September 2, 2019|Decorating, Farmhouse Design
Your home is a canvas. It’s a place to express your personality and style while creating a comfortable, happy place for you and your family. Whether you are getting ready to start your building journey or want to add some charm to your existing home, I have compiled ten easy ways to incorporate character into your space.
When I think character in a home, I think “older homes” with thick moldings, heavy trim and shiplap. I love historic architectural pieces that add a unique statement and make for a great conversation piece. So once I knew we were going to custom build our home, I was on the hunt for vintage pieces.
Vintage Corbels
Corbels are a great way to add charm to your home. I purchased these Nashville, TN 1857 antique corbels from the Mount Dora Antique Show. Corbels can be used in a variety of ways such as: on either side of an entrance, holding your kitchen hood or supporting a fireplace mantel.
Shiplap
Back in the day shiplap was used as a covering for out buildings, such as sheds and barns and of course ships. Soon the pine slates made its way into homes. It has gained popularity for its timeless quality and rustic charm.
I love shiplaps profile with interlocking pieces creating a groove with the ability to stain or paint it compliments any space.
Trim & Moldings
Adding crown and thicker baseboards beautifies a house. Older homes were plentiful with ornate moldings and trims. The addition of thick moldings will add custom detail to your home. Areas of importance for trim are: the windows, door jambs, crown and baseboards. With our ceilings being 12ft tall, a two step 7 1/4 baseboard is what we are using.
Trim around windows and doors was high on my list for custom details. Bulky trim around windows creates a clean, well defined look. You can easily upgrade your existing home with poplar and some readily available tools. Luckily, farmhouse style trim is a simple, modern design with easy cuts.
Wood Beams
Exposed rustic ceiling beams add tremendous character to any room. I particularly love the hand hewn variety. The rough texture and natural color compliment our farmhouse style. You can locate historic beams or purchase faux beams. Faux beams look so real and can be installed easily during or after a build. Our farmhouse will have two beams in the dinning room, two in the kitchen and one rustic mantel.
Vintage Doors
Oh, this is my favorite way to add character! If you have been following our building journey, you may have heard me mention our three antique doors we will be using in our home. They all date back the the 1850’s. The one we are using for our foyer closet stands at 9.5 ft tall, has beautiful trim details and is made out of European pine. The light, natural color is gorgeous and it will add that pop of charm in our entrance. The second set is from France and we had them joined together to create one unique barn slider for our kitchen/mudroom entrance. The third door is made from Louisiana cypress, which we will be using for our pantry. The intricate details and glass panel are simply one of a kind. I purchased these doors from The Bank Antiques in Louisiana. They not only have a large selection of antique doors but they also restore them. These doors were completely repaired and are ready to be placed in our home.
Hardware
Hardware is like the jewelry on the door. Vintage door knobs and rustic pulls bring an element of interest to doors and cabinetry. We are using Bravura Hardware throughout our home for all our knobs and barn door hardware. I love stately heavy pieces with large back plates to really dress up interior doors. Rustic brass or black cabinet pulls provide the finishing touch to complete a space.
Built-ins
Older homes were known for space saving built-ins. We are adding built-ins around our fireplace. The custom cabinetry will create a well organized display to be creative. Styling them will be fun and add the perfect amount of interest for our grand room. Other areas where built-ins are useful are in an office, kitchen or living room.
Vanity Mirrors
I never liked the large solid builder grade mirrors that are commonly installed in bathrooms. I opted to purchased our own decorative mirrors adding an easy and inexpensive way to add interest to our bathrooms. There are so many options for locating that perfect bathroom mirror. You can search for a gilded vintage one or locate a winner at HomeGoods, or online.
Lighting
Beautiful, unique lighting is the perfect way to make a statement in your home. Choose rustic pieces with character and make sure they fit your space appropriately. The right chandelier is like the icing on the cake!
Rustic Brick
When I think of a quaint home, I picture a rustic brick front porch. Brick is a timeless material that is making a huge come back in home designs. We will be incorporating Cherokee Brick in four areas throughout our farmhouse. The first area is the wrap around porch. It is a dream to have a porch to sit and relax with our coffee in the morning. Having rustic brick flooring will add tremendous character to our home’s exterior. Another area where we are using brick is the fireplace. We will be applying a thick buff colored mortar creating a nostalgic charm. I want it to appear as though we uncovered a hidden fireplace gem behind a wall. The third place is for our mudroom. We will lay the brick in a herringbone pattern on the floor with a thick mortar and sealer. I want to give the appearance of an add-on with all the exposed brick. The last area is the outdoor kitchen. We will be covering the facade of the outdoor grill with rustic brick to tie in the front and back patio.
Thank you for visiting!
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