custom home design Archives - Arrow Hill Cottage

SIMPLE LIGHT FIXTURES | Minimalist Home Lighting

In today’s post, I share the simple light fixtures we have chosen for our new home. The clean lines and basic color palette of these selections make them the perfect compliments for the minimalist home.

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This has been a very exciting week at Arrow Hill Cottage. The interior framing is just about complete, the house wrap is on, the windows are going in, and the mechanical duct work has started! Now is the time to begin ordering the light fixtures for each room.

Over the past few months, I have been searching various websites and stores for simple light fixtures that would complement the overall feeling we are trying to achieve with our home. Classic, clean, and minimal, with a bit of a vintage industrial vibe.

INTERIOR LIGHT FIXTURES

We will be using quite a few canned light fixtures, especially in the open spaces – such as the dining/ living room and basement family room. However, in many of the other rooms there will be a need for various types of task lighting.

If you are interested in any of the light fixtures we have chosen for our home, be sure to click on the links below each picture!

Flush Mount Ceiling Fixture

This ceiling hugging fixture has sleek lines, and gives off a good amount of light. We will likely install in the downstairs office and possibly in the upstairs mudroom/ back entry space.

Lanros Round Modern Flush Mount Fixture

Semi-Flush Mount

In rooms where we want a bit of an upgraded look, we will be placing these semi-flush mount fixtures. The master bedroom will have one, as will the main floor powder room.

vintage style semi-flush mount

Dining Chandelier

We searched for a special light fixture to be used above our dining room table. This eight light pendant fixture is the perfect fit for what we were looking for. The linear design will mirror the long farmhouse style table we will be building custom, from trees felled on our property.

Savoy House – Burgess – 42″ Eight light pendant

Vanity lighting

In the master, basement and upstairs bathrooms, this simple wall pendant will give just enough character. Using the same light fixtures in multiple rooms will help keep the continuity throughout the house.

Above Vanity Light

We are also considering this fixture in a few locations around the house, perhaps in one of the bathrooms.

Vintage Black Wall Sconce

Accent Pendant

This pendant will be perfect, hanging above our large cast iron sink in the kitchen. In such a clean and minimalist space, this accent will really shine.

Stone & Beam Vintage Ceiling Pendant

Large Room Pendant

With the vaulted ceilings upstairs, we will be using larger pendants. These farmhouse style industrial pendants have long cords, which will bring the light lower into the room – allowing for better coverage.

Three identical pendants will be set upstairs. One for each bedroom, and one for the hallway space.

Millenium Lighting Farmhouse Pendant (17 inch)

Master Bedroom Side Lamps

On either side of our master bed, we will be placing these swing arm lamps. Perfect while reading in bed!

Globe Electric Swing Arm Lamp

Boys Sleeping Nook Lamps

In each of the boys sleeping nooks, they will have small reading lights as well. The multi-directional quality of these trumpet style lamps is really nice.

Trumpet Flare Wall Sconce

Closet lights

In the closets, we will be using smaller wall mounted fixtures. This is a bit of a splurge perhaps, as some of the closets really don’t need any lighting. However, the larger closets in the kid’s rooms will benefit from the extra illumination – especially in the dark storage space behind their hanging rods!

Wall Bar Light

EXTERIOR LIGHT FIXTURES

The light fixtures for the exterior of the house will follow the same style as the interior of the house. There are two different styles we are going to incorporate. Barn lights, which will be placed in feature positions – above the front door and above the garage doors.

Industrial Barn Light

These other simple flood lights will be placed on the side garage doors and near the walkout door.

Black Flood Light

MINIMALIST HOME LIGHT FIXTURES

Feel free to pin these light fixture ideas for reference!

WORKING WITH CLIQ STUDIOS | PART 2

In this post, I review the process of working with the online cabinet company Cliq Studios. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for my thoughts. I am in no way sponsored by or affiliated with the company.

Construction of our minimalist cottage has been moving along at a steady pace. With framing well underway, we are beginning to hit crunch time. Finish selections need to be made and ordered soon. In fact, we have already begun ordering the items that require a longer lead time. The cabinetry included.

We began our kitchen design over a year ago, as documented in this post. At the writing of Part 1, we were fairly confident that we would be using Cliq Studios for our cabinetry. And now that we have placed our order, I can confirm that I was right!

Today I want to share with you how the process of working with Cliq has gone for us so far.

WHY CLIQ STUDIOS?

I encourage you to go back and read Part 1 of this series for the full run-down. Essentially though, our decision to work with Cliq was primarily done because of budget constraints. Simply put – it isn’t cheap to build a house, and if you’re on a budget, something’s got to give!

We were confident that we would be able to attain a custom looking kitchen, for a fraction of the cost.

DESIGNING THE KITCHEN

When I first started the kitchen layout process with Cliq Studios, I was assigned a designer from the company. She was wonderfully patient and held my hand through a lot of revisions. And when I say a lot, I mean, A LOT. If you remember – our kitchen was in a completely different corner of the house at one point! This designer was very responsive, answered all of my questions, and gladly made any changes that I asked of her.

A few months ago, my designer took a job elsewhere and I was transitioned to someone new. This made me a bit nervous, wondering if the new designer would truly understand the ‘vision’ I had for the space.

The great news is – he totally got it!

