House Crashing
House Crashing: Lesley & Jeff
We can’t wait to share this house crashing adventure because you’ve actually seen how Lesley & Jeff live…. but that was over 4.5 years ago (before they had two sweet little boys and moved into a new home for their growing family). It’s actually a mid-century split level house in a charming woodsy neighborhood right here in Richmond, and of course Lesley and Jeff have completely made it their own.
But first, just to refresh your memory, here’s their first house – which we crashed all the way back in 2008!
But back to their new place. You guys might remember that Lesley is a master of making ugly things into assets. For example, she didn’t like the dated iron columns full of swirls and zig-zags on her new front porch… so they trained some vines to grow around them and cover them. So charming right? No more swirly iron posts. And it was a lot more cost effective than demoing them out and redoing the porch (although they’re open to tackling that down the line).
One of our favorite things about Lesley’s stye is how she mixes things. And not just anything, meaningful things. See the red chandelier in the mirror of her entryway? That was actually something she spray painted red years ago for her wedding. She and Jeff danced under that in their reception tent and now it graces their hallway. And lots of their furniture is secondhand (hooray for worn and loved pieces made from solid wood!).
Here’s another corner of their entryway, complete with a pillow with a meaningful number and upholstery fabric that she chose to give the old seen-better-days chair a fresh look.
The family room was one of my favorites in the house. Why? Because it’s paneling, people! But they decided to embrace it. It wasn’t that flimsy faux paneling, it was thick solid wood and Lesley called it “embracing her inner Golden Girl.” How hilarious is she? So instead of drywalling over it or even painting it, she and Jeff added a few other retro touches (like that awesome old laundry sign that Lesley got from a local cleaners that was going out of business – she just asked for it and they gave it to her). Lesley is a master at effortlessly mixing and matching textiles (check out the layered patterns of those pillows, the rug, and those ottomans) to create a cozy and welcoming vibe. It was definitely one of those rooms that draws you in where everyone ends up. And see that pair of wing chairs? Lesley got them for $50 each on craigslist and didn’t even have to recover them (they had been covered with protective plastic for decades since they were bought!).
How awesome is this framed secondhand art that Lesley scored on sale for $50? Oh and the throw over the sofa is from her friend’s etsy store.
You know what John went wild for, right? This map. Lesley got it on ebay. I think the bright teal color looks awesome against the paneling with that chic gold lamp layered in.
Here’s the kitchen, complete with dark stone floors (the tile is just simple durable tile store stuff, but Lesley upped the ante by laying it in a herringbone pattern), dark painted beadboard for the backsplash that they DIYed themselves for under $40, creamy white cabinets, and dark hardware that ties into the dark floors and counters.
They also have a wall where they measure the kiddos and have bright silhouettes of each of them. You know we’re suckers for those personalized details.
Lesley also made the curtain from happy and bright fabric with some fringe on the bottom. And check out that crane to the left of the curtain that Lesley rests her dishtowel on. Yup, I was certifiably crazy about it. And the aqua foo dogs.
There’s an awesome sunroom off the back of the house that Lesley and Jeff converted into a playroom. They added functional toy baskets, a big train table, some rich color on the brick (Woodcliff Lake by Benjamin Moore) and the door (Goldsmith by Benjamin Moore) along with some beautiful and architectural plantation shutters. As you might guess, Clara made a beeline for that room and basically never left.
Upstairs in the bedroom is more patterned fabric, and touches of wood. And how great are those framed blueprints (from West Elm a while back)? I love how Lesley hung them in a fun offset way.
This is the guest room, complete with dusty grey blue walls, orange patterned bedding (from Pottery Barn), and a giant thrift store sailfish over the bed. And how awesome are those sculptural side tables (from PB Teen) and the textured white table lamps (from HomeGoods). It’s awesome how Lesley tempers her bold colors and accents with crisp white or rich wood to keep rooms from being too chaotic – even with a big ol’ fish on the wall.
