Bungalow Lowdown: Exterior Paint, Tile Selections + Landscape Dreams

The bungalow project is in high gear and I’m having a ball, y’all! It’s been so fun to flex my decorating muscle again. I miss it!

Last week was all about exterior paint and nailing down tile selections for some unexpected remodeling I added to my plate (always happens).

Once I started to really marinate on this project, it was clear I wanted to do more work than I originally had planned. After some thought, I decided to refinish the wood floors and redo the kitchen backsplash and nook floor tile.

Luckily, our new neighbor is a general contractor and could fit me in his schedule. So we met for a bid and I started trolling online for quick ship options that fit the decor’s vibe. I fell in love with an exaggerated dusty pink subway tile and washed wood style ceramic hexagon for the floors.

I’m taking the dark wood floors down to a light washed oak to lighten up the space and make it feel a tad more modern and fresh. I also prefer a matte finish floor and am excited to remove the current sheen throughout the house.

On Thursday I spent the entire day on site meeting with landscapers to get bids to completely revamp the front and back yards. The house sits on the prettiest, shaded, large lot and has some gorgeous opportunities to really make the house feel like a cozy hideaway with beautiful nature views.

We talked local plants, low maintenance design elements and adding some additional trees for privacy. I also tasked myself with finding some unique pots for elevation in certain areas and hope to find some in Canton next month.

In between those meetings, I checked on exterior paint progress. It’s now officially complete and looks so great. I chose a light warm gray for the exterior and my go-to Shoji White for all trim. The doors are a putty pink and the shutters are a deep olive while the front porch ceiling is a gray/blue. It’s all so soft, warm and inviting. I’m thrilled with how it turned out.

      

Tons of online purchases started to roll into the HQ last week. I ordered several light fixtures that will mimic ones in our stores. Mattresses, bed frames and glass tops for vintage fixtures I’ve found also arrived.

One night after the kids were in bed, I designed the backyard layout with classic Adirondack chairs, a sleek picnic bench and cool metal arbor system. It’s low maintenance but still cool and classic. I can’t wait to see this magical outdoor space used for special gatherings. You truly don’t feel like you’re in the city when you step foot in the backyard.

I’ve been finalizing decor selections every night when I can squeeze in the time. From unique rugs to light fixtures, I’ve been searching high and low online to score things that are just right with my vintage selections from local consignment stores and flea markets.

I still have a few quirky design challenges to iron out, including an old closet I want to turn into a sleeping nook. I also am still nailing down some contractors to do minor repairs and edits here and there. Overall, though, the project is really set for the tenants to move out and allow us to start a super-fast 3-4 week remodel.

  

This week I have a ton on my plate to keep the ball rolling and prep for the remodel the minute the house is clear. Today I submitted my interior paint selections to our painter. The colors are very similar to the exterior with a heavy dose of warm white, putty pink, black and green/gray. I have a couple unexpected pops I can’t wait to share, too!

I’m shopping for our new fridge, sink hardware, some final light fixtures and accent wallpaper. I’m meeting an electrician to revamp every single fixture and re-wire a few spots for additional accent lights. Be sure to follow our new Instagram account @FleaStyleBungalow for progress photos and stories for behind-the-scenes snippets while I’m on site and shopping up a storm!

xoxo,