Our Kitchen

I made a major last minute floor plan revision right around the time that he came on board. He was happy to start fresh with the new kitchen layout, while keeping in mind the design decisions that had already been made.

Our kitchen is roughly 10′-6″ x 13′-6″ and is a basic rectangular shape. It was always my intention to keep the design of the room extremely simple. The showcase of the space is the 1930’s era cast iron sink that we inherited. It will be centered on a large west facing window. Stainless steel appliances will complete the kitchen work triangle.

Because I personally don’t like the way upper cabinets tend to make a kitchen feel heavy and closed in, we opted for open shelving. These shelves will be custom made from trees harvested from our property, and hold the dishes we use on a daily basis. The one upper cabinet that is included in our kitchen design is located above the fridge. It’s depth will be perfect for large roasting pans and rarely used holiday platters.

Other Features

Another favorite thing in our future kitchen is the curved ‘artisian’ range hood. Though Cliq does offer this style, I have found another brand online at a better price. I’m all about finding the best deal.

Our microwave will be a smaller counter style. I would love to get one small enough that we can stash it in the cabinet below when it isn’t in use and keep the counters clear. We actually rarely use a microwave, and I value the counter space more.

As far as where the dishwasher will go… we won’t have one! There are a lot of strange looks when we tell people this. Truthfully though, we have never owned a dishwasher. This is another instance where we value the cabinet space over the appliance. Should we ever change our mind or sell the house, we have cabinets on either side of the sink that would accommodate a smaller model.

TIPS FOR WORKING WITH CLIQ STUDIOS

There are a few difference I have found between working with a custom cabinet maker and Cliq Studios. Should you choose to go the semi-custom route, keep these tips in mind.

Finish choices are limited

Though they offer quite a variety of wood grain and painted finishes, Cliq Studios can’t compete with a custom shop when it comes to selection. Certainly this is, in part, one of the reasons they are able to keep the consumer expenses down. I wanted simple, shaker style white cabinets for our kitchen. The ‘Rockford’ cabinet style, painted in ‘Cloud White’ was the perfect fit for us!

Size matters

Be aware that the more simple you can make the design of your kitchen, the less expensive it will be. Avoid having too many ‘custom’ sized items, which will drive up the cost. For example: The standard base cabinet is 2′-0″ deep. Requesting a cabinet that is 2′-6″ deep OR 1′-6″ deep will cost you more money.

Width of cabinets is another factor to keep in mind. Measurements need to be kept to an even inch, 24″ versus 24 1/2″, for example. I also found that there are max sizes on certain items, such as base drawer units, which don’t go over 3′-0″ wide.

Fillers are your friend

For those tricky spots where one of the standard sizes won’t fit, fillers are your friend. My designer was great about noting where fillers where going to be needed.

There is also the offer of larger side panels, such as those used to enclose a large fridge, for a more built-in look.

Add-on’s are extra

While Cliq studios does offer custom add-on’s such as garbage pull outs and drawer dividers, they are going to cost you extra. I did some research and found that the organization items I wanted could easily be added, after installation, for less. Another bonus of waiting is learning how the kitchen functions. After using it for a while, I may find that those upgraded features aren’t necessary.

Finally, your designer can assist you in selecting counter tops and hardware. Be advised though that the counters are only available through one company, Cambria, which sells a solid surface material. This limits your choices, and they may not have the look you are going for. Drawer pull selection is also limited, and a bit higher priced.

However, if you are fine with fewer options, and like the idea of a ‘one stop shop’ for the entire kitchen design, Cliq Studios can make it happen!

CABINETRY COSTS

After working through the redesign for a few weeks, I finally felt settled and ready to order. I had been given cost updates all along during the process, so the final numbers weren’t any huge surprise to me. Because I know that it might be helpful for someone reading this review to see the actual costs associated with ordering cabinets, I am sharing the break down of expenses.

Included in the kitchen

(2) 3′-0″ x 3′-0″ corner lazy susan cabinets

(2) 1′-9″ x 2′-0″ drawer bases

(1) 3′-0″ x 2′-0″ standard base cabinet

(3) 1′-6″ x 2′-0″ standard base cabinets

(1) 3′-0″ x 2′-0″ upper cabinet

(1) tall side panel for fridge

(2) cabinet doors + pieces to make a custom cabinet for under the farmhouse sink

Various filler pieces

TOTAL COST: $5,242

As a result of this wonderful cost savings, we were able to add a few additional cabinets. Both for the mud/laundry room and a small snack station for the basement family room.

Included in the laundry room

(2) 2′-6″ x 2′-0″ standard base cabinets

(2) 2′-6″ x 3′-0″ upper cabinets

side panels for both

TOTAL COST: $1,555

Included in the snack station

(1) 2′-0″ x 2′-0″ standard base cabinet

(2) 2′-0″ x 3′-6″ upper cabinets

side panels and filler piece

TOTAL COST: $913

OVERALL COST for our Cliq Studios cabinet order: $7,710. When ordering, the taxes for our zip code were calculated. This added an additional $500 to our cost. Being able to get such a large number of plywood construction cabinets, with soft close drawers, for that price was a steal!

