Plan, Pin and Paste

The countdown has begun to when we close on our property and begin demolition then construction. Over the last few months, we have been fine tuning our home plans. Joe has been busy bidding out the jobs to the subcontractors, while I have been building our inspiration boards. I am not a professional designer nor do I claim to be, so I look at other’s work as inspiration for my own designs. One tricky part to being married to a builder, you always have to be looking at the resale aspect. Not everyone is going to love my style. (I don't even know what you would call my style. Cozy Craigslist Chic?)  Yes, the home will be ours for us to live. It will also need to appeal to someone else in two (or so) years. Therefore, we spend months looking at homes in the area at the price point we would like to eventually sell.  We look at what “wow” items (as Joe calls them) they have. What finishes they have in common (ie, millwork, railings, carpet) and try to stay close to that. All while putting our own extra touches that  will set our home apart. We are continually bouncing our choices off our amazing real estate team at Northwest Group (NWG) who know what our future potential buyer wants. For example, below you will see the back of our house drawn with siding. After discussing it with our agents, we are now doing it in all shingles. These are little details I would have never looked at as a deal breaker. But, that is why we have them.

Below are our final exterior plans, as well as, places we look to for inspiration to bring our whole vision together. 
 

 

 (We have been working with Northwest Architects.)

 

The plans are done, the permits have been submitted, and the financing is underway. Now it's my turn to explore the web, magazines and neighborhoods to start putting the design together.

Houzz: www.houzz.com
This site is life changing. If you have an iPad or iPhone, you need this app! You are able to search specific rooms, styles, products, even your metro area. It has anything related to designing or decorating a home. With this site/app you can create "ideabooks" for each project area. I am so thankful for that one late night when I was up with my dear son, who doesn't sleep, and discovered Houzz. Since, Joe has had each of his clients create an account on Houzz to help he and his team see the home owner's vision. It can be hard to explain to someone what you like. With this, you can show it to them.

NO, I DON'T GET PAID BY HOUZZ FOR THIS. I JUST LOVE IT THAT MUCH!!!

Here are two beautiful homes from Houzz I shared with the architect to show her what we were envisioning. She did pretty darn good, don't you think? 

Traditional Exterior design by Minneapolis General Contractor Stonewood, LLC
 

Traditional Exterior design by New York Architect James Schettino Architects

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com 
For those who don't know about Pinterest, it is similar to Houzz in that it has the ability to create idea boards. Pinterest is more than just ideas related to the home. It is a virtual pin board. A nice way to collect all your interest from the internet and keep them in one place. I would say Pinterest is life changing as well. It is my "glass of wine" in the evening as I wind down from the day. It is a little overwhelming at first. After I got over the fact that I didn't HAVE to complete every idea I pinned and that I wasn't a crappy mother because I don't make my own laundry soap, I love it!!!
 
Here are some images I pinned on my Pinterest boards before we began the architect design.


by Great Rooms Designers & Builders


from the Douglas Lumber webpage.

As much as Houzz and Pinterest have changed my life. There is still nothing like ripping pages of inspiration from an old fashion magazine. Coastal Living is one of my favorites. I love all the cool colors and natural elements displayed in the homes featured in that magazine. I grew up surrounded by water, so it is nice knowing I am not landlocked here in Seattle. Though it is the freezing Puget Sound, but I will take it.

Lila loves to do crafts while Olen is napping. So while she may be crafting up a colorful rainbow or a beaded necklace, I am crafting up inspiration boards with scissors and glue. Here is a sample from a couple of the bathroom designs I did for a spec home Joe's company recently built. (Spec home short for Speculation Home; a home designed and completed by a builder in anticipation of finding a buyer.) 

 

And here are pictures of my cut-and-paste project brought to life in the completed master bathroom.

 (I will tell you later how I got that amazing Calcutta Marble look for less)

Armed with my Houzz ideabooks, Pinterest boards and cut-and-paste projects, I feel less overwhelmed when making choices for the designs. I am a visual person. Typically when Joe has an idea about something, I make him draw it for me. That is just how my brain works. I am getting better at reading home plans (I guess they don't call them blueprints anymore) and understanding his builder jargon. They didn't teach me this stuff in the College of Education at UNF. This is all on the job training as a builder's wife.

I would love to hear where you find your decorating or designing inspirations. Feel free to post a comment and share your awesome finds.

Hope this helps you find inspirations for your next project.

Carrie

**Disclaimer** I am not very techy, so I am learning as I go on how to properly add links and images to share. Thanks in advance for your patience with me.