Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

  • Shop Our Houses
    • Our Current House
    • Our Richmond House
    • Our Beach House
    • Our Duplex
  • Before & Afters
    • Our Current House
    • Our Previous House
    • Our Beach House
    • Our Duplex
    • Our First House
    • Our Second House
    • Our Showhouse
  • DIY & Decorating Tips
    • Most Popular
    • Home Improvement
    • Painting
    • Cleaning & Organizing
    • Crafting & Art
    • More . . .
  • Painting Projects
  • Plants Guides
  • Shop
    • Our Fav Home Finds
    • Our Lighting Line
    • Our Books
    • Book Club Picks
    • Black-Owned Businesses

Young House Love » House Crashing » House Crashing: Elegant And Fresh

| By Sherry Petersik | March 13, 2012 | 286 Comments

House Crashing: Elegant And Fresh

We shared a smidge of Kirsten’s amazing house in last week’s Portland post just to get you excited, but here’s the whole House Crashing monty for ya. The exterior of her and her husband Kyle’s house is a rich gray color and the porch has the most amazing over-sized white corbels on either side of the door (note: house numbers have been changed to protect the innocent).

Kirsten Front Door

Here’s a shot o the outside of the house from further away (wish we had been able to see it in all of its spring/summer glory when more is in bloom).

Kirsten Exterior

When you walk inside, there’s a charming little entryway directly across from the door between the dining room and the living room. It’s such a sweet (and functional!) area that Kirsten squeezed into the room. They were actually made by a local woodworker (she said it saved her lots of money in comparison to some ready-made systems that she saw) and the awesome giant N is from Anthropologie.

Kirsten Entryway

Aside from immediately going crazy over everything from the awesome paint colors (this room’s Benjamin Moore’s Copley Gray) to that genius oversized map (from Schoolhouse Electric, by the way), we just snapped our way around her house – oohing and aahing the whole way.

Kirsten Living Angled

The wood-burning fireplace actually works (so cozy) and Kirsten mentioned that the patterned rug from Crate & Barrel has been an awesome choice since sometimes a bit of soot or ash can get on it down at the end there, but it blends right in. Oh and that mirror above the fireplace is a craigslist find.

Kirsten Living Straight On

This wood-chest turned side table (found on craigslist!) was such a fun pairing with the colorful ikat chair from Urban Outfitters.

Kirsten Living Trunk Sideta

Oh and the coffee table was a wedding gift that a number of relatives went in on from Crate & Barrel.

Kirsten Living Coffe Table

Directly across from the living room is the dining area, complete with a cool slightly arched doorway…

Kirsten Dining From Living

… and an awesome fixture from Ballard Design.

Kirsten Dining Room Full

Everything from the thin black frames on that back wall to the table made from reclaimed wood that has special meaning to Kirsten and her hubby Kyle (it’s from a barn that was taken down in his hometown of Sweet Home, Oregon) had us threatening to move in on the spot. Oh and the paint color in here is Quill by Olympic.

Kirsten Dining Room Table

For more on those frames and the art within them, you can check out Kristen’s blog here (the prints have a really interesting origin, and the frames were garage sale finds). Even the little console table behind the dining area was really sweetly accessorized. I remember telling Kirsten that she has a serious knack for decorating, as in: she should do it full time – and I meant it!

Kirsten Dining Room Buffet

Check out their amazing kitchen! It used to be a narrow galley kitchen (where those hanging pendants are was once a wall). Kirsten and her husband got their wood counter handcrafted by a local woodworker for a steal (a serious steal- like a few hundred dollars for the entire thing, including the hole for the sunken cooktop).

Kirsten Kitchen Full

She said they had repainted the walls quite a few times, just to get the perfect color – and this putty color (Benjamin Moore’s Rockport Gray) was the bee’s knees. I loved how rich it made the cabinets look without feeling dark at all.

Kirsten Kitchen Counter Clo

Here’s the sweet eat-in area on the other side of the room. Is that yellow poster the bomb.com or what? It’s from here (and the amazing yellow peppermill is from Anthropologie).

Kirsten Kitchen Bfast Nook

Oh and I had to share this shot of a small staircase right off of the kitchen that leads to an exterior door. Kirsten wanted to dress up the stairs without spending a ton, so she just used Benjamin Moore’s porch and floor paint (in White Dove and Van Cortland Blue) along with a stencil to give them a pick-me-up.

