We’ve been house hunting! Yep, that’s right. I’ve totally healed, found the perfect man, and we are looking for a house together to live happily ever after! hahaha no, just kidding. Healing isn’t linear, there is no perfect man (just the right one for you), but yes, we are happily house hunting.
We’ve debated being *in* London or *just outside* of London. I’ve heard that you’ll feel it in your heart when you’re ready to leave a city and I’m not sure we are. But needless to say, we’ve looked in a few different areas to get a feel. It’s a bit exhausting, thrilling, and definitely mind boggling. I am so grateful for the experience and want to share some of my inspiration for my next home. A little bit of what we’re looking for and what has sparked joy while on the hunt. I know that no house is going to be perfect but just like a partner, there’s a perfect one for you.
I used to do home polls on instagram and they were a huge hit. Every weekend I’d collect a bunch of Pinterest photos of interiors, exteriors, gardens, and details and put them up in a *this or that* format on stories and while it was v time consuming, it was so so fun (note to self: bring home polls back on the gram). I thought it would be fun to bring them right here to Substack— a vote to tell me if you want more at the end. I imagine if we do any work on the house I can also use home polls to help me with my overthinking of future paint colors and other details. A beautiful problem to have. Let’s get to it.
Two thought processes we had while looking at homes this week and an interior design home poll for dessert! —
You can’t get a house because you like their art.
This one seems obvious but hear me out.. One home that stood out to us the most —that we absolutely loved but location wasn’t ideal for us at this time in our lives—had a floor plan that seemed clunky online. When we walked in the door, we were utterly obsessed. We loved the way the rooms were separated. We especially loved the feel of the house. When we debriefed we realized, it’s because of their personality that we loved the house so much. Yes we loved the way the downstairs was laid out but it wasn’t revolutionary. They had incredible art hung up in a non traditional way, and the paint colors felt cozy and homey. It all felt cohesive and well done. This reminded us…. well we can’t buy a house because we like THEIR ART!!! I don’t think I would’ve designed it like that myself but now I have the confidence to try to pull off something with a little more personality in a future home. Thoughts on turning your house into a museum full of personality vs having the classic family photos everywhere?
Yes, think 5-7 years ahead. But also think about right now.
We asked ourselves; Are we choosing a house based on a life that is 5 years into the future? Do we want to move a lot? No. Do we want our forever home right now? Not necessarily. So we’re in a place where we are deciding if we are city or suburbs people sans children. Imo, we are zone 2/3 city people. In New York terminology that means we’re West Village/Upper West Side people. We love the accessibility the city has over the suburb. This made me curious about my readers, where are you? A city? A suburb? A farm tending to your cute goats !!?!??
This is a collection of some weekly musings that piqued my interest. It’s a love/hate style poll —You either love it, hate it, or hate that you love it. First up…
A hidden vanity
[photo: Christopher Horwood via Architectural Digest]
I love a good nook. A breakfast nook, coffee nook, and now, a vanity nook. This hidden vanity disguised as storage and drenched in the warm but rich green? I’m a yes. When looking for houses I’ve looked for corners in each place that would work for my every day life. thoughts?
If you don’t know, my interior design style is more geographic. I like to take inspiration from the location I’m in. So basically, I haven’t yet done a Mykonos themed kitchen in a city like London and probably never will. In my next space I’d like to take inspiration from London as well as the coast of England and bring it together. Think Nancy Myers aesthetic… or Elizabeth James from Parent Trap. But with color that makes me feel something.
Super Mod bathrooms
The reason I bring this up is because when I’m actually *in* a mod bathroom, I feel peaceful and clean. The feelings you’re supposed to feel in a bathroom. But because half my thoughts come to me in bathroom settings, I often like cutesy colorful bathrooms that might light people up and get them thinking.
Popping Personality bathrooms
You know the ones. The bathrooms bathed in William & Morris wallpaper or a funky pink. There’s something about this bathroom below that feels like a boutique hotel.
The Nancy Myers style
I love warmth and peace in her style. It has coastal grandmother written all over it.
Al fresco bar
I have this idea in my head that if I have a kitchen window then I’ll have this al fresco style bar with an awning. I think in the right property, it would work beautifully. But it could just be something you’d never use and be like… “one time I thought that was going to be a hit and now there’s just a counter outside” lol
Neutral Aesthetic
It’s giving, Kim K. Big fan of places showing personality and character but I am also very much in love with the clean feeling that the neutral aesthetic provides. How are you feeling about this one? I swear this has been going for years. Will it stick around? Is it dead? Did Nancy replace!?!? I love to hear your thoughts. I’m not as mentally stimulated with this aesthetic but I am a bit more calm.
That’s all of my musings for now! More home polls!?
Have a great week ! Keep your precious face protected from the sun and enjoy these long summer days!! As you know, I am such a sun child and I am high on life with all this sun around.
Until next time!
Katie
[Hi!—All photos have been sourced from Pinterest. Photo credit has been given where It’s been found. None of these photos in this publication are my own.]
i LOVE this!! i think you would love Monet’s house in Giverny!
Ahhh!!!!