It’s really happening! No we didn’t buy another house, haha, BUT we are headed to look at some houses in Vermont on Wednesday (I’ll be vlogging and posting what we see on YouTube). We are still at the VERY beginning stages, we aren’t pre-approved for a mortgage yet and don’t know exactly what our budget is but we have a pretty good idea. However, who doesn’t love getting excited and inspired with the help of Pinterest? Truth be told, I’m calling it a farmhouse because this is my vision, but we may very well not end up in a farmhouse. There’s a lot of factors going into this search for the next fixer upper, most importantly budget and location, emphasis on the budget part. While I really love the idea of a farmhouse, I also realize it may not be realistic for us, but it’s not stopping me from trying to manifest that $h!t, haha. So I thought it would be kind of fun to do a little experiment on Pinterest. I told Craig to pin some stuff he liked for design ideas to our Farmhouse fixer upper board, and I would do the same, but we weren’t allowed to look at each other’s pins. Truth be told I enjoyed this way more than Craig. He’s more of a realist, so he looks at stuff on Pinterest and thinks, this isn’t realistic or it’s not functional, and I get it, but where’s the fun in that? I look at Pinterest as more inspirational, pretty sure most of us do, then again how many dudes are on Pinterest, gonna guess not many. The reality is, while we both have a general idea/vision of what we want and like, it isn’t until you find that home and then live in it that you really know what to do. So here are the images that are inspiring us right now (and why).
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Craig: I like that this has a French country look. The combination of white, stone and reclaimed wood is simple, aged and natural. A big part of Vermont/New England homes is the mudroom and this one has a great look but is also really functional. I also like combination of a painted white ceiling and stucco wall with the green painted door, and the bench is amazing.
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Jess: What is there in this image not to love? The exposed beams, the salvaged wood, the plaster walls, the big window above the sink, I want it all. I think the one thing I’m really hoping for in the next fixer upper is architectural detail and charm.
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Craig: I like that this is rustic and clean looking at the same time. If it makes sense for the next fixer upper, I’d like to try doing pigmented plaster in a light pink or gray color. (Side note from Jess, I am very on board with this!).
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Jess: I guess I have a thing for this color velvet? The chair is incredible but what drew me to this image is the built in firewood storage. That detail combined with the wood burning stove and the wide plank white wash floors is just divine.
I love the farmhouse inspiration! My partner and I are currently moving into our first home together and I am allll about the farmhouse inspo!
Happy Tuesday!
Michael
https://www.mileinmyglasses.com
Oh that’s so exciting! congrats.
Oooohh! I love all your pictures, especially the first one of the door and entry. I just love this style of architecture and decor. This will be fun watching what you ultimately pick to remodel. You and Craig have great taste. Side note/OT – what type of flooring do you have in your home? I am in love with your super light floor. It just makes the whole house light and bright and is a fabulous contrast with your beautiful painted fireplace. Is it wood? Wood tile? Laminate? Thank you and have a great day! Kathy
Thanks Kathy! I love that one too. Our floor is hardwood (I think pine). Craig sanded it and then whitewashed it, you can see what we used in this post https://www.jessannkirby.com/2018/03/living-room-reveal-rove-concepts-hugo-sectional-review.html That said, we used a water based poly and it hasn’t held up that well (we also only did one coat). So we have to re-do it and are debating if we sand them down really light or whitewash again and just do more coats of poly. We really don’t want to use oil based because the smell is super strong and can take at least 2 weeks and we don’t have that kind of time to not be in the house.
Thank you so much for the information and link. I had no idea that was an issue with oil based products. Whatever you decide to do please do a post on it. I hope you decide to keep the floor very light like it is now. It is gorgeous. Side note-I just found your blog/website a couple of months ago, and I am really enjoying reading your posts and seeing your great pictures. Your recent post about decluttering /organizing was very inspiring as that has been on my list of things to do. You make it look so easy. Care to take a midwinter break and come out to San Diego and help me with my Kondo-ing? 😉
All the best to you! Kathy
Thank you so much, and yeah San Diego weather sounds pretty good right about now, haha. Luckily we are going to Florida next week.
Have a great time on your well-deserved vacation!
this is amaaazing! so excited for you and love the inspiration.
Aw thank you so much Grace. I’m so nervous, for some reason publishing this made it feel so much more real, even though we’re not even close, ahh the joys of home buying, terrifying and exciting all at once.
So exciting! Can’t wait to hear what part of Vermont you’re looking in. Let me know if you’re interested in a mid-’80s Yankee Barn home in South Barnard, just outside Woodstock – we’ve got one! ?
Love the inspiration and can’t wait to follow along as you go on this journey! My husband and I renovated an old farmhouse in upstate NY and projects still continue!
Please, if you find out who made that chair please let me know! It’s amazing!!!!
Oh and I’m heading back to Newport this weekend now that it is up and running again (hopefully for everyone!) Offer for coffee still stands!!?
This is so exciting! I posted on an older list about this, but I didn’t see it as I wanted to refer to this post . I had always wanted to live in Vermont. We spotted our Farmhouse on a day it was snowing and the Weathervane spun on the white fence outside the red barn with a log wall . We bought it that day and restored that house to its original condition. It was a beautiful life . I loved everything, from the wide board floors to the exposed beams and the breeze from the cross ventilation in the big kitchen with the farmhouse table. It was high in the mountains and cool in the Summers. How exciting! Will you live there in the Summers? I look forward to hearing about it!!!
I’m so excited for you Jess and Craig! I posted a longer post on my own farmhouse in Vermont long ago, but this is just to let you know that it’s so exciting to even picture what you will do to find a place and to decorate and get your own farmhouse feel in one of my very favorite states ! Cannot wait! Have fun! ❤️
Love this cozy, Scandi Farmhouse vibe! I recommend you check out This Old Hudson. It’s not my company but I think you’ll like it. They have a pretty similar aesthetic and it’s all pretty amazing.
https://www.thisoldhudson.com
@thisoldhudson
Do you do the fixer upper on homes you buy or do you do it on someone else’s home.I just bought an 1850s “farmhouse” in the historical town of Tunbridge Vt.Right in the middle of the state.Has good bones but needs alot of work.Beautiful land w barn.Just getting started in the process.
We only do renos on our own properties at the moment. A farmhouse in Tunbridge sounds amazing! Congrats.
What color are the cabinets? I have tried nine samples so far and have not hit the right one. I love everything about your house!