Kirsten Staircase

Here’s the guest room, complete with a charming metal bed and the coolest old wood dresser we’ve seen in a while.

Kirsten Guest Bedroom

It was totally something you’d see at Anthropologie for a cool grand, but it was actually a free hand-me-down that Kirsten inherited, painted, hated the paint, and then stripped and sanded. Isn’t that an amazing “accidental” effect that she ended up with? It’s so weathered and cool. Oh and the drawer pulls are from Anthropologie and the wall color is Behr’s Pebble Stone.

Kirsten Guest Bedroom Dress

Here’s the backyard, which was so lush and green thanks to all that Portland rain. That little deck that you see is off of the kitchen, and there’s a fence and some pretty bushes behind where we stood to take this picture.

Kirsten Back Yard

All in all: a super charming house, with a super charming owner. Thanks so much for inviting us to crash your house Kirsten!

Kirst Front Door With Sherr

For more on Kirsten’s paint colors, click here, and for more on her house/neighborhood, click here. And click here just to check out her awesome blog in general. Now let’s play the what’s-your-favorite part game. I am completely obsessed with the giant map in the living room, the dining room chandelier, and the wood trunk in the living room. And of course John wants to fight me for the map, and also loves the yellow sign in the kitchen along with the wood counter in there. Your turn.

Psst- Check out over thirty more House Crashing features right here.

More posts from Young House Love

Filed Under: House Crashing

Fab Freebie: Tile Shop ‘Til Your Drop
Our Family Trip To Hawaii

Comments

  1. Misty says

    March 13, 2012 at 5:24 pm

    Really love the map in the living room. Might have to get one for myself. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  2. amy says

    March 13, 2012 at 5:26 pm

    Love her home! Beautiful colors! She seriously is good at decorating!

    Reply
  3. James Olsen @ Home 4 The Heart says

    March 13, 2012 at 5:50 pm

    Ok I realy need to get the wife to look at that kitchen thats a color scheme I could get behind

    Reply
  4. Nicole says

    March 13, 2012 at 6:26 pm

    UGH, LOVE IT!
    In no particular order, I love:
    -The built-ins in the front living room around the fireplace
    -The painted stairs
    -The moss growing on the tree in the backyard…omg, Portland!

    Reply
  5. mp says

    March 13, 2012 at 6:46 pm

    I love the wood countertop! My (eventual) kitchen reno will be on a serious budget, and as a result I’d been considering wooden countertops. So glad to see this one and have my leanings validated!

    And John and I are going to battle over that map. Too cool!

    Reply
  6. Beth C says

    March 13, 2012 at 7:01 pm

    What a gorgeous house! I especially love the way the kitchen island wraps around the bump-out in the wall. Very well done!

    Reply
  7. Megan says

    March 13, 2012 at 7:08 pm

    This house is amazing – I’m totally loving the huge white corbels, we are in the planning stages of painting our house exterior and I love this color! So many cool things to look at :).

    Reply
  8. Julie says

    March 13, 2012 at 7:23 pm

    This is my favorite House Crashing you’ve done. I LOVE every room and feel that I could move right in and make myself at home without any major changes at all, and hardly any minor ones. Now I am going to study it and try to figure out how I can duplicate what they’ve done in my own home to make it more me!

    Reply
  9. Lindsey says

    March 13, 2012 at 7:46 pm

    WOW! what an amazing house… I love the paint colors used throughout!

    Reply
  10. Kristyn M says

    March 13, 2012 at 8:31 pm

    Do you know where those yellow and white curtains that are in the kitchen picture are from?

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      March 14, 2012 at 9:14 am

      I linked to that fabric a ways back in the comments. Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

    • Mara says

      March 14, 2012 at 2:13 pm

      How about the curtains in the dining room, do you know where they are from?

    • YoungHouseLove says

      March 14, 2012 at 3:47 pm

      No idea – here’s hoping she drops in with that info!

      xo,
      s

  11. Amber says

    March 13, 2012 at 8:37 pm

    Hands down my absolute favorite crash you guys have done. I don’t even know how many items I pinned…

    Reply
  12. Sandy says

    March 13, 2012 at 8:40 pm

    I love the painted and stenciled stairs, especially the paint color.