One of our favorite things about Lesley is her work-with-whatcha-got spirit. She actually embraced her pink tiled bathroom to the point that it feels totally like her. Isn’t the ornate thrift store mirror, the bright green rug from Target, and the blue-gray wall color (Metro Gray by Benjamin Moore) mixed with the ruffled curtain (from Anthropologie, but found on craigslist) so sophisticated and fun? I love how it doesn’t look too “serious” or “over designed” – it’s just easy and everything goes without being matchy-matchy. So I was so excited to share this picture for anyone else out there with a pink bathroom.
Her sons love sharing a room, and we loved how their beds were the same color/style (found on the cheap thanks to craigslist) but that the bedding was slightly different along with what was hanging over each bed (they were both secondhand finds – the flag was found locally and the old bus scroll was from ebay). We think it’s really cool to personalize each corner so things aren’t cloned but still tie together really well.
And this is Lesley’s office down in the basement. I loved everything from the black storage boxes and table lamps (those are HomeGoods lights for 30 bucks a pop) to the casual stacks of books going in all directions. Even with the blanket draped over the chair and the flowers in the vase, it definitely didn’t feel crazy-styled thanks to those random ribbons on the shelves and all of those colorful stacks of books just shoved in there. There’s something very easy-yet-chic about Lesley’s house. Like she’s not trying too hard but it still looks awesome, cozy, and personal.
So we’re sending out a huge thanks to Lesley, Jeff, and her two sweet boys for having us over so we could share all the photos with you guys! Hope you got some inspiration from things like the pink tiled bathroom and that paneled family room! Let’s play the whats-your-favorite-part game. Mine is the smart vine trick they pulled on the porch to hide those columns and the boys’ room with those matching but not too-matchy craigslist beds. And of course John loves the framed blueprints and that awesome teal map. No surprises there.
Psst- Don’t wanna stop snooping around? You can check out dozens of House Crashing adventures right here.
House Crashing in Cincinnati!
Quick update: Today we’ll be getting cozy in Boston at the West Elm on 160 Brookline Avenue for cookies, cocoa, and a book signing at 6pm. More info here. We’d love to see ya there!
We shared a sneak peek of this House Crashing adventure in our post about Cincinnati, and we finally sifted through the 200+ photos that we took to get this post together for ya. So let’s let ourselves in, shall we?
Did you see the little welcome note right on that happy yellow door? So cute, eh? And I love the three glass panes in that door. As for who lives here, meet Rick and Jessie. They were literally the sweetest folks we met the entire time we were in Cincy. Not only did they wait for us for over an hour at our hotel when our plane was delayed (eeks!), but they were so nice for the entire few hours we spent with them (since we didn’t have a car in Cincinnati they drove us to their house, chatted me up while John shot the place, and then drove us back to our hotel). So we’re officially “real friends” since we spent so much time bonding. Haha. But enough chit-chat. Let’s get to their awesome casa.
There were lots of homemade touches around the house, like this cool mason jar vase hanging from a rustic wood coat hook next to the yellow front door (which is painted in Valspar’s Santa Monica Blvd).
As for their kitchen, you might recognize it from this Reader Redesign. It’s always fun when someone invites us to crash them after we’ve seen one of their room makeovers, and let’s just say the rest of the house was just as awesome as their amazing kitchen (which was so much fun to see in person).
The cabinets are Ikea and they hung them all themselves as well as selecting things like butcherblock for the island and gorgeous soapstone for the rest of the counters.
This picture doesn’t do it justice (it looks a lot more “loud and swirly” than it really was in person – it was very subtle and sophisticated). It’s this gorgeous dark stone that looks like honed black granite but they said it’s really easy to take care of (no issues with staining or scratching so far). We’ve heard dark honed granite can be a bit higher maintenance, so soapstone sounds like a great alternative.
Where they built in their fridge they also added a framed out chalkboard, which was so sweet. The funniest part was that it said “we love the sun in our house” but ironically we were shooting just after the sun went down thanks to that delayed flight (our first house crash ever without natural light) – but we’re so thankful that we still got a bunch of good shots. It’s kinda hard not to when a house is this charming. How sweet is that yellow stool?
