Kara & Tom's House: Virtually Redone

Tom and Kara recently asked me for my thoughts on their new house.  They have not lived there long, and were looking for any ideas I had towards making their home more "cohesive."  Their house is very large, so we're starting with the kitchen, porch, and living room.  

Here is what they said: 

• traditional country
• rustic
• Michigan lake shore 
• keeping the furniture and not making any major purchases
• Tom is great with projects, and Kara can make a mean throw-pillow!

Inspiration Rooms from Kara

source

Here is what I think:

• Southern Living meets rustic lake house 
• Pull together a color palette, through paint and fabric: unify the rooms
• Help Tom and Kara feel more at home in their house
• Create more color overall
• Recommended color palette for the house pictured below

These are my recommendations, and I realize they might not like them all, but at least they can use them as a jumping off point.  Here we go!

Kitchen

• They plan to remodel the kitchen, and want to keep the wallpaper for now.  
• The main element to change is the chandelier.  I like this option, plus it matches the hood, and hardware on the cabinets.  
• Another idea would be to spray-paint the fixture they have.

Porch

• Paint the trim around the windows along with the ceiling beams white.
• Add a 5x7, outdoor, navy and white striped rug in the seating area.

Living Room

• Keep the paint color they recently put on the walls
• Paint the fireplace white
• Michigan Americana photo for above the fireplace (they were hoping to use this artist)
• Add a chunky, rustic mantle (project for Tom)
• Replace built-in shelves in white
• Use the paisley fabric as drapes, on the slider by the fireplace, and the slider to the porch
• Pull the navy and the red out of the drapes with new pillow fabrics
• Green accents, again being pulled from the drapery panels
• I would also switch the furniture arrangement, but we can do that in person.  

Source List

• Chandelier, Shades of Light
• Striped indoor/outdoor rug, Ballard Design
• Fireplace art, Michigan Americana
• Chelsea floor lamp, Pottery Barn
• Green accents, Pottery Barn (currently on sale)
• Pillow and drapery fabrics, Calico Corners
• Manhattan square drapery hardware, Target
• Pedestal table, Target

Thank you Kara and Tom, for letting me and my blog in your home!!  I hope you like what you see, and that this gives you a place to start.


What do you think?  Would you want this type of style in your house? What is your favorite element or suggested change that I have made?

 If you would like a room in your house "virtually redone", email me abbymanchesky@gmail.com.