    Reply
  13. Maryann says

    March 13, 2012 at 9:46 pm

    Beautiful. All of it. Everything.
    Please tell me where to get the white bed table in the guest room. I’ve been searching for one to no avail…

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      March 14, 2012 at 9:11 am

      Here’s hoping she drops in with that info soon!

      xo,
      s

    • Kirsten Nieman says

      March 14, 2012 at 12:20 pm

      Hi Maryann! It’s just an old hand-me-down table that I painted, so I don’t have source info for you. Hoping you find something similiar though:)!

  14. Heather says

    March 13, 2012 at 10:16 pm

    Beautiful house, great colors! I love the print of the US in the living room. Any idea where it’s from?

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      March 13, 2012 at 10:34 pm

      Yep, it’s from Schoolhouse Electric.

      -John

  15. brianne says

    March 14, 2012 at 12:18 am

    There are so many things in this house that are similar to ours. I guess thats what happens when you’re both in the PNW and interested in design. Next time you’re in Seattle, give us a ring ;)

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      March 14, 2012 at 9:06 am

      Sounds like a plan!

      xo,
      s

  16. kaylan says

    March 14, 2012 at 12:53 am

    my favorite thing? the grey walls. all of ’em. but the whole house is totally my style. i’m almost done painting our apartment (varying shades of grey!) so i’ll be looking back at kirsten’s blog for decor ideas. thanks for this house crash – it’s beautiful!

    Reply
  17. Vicki says

    March 14, 2012 at 1:43 am

    Gawd, what a lovely, warm-feeling home! So perfect in so many ways.

    Reply
  18. Rosa @ Flutter Flutter says

    March 14, 2012 at 1:51 am

    I adore Kirsten’s design style! Her home and blog are fabulous!! Love all the pics!

    Reply
  19. Kaity says

    March 14, 2012 at 2:49 am

    I am crazy in love with that dining room table! And that wooden chest… *sigh* <3

    Reply
  20. Elisabeth@SimplyParkers says

    March 14, 2012 at 3:07 am

    That kitchen is uh-mazing! Also love the map print and turquoise ikat chair. So beautiful.

    Reply
  21. Rachael says

    March 14, 2012 at 9:27 am

    I want to see more of that wine bottle holder in the dining room!!

    Reply
    • Rachael says

      March 14, 2012 at 2:01 pm

      I meant eat in area. Do you know where she got it?

    • YoungHouseLove says

      March 14, 2012 at 3:49 pm

      Here’s hoping she drops by with that for ya!

      xo,
      s

    • Kirsten Nieman says

      March 14, 2012 at 4:48 pm

      Hi Rachael! It’s from Pottery Barn:).

  22. Lindsey K says

    March 14, 2012 at 9:30 am

    I think the same house was featured over at Apartment Therapy… or I could just be imagining that. If its not the same house, the same A LOT of the same decor. I remember loving that yellow “Work Hard” framed print!

    Reply
    • Kirsten Nieman says

      March 14, 2012 at 12:22 pm

      Hi Lindsey! Nope, you aren’t dreaming…that was our home too:).

  23. Elle S. says

    March 14, 2012 at 10:16 am

    Loove the slipcovered dining room chairs! I’ve been looking all over for something like that. Any idea where she got those?

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      March 14, 2012 at 10:37 am

      Here’s hoping she drops in with that info for ya soon!

      xo
      s

    • Kirsten Nieman says

      March 14, 2012 at 12:21 pm

      Hi Elle! Believe it or not, the chairs are from Ikea!

  24. Lindsey says

    March 14, 2012 at 10:22 am

    Im obsessed! Her house is GORGEOUS! Exactly my taste! (my bedroom is gray and yellow as is my bathroom) I LOVE IT! Kristen come decorate my house!

    Reply
  25. Briel K. says

    March 14, 2012 at 11:42 am

    What a lovely home! I have so many favorite parts. I love the dining room table, the trunk/side table, and above all the dresser in the bedroom. Want!

    Reply
  26. Evan says

    March 14, 2012 at 12:54 pm

    Do you know where she got her great metal chairs in the eat-in nook in the kitchen?