Here’s a shot from the kitchen looking towards the dining space they’re working on. They’re going to build in a bench against the wall for sort of a banquette feeling and add some giant art on the wall between those floating shelves that they hung. And that sweet striped runner is from Dash & Albert.
They also had this awesome wood wall in their living area that John and I loved. And everything from the media cabinet that they painted themselves to the homemade art (where they showcased dates that were important to them) had us grinning like fools. It really was one of those awesomely personalized homes.
There’s also a little desk area across from the wood wall in the living room, with a cheerful green filing cabinet and some more handmade art.
I love that yellow glass lamp (from World Market) with the swirly canvas behind it.
In the hallway, their homemade ruler that they use to measure both of their girls had us smiling (which Jessie actually did as one of our Pinterest Challenges).
Rick and Jessie have two daughters, and their youngest one’s room was full homemade art (framed craft paper)…
… and a homemade mobile…
… while their other daughter’s room had things Clara would totally go nuts for (check out that amazing play kitchen!!!!).
This plastic animal art was especially awesome. Yup, I totally had a moment with it. Love. Jessie actually got the idea here and did her own spin here.
So there you have Jessie and Rick’s charming home. We are SO GRATEFUL to them for waiting for us and being such amazing hosts while we traipsed around taking photos and chatting their ears off. You can see more over on their blog, but first let’s play the favorite part game. We all know I’m crazy about the animal art but I also love love love that play kitchen and those dark soapstone counters. And John was especially enamored with the apron sink and the modern dark window trim above it in the kitchen.
Psst- Don’t wanna stop snooping around? You can check out dozens of House Crashing adventures right here.
House Crashing: Classic & Natural With A Twist
Quick note Book holla! -We’re publishing this post early since we’ll be at our stop in Wilton, CT this morning and then we’ll be at Bookends in Ridgewood, NJ at 5:30 pm (and staying as late as it takes to hang/sign/geek out with everyone). More details here. We’d love to see ya!
A little while ago we took a road trip up to Northern Virginia to crash an awesome house that we thought you guys would love. It’s in a charming town called Herndon, and Michele and Nate poured some serious love (in the form of some serious work, time, and sweat) into their home. So let’s get our with the tour on, shall we?
Here’s the sweet couple now. They were so friendly and humble – we were so happy they invited us over with our camera (and Clara) to snoop around. Thanks again guys!
If you peeked past them in that picture above you’ve probably already noticed that awesome painted wall that Michele did with some painter’s tape and a whole lotta time and dedication. I also love that console table, which she revealed was from HomeGoods for some crazy cheap price but it was a bright orange-y wood tone, so she stained the whole thing down with some darker walnut stain. Always a good reminder that if the lines/materials of something are good but the color is baaad, you can save it (and probably save some money on the item thanks to that less-than-appealing color). And if you peer past it into the living room you might recognize the rug. It’s actually the same Pottery Barn clearance guy from our guest room. It’s a nice splash of color that draws you into the room from the entryway.
Beyond the living area is a charming dining room with two light fixtures from Overstock above the table (I thought two of them was a fun choice!). And do you see that sweet wainscoting that they added along with some awesomely textured walls thanks to… fabric?
Yup, they starched some textured linen fabric (on sale from Joann) and stuck it up on the wall! How awesome is that. Here’s her tutorial on that for anyone interested (I love that it’s removable, so it’s even a cool idea for a rental).
As for their kitchen, let’s just say they put in some major time here. Not only did they do things like tile the backsplash and redo the counters, they actually built the cabinets themselves. Yes, they built them from scratch! So inspiring, right? I can tell you that in person they looked amazing. I seriously never would have guessed. Oh and those stools are lucky Crate & Barrel outlet finds.
They also created this awesome little wine nook in an odd recessed area by adding a bench and lots of wine-a-licious built-ins.
Here’s the money shot for ya. Does this gorgeous marble mosaic tile say “how you doin?” or what? In lurve. I petted it. No shame. And that awesome apron sink is from Overstock in case you’re in the market for one.
