says. “This elongates the space.”

Roman shades that perfectly match upholstery, bedding, or other fabrics may have once been the hallmark of a coordinated room, but designers now see them as outdated.

“That kind of overly staged look feels flat and predictable,” says Jeanine Bogart, principal designer at Epic Interiors. “Today’s clients want a mix that feels curated rather than cookie-cutter.”

For a cleaner, more contemporary approach, Bogart recommends materials and colors that allow the window to shine. “Our design aesthetic tends to be more clean-lined, so we often recommend mesh roller shades in a contrasting neutral or white—something that’s modern and lets natural light in and maximizes the view,” she says.

Cheaply Made Fabric

Nothing dates a window quite like curtains that feel insubstantial or that look cheaply made.

“When the material reads as flimsy, it makes the interior seem less elevated,” says Brittny Button, founder of Button Atelier. “Don’t use anything that’s straight polyester without it being a blend.”

Button also highlights the importance of lining. “Always make sure they have a lining. This is a failsafe so that the curtains have a presence, and it protects them from the sun.”

Drapes That Are Too Short

The placement and length of your curtains have a bigger impact on a room’s feel than many homeowners realize. Drapes hung too low can make ceilings seem squat and rooms feel compressed, while curtains that end well above the floor look unfinished and careless.

“Curtains should reach the floor and ideally have a lining. This gives them presence and lets the panels drape properly,” says Button.

Button emphasizes that hanging drapery from ceiling height instantly changes the room’s proportions. “It lifts the feel of the room and draws your eye upward,” she explains. Panels that lightly skim or pool on the floor create a sense of drama and refinement, while also connecting visually with the space.

Curtains That Don’t Function

It’s surprising how often curtains are installed purely for decoration, leaving homeowners with “illusion drapes” that don’t actually block light or provide any privacy. While they may look pretty, panels that can’t fully close fail to serve the primary purpose of window coverings. In today’s interiors, functionality is just as important as style.

Button recommends a relaxed Roman shade as a practical and stylish option. “[It] fills the need without requiring a complete drapery overhaul,” she says. This approach perfectly balances aesthetics and usability.

Traditional Blinds

Traditional vertical and horizontal blinds were once the practical choice for just about every home. These days, though, they can make a room feel dated and a little too busy. “They often disrupt the flow of natural light and create harsh lines that don’t complement today’s softer, more architectural interiors,” says Bogart.

For something that feels both clean and functional, think beyond the traditional slats. “We often recommend upgrading to automated Lutron shades,” she says. “They offer a clean, modern look with the added benefit of convenience and smart-home integration.” The result is a more seamless, elevated window treatment that works with the room, rather than against it.

If your heart is set on something more traditional, especially in a historic home, then Bogart says blinds can still have their place. “They tend to darken a room, which is great if that’s the mood you’re going for,” she adds. “We love them for libraries, studies, or moody dens where that cozy, intimate feel makes sense.”

Bedroom Paint Color Indecision

Hello friends. In the four years we’ve lived in this home, our bedroom has gone through quite a few changes. Nothing really planned out, just the kind of updates that happen over time as you live in a home.

We’ve rearranged some of the furniture, added curtains, swapped out bedding and rugs, changed the light fixture, found our dream bed on Facebook Marketplace (still so happy about that one!), and even put in new floors when we were installing the rest of the floors downstairs—they honestly made the biggest difference. Bit by bit, the room keeps evolving.

Lately, though, we’ve been talking about (finally!) painting the walls. We haven’t touched them since we moved in! We actually still like the color we have (it was here when we moved in, called Bunny Gray by Benjamin Moore) — but it definitely needs a paint refresh.

So now we’re in the “what color should we paint it?” stage, which is somehow fun and the most impossible part. Ha! Why is paint so hard?

Since the bed (in a pretty shade of robin’s egg blue/green) is staying, that’s our starting point. We want to find a wall color that complements it — something that looks good with our floors and natural lighting (northwest facing and a bit of morning sun), but also doesn’t compete with the bed color.

If I were up for a bigger project, I’d be tempted to go with a wallpaper or creamy white tongue-and-groove paneling. Both would look so lovely with our bed! But paint feels like the simplest next step…practical, needed, and something we can tackle without turning it into an unnecessarily big project or expense.

We always seem to circle back to blue in this room. Every time we think about going in a different direction (like a soft neutral or even a muted green) it just doesn’t feel right. There’s something about blue that makes this space feel peaceful and happy.

