Our Exterior: Trendy and a Little Different

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The outside of a house sets the tone for everything else and we’re okay admitting this one leans a little trendy. Trends aren’t a bad thing when they’re grounded in classic choices like black and white elements, clean lines and timeless materials. We wanted something that looks a little different from the sea of all-white farmhouses.

I, personally, love a quirky exterior with a bit of edge. We were one of the few non-beige, light grey or white houses when we chose blue siding for our current house.

The contrast of black and white gives it that crisp, modern feel but the shapes and structure keep it from feeling cold or overly modern.

One thing that mattered a lot was curb appeal that is not copy-and-paste. We’ve driven past enough new builds to know when something feels too familiar (looking at you white farmhouse) and we wanted to avoid that.

The exterior also had to work with our floor plan. While I won’t be sharing the full layout for safety reasons, the exterior gives subtle hints about how the house functions. The only thing keeping me up at night is the lack of window symmetry. We couldn’t come up with a work around based on the floor plan. We did come close though. We plan to use landscaping to help balance things out.

Overall, the exterior sets the tone for the rest of the house. It’s trendy without being over-the-top. It feels like a home we’ll still love long after the current design trends shift.

Also, I really can’t wait to slap some giant spiders up on that white brick at Halloween. These are the thoughts that get me through building a house.

Living Room Mood Board: Inspiration for Our Next Chapter

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We’ve officially started gathering ideas for the living room in our new build. It’s been fun to see the vision start to come together.

Here’s what we’re thinking:

What’s Staying

Some things are just too good to change.

  • Furniture – our tried-and-true pieces that are comfy and actually work in real life

  • Fireplace – my Winter in Iowa survival piece

  • Natural light + great view – because nothing makes a living room better than sun and scenery (emphasis on the sun)

Sources (affiliate links): couch, chair, coffee table, rug, lamp

What’s Changing

  • Two-story space – trading vertical drama for a cozier, more livable layout

  • Built-ins – opting for flexibility over permanent storage

The Floor Plan (Sort Of)

For safety reasons, won’t be showing the full floor plan (you’re going to have to piece this baby together, intruders. Crime is a major concern in rural Iowa). Even without sharing every detail, you can see the vision coming together. We’re looking for a living room that feels warm, inviting and functional for our family. I know there’s been a push lately to close off rooms but we love an open main floor.

The Mood Board Vision

The goal for this room is comfortable and inviting with a few visual touches that elevate it:

  • Neutral base colors layered with texture

  • Warm woods and subtle black accents

  • Furniture and layout that encourage hanging out (not just looking pretty)

  • Pretty wall moulding is my love language.

Why Mood Boards Matter

Mood boards help us see the room as a whole before any walls are built or floors are laid. They’re not final but they give us a direction and a way to keep all our ideas organized. Plus they make the whole “building a house” process feel slightly less overwhelming.

Stay tuned as we start selecting more design details for the rest of the house!

Room by Room: Living Room

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If there’s one room that really defines how a house feels, it’s the living room. This is where everyday life happens. From movie nights to slow mornings. This space has been high on our priority list as we plan our new home.

I recently read “Everyone is Lying to You.” Spoiler: One of the influencers in the story had a living room & kitchen that were for show only. The actual lived in rooms were hidden from the main house. I know I should hate this idea. But it’s kind of genius.

Sadly, I only have enough American dollars for ONE living room and ONE kitchen. Here’s my actual plan…

How We Want This Room to Feel

The goal is comfortable and livable. We want the living room to feel polished without feeling formal. But it still needs to look cute. No recliners here. I am who I am. We need a space that works just as well on a random Tuesday night as it does when we’re hosting.

What We’re Keeping

Even though this is a new build, we’re not reinventing everything. There are a few things we already love about our current living room and plan to include in our new home. Our youngest child is a little apprehensive about moving. I’m hoping by carrying over our favorite parts of the house that she will feel at home faster. Here’s what we’re keeping:

  • Our furniture – it’s comfortable, works for our family, and still feels like us

  • A fireplace – the only way I survive an Iowa Winter

  • Natural light – big windows and a great view are non-negotiable

These elements already work really well for how we live so the goal is to design around them.

What We’re Changing

This build gives us the chance to fix the things that are no longer serving us:

  • No two-story living room – we’re trading vertical drama for a cozier feel

  • No built-ins – NO MORE CLUTTER. I feel that I have never been able to style these built-ins well. And the dusting. Gross.

We’ve learned that bigger doesn’t always mean better and sometimes simpler is the winner.

Design Direction

The living room will lean classic with a modern edge:

  • A neutral base layered with texture and pattern

  • Warm woods mixed with black accents

  • Comfortable, tailored seating

  • A mix of old and new so it doesn’t feel like a showroom

We’re not trying to fill every wall or corner on day one. The plan is to let the room evolve naturally as we live in it. If we really miss built-ins, there is space to add them!

Designed for This Season of Life

Our kids are older and we entertain more casually. This living room is being designed for our current chapter. I no longer need ALL OF THE TOY STORAGE. I do love a busy rug and dark furniture though. Because dog and children.

It’s meant to be lived in, not tiptoed around. I mean, why have a couch that you can’t lounge on?

Please, make yourself comfortable. Sorry to interrupt your slumber.

What’s Next

Next up, we’ll start narrowing in on details like layout, lighting and how the living room connects to the rest of the house. I’ll be sharing mood boards and progress as decisions get made (and probably changed).

Thanks for following along as we plan this house one room at a time.