In honor of my home-iversary this month, and my future home dreaming and scheming project that I’m tackling this quarter, I thought it would be fun, and helpful, to start a new series on the blog where I create moodboards for reimagined rooms, primarily in homes that catch my eye as I begin online house hunting.
Disclaimer: I do not have any immediate plans to move. I’m still fully in the daydreaming phase (though I have started saving for a down payment, so it’s not a total fantasy).
That said, I am eager to start brainstorming specifics and pulling together a more solid plan for my future home than just pinning photos to my Pinterest board. I want to create a fully fledged vision and work on manifesting that ish!
My past experience
When I was online house hunting 11 years ago, I had a very strong reaction to the home I ended up buying (which was also the first one I went to see IRL and, admittedly, became fixated on). I was taken immediately and couldn’t wake up from my home decor daydreams.
In my mind, I could picture what I would do to each space. I would imagine it obsessively. I was so excited that I barely slept between my offer being accepted and closing day— not only with worries about home ownership, but with visions of home designs dancing in my head!
Project Forever Home
Before I delve more into the series specifics, I just wanted to outline my project plan so far and share some of the details I already have in mind.
My task list for this dreaming and scheming project includes:
- Creating a location radius
- Firm up a realistic budget, update savings tracker
- Calculate closing costs
- Create a list of must haves and like to haves
- Create a physical vision board
- Start browsing homes online…
I’ve already started my forever home wish lists (bold are my must haves, underlined are priority like to haves, everything else would just be icing). In April of 2019, I shared my future farmhouse wishlist HERE. I wonder how my lists have changed…spoiler, not much! My current lists include:
- Basement or garage, or both
- Ideally basement plus a detached garage with second floor for workspace/studio
- Sunny front yard for flowers
- Wraparound porch
- Deck
- Laundry room
- More windows/natural light
- Yard/ground to grow veggies
- Water hookup outside for hose!
- Sunroom/solarium
- Shutters
- Black frame windows
- White cabinets
- More easily accessible pantry
- Walk in closet
- Skylight(s)
- Apron front sink
- Fireplace
- White counter tops
- Bigger shower
- Tub I can soak in
- LESS LIGHTSWITCHES!!!
- Breakfast nook
- Pool
This project is supporting the ultimate goal of finding and moving into my forever home. As I see it today, the active house hunting process is still probably 3-4 years down the road. So this series could go on for a while!
Speaking of the series…
As outlined above, as I kick off this forever home dreaming and scheming project part of my process will include looking at homes online, however premature that may be. Even though I won’t be going to open houses or making any offers just yet, I think getting my head back into the game will be fun.
As an artist and designer, I think I have a gift for seeing the potential in a space. And I want to flex that muscle again.
And I want to share it with you too. So instead of just imagining how I’d redesign any given space that sparks my interest (and having it rattle around in my head as an open loop for years), I’m going to get it out of my brain and into a more concrete, visual plan. A moodboard!
My vision for the series
Each month I plan to share at least one room makeover concept (maybe two or three if the spirit moves me and time allows before my deadline) from a home listing that has caught my eye.
In the essence of privacy, I won’t share listing links, but I will probably include screen shots of any before photos of the room I’m looking to reimagine.
Then I’ll create a moodboard and share my plan for what I would do if this was my forever home.
I’m excited for this project, and this series! It’s been a while since I’ve completely planned a room from scratch. I like remixes too, so I may also figure reusing current futurniture and decore elements from my home. Because let’s face it, that’s what’s going to happen IRL. Stay tuned!
Do you ever redesign rooms you see online?
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