Happy Tuesday, friends! It's another big day here on {long distance loving} :) I finally get to share with you something that {cv} and I have had up our sleeves for a few months now! So, drumroll please:
Crazy right?! I finally feel like we're becoming "real" adults! We've got our name on a lot in a lovely little town called Bristol, Rhode Island. Though we don't plan to start building until late next year or early 2013, I've already got my eyes set on the design for this house. {It's no surprise either--I dreamed of being an architect back in the day!} We have a fairly blank canvas, but these four ingredients are definites:
Example: my bff, {rd}, lives in a beautiful new home in Denver, but they didn't build it. One of the things she says she would change would be to move the laundry room to their second floor with all the bedrooms. When she explained this, it made total sense!
Any little words of wisdom like these will definitely help us along in the process! We want to make sure we're fully prepared as we begin this journey--and I know there is no better audience to ask :) Even if you're not a homeowner yourself, I'm sure you have some advice on what does and doesn't work...which is exactly what I want to hear. I'm giddy with excitement, but I want to make informed decisions!
this is so exciting! bristol is beautiful. since i live in one of providence's older homes, i know i'm always craving more closet space, built-in shelves, and a working fireplace. those are just the first things that come to mind. congratulations!
ReplyDeleteWow congratulations!! That's so fantastic! One thing we always wanted but never had was a mudroom. They're such practical little spaces ad can be so chic at the sane time!
ReplyDeleteHow exciting! I would love to be able to design my own house one day! I totally agree with having the laundry room on the same level as all of the bedrooms. One thing I wish I had in my house - heated tile floors. :)
ReplyDeleteOk, please don't think I'm a total freak but...high sinks! My parents always had high sinks and now that I don't I can't stand it. So much nicer to not have to bend down so far! But on a more design-y note, I go with a mudroom!
ReplyDeleteHow exciting! My husband and I are moving back to Texas and are going house hunting later this month {no time to build but I WISH!}. I would definitely say that granite countertops with a lot of space are necessary. I have white countertops and not enough space now. I feel like I'm constantly cleaning around the clutter! Also, don't forget about closet/storage space. All of your belongings add up easily and you'll need somewhere to put them. I love MG's idea about about a mud room! Have fun and good luck!
ReplyDeletegrowing up in Texas I have developed a love for wrap around porches and now cannot imagine living without one!
ReplyDeletecongrats!
emily
oh my goodness! this is so exciting because you can plan exactly what you want! :) i would love to have a real live laundry room with space to iron and organize. i would also love an island in the kitchen with stools! and a big, open living room!
ReplyDeleteHow exciting! I am a really big fan of open spaces and natural lighting, so that would be my suggestion ;)
ReplyDeleteI was raised in a home with a fireplace. The house my husband and I own now does not have a fireplace and I really miss it. Even if you don't use it, you can place some very pretty candle arrangements in the fireplace for year round decoration! I remember my mom would place twinkle lights in ours during the summer when we would have a party and it was so pretty!
ReplyDeleteI also am a big fan of darker colored hard wood floors. Our home is very old and has the original hardwood floors in it. We are about to begin the arduous process of ripping up the old carpet and restoring/refinishing the old wood that lies underneath!
Congrats on designing your own home! What an amazing feeling!
Congrats! That's super exciting, especially because you get to pick out everything you want in your new home! Personally, I can't wait to have heated bathroom floors :)
ReplyDeleteA big pantry and a big closet, for you!
ReplyDeleteHow exciting for you guys!!! I'd definitely want a fireplace!
ReplyDeleteA practical/functional kitchen that encourages community! I love when I'm at a friends house and we can all hang out in the kitchen comfortably. Sharing cocktails or decorating cookies, its nice to be in there together without being over crowded! The kitchen is really the heart of the home :)
ReplyDeleteSo funny that your friend suggested having the laundry room on the second floor, that was going to be my first suggestion! Why on earth do they always put them downstairs when all the laundry has to travel down to it! So silly!
ReplyDeleteAs far as building the house, we did this back in 2003 and I'd say watch the builders every step of the way. Making your presence known kind of ensures better craftsmanship.
Oh and get a practical pantry. The one I have in my house right now I hate a little. It looks like a closet, not a walk in and the shelves are deep for storage, except that makes it difficult to find things. And I suggest in the pantry have drawers for smaller things or things that don't work easily on shelves like 1/2 full bags of rice or nuts. We ended up buying those white tupperware drawers and putting them on the bottom shelf in my pantry and while they work great, it would have been nice for them to be built in.
I'm sure this list could go on and on! Email me if you have any other questions. The building process was a long one but totally worth it to have my dream house!
First of all - congrats!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun topic... Let's see, agree with the kitchen pantry and heated bathroom floors the others mentioned. I love your porch photo. I DREAM of having a porch someday. Hardwood floors are a must! Now for a suggestion: concrete counter tops. I know you said granite, but have you ever considered concrete? Search the internet for some photos and you will see that it can look very chic!