NEXT STEPS

Because I wanted to make sure that we didn’t hold up the process at all, I ordered our cabinets well in advance. Notice came just the other day that the cabinets are in production and should be shipped mid August! Unfortunately we won’t be quite ready for them yet. They need to be delivered to a climate controlled house, and I can’t guarantee that at this point.

Worried that this could cause a problem, I contacted our designer and asked if there was any way to delay shipment. He asked around and was able to confirm that the shipping company can offer us a 30 day extension should we not be ready to receive the cabinets. After that point we would be charged a rate of $50 per month for them to store the shipment. Certainly, this gives us peace of mind!

Overall, so far we have been very pleased with Cliq Studios! Be sure to check back for Part 3 – when I discuss delivery, installation, and my thoughts about the overall quality of the cabinetry!

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FOUNDATION | HOUSE BUILDING UPDATE NO. 4

The foundation for our new house and attached garage/front porch is finished! It has taken a while to gather all of the footage and photos to document this portion of the build, but today I am ready to share with all of you this exciting step!

I have heard from those who have gone before us in this building process – that the foundation portion is perhaps the most slow moving. And, so far, that has been the case for us as well. I think it has to do with the fact that the process has to be done in multiple steps. First, the footings. Then, the foundation walls for the basement (if any), and finally the garage and porch foundation.

For our property we had an additional couple of steps because of the walkout portion of the basement.

OUR FOUNDATION

When it comes to foundations, there are a variety of options available. We chose to utilize a somewhat new technique called ICF foundations. Insulated Concrete Forms are becoming more of a standard in home construction. Though they are a bit more costly material wise, but the final product provides a very thick and sturdy foundation wall.

The main difference between an ICF foundation and a traditional poured foundation is that the forms they set before filling with concrete are permanent. They become a part of the foundation itself. With insulation on both sides, there is no need to add any after the fact. You can read more about Insulated Concrete Forms here.

PHOTOS OF THE FOUNDATION PROCESS

The very first step of foundation work is to set the footings. They are slightly wider than the foundation walls, and need to rest below the frost level. Here in good ol’ Minnesota, that means a minimum of five feet below finished grade. That is one of the reasons that most homes in our area have finished basements. The excavators are already digging so deep, that it isn’t a lot of extra work to add them!

Our basement includes one wall that is a walkout. This will be great for evenings out on the patio, and for the kids when they have friends over. Because the finished grade on the walkout side is lower than the rest of the site, they started the digging there.

They set the footing forms out of wood, then poured them with rebar inserted. You can see from this picture how the lower level is ‘stepped’ to include the walkout wall.

This picture shows the same walkout wall, now poured up to the finished basement floor height, in line with the rest of the basement.

The walls went up rather quickly using the ICF’s. This is, again, the walkout side of the house. We are really loving the privacy back here!

Viewing the foundation from the street-side though, I had a bit of a panic attack. One of my goals all along was to minimize the height of the house, to help it blend in with the neighborhood surroundings. And to me, the foundation looked like it was sitting so high out of the ground!

This happened in part because of our sewer dilemma. In order to avoid needing a sewage lift station in our basement, they raised the entire foundation by six inches. We discussed options to make up for these extra inches, including using shallower floor trusses. Ultimately though, we were reassured that the grading would help everything blend in nicely, and so we decided to just carry on.

BASEMENT PLUMBING

The plumbing crew came in and added the basement connections. They also added a radon mitigation system, which will run from below grade to above the roof. This is a new requirement for residential construction. Essentially it will help to release any radon gas that accumulates below grade, making it a safer place for us to occupy.

Once that was finished, they also connected the house to the city water and sewer system, which will run under the driveway. This created another freak out moment for me when I noticed a large PVC pipe sticking out of the ground right where the front of the porch would be!

Turns out this is the sewer clean-out. I was again reassured that grading would put this pipe at grade, and that it could be disguised with landscaping.

PORCH AND GARAGE FOUNDATION

The crew moved onto the porch and garage footings and foundation. Because there is no lower level below them, they didn’t need to dig quite as deep.

Meanwhile, they prepped the basement level for our in floor heating system. We are very excited to enjoy this feature in the cold winter months!

The crew was able to pour the porch and garage footings and the basement floor on the same day. That was very exciting! They came back the next day to set the foundation walls and poured them soon after.

This image shows the finished foundation walls. Standing in front of the porch and looking toward the house. The garage is set back, on the left.

PRELIMINARY GRADING

The excavating crew came back to smooth things out and, I have to say, they worked some magic. I was quite pleased to see that the grade did indeed help minimize the height of the foundation. It is still a bit higher than I would have liked, but ultimately there wasn’t much that could have been done. Looking on the bright side – being the highest house in the neighborhood should mean we will never have any water problems!

View from the street/ drive entrance looking toward house. You can use the pipe sticking out of the ground for reference. Watch the video below to see a more panoramic view of our site with the foundation finished.

UPDATE NO. 4 VIDEO

See our property take shape in this video!

That’s all for this update! I hope to be back in just a couple of weeks with the next step in our construction process- wood framing. We are super excited for this step, for a couple of reasons. One, it is supposed to go rather quickly. And two, because things will finally start taking the shape of a house! I know the kids are especially excited to walk around in the house and explore all the nooks and crannies!