And that’s really what I care about most when decorating. Not just how a room looks, but how it feels to be in it.

I did consider green, but since our bed already leans a little green, blue feels like a softer, prettier contrast.

Yellows, soft neutrals, browns, rusts, salmons, or pinks could look very pretty, too but somehow they haven’t felt right to us. Maybe I just haven’t landed on the right one.

That said, creamy white paneling would be my dream look. Maybe one day! For now, we’re still testing blues. I can test other options if none of these feel right.

We want something cozy but not dreary…just enough depth to make the bed stand out, but not so dark that the room feels heavy.

The tricky part is that a lot of blues we like are too close in tone to the bed. I don’t mind a tonal look, but I also don’t want the bed to disappear. I sampled Wales Gray, Eventide, and one called Morning at Sea (love the name!) that was a deeper blue that caught my eye, too — it might be a bit brighter than I want, but it could be stunning. I’ve seen it in other homes and it didn’t really seem bright at all. Sometimes you just need to see the color on your own four walls before you can really tell.

We’ve also thought about going lighter than the bed similar to the mood we have now, but so far, nothing has felt quite right.

I think this room wants to feel like a happy beach cottage, but it is a small room so it could feel cozier with a slightly moodier “NW beach cottage” tone.

I also considered “Beach Glass,” which we already have in our living room. It’s such a soothing shade! I’m just not sure if it would feel different enough from the bed, but it might be worth testing a swatch or two.

And here’s a fun experiment — we actually asked ChatGPT to show us what the room might look like if it was a slightly moodier shade of blue! It didn’t get my bed color quite right (and it made a whole new Finnegan ha), but still fun to see and really helps to visualize options.

Oh! And I also asked what it would look like if we swapped out our current chair for a black rattan one. I love how it ties in with the black Chinoiserie cabinet we already have —and makes our heirloom cabinet feel more intentional.

I really like it like this mood, so if I could get the color right this is a possibility.

But then for a fun twist we asked if it could make striped walls in shades of blue.

Check it out!

Striking, yes? The other elements in the room or the shades of blues could change, and the width and contrast of the stripes could also be adjusted if we wanted something softer.

Really nothing that is in the room has to stay, except the bed! But it’s preferred to be able to work with at least some of what we have.

Surprisingly, my husband loved the idea of stripes! I know stripes aren’t everyone’s idea of a relaxing bedroom, but we don’t mind a little pattern.

Stripes could make the room feel cozy, layered, and a bit more visually interesting…especially behind the bed.

Sometimes patterns seem to have the opposite impact than you think, rather than “energizing” the mood, they somehow can calm the room and make everything in it feel more snug. But of course, it’s definitely personal preference!

On a positive note, we’ve painted stripes before (we, meaning my husband!) so he said this would be a totally doable project.

Here are a few variations and walls with blue stripes just for fun, including one with the bed in view.

Below is a slightly softer stripe contrast.

It’s fun that you can vary the colors a bit too, just to see how the mood could change! I also can’t wait to make our hallway more charming since you can see it from our room, so it’ll be fun to work on each space in time.

Now, back to reality, we have to make a decision.

I have saved tons of inspiration photos for rooms I’d like in all different colors and styles–but sadly we can’t use all of the ideas all so I have to narrow it down :).

I’d love to hear your thoughts! What color or pattern would you choose? Would you stick with the color we have? Try something totally different? Get bold with a pattern?

I asked this question on my Instagram stories awhile back and got lots of good ideas.

Obviously I won’t make everyone happy–not everyone will like what I choose and that’s OK. Not everyone will share my taste or can even know what will actually look or feel best in the room without being in it.

But it is fun to hear everyone’s thoughts and perhaps there are colors or ideas we haven’t considered yet.

By the way, if you ever want to see what your space might look like with a few fun changes, we offer AI room makeovers in our HomeBody community. They’re so fun! If you want me to make one for you, come join us — I’d love to see you there.

Click here for my bedroom sources

Sometimes I’ll go two or three months without looking at my list, and then I’ll remember it and wonder if I’ve gotten off track or if I’ve stuck to my general plan. So when I realized a couple of days ago that it had been quite a while since I had referred back to the list for 2025, I was actually pleasantly surprised to see just how much I’ve gotten done. And while I still won’t get everything on the list finished (since there’s less than three months left in the year), I think this year could be the closest I’ve ever gotten to finishing a home goals list.