The family room was super cozy and welcoming. Everything from the large scale art they made to the stone wall and the dark wall color was totally doing it for us. We both were like “this room – yeah we want it.” Oh, before I forget, the wall color is Benjamin Moore Gunmetal Gray. This was just one of those rooms that sucks you in and you want to snuggle down on the sectional. So casual and inviting.
Here’s a better shot of the art, which they actually made with an ebay map and some reclaimed wood that they already had (more on that project here). And how cool is that awesomely nature-esque tree trunk coffee table? Here’s the story on that from Michele: “We made it! A pretty bad storm rolled through VA and we contacted a tree guy that we know in the area. He was taking care of some larger trees that had fallen and we asked that he cut us a chunk. It is a red oak. We counted about 110 rings and it was about 350 lbs! We let it dry out for a few weeks and Nate begin using a chainsaw to carve out the inside to lighten it up. (This was NOT an easy task!!). We spend weeks sanding it, chiseling off the bark, etc. After we had a smooth, hollowed out stump, we tung oiled it. Thanks for reminding me about a post that I need to write!”
We loved that every nook was an opportunity for Michele and Nate. They even added some great wood detailing along the stairway walls, and the awesome orb-like light is super cool too. They actually made that with a light kit and a big metal cage that they found at a secondhand store.
Here’s the guest room, which had a pretty cool story when it came to those dressers along the wall. They’re actually Nate’s from when he was a kid, and instead of retiring them, Michele refreshed them with some paint and new hardware (Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray, with pulls from Home Depot). You know we love that use whatcha got spirit!
This bathroom was another showstopper when it comes to details that they added (like the penny tile border along the wall, the awesome dark floor tile, and the vanity that they got from Lowe’s). It felt really classic and crisp in there.
Boom. I just hit you with a detail shot. How you like me now?
Seriously, that bathroom was awesome.
And speaking of bathrooms, this one was a powder room downstairs, and it was really cool because they added an entire accent wall of tile (from Home Depot). It looked so great with the sconces and the pedestal sink and that awesomely rustic wood mirror (which they made with some old wood). This picture doesn’t do it justice at all.
And the garage. Oh the garage. Let’s just say that John wanted to move in. It was awesome. Again they were so smart about using what they had, so these are actually their original kitchen cabinets. Yup, instead of demo-ing them out when they built the new ones, they moved them right into the garage and primed/painted them. It was such an organized and inspiring room. Made me wanna build something.
There were some really cool personal touches too, like some old airplanes that Nate framed (he’d made them as a child and his Grandpa saved them and gave them back to him as an adult). How sweet is that? And of course John was drooling over the supreme organization going on when it came to all of those labeled screws and nails (it might have inspired this recent basement project). The funny thing is that when John asked Nate if he cleaned things up because we were coming to take pictures he said “nah, I’m just a type-A guy.” So funny!
And we saved the best for last. How awesome is this backyard? Did you faint? I almost did when I rounded the corner and saw this. I was all “wait, am I in Hawaii? How did I get here?”
Not only was there an outdoor kitchen that they paintstakingly pieced together over time, but they also have some great outdoor furniture and even had a hot tub tucked in the back. Yeah, buddy. I was in heaven. Jersey girls like me love their hot tubs. Just saying.
And look at those pretty stone steps. The hardscaping in the front yard and the backyard were so great. It was like extra credit. It went the extra mile above regular garden borders and stairs and felt so special and upgraded, you know? Nate and Michele are actually both landscape architects, so that might explain why they have some seriously swanky outdoor areas. And the planters all around the yard have been collected over time (some are leftover from the previous owner and they spray painted them oil-rubbed bronze to freshen them up).
So there you have it, Michele and Nate’s awesome house in Northern Virginia. You can read more about their amazing DIY journey here on their blog, but first let’s play the what’s-your-favorite-part game. I’m all over that giant map against the dark walls of the family room. And John’s very much in love with that garage. As in, he smiles like a fool when I mention it. I’ve been calling him Young Garage Love for weeks.
Psst- Don’t wanna stop snooping around? You can check out dozens of House Crashing adventures right here.