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Surprise! Super last minute redesign

Funny story. Do you remember nine months ago when I made a major redesign to the main level? I was pleased with the change at the time and thought for sure I was done designing. Joke’s on me… apparently I wasn’t!

If you’ve been following along, you know that our building project has begun. We’ve cleared out trees, dealt with sewer issues, and the crew prepared the site. In fact, just this week the foundation for the house was poured! I will have an update on that over the next couple of weeks.

It’s all very exciting and welcomed progress, yet as soon as I saw the footings laid out on the site, I felt a nudge. You see, our site has some gorgeous views. It’s a gem of a property. And when I stood in the spot that would be our future living room, imagining the three large windows facing the beautiful woods, I couldn’t help but want to open up the view even more.

I looked at the 3D images that I had drawn, and thought. Was it possible?

Truth be told, I kept these thoughts to myself for a while. Surely my patient husband didn’t need the added stress of his wife redesigning a house that was currently being built. But I couldn’t shake the idea from my mind.

And then… a lightbulb moment

All along I had been holding onto the idea of our restored vintage cabinets, flanking a very formal front entry. But then I realized that this setup actually created quite a bit of rarely used square footage. Did we really want to allocate nearly a tenth of our main floor footprint to something that wouldn’t be needed on a daily basis? My simple answer was ‘no’.

main floor before

Taking the formal entryway out of the picture, the space absolutely opened up. I was able to maintain a small area by the front door for coat hooks and a small bench to be used by guests and visitors. The beautiful cabinets were then positioned to frame an opening to the kitchen.

main floor after

Speaking of the kitchen. I am SO in love with this new concept, which puts the amazing cast iron sink on center stage!

That large window will be sized to fit perfectly over our vintage sink.

Overall, the public parts of the main level are now open to one another and will be graced with ton of natural daylight. And, of course, the spectacular view is expanded.

Additional benefits of the redesign

Apart from the increased view, this redesign has a couple other benefits. With a large space opened up, there is now room for an even larger dining room table. It has always been my dream to have a table that can seat at least ten. This space will accommodate a table that size, or even bigger! As a bonus, there will be room for an additional piece of furniture near the table.

Perhaps a china hutch, or a fun and interesting vintage piece such as an old apothecary cabinet.

In the kitchen, we can include a larger fridge. I had always thought we would use a counter depth model, until we found that they were quite a bit more expensive than the deeper versions. It seems silly to pay more for something that has less space, but that is just the way it is. Counter depths are considered an ‘upgrade’. Surely our growing family will fill up a standard depth fridge with no problem!

The home is also made more handicap accessible, should any of our family members find ourselves in a wheelchair at some point. There is a natural wide pseudo hallway running the entire distance of the open room, and the kitchen includes plenty of space to turn.

What the redesign entails

All of this seems to add up to a major change, but in reality it isn’t a big deal! It shouldn’t send our contractor or the crews scrambling around too much anyway! Essentially, we will need to purchase two additional windows for the house – a large one for above the sink, and another for the living room. Our front door will change, from one with sidelights to a door only.

The exterior will also look a bit different too, with the removal of the small gable dormer above the porch and the addition of a column set.

Though I’ll admit that I do like the exterior look of the original design a bit better, the revised version is a manageable trade-off for the increased function and livability inside. And, I am giddy at the thought of two planters!

So, there you have it. Our surprise redesign. I have said for years that I work best under pressure. Apparently that includes adding design tweaks mere weeks before the house needs to be built. A few of the construction document sheets will need to be re-printed. But it will be worth it.

I would love to know your thoughts on this last minute redesign. But, hey. If you have any additional improvement ideas- please keep them to yourself. There isn’t time to go back to the drawing board again after this! Ha!

Site Work | House Building Update No. 3

Though not as glamorous as other portions of the project, site work is an important step in new home construction. Since we now have the okay to build, I plan to write an update every couple of weeks to document this process. I hope that you will follow along from wherever you are reading!

Update number three is all about the site work that has gone into preparing our land for a new home.

DEALING WITH THE TREES

As I mentioned previously, We had begun the site preparation ourselves by cutting down quite a few of the huge oak trees on our property. Craig’s parents were willing to help us with the tree removal in trade for firewood, which they use as a winter heat source.

We reserved quite a few of the straight log pieces. Asking around, we were able to find someone willing to mill them into lumber. With this lumber we hope to add some special accents to our home, including our dining room table.

The man who is going to do the milling for us collected the logs and brought them to his shop. We are hoping to have the kiln dried lumber from him by the end of the summer.

EROSION CONTROL MEASURES

With all the trees removed from the building area, the excavating crew set to work. First, the crew added some environmental protection measures. Our city has in place ordinances to prevent erosion during the construction process.

One measure is to add large gravel rocks to the portion of the driveway closest to the street. Because large trucks are in and out of a seemingly muddy construction site many times per day, these rocks help to loosen the mud before it is tracked onto the road.

Another way to prevent erosion is by adding a temporary silt fence around the portion of the site where the work will take place. In the event that sediment becomes loose on our building site, this fence will stop it from reaching the nearby pond. This will protect the pond’s water quality.

SCRAPING THE SITE

Approximately six inches of topsoil was scraped and pushed aside on the site, for future use. Because this topsoil contains quite a bit of organic material, it is not stable to build on top of. Small plants or brush might grow into the concrete foundation if the topsoil is not removed. In addition, topsoil holds in moisture. If pressed onto a concrete foundation, it may hinder it from curing properly.