The one thing I know for sure won’t happen this year is tearing down the sunroom. At the beginning of the year, it looked like this…

I got quite a bit done on my workshop at the beginning of the year. It started off the year looking like this…

And today, it looks like this…

Obviously, the biggest items on my list for the year were the different areas of our bedroom suite. I tackled my closet first, and it’s the only area so far that is 100% finished. I still can’t believe that it started off looking like this at the beginning of the year…

And other than the flooring installation, which I hired out, I turned that room into this…

The only thing on my original list that I ended up not doing was building cabinets or shelves above the washer and dryer. And so far, it has worked out just fine not having additional storage there.

And I am determined to get these other two areas done by the end of the year. My new change in mindset helped me tremendously yesterday. I felt so motivated, energized, and focused all day long by keeping my eye on the prize — a beautiful, finished master bedroom suite. So if I can keep that up for the next 2.5 months, I will definitely get it done. But time will tell.

The foyer has come a long way from what it was at the beginning of the year. (Sorry, I don’t have a new picture since I painted the bedroom and added trim. I’ll work on getting new pictures this weekend.)

And then there’s the bedroom. It has also come a long way since the beginning of the year. Again, I’ll have new pictures by the end of this weekend with all of the trim finished.

So I’m actually feeling pretty good about my progress this year, and if I can stay motivated and keep my eye on the prize, I think I will look back on this year as a very successful and productive year. I have 2.5 months to make that final push towards the finish line. I look forward to checking back on this list at the end of December and seeing just how well I did.

UPDATE: I forgot one last category on my 2025 home goals list! I had some house exterior projects on that list as well.

Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.

October 11, 2025

Stripes are always in season! I have a little folder full of home items and I began to notice a trend…stripes! Here are some of the bold interior striped pieces that have been catching my eye…

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After growing up in this top-floor flat in Mumbai, India, with his parents, grandparents, and brother, Vineet Vora has a lot of fond memories of the home. There were the cricket games he played down the long hallway with his cousins and next-door neighbors. There were the times he helped his mother with Diwali prep by ferrying pickles, peppers, and papadum wafers out to the terrace, where they would sit to ferment or crisp. And then there was the swing on the balcony that Vineet loved to access by jumping through the living room window. 

Do you dream of a light and bright space for gathering with friends and family? Or would you prefer a moodier vibe set up for evening cocktails and at-home date nights? Your kitchen paint color sets the stage for the style of kitchen you want to achieve, and the choices go far beyond your basic neutrals (though, when you do choose a neutral, there are nuances to consider!).

To help you figure out the right deep, layered green-gray, the perfect subtle light blue, or the white with just the right undertones, we asked interior designers for their go-to colors. Here are the kitchen paint colors they swear by in their own work.

Doing a master bedroom refresh recently, I just may have jumped back to the jewel tone years of the 1990’s! I didn’t really plan on doing that in our bedroom, but that’s sort of what happened and I’m liking it a lot. You probably did jewel tones back then too and I didn’t see myself going back there, but I’ve chosen some moody jewel tones for a bedroom refresh, so I’ll share with you how it started and where it is now.

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When Mark and I moved in I got this light aqua coverlet from Tuesday morning. It’s a Peacock Ally brand and is nice so I used it as my starting point and choose the rug, bench and pillows from that. I had the drapes made locally and they go well with all my colors in here. I got the shams from a brand deal with The Inside, a company that makes custom pillows and other home decor pieces. We’ve been here 8 years now, so I started to think about a change. Also of note, I do have an opinionated husband, so if it was just me decorating the bedroom for myself, it would be way more girly. It would probably be more in the vibe of our guest room, a really happy space, but it’s definitely more girly. Mark doesn’t go for girly as you an imagine. So, I’ve always kept him in mind as I’ve decorated, especially our bedroom and bathroom and I run things by him before I make decisions to make sure he’s happy with it too. That’s just how we do things in our house.

A couple years ago, we added the brick wallpaper and that added another layer of cozy to the room. I may eventually change out the lamps, I just used what I had and they used to be in my old dining room. They look decent in here, but I’d like to change them eventually. I saw some Euro pillow shams from Pottery Barn that popped up somewhere, I wasn’t really looking, they just caught my eye. And voila, I ordered one to see what I thought and I loved it, so my original thought was to mix the pillow sham with what I already had, but you know how that goes! It doesn’t usually work out that way and it didn’t in my case either, so I decided to go moody and just go with it. I found a new coverlet and shams and a new quilt for the bottom of the bed, all because of these new Pottery Barn shams.

