I can’t believe it’s May already.. This year is flying by. We have two months until we move into our home and it seems like a ton to still get done. The past weeks have been so busy. In the midst of everything my beloved wisteria had the best bloom in years.. Thank you California rain!
As luck would have it, that was the week the painters came to paint the eaves black to match the new black roof and gutters, which I am loving. They very kindly pulled the wisteria off and hung it in a large wrap. Can you believe it? They put it back after no harm done. I was so happy as this vine is 40-50 years old and I am trying my best to preserve it with all this work being done!
I am mostly finished with choices for-tile, cabinets, lights, floors and I am so glad. My head is swirling all the time with this stuff. My days go like this- call the closet person, get back to the cement guy, meet the garage door people, check with the tile store, view the floor sample, get back to the cabinet guys, order those lamps, return the ones that didn’t work, think about bath mirrors…and so on!! I would be lying if I didn’t say I’ve had some anxiety.
There are SO many building choices and websites. You can pull a whole home together on something like Build.com and Restoration Hardware. I am one of those people who may do better with less choice. I love a LOT of things and styles. The anxiety comes from worrying about whether I’ve made the right choice and if it will all look good pulled together..Luckily now a lot of design is changing and there really is no ‘perfect’ look -just your own. I keep reminding myself that, and that I am going for my own unique home, but still I stress.
So look guys…this is the interior..Fireplaces and walls gone, drywall almost all up. This is the front view out. I love the large French doors to the little patio we are building. I plan to put my dining table in front of these doors.
This is the back of the house looking toward the new fold away La Cantina doors and our fireplace. Window seats will be on either side and to the left is the kitchen.
My biggest challenge with this house has been sticking to my look and style for this home. Not everything has to match, but I would like it to flow. I love when a home has a thread of continuity about it and the rooms feel connected in some way. This exterior of the house will be white with black details, wood floors and cabinetry, light stone accents, white walls and aqua blue in a few places. The house has no trim or moulding on the upper walls or windows and has contemporary feel inside.
This is the front right now. You can see the new path I tried to model after an offset path from my grandparent’s 1960’s house and the new patio to the left.
The front entrance has a portico that will have a little bench on one side for packages. The door will be glass and the sidelights also.
This is the back and you can see the new dark roof and gutters. This will be all stuccoed and painted white. Deciding on that color is next- hopefully something not stark.
Here is what is all over my house..tiles and cabinetry and flooring. I think you can see the look I’m going for here- whites, light oak, and stones.
This is the fireplace material below. I love this Italian tile and I think it will look modern, yet still natural. I cannot believe the gorgeous stone looking tiles that are coming from Italy. This is supposed to be like onyx and has about 400 different variations so using it looks just like the real stone for a lot less.
These two are the flooring for the mudroom/laundry/pool bath and the beautiful blue tile is the background for the wall in the pool bath part. I wanted something fun as the pool is just outside the door and it’s mostly used by swimmers. This tile has the slightest shimmer and is like the sun on the water. I love it!
I used this image for inspiration for that pool bath and I am sorry I have lost the source. I am having a vanity built like this with two floating shelves where I can wedge pool towels between. I like the modern stacking style of tiles and the wall mounted faucet too.
I am also excited for the wet bar which I decided to use something called Yesterday’s Glass from Jeffery Court on the backsplash. It’s like those 1970’s mirrored tiles that had that smoky look that my parents and Max’s both had. I hope this will be a little glam and reflect light. The upper shelves are floating and the lowers are light wood. I still have to figure the hardware, but there is a round hammered nickel sink and a dark pewter toned faucet.
I wasn’t sure what kind of garage door to go with. I like the glass ones, but they seem more modern than my house is. I did not like the metal ones many garage door companies have. I like a very clean and streamlined look and a few neighbors have that. Turns out my neighbor Vivian designed her own and the other neighbors like it so much they also used her design.. Below is Vivian’s house and the look I want, but in black. Isn’t it modern and sharp? I think it’s perfect for my transitional style.
Then there is the driveway and I love this look below and am trying to recreate something similar, but offset like my walkway and with stones between..
I have always known I wanted a glass front door for the light. This is where I am conflicted -do I go very modern like the photo below or classic like the next photo? Max worries about the openness to the front, but you can always add a curtain that pulls over the windows and sidelights if you need more privacy.
I am set on having the door a color and this below is the front runner..
I think Palladian Blue is a good foil to the golds and wood tones that will be in the house, like these chairs shown above with it.
Great Barrington Green is also cool for the door of a white California house with black accents..
Speaking of color, these new Century Paints from Benjamin Moore are so gorgeous. Have you seen these? Any of these would make a statement on a door!
Thanks for following along. I would love to hear what you think and any tips you’ve got for remodeling choices.
Next week I’ll share more house things like wallpaper, my trip to So Cal and my lunch at the most beautiful San Francisco home.
Kim
You’ve made some lovely choices here. I especially love that Palladian Blue choice for your front door. It will be stunning. I too like the idea of a glass front door but wonder about the privacy factor as well. Good luck with your project. It looks great!
Celia thanks! Palladian Blue seems to have everyone’s vote. We live on a court so have a lot of privacy, but I am investigating those curtains. Cote de Texas was just showing them on her blog about Texas flipped homes…I guess the steel and glass doors are big there and many use a single curtain pulled to one side that can be pulled across the whole door and sidelights? You are pretty exposed with it all..
How exctiting, Kim! I am sure you are getting anxious, it is coming along nicely!