This soil is, however, a wonderful material that will be spread back into place once the house is finished. It will be the perfect base in which to plant grass seed.

PLANNING THE EXACT HOUSE LOCATION

The excavation crew called me to the site to determine where exactly the house would be positioned. Although we had a basic idea of the location previously, the site looked a lot different with fewer trees. I have to say that, to date, this has been the most stressful part of the building process for me. It just seemed like the first real permanent decision. And that decision can’t be changed further on in the process if we are unhappy.

Our site is not a standard city lot where all houses are facing in the same direction toward the street. Because of this, we had quite a bit more flexibility on how to orient the house. Factors such as natural daylight, slope, views, and sight-lines all came into play and eventually we settled on what we think will be a good location.

Tape measures were run, laser levels were activated, and the crew was able to stake out the corners of the house and garage. I think it is pretty amazing how these modern day tools speed up the process.

DIGGING THE HOLE

Finally, the entire site was prepared and the crew could begin digging the hole for the basement. Above all, this is the portion of site work that I was most looking forward to. Seeing the large machinery in action was truly incredible.

We found that our site has quite sandy soil, with a bit of gravel content. This is actually favorable for house building. It basically ensures that, as long as the ground is graded properly, we will never have water issues in our basement. Compacted sand also provides a great base to build upon.

A portion of the soil was taken off site. The rest was left, to fill in around the footings and foundation.

SITE WORK COMPLETE

After hours of digging, and packing down the soil, the site started to take shape. And oh was it ever exciting!

This picture shows the outline of the house, marked in orange. It will be easier to see once the footings and foundation are set up. We are really excited for that next step! I have heard that once the foundation is complete, the rest of the building process seems to go very quickly!

SITE WORK | HOUSE BUILDING UPDATE NO. 3

This video shows the crew working hard to prepare our site for construction!

It’s pretty excited to finally be seeing a bit more progress, and things will really start to go quickly once the foundation gets started. We hope to be able to share that update next! Be sure to subscribe to the Arrow Hill Cottage YouTube channel, where I will be posting an entire video series on our new house build.

Porch Essentials | Create a welcoming outdoor space

There is something special about a covered front porch. Today I am sharing the front porch essentials that can help you create a welcoming outdoor room.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full disclosure here

Most people who see a home with a front porch will have a fond memory fill their minds. Perhaps the sight of a porch brings back feelings of family and gathering. Maybe it is a bit of nostalgia – longing for simpler times.

With summer right around the corner, and the anticipation of Arrow Hill Cottage being built, I have found myself really looking forward to spending time on the front porch. Though we won’t be able to enjoy the space until this time next year, I did a bit of research trying to figure out how we can make it as comfortable and relaxing as possible.

Below are the front porch essentials I believe make them special. I also share the products that can enhance each of these elements.

A SENSE OF WELCOME

To their very core purpose, porches provide a sense of welcome. They are the gateways from the hustle and bustle of the roadway to the peacefulness of indoors.

The most connected neighborhoods likely have homes that are outfitted with front porches. Sadly, it is rare for homes to be built with front porches nowadays. It is much more typical to find a garage positioned closest to the street, with a rather small front door set back.

We were very careful, during the design of our cottage, to include a large covered front porch. Not only do we believe it improves the look of the house itself (see for yourself in this post), we also feel that it will make our home feel more welcoming to our friends and neighbors. Porches have a way of encouraging face to face conversations with neighbors.

Adding a welcome sign to a front porch is a great sentiment, as is a cherry welcome mat.

A PLACE TO CONVERSE

Once a person has stepped onto a front porch, they are going to want to stay a while. Almost guaranteed. Give yourself and your visitors that opportunity by providing plenty of seating.

A porch swing is classic, and a staple for most front porches. We will definitely be incorporating one!

Be sure to offer a variety of seating options. Placing a matching set of chairs opposite the porch swing, for example, can create a wonderful conversation spot. Provide a mix of rocking and stationary seating.

Large ottomans or plush outdoor pillows are great for little ones. They can easily be moved around, perhaps even serving as a small table for a snack, or to hold a book.

A SPOT TO RELAX

Your front porch should be an extension of your home’s interior. Soften it’s hard lines by adding cozy elements such as layered rugs and pillows. Don’t be afraid to have fun with color and pattern. These elements can also infuse a bit of excitement and playfulness to the porch space.

AN ENTERTAINING SPACE

Porches also make great entertaining spaces. The purchase of a small beverage and snack cart can make a statement. Find one with wheels, so that it can easily be moved in and out of the house to be reloaded with snacks and drinks. An antique buffet or dresser can be set up in the milder weather months of the year, offering a more permanent entertainment solution.

A large drink dispenser allows guests to help themselves. You may even choose to refill the dispenser daily and keep it on the porch during the hot summer months, for family members to access when working and playing outdoors.

With proper seating provided, it is important to also include small tables where drinks can be placed. Nestle a table in between a set of chairs, or offer small serving trays that can be held on laps.

A CONNECTION TO NATURE

Another element that makes a front porch special is the connection it has to nature. Covered porches have a sheltering aspect, while also allowing users to feel the soft Summer breeze and smell the crispness of Fall air.