And here’s where it is now. The shams started it all and even though the color worked with my original coverlet, it was just too much of a difference in mood and depth. It needed a darker coverlet, so I found a pretty slate blue. I really am liking the darker and more moody feel for fall and winter so the plan is to keep this through winter and change back to the lighter coverlet for spring and summer. It will be nice to change it out, something I’ve never done before.

Jewel tones all the way with the new set and I’m loving it. I’ll share where I got everything. The new pick stitch quilt and shams are from West Elm. This particular color blue is no longer available, but there are a few other colors. It’s very nicely made. The velvet pillow is from Patricia Nash. I did a lot of shopping online to find the right combo and I’m really happy with how it all came together.

The Pottery Barn shams have a little of this wine color in them, so I pulled it out for the accent pillow.

The Pottery Barn pillows that captured my attention have such pretty fall colors. I loved the blues, greens and khaki shades.

That velvet embossed pillow is very yummy.

I think it all  looks nice with the wallpaper too.

I found this cotton quilt online at Home Depot and ordered a Queen size to layer at the bottom of the bed. It has all the colors I needed and I love the addition of the stripe.

It adds just enough accent and looks great with the rug too. All of this needed to work with the rug too and I’m happy with how it flows as well.

It’s going to be a nice change for our bedroom and it really does feel cozy in here and will be a welcome change for fall and winter.

Daisy likes to get in on my photoshoots. I never thought I’d go back to the 90’s, but here we are! Ha! Hopefully a modernized version of jewel tones this time.

Looking at the bed through the wall mirror.

Just a reminder of the other side of the room, my vanity table.

And here’s the sitting room again, that adjoins our bedroom. I still love this color drenched Moody Blue space that we finished a few years ago. It all still flows well and feels like a cozy retreat. Thanks for stopping by to see the changes I made!

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I try to visit our local Indy Home-a-Rama luxury home tours every year, and some are definitely worth it more than others!

There were seven homes in the tour, and two of those I thought were so incredibly well done. Probably two of the most beautifully designed and decorated homes I’ve ever seen. 

I’ll tell you my favorite at the end (you may be surprised!), and I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. I think you are going to LOVE these beautiful photos — it was fun for me to even go through them and edit!

There are a TON of pictures, even after whittling them down. So sit back, grab something to drink and enjoy this feast for your eyes! 

Home-a-Rama house No. 1: Builder, Custom Living

I usually share the front exterior of these homes, but honestly I wasn’t overwhelmed by either one. The interiors made up for this though!

The first house was built by Custom Living and I was so impressed with the decor. It was incredibly soothing and thoughtful. 

I think lighting is the hardest design aspect to nail, and this unique fixture in the dining area was perfect in this space: 

The scale was perfect for these tall ceilings and large room. 

This whole home was decorated with such warm colors — lots of soft greens, mauves and rich wood tones. It fit in perfectly for this time of year, but would easily transition throughout the year.

The living room with the pitched roof and tall stone fireplace were stunning: 

The wall of windows obviously let in a ton of natural light, but they also act like the art of the room — this space didn’t need a lot of decor. 

Maybe this room felt so comfortable to me because we have the exact same furniture layout in our family room! 

This kitchen…oh my. It was gorgeous! I was taken with how small it felt, but that could have been due to the wood planked ceiling and beams. Now that I think about it, none of these houses had HUGE kitchens like I’ve seen in the past. That is interesting.

The other star of this room was the absolutely beautiful burled wood kitchen armoire: 

The doors open on both the kitchen and pantry sides, as well as more drawers in the pantry: 

This was one of the most beautiful custom pieces I’ve seen — I loved the grandeur of it, as well as the functionality!  

The wood ceiling continued into the pantry, and I loved the metal drawer fronts for fresh produce: 

If you’ve read here for a while, you know how much I love basements! This one did not disappoint! This basement bar was quite grand, and I loved the island right there for people to gather: 

We are always dreaming of how to add a wine room like this, but first we’d have to figure out how to afford enough wine to fill it :

LOVE the checkered floor in this smaller space!

The family room area down there had a long table with stools behind the sectional for tons of extra seating: 

I really loved the built in benches on either side of the television, but I’m not sure how much they’d be used. 

This bedroom was so incredibly sweet: 

The floral wallpaper was a beauty, it had warm green and dusty pinks in it that I think would work for a guest room as well as a girl’s room. 

