Today I am so happy to share my dear friend Becca’s home with you. This bright and happy home is totally “her” and I just know you are going to love it as much I do.
Becca is a kindred creative spirit and probably the person most responsible for me hitting “publish” on my first blog post 4 years ago (this month!). She was not only supportive, but strongly encouraged me every step of the way. I am pretty darn certain I would still be hemming and hawing if it wasn’t for her gentle kick in the pants. For that I will be eternally grateful.
As Becca explains in her interview below, they purchased this home a little less than two years ago. And it needed a lot of work. I got to walk through it in the beginning and although it needed work, it was very apparent that she has a good eye for potential . The bones and flow of the house were incredible as is. I took a few pictures at the beginning of the renovation process so you can see what she has done to make it her own over the past couple of years.
Before:
I hope you will enjoy the tour of how far this home has come along since then!
Becca’s Fresh, Bright and Bold Family Home Now:
How long have you lived in your home and how did you decide this was “the one”? We moved in in Feb 2017. I fell in love with the home the first time I looked at it in Oct 2015. It needed a TON of work, but I loved the property, all of the windows, and the bones of the home.
What was your vision for the house as you were preparing to renovate? The house was built in the 50’s and has modern, clean lines to the architecture. Both of those elements were important to me. .I wanted the finishes I selected to go with the house’s existing character and style. The house also has such amazing views with all of the windows. I didn’t want the interior to be too busy or cluttered and take away from the views of the property.
Tell us about the process of renovating your home. What were your priorities? What were your challenges? The house needed so much work. Luckily I got all of the renovation to the interior done before moving in rather than doing it in stages. The challenge was that it didn’t just need aesthetic improvements…it was a complete gut in terms of new roof, electric, plumbing, AC… which all gets very costly. Everything HAD to be done so there was no way to avoid or postpone that.
What are some tips/advice that you would give to someone embarking on a home renovation? I picked a color pallete and design style that I pulled from throughout the house. That way (hopefully) it all makes sense and flows together. And I know I’m not the first person to say this… but renovations take a lot longer and cost a lot more than you expect. So plan for that. There are a million decisions to make in the renovation process… so knowing well in advance all of the little nuances you will have to pick can avoid rushed and stressful last minute decisions.
What are some the most important aspects of creating a home to you? I want something that is clean, bright, open, and inviting. I love entertaining and cooking for friends and family, and I wanted a space that was very conducive to that. And being a creative type person makes me very affected by the aesthetic of my surrounding, so to have a space that is a complete reflection of my style definitely affects my overall mood when I’m at home in a positive way.
How would you describe your aesthetic/style? I like clean, bright, simple but with a little flare. I would say I lean towards a slightly modern aesthetic. I am very picky and decisive. I don’t deliberate AT ALL when making decisions for the space. If I love something, I know I love it. If I don’t… I keep looking until I find something I love. I am drawn to gold finishes, white, neutrals, and lucite.
What are some of your favorite places to find inspiration? I love Instagram… it’s probably the main thing I look at social media for – design/creative inspiration.
What are some of your favorite places to shop for your home? I like bargains from Homegoods or TJ Maxx. For investment pieces I love modern lines like Gabby.
What traits draw you to others’ homes? I love natural light in any space. I also love when a space really reflects that person’s taste and personality, even if it’s not what I pick for my own house. When a look is done really well, I appreciate that they have put their heart into designing their home.
What is your philosophy on mixing styles? I am a big believer in mixing. I don’t like when a look is taken TOO far in a given space. I love to mix modern with a little homey & comfortable. I love mixing textures as well – formal spaces with more casual textures or vice versa. I also love mixing investment pieces with bargains.
What is your strategy to keep clutter at bay? I try and constantly stay on top of it. I hate clutter… in the house, on counters, etc. I built a little office nook off the kitchen to keep paper clutter out of sight. I try to be very discerning with bringing new stuff of any kind into my house because I abhor when cabinets are overstuffed and drawers are bursting with junk. So I would say my strategy is don’t accumulate unnecessary items and keep the items you own put in their place.
How do you feel about trends in interior design? I love what I’m seeing online… probably because I follow people whose style I like. But in general, I like that a modern, clean style is the trend and spaces are designed to feel uncluttered and slightly minimalist in design.
Which room in your home do you enjoy the most? I love all of the living spaces in my home, but I would have to say the kitchen and room right off the kitchen are where we spend most of our time. I love the hang out space that keeps my daughter close by when I’m cooking or cleaning up. I also love that spot in the mornings to read and drink coffee when the house is still quiet.
How do you hope your daughter will remember this home when she is older? I hope she remembers tons of memories cuddling on the couch and riding bikes in the driveway and climbing trees and hanging out with me in my closet trying on my shoes. I hope it’s a space that all of her friends want to hang out with her as they get older. She has already grown and changed so much since we moved in… and it’s so fun for me to realize that she’s now at an age that she will remember some of these moments in her adult life.
Lesley Jordan
As a new homeowner, I have some things I would like to do to my home and Becca’s home is so inspiring. I absolutely love the kitchen…the blue cabinets are gorgeous. I am inspired to consider more color in my home to include the cabinets.
Ale Post author
Agreed. It’s a good reminder to make yourself happy by surrounding yourself with what you love.
Margaret Ruotolo
Well done Ali and Becca your house is lovely and warm. I love the quirky color pops and your kitchen is stellar. Have a wonderful day. Meg
Ale Post author
Thank you! Yes, those unexpected colors make everything more personal and inviting 🙂
Brad White
It is so much fun to see the new home and what you’ve done with it. Beautiful. Miss you guys in the old neighborhood but it’s nice to see you’re doing so well 🙂 love brad & melinda