Try adding potted plants and small trees to the space. Hanging flower baskets are very popular among front porch owners.

One way we are planning to further connect the porch at Arrow Hill Cottage to nature is by incorporating a large planter. This project was the topic of much debate between myself and my husband. I think that I have won the battle, at least for now, and am very excited to see the planter come to life!

A SHELTER FROM OUTDOOR ELEMENTS

The outdoor experience can be enhanced by adding a bit of climate control to your front porch. This can be as simple as choosing appropriate lighting, to extend the usefulness of the space.

For the stuffy, hot summer afternoons, consider including a ceiling fan on the front porch. They can be found in a wide variety of styles.

Though the ceiling of a covered porch will add some protection from the sun’s overhead rays, a set of sheer curtains can help filter light further. They may also have the added benefit of deterring bugs and proving privacy when closed fully.

I hope that these porch essentials and product suggestions were useful to you, and give you insight into some ways to make your space really shine! If you have a front porch that you love, I want to hear what you do to make it a go-to space. Please comment below with your tips!

PIN THESE PORCH ESSENTIAL IDEAS

Click the links below for product information of all items in this post

FRONT PORCH ESSENTIALS VIDEO

Sewer Digging Drama | House Building Update No. 2

It has been a whirlwind to say the least. In the last update I gave you, we were busy clearing trees from the property in the hopes that we would be able to build. We had to wait for our appraisal report, to find out if it would financially make sense to build at this moment in time.

Sorry to leave you hanging like that, but a lot has happened since that point – and I am ready to share all of that with you today!

A seasoned blogger might put their reader in suspense. Maybe make them scroll through the entire post to get to the news that they came for. Lucky for you, I’m not a seasoned blogger. I feel like sharing this news right away!

The answer is…YES!

We are going to be building our simple dream house!

To be honest, I doubted this many times over the past couple of weeks. I questioned our motives. Wondered if we were being foolish or greedy. It isn’t easy to take on a dream that has been in the back of your mind for so many years. You question why that dream came to be in the first place. Lose a bit of your resolve.

But, through many heart felt conversations with family and friends, and silent prayer seeking His truth, we felt hopeful. And just last week it was confirmed.

We signed on the dotted line, our intention to make this dream a reality. And we couldn’t be more excited (or nervous) about it.

If you think it has been all sunshine and roses since closing day though, think again. In fact there has been a whole lot of drama. Hence the title of today’s update post.

So much has happened in the past coupe of weeks, in fact, that it is hard to explain. I knew it would be much easier for me to sort it out in video format instead of typing every last word. Though the video is a bit long, I encourage you to watch through the entire sixteen minutes, to get up to speed to where we are at! Information given in the video may become relevant in future new home construction updates.

HOUSE BUILDING UPDATE NO.2

Whew! If you watched through the video you know that the roller coaster ride has just begun. We were aware that new home construction presented some drama, I think we just were surprised to see it happening so soon! I hope you will come along for the ride and share all the highs and lows with us!

At this point it is my plan to give house building updates at least once every couple of weeks, perhaps once per week if there is enough to share. I also hope to continue blogging about simple living tips and resources, as time allows.

Let’s be honest though, this summer is mainly going to be ALL about the house! Other posts regarding our new home construction can be found HERE.

Design Elements | Inspiration For Our New Cottage

Today I am excited to share with you a few of the design elements we are planning for our new cottage. Hopefully, by the end of this post you will have a good sense of what our finished interior space might look like.

OUR FOREVER HOUSE

To be honest, I haven’t given a ton of thought to the interiors of any of the houses we have lived in. I think, in part, it is because I knew we would only be living in them temporarily.

This house though, being our forever house, has caused me to think more critically. We want to be very intentional about what we surround ourselves with.

MIXING OLD WITH NEW

Though we are building a brand new home, we feel it is important to incorporate items that have seen a bit more life, and wear and tear. The reason for this is twofold. Number one, we don’t want to feel that we can never touch anything, or be worried that our kids might break something.

Number two, we feel that a new house can seem a bit bland and stark if everything is perfect and new. A mix of found items can really help to give the interiors a casual, comfortable, and lived-in and vibe.

MAIN DESIGN ELEMENTS

There are four main categories of inspiration that I will be discussing: geometry, color, texture, and specialty items. They all work together to form an overall design style that is simple and orderly while also comfortable and casual.

Geometry

As an architecture major, I am fascinated with geometry. I love how simple lines and shapes can come together to form something interesting and beautiful.

One example of how we plan to incorporate geometric design into our new cottage is the five panel doors we have chosen. They mimic the pair of wooden doors we refinished last summer. I think they have a classic look that will pair well with the simple lines of the cottage.

This window also displays basic, yet interesting geometry. I saw it out of the corner of my eye one day when I was browsing through an antique shop. Though it was priced higher than I wanted to pay, I could not get my mind off of it. Eventually came home with me, and we have loved it ever since.

Color Scheme

When it comes to color theory, I am definitely one who prefers a mostly neutral palette, with pops of interesting color. Knowing what colors to ‘pop’ with has been something I have slowly learned through the years.