Have fun!
Wow!! Congratulations!! I'm so happy for you :) I bet you two are going to have a blast planning this together. Congratulations again :) xoxo, eliza {Check out my Creative Couture giveaway at http://asteroid-325.blogspot.com/2011/11/my-first-giveaway.html}
ReplyDeletewe bought our new house in it's final stages of being built so we didn't get to customize much, just carpet and paint and landscaping. i wish we would have….we'd get a 3 car garage and make a bigger kitchen with plenty of counter top space. also, for eco purposes i'd have quartz countertops instead of the black granite (not a huge fan of the black). quartz takes pieces of granite not used and grinds them into pieces and makes a conglomerate. it's quite gorgeous and looks just like granite. same price too. more importantly though, think about what kitchen appliances you have and want to store and make the cabinets accordingly. custom cabinets are SO much better than what builders use.
ReplyDeletei can't wait to see the progress!!
SOOO exciting! Congrats : )
ReplyDeleteMake sure there is lots of storage in the kitchen with a spacious pantry! And I think outdoor living spaces are important too! Congrats on the new project...that really is HUGE! :)
ReplyDeleteSo exciting for you two! Congrats.
ReplyDeleteFor me, a HUGE fireplace in an open family room is a must. And a dream of mine has always been to have a farmhouse style kitchen. Rustic woods and of course a large white farmhouse sink!
For you, some heated floors might be a good idea being up north :)
Oh my goodness! How wonderful congrats!! My mom said that if she could do it again she would ensure that all of her kitchen cabinets were functional (aka not having to reach super far in or to far up so she could find everything) and to have an island for more prep space. Something I need is a bigger closet! Some things I want are a big jacuzzi bathtub and outdoor space, be it a patio or a balcony! Have fun planning!
ReplyDeleteThat's so exciting! Congratulations! My dad just moved into a house with built in bookshelves around our fireplace. It's absolutely perfect and I love it!
ReplyDeleteMy dream home would have a fireplace, large porch, built in book cases, and a dishwasher. No particular reason other than I like those things (and hate washing dishes). And big closets. I don't know if that's helpful or not for you, though!
ReplyDeleteI really love the idea of a two way fireplace. Probably between the living room and dining room. But if you do a google image search, it shows one between a bath and a master - which would also be pretty amazing. Have fun with the wish list creating!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! This is such exciting news!
ReplyDeleteI would want a lot of closet space, an up to date kitchen, and lots of natural lighting. Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteI would love a shower with two shower heads! Also one of those bathroom sinks that looks like a wooden cabinet, not just a freestanding boring old sink!
ReplyDeleteGotta be careful with that laundry room thing because if your washer floods you will flood your whole second floor! (my dads an architect and he always advises people against doing that for that reason!)
Congratulations on getting a new house! Thats so awesome!
AHHHH! so so excited for you and the mister! okay so essentials: large laundry rm w storage, double sink in the master, walk-in closets.. all that standard stuff. i am obsessed w my moms new kitchen --she has white marble counters and they are gorgeous! xo
ReplyDeletewoo congratulations! you should definitely get a fireplace :) those things are super cozy, especially with the cold new england winters
ReplyDeleteyou definitely HAVE to keep the porch! My dream is to have a porch similar to the one you pictured.
ReplyDeletehttp://sunshinelifelove.blogspot.com/
Congratulations! How very exciting.
ReplyDeleteMy parents actually have two sets of washer/dryers--one set in the basement laundry room and smaller stackables upstairs in a bathroom closet. It's nice to do small loads upstairs, but with kids and large loads, sometimes it's nice to have a larger space a bit more out of sight. (I think it's also for the flooding issue.) I also love throwing a load in the dryer before bed, and it's nice to have that far a bit removed from your bedroom. :)
I think if I were to build a house I would be terribly overwhelmed by all of the fabulous possibilities! I think I would have to hire someone to bring ideas to me, but a final decision would be so hard! I had a hard enough time just decorating my bedroom, which I've redecorated 5 times in the past 5 years! Your ideas are great though and can't wait for more updates!! xox
ReplyDeleteI would do a brick wall in the living room... and have you ever thought of honed granite? That's what we have and I really like it- it's not too over done, so it still feels like my kitchen is a little different than the typical model home style kitchen :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! A few things...
ReplyDeleteI love farmhouse kitchen sinks that provide deep and wide area to wash dishes - it's so much nicer than the shallow or split sinks! Plus they come in all kinds of rustic, chic, and fancy styles!
Build your house in a position on the lot that minimizes window views of other homes. This really makes you feel exclusive!
As a random note, if you get a fridge that has an outside water dispenser, make sure your glassware fits in it first!