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      March 14, 2012 at 1:44 pm

      Here’s hoping she drops in with those details!

      xo,
      s

    • Kirsten Nieman says

      March 14, 2012 at 4:49 pm

      Hi Evan! We bought them online from Industry West.

  27. Andrea says

    March 14, 2012 at 4:10 pm

    love the house! Great choice!

    Reply
  28. Maria says

    March 14, 2012 at 5:48 pm

    We just painted the inside of our house in gray tones and I love it. The color changes depending on the light. It’s awesome! I was oohing and ahhing at all the pics. She def has a knack. I’m torn between the sweet map and the stairs, but really, it’s all good! I give it three snaps in a “Z” formation!

    Reply
  29. Emily P. says

    March 14, 2012 at 8:32 pm

    oh my gosh, i used to go by this house on my way to work and loved it! such a great remodel in such a cute neighborhood! thanks for house crashing!

    Reply
  30. Jessica says

    March 14, 2012 at 8:57 pm

    I love the distressed dresser! Don’t you just love “happy accidents?”

    Reply
  31. Brigid says

    March 14, 2012 at 9:00 pm

    Love all you great vacay pics :0) Gave me some ideas for how to take better pics with the family.

    Reply
  32. shannon says

    March 14, 2012 at 9:20 pm

    gorgeous! i love all the gray!

    Reply
  33. molly says

    March 16, 2012 at 9:55 pm

    I have to know where that light over the dining table came from! I have been searching high and low for that exact light with no luck. Please fill me in!!

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      March 17, 2012 at 9:30 am

      Here’s hoping she drops in with that info for ya.

      xo,
      s

    • kirsten says

      April 10, 2012 at 11:52 pm

      Hi Molly! It’s from Ballard Designs:).

  34. Lauren says

    March 19, 2012 at 5:29 pm

    Love how the West Coast looks good – even in March! Imagine the process took ever so much hard work, but the result looks effortless – well done!

    Reply
  35. Salena Santos says

    March 19, 2012 at 7:27 pm

    I have a oversized map similar to hers and was wondering did she has to get her frame custom ordered? I was thinking about making my own frame but was wondering if she bought the one she has her map in.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      March 19, 2012 at 8:03 pm

      That actually came framed with reclaimed wood from Schoolhouse Electric. Hope it helps.

      xo,
      s

  36. Katie says

    March 20, 2012 at 1:18 am

    What a lovely house! I just love everything. Incidentally, any idea where a girl might find that “Work hard and be nice to people” print? I was in love at first glance!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      March 20, 2012 at 9:05 am

      We linked over to that site in the post here. Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

    • Katie says

      March 20, 2012 at 1:23 pm

      Yeah I’m blind, sorry about that. Found it now, thanks! :-)

    • YoungHouseLove says

      March 20, 2012 at 2:37 pm

      No worries!

      xo,
      s

  37. Beth says

    March 20, 2012 at 12:15 pm

    Thanks for sharing your sweet home!!! The paint color in the kitchen is exactly what I’ve been looking for :)

    Reply
  38. reclaimed furniture says

    April 5, 2012 at 12:02 pm

    Yeah, Greg really likes Phineas & Ferb and we like Wizards and Austin & Ally too, haha. Good to know we’re not alone! : )

    Reply
  39. indie by heart says

    April 9, 2012 at 9:04 pm

    This house is so dreamy <3

    x Satu

    Indie by Heart

    Reply
  40. Suzanne says

    April 29, 2012 at 3:05 am

    Do you, by chance, have a close up of the oversized map? I love the map…but I am also digging the frame!!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      April 29, 2012 at 9:51 am

      So sorry, we don’t! We know the frame is reclaimed wood and it all came from Schoolhouse Electric (it was framed when they got it). Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  41. Jamie says

    May 5, 2012 at 4:35 pm

    These are our neighbors and this house actually just went on the market at a great price! Check it out if you’re in PDX

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      May 5, 2012 at 5:45 pm

      No way! Love it!!