In fact, the realization of the color scheme for our new house came to me a bit by accident. A few years ago I purchased this simple pillow. It kind of spoke to me, even though I couldn’t really put my finger on why. The pillow has been a mainstay in our living room since that day, and every time I look at it I smile.

It wasn’t until recently that I realized that the pillow brings a couple of my very favorite design elements to life. The geometric pattern is simple, and pleasing to the eye. But also, the colors themselves are those I tend to gravitate toward. With the exception of the tan color, which I would replace with a mustard yellow.

Without even knowing it, I have been accumulating items with these colors and bringing them into our home.

This rust-red pitcher, for example, adds just the right amount of color. And the small lithograph print features many of my favorites.

Texture

I am a huge fan of texture. More specifically, neutral texture. It is one of the reasons I am a sucker for a woven basket or a macrame wall hanging.

This pillow is one of the ways that I added a bit of texture to our home decor. I created a blog post a while back which details the steps to make one for yourself. I will be re-doing the video link in the near future. There have been people who have tried to make the project and have commented that the video could use a few more step by step instructions.

Other textured items might be really subtle. This pair of white bowls, for example, have a small bit of ribbing around their rims. I think this tiny bit of detail really adds visual interest to an otherwise ordinary piece.

Special Items

A house filled with generic, store bought items will not have the same feeling as one adorned with well loved items. Displaying items that bring you joy or remind you of someone you love is the perfect way to make a new house feel like home.

We have special items of all types that we plan to utilize at our new cottage. The cabinet in this vignette, for example, is one of a set that my husband painstakingly restored this past winter. He put so much effort into them, and they are absolutely stunning!

A cream can, saved from the run down farmstead of my great-grandparents, will become a special conversation piece in the cottage.

This crate has been used as a toy box for many years by our children. We plan to bring it with us when we move. Although it may eventually be filled with different items, it will forever hold the memories of a time when our kids were younger and enjoyed it as a toy box.

We are so excited to see all of these design elements come to live in our new home! If you would like to be the first to know about the construction timeline, be sure to subscribe to my email newsletter. I will be sending out house information there first. Also, consider subscribing to the Arrow Hill Cottage YouTube Channel. There, I plan to post a house building update once per week, as soon as we break ground.

Thanks for stopping by! I enjoy sharing this journey with all of you!

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK

In this video, I do a little walk-through of each piece in the vignette. I describe the design elements and talk about each piece and how they represent the elements.

PIN THESE IDEAS

SATURDAY SKETCHBOOK: BATHROOM LAYOUT UPDATE

While it is still fresh in everyone’s minds, I wanted to take some time and say ‘thank you’ to you awesome people for all of the help you gave me last weekend.

When I wasn’t sure which layout was best for our future upstairs bathroom, I went ahead and made a post about it – offering three options, and asking you to choose your favorite. I thought maybe two or three of you might comment or offer suggestions. I was completely blown away by the amount of interaction that post received both here on the blog and on social media – especially through the AHC Facebook page!

I will need to go back and look at the stats to be positive, but i’m pretty sure that it was my most engaged post of all time. Kind of crazy, considering the subject matter! If you would like to review the options, you can read the post again RIGHT HERE.

The post went live right away in the morning, around 7am; And as the day progressed, I could see that there was a strong trend emerging. Barely anyone was choosing Option #1, with the smaller shower stall. Most people agreed that when given the chance to have a larger tiled shower, they would choose it over a fiberglass or plastic unit.

people were not loving the idea of a small shower stall!

That little tidbit was interesting to us, as Craig and I have never lived in a house with a custom/tiled stall. We have always either had the smaller stall units or a bath/shower combo unit. I guess we don’t know what we’re missing!

That left option #2 and #3.

And, between the two, another common theme emerged. Many people agreed that seeing the toilet first thing as you walk up the steps would not be attractive. Seeing the vanity first, as Option #2 showcased, was the primary reason given by people who made that choice.

However, I have a feeling that not everyone who chose the second option fully realized that the ceiling behind the vanity was sloping, hindering the ability to install a full height mirror. This was Craig’s biggest worry, I believe. He felt that a vanity with a small mirror (or no mirror) in front of it would, essentially, be useless.

toilet is hidden, but the vanity is small and there is little to no space for a mirror

The final trend in comments that we saw was regarding the counter space itself. Many of you pointed out that the larger vanity in Option #3 far outweighed the negative aspect of seeing the toilet first thing when walking into the bathroom. As one person commented, “Everyone knows it’s in there!” I’ll admit, there is a lot of truth in that statement!

people didn’t like the toilet directly in front of the door (I didn’t either) – but some thought that the additional counter space made option #3 their top choice regardless.

You know how sometimes when you stare at something for a really long time and it starts to get fuzzy and not make sense anymore? That is what I think was happening to me. But you guys… you helped me bust through! By the end of the day, the topic had received so much discussion, that new ideas started popping into my head.

And from all those comments about how you and your families use your bathrooms, questions about swinging vs pocket doors, and thoughts about what is most visually pleasing – a brand new OPTION #4 was born!

By ‘stealing’ a mere 8 inches from the girl’s bedroom, I was able to figure out a layout complete with BOTH the large tiled shower and the extra long counter space, a pocket door, and a toilet hidden from view. I figure there is even room for a small linen cabinet or hamper in the corner.