{av}, how exciting! Bristol is so darling, and I know this house will be gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteCongrats!!! My husband and I will be house hunting in RI, in about 1 1/2 years! So exciting. It's so great you are going to get to pick every detail!
ReplyDeletehttp://2anchor.blogspot.com
No carpet, no carpet, no carpet. Carpet just isn't as easy and quick to clean as concrete or hardwood! I have carpet in my condo right now and when I have a "real" house that will be the first to go!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Nicole - no carpet!! I've never bought or built a home but carpeting just seems dirty to me; I feel like you can never get it completely clean. And plus, hardwood floors are just so much prettier :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the house!!! I can't wait to hear more about it!
I'm so jealous! I would want an office/blogging/craft room. It wouldn't have to be big, but preferably with awesome windows! Also, I've always wanted to live in a house that has a mud room!
ReplyDeleteYay! Mr. M & I just bought our first house this August. I absolutely love everything & if I could change anything...
ReplyDeleteYou MUST have a fireplace.
A kitchen/dining area that flows together with a lot of seating. This is something I love about our house.
Do not go unnecessarily big. That means more to clean and the home looses a cozy feeling. :)
Hope that helps!
Love, Leigh
I could not agree more about your must haves! I am obsessed with HGTV. Don't forget a bay window, stainless steal, and crown molding ;)
ReplyDeleteCongrats! So exciting!
ReplyDelete1. Natural light
2. Big/wide countertops/island
3. Lots of storage
4. Open spaces (i.e. a kitchen that opens up to the dining room)
Thank goodness for Pinterest...
Congratulations - that is so exciting!!
ReplyDelete- Sara @ Gameday Stylist
www.gamedaystylist.com
I'm so happy for you! I would recommend....lots of windows and BIG closets! :D
ReplyDeleteAw, congrats! My mom always talks about loving her attached garage for winter!
ReplyDeleteyou HAVE to have a porch and the one in the picture is adorable! congratulations on the opportunity! so exciting!
ReplyDeleteCongrats! Such an exciting chapter in your life!
ReplyDeleteI like-love our current home, but it's definitely not our forever home. If I could design and build our house I would want: big porch, huge kitchen with an island, vaulted ceilings (I LOVE the vaulted ceilings in our house-- I'll never go back to regular ceilings), walk-in pantry, walk-in master closet with built-ins, a utility sink in the garage, sink in the laundry room, thick moldings around doors and windows, tons of natural light, and a 3-4 car garage. If you go with carpet anywhere in the house, go for quality, not the price.
This is so exciting! BTW, so glad to have found your blog!
ReplyDeleteJust checking blogs from yesterday.... CONGRATULATIONS AV! As you know we are in the midst of this as well for our LI house.... Has been so fun but overwhelming. Will think about and get you notes asap. BUT FOR NOW, SO HAPPY FOR YOU GUYS!!!
ReplyDeleteIf you haven't heard of http://www.houzz.com/ DEFINITELY take a look.... It's inspiring and they have the most beautiful ideabooks for homes. You can search SO specifically to get real home ideas.... Lots of inspiration - beware! haha!
ReplyDeleteCONGRATS that is amazing!! I would definitely say that you need to have a dishwasher! My current house didn't have one when I moved in and it drove me bonkers until I got one a year later. And a tip: don't sweat the small stuff ;)
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to hear more!
how did i miss this post?! congratulations! i don't know if you're planning a long-term house with kids,etc... but you NEED a "great room." they are just a necessity!
ReplyDeleteThat is so exciting! I'm sure you home is going to be beautiful! My two suggestions are this. 1) Have a linen closet in each bathroom. Seriously, they are worth it. You can store cleaning stuff, towels, sheets, bathroom necessities, etc. in one easy to find place. 2) If you plan to have kids in the future, make sure you can see the backyard from all of the main living areas (kitchen, living room, etc) since that's where you'll be most of the time. It'll let you be able to see them playing without having to be out there with them.
ReplyDeleteWowzers! What an exciting opportunity for you both! Sounds so dreamy. I agree about the laundry, having it upstairs with the bedrooms makes complete sense! I wish we had a screen door - our front door is SO beautiful but I like having it open wiht a screen to keep the bugs out. We do however have a screened in back porch so I can't complain too much. Let's see, what else...be sure to add a shed! We don't have a garage or a shed so unfortunately for now, our stuff has to be stored in the screened in porch (which isn't that great of protection but we're in a pretty safe spot, as long as I didn't just jinx that). And a fence! YAY!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteof course you need lots of guest bedrooms for your friends :) but in addition, i love free-standing bathtubs! I am a huge fan of bubble baths, and the shower/bathtub combo just doesn't cut it. My parents just re-did their bathrooms and they put in a beautiful shower with the separate bathtub. I'm so excited to see the plans for your new home!
ReplyDelete