Last winter Design Sponge featured our little house in their Sneak Peek Section and I realized I never even did a post. While we have lived in much larger homes and certainly newer homes, I would have to say this house, this little house built in 1900 is by far my favorite. It’s exactly what I always wanted. A little house with a front porch, a manageable size yard and walking distance to town. I was one of those kids that re-arranged their bedroom at least once a month and would pore over interior design books and magazines at the library for hours. I grew up in a suburb on a cul-de-sac where we were driven everywhere in my mom’s Ford Station wagon. I always wanted to live in a city or town where I could walk to shopping, the library, the train….and that’s exactly what we got. And the funny thing is…I did not even see it until a year after we purchased it and relocated from Southern California. My husband saw it on a business trip to New York and it just wasn’t all that practical for me to get on a plane and see it while the kids were in school and all the daily life stuff…Plus….I just knew it was perfect. And it is….sort of. Let’s just say that it’s a work in progress.
When I saw photos of the house my first reaction was that we need to demo the fireplace. Then my husband and I decided that we could just paint it white, which is pretty much our answer to everything. Paint it white and then decide if it’s something we can live with…in the end, we are glad we saved it.
I know some people frown on having a television in the living room. I am not one of those people. We have a large sectional sofa in the attic which is sort of our “family room” but we love to watch movies, news and sports on the main floor too.
The kitchen is our favorite part of the house. We waited a year to renovate so we could see how we moved about the kitchen. We talked to a few different contractors and most were in favor of getting rid of my Saarinen table and expanding the kitchen into the eat-in part. Never! The Enzo Mari print was purchased specifically for this space and we found the #4 at a flea market….which represents the size of our family. Want to see more? Check it out on Design Sponge, right here!
Your home is gorgeous! I love all the white, it’s bright and open and airy. The fireplace is a wonderful focal point that anchors your living room. Well done!!!
You have such a talent…this house looks gorgeous but so LIVABLE!
Good things come in small packages and that’s definitely the case in your house!
Annie you have such incredible style that always appears so effortless (a gift). In reading your intro I had to laugh. The life you lived is the life I have lived and I am no ready for just what you have., a smaller house withing walking distance of town. If only I can convince my husband. He is still a dreamer at 60! P.S that seating area is the piece de resistance!
I love this house and your style gives it such warmth and style. As a California gal, I often dream of homes you seem to find in regions in the east. Your home is so charming.
xo,
Karen
Sigh! It’s a perfect home. And your back yard…LOVE. Can’t wait to see you Wednesday!!!
I love it so much!
LOVE your home. So great!
Your house is adorable! You have great artwork.
Your children must be super neat – there is not one stray lego in sight!
well they are older and trained well, but still I pick up after them….a lot!
i adore your home annie. do you realize this is the first glance at all the rooms?! so exciting. i will pour over these photos a LOT. where did you get the single hanging bulb fixture? is that PB? thanks annie. x
Hi Janet,
I had the single bulb fixtures made at a lighting store in the city that still carries cloth cord and then you choose the off/on switch and they put it together while you wait. It seems like it depends on the guys mood as to the price!! But it was pretty reasonable and you get the exact length you need.
xo
a
i can’t believe more than one contractor wanted you to get rid of your Saarinen table???!!!!??? Heck, at this point I’d settle for a side table!! Your home is so charming Annie Thanks for sharing.
(Now if you change your mind about the table, you know how to get a hold of me.)
I know…crazy, right?
Adore your home and style! We share many of the same aesthetics in decorating and collections. I always love your posts and Instagram shots.
Thank you so much Malissa!I just looked to make sure I’m following you on instagram!
Do you mind my asking, what is the name of your exterior and interior whites? Is your trim the same as the walls/fireplace?? Thank you!
Hi Kimberly,
I’m a huge fan of Cloud White by Benjamin Moore. In my opinion, it’s the perfect white. https://mostlovelythings.com/painted-stone-fireplace/
Have a great week!
Annie
Oh terrific! That is the exact color I have my eyes on for our new home! On my screen, both interior and exterior look to be a soft/warm white with just a perfect smidgen of do I say, cream, to it without looking dingy or yellow or beige… In real life, would you agree?? Thank you so much for your helpful replies!
It’s a true white, but it’s a warm white. We have used it in our Southern California house where we had tons of light and in our Connecticut house where we have a lot of windows, but not as much light or sunshine as CA. I really think you’ll be happy with it!
So is the trim also in cloud white? I want to go all white so bad but am aliitle scared…the pops of black with wood shades makes it perfect!
what paint is used for the front door?
HI Emma- It is just an outdoor paint from Home Depot. Behr in Black! I did not overthink this one! annie
So lovely!
Do you mind telling me the wall color in the bedroom?
We have the exact same fireplace and you have inspired us to paint it white. (was a dark brown stone) I am almost done and it is looking GREAT!! I love the antique mirror above the fireplace and have looked everywhere to find something similar with not much luck!! I like the size and that it is a horizontal rectangle. Where did you find yours
Hi Ruth,
I’m so happy to hear that you are liking your project! We found that mirror and I loved that it was antique to mix things up, but it fell one night and crashed. The mirror didn’t break, but the carved wooden frame broke into a million pieces. I recently saw a similar size mirror at Anthropologie. It’s called the Josephine. https://www.anthropologie.com/shop/josephine-mirror?category=SEARCHRESULTS&color=027 I would love to see before and after photos!
Annie
Hello there! I stumbled upon this post, as I’m about to purchase a home that has a floor to ceiling 70’s lava rock fireplace in the living room. My first project in the new home will be painting that eye sore!! Can you please tell me which brand and name of paint that you used? Also, how many coats, and did you prime it or seal with anything? Thank you so much! Love your home.
Hi Kristen,
Congratulations on the purchase of your new home! I have several posts on painting our fireplace. I think because it really soaks up the paint, I would use a primer for the first coat. The most recent post I wrote on painting it, was using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. It did work very well and the coverage is amazing! I used a foam roller (buy several because the stone ruins them) but it makes it so much easier to apply. Good luck.
Annie
Such a lovely home. What kind of paint did you use on your fireplace? Did you paint it yourselves or hire someone to paint it? This is a project I am dying to do in our home as we also have a very large, dark stone fireplace that dominates our living room and seems to suck all the light out of it. My husband is very dubious about painting it, but I think it would be so much nicer and would tremendously lighten our room.
Hi! We decided to paint our fireplace white after deciding it was too expensive to remove and it was the best decision. I know a lot of people are hesitant about painting brick and stone, but I love it! We had it painted the first time when we had the whole house painted and I re-paint it every year to freshen it up. It’s easy after the first time. Use a roller and they wear out fast so buy several small ones. Good luck convincing your husband!
Hello 🙂
I’m wondering what color white the outside is as well as the fireplace?
Thank you!!
Hi Courtney! The entire house inside and out is Benjamin Moore Cloud white! I have tried other whites and will go back to cloud white and wonder why I ever questioned myself! Hope this helps!