      xo,
      s

  42. Tanja says

    May 21, 2012 at 9:23 am

    I love your house – the colors (yellows, blues, greens and greys) are right up my alley! Our living room is the same color than your dining room, so I will try the same color for my kitchen (Benjamin Moore Rockport Grey). I have yellow accents in the kitchen also, so I can’t wait to paint now.
    THANKS for posting and giving me tons of ideas. If you even feel like designing the rest of my house….you are always welcome.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      May 21, 2012 at 9:41 am

      Wahoo! So excited for you to use Rockport Grey! Sounds like it’ll be perfect!

      xo,
      s

  43. Misty @ 2brokebruces says

    May 31, 2012 at 12:21 pm

    I love your home! It actually reminds me a lot of the house my husband and I just bought. I’m getting tons of ideas from you on how I want to decorate when we move in! I love all your colors and Sherry is right, you would make an awesome decorator! Thanks for posting… I’m inspired!

    Reply
  44. Nancy says

    June 5, 2012 at 9:58 pm

    Love the entry way set up…where can I find the wall storage unit?

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      June 5, 2012 at 11:49 pm

      If you read back through the comments she might have dropped in with that info! Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  45. Lynn says

    August 5, 2012 at 11:15 pm

    Okay major confession time. There are only two blogs in the world that I have started from the beginning and clicked through years and years of posts, one is YHL and the other is Restored Style. LOVe that you crashed them. Love you. Love them. I think it’s because both your houses reflect not only your style but also your family and your heart.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      August 6, 2012 at 12:14 am

      Aw, you’re sweet! We loved crashing them- their house was gorgeous! Even more so in person!

      xo,
      s

  46. sarah says

    October 23, 2012 at 11:29 am

    where is their gorgeous couch from? it’s exactly what i’m looking for – love it!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      October 23, 2012 at 12:32 pm

      Maybe check the comments and if it’s not there they hopefully will drop in with that info for ya!

      xo,
      s

  47. Home Plans India says

    November 14, 2012 at 8:34 am

    Very nice home decor ideas. The use of minimal colours for the wall with fresh colours of blue, yellow and others in the room are adding just the right amount of elegance and presence of warmth of the family living in.

    Great ideas to use for our own simple houses with not much of an investment.

    Reply
  48. Denise says

    June 1, 2013 at 2:07 pm

    so nice to see a fellow Oregonian featured!! woo too! I saw this post thanks to Pinterest, and the awesome Conan O’Brien quote in their eat in area. It’s my favorite. Thanks for the tour!

    Reply
  49. mandy woodroof says

    January 18, 2014 at 7:38 pm

    love the fireplace bookshelves. can you tell me where you purchased the bookshelves at?

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 19, 2014 at 8:52 am

      Hope she drops in with that info!

      xo
      s

  50. Rachel Farley says

    March 28, 2014 at 1:40 pm

    I just stumbled across this post and love the entry way bench and shelf. I see that she had them made by a local woodworker. Is it possible to get the contact person of the woodworker? I live in Portland and would love a quote for some custom furniture. Thanks.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      March 28, 2014 at 2:09 pm

      Hope she drops by with that info for you!

      xo
      s

« Older Comments

Stuff We Love

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

John and Sherry Sitting On Woven ChairHey, we’re John & Sherry. We’ve fixed up 7 homes, written books, designed products, started a podcast, and then downsized & moved to the beach! Here you’ll find over 3,000 DIY projects & home updates. More about us…
*This site contains ads and affiliate links*
See our disclaimer & privacy policy to learn more

Latest Finds

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

SHOP OUR LIGHTING

Young House Love Shades Of Light Capiz Chandelier

GET POSTS BY EMAIL

We’re Digging

Traditional Rug
The “Magic” Rug
Smokeless Solo Stove Firepit
Smokeless Firepit
Outdoor Solar LED Path Lights
Solar Path Lights
Criss Cross Office Chair
Our Desk Chair
Blue Air 211 Air Purifier
Our Air Purifiers
Eufy 11S Max Robot Vacuum
Our Robot Vacuum
Kohler Memoirs Toilet
Our Favorite Toilet
Livable Luxe Book
Fav Design Book
SEE MORE OF OUR FAVORITE FINDS > >

  • About
  • FAQs
  • Press
  • Contact
  • :)

© 2025 Young House Love ® · Disclaimer · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · A Fun Wordpress theme on Genesis Framework · Hosted by Liquid Web