Tiffany thank you!! I am getting excited..It’s taken so long I’ve even forgotten about some choices. It’s taken 2 years to get to this. 🙂
Love your choices Kim. Palladium Blue is a gorgeous color…one of my favorites I keep bringing back for one of my bathroomd and dining area.
Thanks Lisa isn’t is just a lovely blue? I would love to see photos if you use it too. I have to say as much as I love the green, blue is just so pleasing to everyone. Maybe because we think of the sea? Send me pics if you have them! xx
I LOVE THAT YOU THINK YOU WILL BE GETTING PACKAGES AND THE UPS MAN WILL THINK TO USE THE CUTE BENCH!
AS for the garage door THAT IS THE BEST I HAVE EVER SEEN!SHE NEEDS TO PATENT IT!THATS A YES!
Looks like YOU have everything under CONTROL!
I’ll be down in AUGUST for a VIEWING!!!!!!!
XX
Elizabeth, I know I cannot wait to get a package there! I though it would be nice and I am planning on having the stucco guys put a little tile I bought in Positano with 2 cats in that area.. After all it is Los Gatos! Isn’t her garage door perfect? Gosh I just feel lucky she doesn’t mind me copying.. Okay plan on August or sooner! xoxo
Los Gatos = CATS!!!!!!!!
I NEVER MADE THAT CONNECTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
XX
Coming along beautifully! I’m loving your choices!!
Can’t wait to see it finished!
Hey thank you Linda, so nice of you. It’s been a huge process and I have learned a lot. Fingers crossed it all come out okay.
Awsome garage doors you wan to copy.And your patio doors look great. Can’t wait to see it completed.
Wow! Your house will be gorgeous and would love to visit after all complete! Will be so beautiful!
Rona, So nice to hear from you! You are so kind. I hope it all works out! yes absolutely you guys have to come over. We are overdue for a gathering. Hugs to you! xoxo
Hi Kim,
I enjoy seeing your home construction updates. We are remodeling our lake house and surprisingly have a lot of the same aesthetic. I love your tile choices and that front door color is beautiful. I am not a matchy-matchy type of decorator, so I have been trying to embrace my transitional style as the perfect style for me.
Even back in school, your style was graceful and classic. (Which was not easy in the 80’s!)
Thanks for the inspiration!
Best,
Stacey
Thank you so sweet of you. Sounds like we have the same style! I agree I am not a match type either. I am so sorry I missed your comment. xo
I have been in search for a new front door color and I will be going with Epidote —- my house is beige 🙁 … no opportunity to change due to HOA but I CAN do the front door….Great colors all.
Thanks so much! I will look at that color! The door alone makes a statement right?
Hi Kim, I can see already that your house will be absolutely gorgeous! We used Palladium Blue in a bathroom in a previous house and it was lovely (now that you’ve got me thinking about it again, we should use it in this house too). I think it will look stunning on your front door in your California setting.
Can’t wait to see more!
Thanks so much Patricia!
What a beautiful home you’ll have Kim, I’m so excited for you! I love your choices of colours, texture and style. It’s all coming together perfectly! I was a little like Max about visibility into the house from our front door and chose solid wood … although I love the style of the door and the natural wood, I regret not having light and sunshine streaming into the hallway…. The Palladium Blue is a gorgeous shade and I think the idea of incorporating the cat tile from Positano is inspired! It’ll make you smile every time you see it!
I remember how tough it is making so many decisions in such a short time frame and the pressure to get every detail exactly right ! Like you, I’mdefinitely better with less choice 😂 …,Thanks for sharing your adventure… looking forward to your next post!
Rosemary xxx
Wow!!! Love your windows!!! I love how you didn’t do any trim…. wish I would’ve done that!! Cannot wait to see it all come together!!!
We had Palladium Blue on the front door of one of our listings last year. Honestly it was my favorite thing in the house (which was beautiful throughout). https://gailthomsonstephenslater.realscout.com/homesearch/listings/19767857
Kim making these decisions is so difficult! Everything is always more complicated when there is so much choice. I think you’re doing a great job and you’re thinking about everything which might be driving you crazy but the results will be beautiful. I absolutely love everything you’ve chosen so far. The tile! And so much progress has been made. I too love the Palladium Blue for your front door.
I have a glass front door which is original to the house, and like your husband I was worried about privacy. I like the idea of a portiere, a curtain to pull across, but we don’t have space for that, our front door opens into a small foyer which then opens into the foyer proper. I ended up replacing the glass with a custom frosted piece with a beveled edge, it’s much thicker than what was there and allows the light to flow through but of course it’s completely private.
I needed a thicker glass too because of Scout, she loves to jump on the door when someone rings the bell. That still drives me nuts but at least I don’t worry about her breaking it!
How are you doing in your rental? Won’t it be wonderful to move back home?
Thanks for the update, it’s so interesting and I just love this renovation, your home is going to be gorgeous. xxx
Dani I love that idea of the portiere! I bet your door looks great. xo
Hi Kim – I love all the choices you’ve made so far. Your home is going to be stunning. There is so much anxiety around making final selection … so many all at once … and I’ve had sleepless nights in the past contemplating potential disaster only to have everything work out beautifully. I love your idea of a UPS bench and I’m going to copy it! Your neighbor, Vivian, can have a new career as garage door designer. Hers is such a classic, clean look – love it! And, you can’t go wrong with Palladian Blue. I’m considering it for our shutters. It works for all home styles. So excited to see everything come together and you’re move in date is right around the corner! xo