Adding Character In Your Home

Do you guys ever look at properties for sale (even when you’re not moving)? That is so me! I just love structure and it’s fun to sneak a peek inside. Hey, some folks get lost on Facebook, I get lost looking at architecture and design. 😉

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If you haven’t guessed by now, I’m totally a hopeless romantic. Plus I’m obsessed with fairy-tales. So when I’m looking at homes for sale, I look for the most unique places that make me daydream and maybe even swoon a little. I’m such an old soul. I love details, layers and, of course, unique color combinations. Oh and landscaping is huge for me too! If I was a zillionaire I’d have different homes all over the world. I love so many different styles, I can never make up my mind.

I look at real estate all over the world to get decor ideas. This week I’m drooling over some fairy-tale chateaus in France. I think I’ve mentioned at least a dozen times to Nate, let’s move here! Please, please, please! I think I’ve even dreamed of a few of these places in my sleep. I’m such a nerdy girl!

I’ll be throwing out tips and links throughout this post to inspire you and get you thinking about your home.

Here’s my thing… if you love looks like this, you should totally try to incorporate it into your home! It does totally depend on the style of your home, though. You can’t just throw any look into any home. Also, I prefer smaller homes. It doesn’t cost nearly as much to design and furnish, plus looks way, way cozier, than a larger home. I know Americans love their big open spaces, but I’m going to break it to ya, empty big homes don’t look great. If you’re going big, please for the sweet love buy a home in your price range that you can still afford to furnish it and make it warm. This is a common mistake a lot of people make. (End of little rant. Haha!)

I came across this little gem below. Just watching the video has a lot of good decor ideas and soft neutral tones. Pay attention to the colors inside. If you love neutrals, these folks got it right, with little splashes of bright artwork. The trim work is outstanding, but not too over the top.

You can rent this place $$$$! It’s breathtaking. They can even arrange babysitting for you while you go for long walks. 😉 Do you ever wonder what people do for a living to have this kind of life style?

Tip: If you have a white house and you want to give it a fresh look, paint your shutters (if you have them) a gray tone with a black roof. If you have a brick exterior and the brick is the wrong tone, consider painting it white and doing this look. Also, if you don’t have shutters but you have room for them around your windows, I would consider it. Layers make a huge difference. So pretty! Here’s a link to affordable exterior shutters.

Immaculate Chateau

Below, I purposefully pulled homes that are “only” under six hundred thousand pounds!!! Slightly more affordable. Some need a little TLC, but they are still awesome!  You’ll notice in some, they need a decorator to come in and make it magical again. I’m betting a lot of these home were passed down from generation to generation and the new owners just can’t afford them anymore. That’s often the case. I wish I had a rich relative that could do that for me…

Come dream with me! Oh and if one of you guys can afford to buy this… snatch it up and hire me to decorate it!

This place is so warm and cozy! The beams really add so much dimension. Click on the link below to see the inside.

 Inside this Home

Tip: Beams done right will never go out of style. If you have 9 foot ceilings or higher, I would recommend it. They aren’t hard to make (see DIY), or you can order them just about anywhere these days. Also, beams can work in many different styles of homes.

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Or, you could tear out your ceiling and expose the beams underneath.

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This home is 15th century and it’s all exposed. So rustic. I’m all over those stone walls.

Inside this Home

I love accent walls. They can really add a statement to your room.

Tip: Stone, brick, or textured accent walls work really well on small or larger walls.  You know, those huge walls you don’t know what to hang stuff on? A textured accent wall might just work. They also look good bare, you don’t have to clutter them up with much. See for yourself with the peaceful image below.

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This next property, I just love! It’s so stink’n cute! I’m obsessed with the extruded roofs. Yep, I can completely picture myself here with lush gardens, and yes I’d totally rock a corset with my girls pushed up too. SOLD!

Inside this Home

Tip: If you have a lot of thick white trim in your home with tall ceilings, don’t be afraid of bolder colors and vibrant wall paper. Make sure the room is well lit and be bold! This is the kind of dramatic you can really have fun with. I’m a sucker for color like this. I can’t get enough of it.

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I’d take this one too!

Inside this Home

Tip: The crown molding and beams are what gives these homes so much character. You don’t have to pay a lot to achieve this look. Did you know you can fake crown molding? Here are a couple of links to inspire you: Trim around doors and windows & Wide trim.

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I decided to be spontaneous! That’s the artist in me. 😉 I’m in the process of planning another trip to Europe. France is one of my stops!

I think I’ll have to open up a new category for the blog on travel, because I’m kinda in love with it.

Holy moly! If you thought some of those chateaus above are good, I have links below to a couple of B&Bs near Normandy I’m thinking about staying in. I have to admit though, I’m a super cheap traveler. I have a hard time spending my hard-earned dollars unless it’s a very good experience. I need a lot of bang for my buck, you know what I mean?

Here are some examples of more bang for your buck!

Château de Boucéel

Take a peek inside this place. I’m in love with this room below!

 

I went crazy over this house when Nate and I were researching B&Bs. It’s so flip’n adorable, I can’t stand it! Who are these people that own this stuff? You have to check out the interior.

Château de Bénéauville

I want to hear from you!

Which home did you love?

Are there looks from any of these places that you’d love to pull into your home?

Au revoir!

XOXO

Melessa

 

P.S. I am incredibly devastated for the families of the victims of the shooting in Florida.

I’m just so sorry for the people and families who were affected by this very sad event and please know that I do care. I can’t always do much from where I am, but I can continue to teach my two boys how to love and forgive even when it hurts. I do my best to be an example of good and I hope that my children pick up on that.

As unfortunate as this event is, I hope we can all be motivated to love more.