I brought it into 3D – just to verify that all of the fixtures will work out. And I do believe we have a winner!

Rainfall shower head? check! Extra large vanity? check! Pleasant view into the room? check!

I like the idea of a round mirror and a rectangular sink. Still debating about adding a second. As you can see, the headroom will be a bit more tight on that side of the counter. The back wall behind the toilet is 4′-9″.

At your suggestion, I am also planning to allow for a glass shower door.

This is the view a person walking up the stairs will see. I am loving that the door is essentially centered on the back wall. I am planning a pendant light fixture for the hall, to hang in the center. I think it looks pretty balanced! I envision colorful art pieces hanging on either side of the door – maybe a ‘kid gallery’?

Just for fun… here is an aerial view of the second floor as it is right now. I’m just getting started on the girl’s bedroom design – so it isn’t detailed. Also trying to determine what height knee walls, if any, will need to be added.

I will be working some more on the 3D imagery – adding color and texture – and will give the big reveal of the room right here on the blog when it’s finished.

Again, I want to thank you for hanging out and helping me with this! I have other tricky spaces that have been leading me to dead ends. Maybe if I post about them, you can help me another time or two (or twenty)? Have a wonderful weekend, friends!

SATURDAY SKETCHBOOK: MASTER BEDROOM

I hesitate to call this room the ‘Master Bedroom’, since it lacks some of what would be considered standard features. There will be no on-suite bathroom or walk-in closet. But it is the bedroom that Craig and I will use – and since we are the ‘masters’ of the property, per se’, I guess the phrase will work. Ha!

As I mentioned in this recent post – the room is not at all large. When dividing up square footage in the floor plan, we made the decision to give more to the shared/ public spaces in the house (such as the living room and kitchen) and to make the private spaces (such as bathrooms and bedrooms) a bit smaller. This is a decision that we are 100% okay with, as the members of our family tend to rarely spend time in the bedrooms.

The location of the bedroom itself was something I thought about for a very long time. Because we intend to live in Arrow Hill Cottage for as long as life allows, I wanted to be sure and include at least one bedroom on the main level. Our kids are old enough now that it works for our family to have their bedrooms upstairs – giving them (and us) a bit of separation and privacy. Besides the bedroom, the rest of the main level is shared/ public space – In order to make the room feel as private as possible, I used the stairway as a ‘buffer’ and also located the closets, fireplace, and built-ins between the living room and bedroom – which should help to reduce noise transfer.

The Master Bedroom is 10′-4″ wide by 12′-5″ long, 128 square feet. But even with it’s small size, it should be able to pack a good design punch – with a few key features.

NATURAL LIGHT

I have said before that I love natural daylight. The Master Bedroom will have three large South facing windows that overlook the front porch. They are sure to let in some great light, which I am very excited about! And because they are across from the bedroom door, the view out of these large windows is likely to be the first thing you notice when you walk in. For privacy and light filtration, these windows will likely have some sort of covering.

I like the look of a simple natural roman shade.

TRAY CEILING

We have a large amount of tongue and groove barn-wood, which was removed from an old summer kitchen on Craig’s parent’s property. I am hoping to re-purpose some of the wood in the trayed portion of the Master Bedroom ceiling. I think it will add a bit of warmth to the room, as well as sentimental/ personal appeal.

I also love sleeping with the white noise of a fan, and want to find a pretty ceiling fan to replace the chunky box fan that we are currently using.

FRENCH DOORS

The closet, though not the walk-in variety, is a decent size. We plan to use a set of vintage french doors (from the farmhouse we are currently living in) to access the closet space. Of course, the glass on the doors will need to be frosted in some way so that our clothes and shoes aren’t on display!

The doors have such a great patina, but I may need to sand and stain them to mix a bit better with the other wood tones.

TUFTED HEADBOARD

We have a queen size bed with the world’s most comfortable mattress. Although it has probably outlasted it’s life expectancy at this point, we are not ready to part with it. I have wanted a diamond tufted headboard for a very long time. The thought of aqua velvet keeps popping up in my mind, but I think a more neutral fabric choice would better suit the room – without overpowering it.

There are a ton of great DIY tutorials for tufting, such as this one from Homeade by Carmona. It looks pretty straightforward and the directions are detailed enough that I may just get brave enough to tackle this project, and save a few dollars.

A nightstand and reading lamp with an operable arm will be situated on either side of the bed – giving the bed wall a very balanced and symmetrical look.

At the foot of the bed, I plan to position a special pine chest that my uncle built for me as a seventh birthday present. It is full of memories and keepsake items – and I cherish it!

READING NOOK

A few years ago I found this cute chair through a local online ad. It’s in a bit of rough condition currently, but it has a great shape and I can see a lot of potential! I am thinking of reupholstering it and maybe painting the frame, or staining it a different color.

There will be a series of shallow shelves behind the door, where I plan to house our book collection, as well as a few mementos and collectibles.

And of course, there will be baskets. No room is complete without baskets.

The rest of the accessories and art for the room are a bit sketchy in my mind at the moment – but I know that I want the vibe to be calm and relaxing, yet not too stuffy or formal. I am envisioning pops of color to add interest, and lots of visual texture. I love textiles such as rugs, pillows and bedding – and will surely have plenty of fun making each of those choices. Here are a few that have already caught my eye.