They carried the same wallpaper into the ensuite bathroom: 

I found this bathroom to be so soothing and peaceful. Actually every. single. bathroom in this house was SO well done…I was so impressed!

This one had a greenish/gray wall color with the same mauve stacked shower tiles: 

That floor tile is wonderful and the warm wood of the vanities were the perfect finishing touches. 

The marble trim around the main bathroom shower was such a unique touch: 

I’m not sure what I think about the tub in the same room as the shower — what do you think? 

The reeded detail on the front of the bathroom vanities carried through here as well. The dark wood and bright brass combination looked so good with the cooler floor tile and counters: 

The warm tones continued into the laundry, with a dark dusty pink wallpaper that matched the large penny tile floor: 

Notice the tall baseboards matching the cabinets — such a great design detail. 

And finally, this house tour ended with a very cool mud room. The metal door fronts not only look great, but let some potentially stinky sports or school gear air out a bit: 

The cabinets were a deep wine/purple color — just lovely! 

This one is another one that grabbed you the second you walked in the door. It was an immediate feeling of quiet luxury, but also warm and welcoming. 

The herringbone brick flooring set the entryway apart from the main living areas. I didn’t realize the double wood doors were to a coat closet until later in the tour:

I thought that was a beautiful detail that could be DIY’d as well. 

This kitchen as another stunner, with a similar (but simpler) hood vent over the stove: 

Those circular sconces are repeated in this home and I LOVED them. 

This wood cabinet in the middle of the built in fridge and freezer was so lovely — there was so much detail (those sconces!) that I really enjoyed: 

The functionality of every detail was thought out — the doors slide back so they’re not in the way. The small sink was very small but also super helpful when prepping coffee or drinks. 

The REAL stunner in this kitchen area was the pantry though. I loved the arched doorways and the view: 

I would never have thought to add windows to a pantry, but wow what a difference this makes!

The brick flooring and arches continued through this space: 

The design was impeccable — not overdone at all. 

This family room was smaller than most, but still plenty big!:

I can appreciate the additions like the warm wood beams and recessed wood bookcases — they made the room feel approachable and cozy: 

The bedrooms and bathrooms were the star of this home as well. This view when you walked into the main bedroom made me gasp:

This gorgeous seating area bump out was a beautiful detail as well: 

This is a great example of how molding completely transforms a space — many of you may have a similar bump out like this that can be elevated with simple wall trim. 

The bathroom took my breath away as well. This tub area with built in shelves looked like it was straight out of a Nancy Meyer’s movie: 

I mean, can you imagine! Absolutely gorgeous! 

This plaid tile in a ensuite bathroom was so unique: 

Albeit brave…it was made up of thousands of teeny tiny square tiles that I would not want to clean! 

The powder room was dark and moody with forest wallpaper and I LOVED it: 

Surprisingly, most of homes didn’t have pools in the backyard, and I was shocked at how close each house was to each other. This home did have a pool though, and by far had the most beautiful exterior living areas. 

My favorite was the pool house with a laundry room and bathroom (so smart), along with a bar. The arched doors with windows were so quaint: 

Those accordion windows are awesome too! 

That wall brick carried through each exterior space: 

This house had a smaller bar area (still plenty big!) in the basement, but the living room was plenty spacious: 

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more beautiful home gym. I don’t think I’ve ever even considered a home gym beautiful at all! This one had wood details and beams everywhere and was incredibly relaxing: 

I can’t remember if this room was a laundry room or additional pantry space (there were a lot of rooms!), but I loved how the arched detail in the stone backsplash made this room feel so high end: 

I’d love to know if this detail costs a ton to cut. If it’s not crazy expensive I think it’s a great design detail to add to a kitchen or bathroom as well. 

And finally, this home had a raised upstairs playroom that was so fun! I’ve seen this done a few times over the years the years and always love it:  

More of those round sconces and tons of molding! 

There was a comfy sitting area up there for the kids, as well as a craft table and snack bar that I thought was so cute: 

WHEW!! Are you still with me? I told you it was a lot, but weren’t they awesome? 

Can you guess which one was my favorite? The second home voted as the winner by attendees and I can see why! My favorite was the first though — it was so soothing and all of the details were so well thought out. It just felt more my style.

I gathered a ton of inspiration from all of the homes, and I’ll share some more pics from the remaining homes soon. Can you believe I didn’t even include about 12-15 pics from these two house tours? 

Let me know your favorite in the comments!