Ready to Join Us?
Another day, another video… As you hopefully watched on Monday, if not WATCH HERE, Mark and I gave you the grand yet super speedy tour of our new home. Wait, new home?!? What the heck is she talking about? Head over to THIS BLOG POST and get all caught up. Since I have been getting lots of new readers lately, I want to make sure that you are all on track with all of the craziness we have going on! Well, I am not sure that I am even on track to be quite honest! And my next post will most likely confuse you even more as I give you the grand “before” tour of our new flip property!
Today however, we are talking our new personal home and I am asking for YOUR HELP! Yes, YOU! Every designer whether we like to admit it or not, gets inspiration from absolutely everywhere. And yes, that even includes Pinterest! As much as I like to create my own unique, signature look, sometimes a simple image or idea can take me sailing away into creativity land. And with our new mega home renovation project, there are no less than a million and one decisions to make and I would LOVE for you all to join us! That’s one thing I am most excited about is getting you all to really feel like you are involved and a part of this process. So, welcome to our design team friends! And here’s your first look at what we are working on now and what we’d LOVE to have your feedback on…
XOXO, Brittany Hayes
kristi says
I’m one of those people who HATES walking into a homes kitchen. I feel like if there isn’t a foyer then the living room needs to be the first room you see. I wouldn’t mind if the dining room were right after the living room, set up in front of that fireplace. Then through the pocket doors have the kitchen then through the butler’s pantry have the family room (or just open that all up like you mentioned. Or have a massive living room then dining room through the pocket doors that’s open to the kitchen in the back. I’m going to back track now and talk about entry/foyers. Can you kind of divide up that massive living room to have more of a foyer, coat closet, etc? I really like the front stair way so I personally don’t like the idea of removing it. Sorry, I’m kind of all over the place but this is my passion!
April says
I love original details! Keep the dumb waiter and the butlers pantry! I love to entertain and find a combination of an open floor plan with a few private spaces makes for the best parties. From the video tour it appears that if you were to have a family room in the back that it would still connect to the center hall giving a feel of flow?
Anna Harris says
I personally like the idea of removing the front staircase to create the long hall way! I think that makes a great statement when walking in the front door. However, I wouldn’t want guests going through my master to get to the guest room so I’d personally make it a small office or something. I like the idea of pulling the kitchen forward into that once dining room space. I think it could work either way with or without the wall where the butlers pantry is. I personally wouldn’t want the dining room right when I walked in so maybe make that entire room a big family room, the kitchen in the middle through the pocket doors (with or without the butler pantry wall) and make the back of the house (that once was the kitchen) the formal dining room. So the kitchen would be in between both the dining room and the family room. I think if you did it that way the kitchen could work to keep the wall or remove it. At that point it would just be preference if you like the butlers pantry! 🙂 Thanks for taking others’ feedback! Love following along with y’all’s projects! As a fellow Georgia resident I can totally appreciate this old house you’re working on! 🙂 Good luck!!
Lindsey says
My vote is to use the whole front room as a large living room, the second area after the pocket doors be the dining and unfortunately get rid of the dumbwaiter and butlers pantry (but reuse the original cabinetry else wear) and have an open kitchen. I think it would create a beautiful line of sight and open living & entertaining space.
Can’t wait to see what you decide. I’m excited to see how you turn this house into a home!
courtney says
Love the potential of this home! It is daunting to look at it roughed in as someone else envisioned it and try to make it your own but i’m sure you’ll make it amazing. I love the idea of removing the front stairs and having a dramatic (welcoming) hallway. Also coming down the stairs in the morning etc its more welcoming to be entering into a living space rather than a front hall.
What is the door in the way back of the house is that where you guys would mainly enter or is there access somewhere else from a garage etc (I’m just thinking mud area, coats etc) I think the front space should be living room. I like the room past that as a dining space )although a sink under that big bay window would be amazing!) Could the butlers pantry be salvaged and repurposed in another space? I like the kitchen in the back but removing the dumbwaiter and opening that all up so it’s open to the dining space.
It seems like this will be the only dining area unlike you house now where you have a more formal dining room and a casual space in the kitchen…maybe think about how you use the space will a more formal dining room be more of a pass through room 95% of the time and you’ll primarily use the kitchen? I think opening the back of the house up leads to more open flow entertaining.
Ok enough rambling for now and I love the videos I’m such a visual person this is way better than photos!
Heather says
I love the third option with keeping the kitchen in the back. Somehow, putting the Butlers Pantry somewhere else in the house due to its character- gorgeous! I like the dining room flowing next to the kitchen with those beautiful Windows and with some built ins for your stemware, China, etc. Then, the living room is perfect with that beautiful and cozy fireplace. It’s big enough to put a lot of furniture. I would move the front staircase and have that be part of your Master Bedroom like a sitting area, den, a closet, hobby room. Just some of my thoughts! It’s beautiful! Yo are blessed!
Meredith says
First of all, so exciting and scary to get to do EXACTLY what you want throughout this house! Options are both fun and stressfull! I have to say, I love the butler’s pantry and the dumbwaiter, and think those are sweet character parts of the house. I would love to see them stay. I like the idea of getting rid of the front staircase because it felt like it was right on top of the front door. Having more of an entry way to the house with a focal point of the hallway sounds pretty! I like the idea of the kitchen in the middle room, and dividing the front portion into dining/living or just keep it living. I think if the other front room is going to be an office/music room, it could be seen as another living area making the entire front of the house feel open and connected, regardless of where the kitchen is (especially if the staircase is gone.) Good luck, and don’t worry because you only have good options to choose from!
Shauna says
What if…..you removed the stairs and made that upstairs bedroom a huge master closet
Pam says
I love the idea of having the full flow through the length of the house… My vote is to leave the kitchen in the back, removing butlers pantry and dumbwaiter (very cool, yes, but unlikely that you will get too much use out of it)… And creating a gorgeous, large living space right off the front door. Congratulations, can’t wait to see your progress!!
Debbie says
Brittany, I just love the potential of this house! Here’s my vote: Lose the front staircase so a guest doesn’t get distracted by the stairs as he enters. The long hallway with a great accent wall as a replacement to the staircase would be very cool! Make space for a foyer in the LR area and the rest of the space be living/family room. Move the kitchen to the next room so when your family is lounging getting snacks would be convenient. Put the dining room in the back and lose the pantry and dumb waiter wall that’s separating the rooms. The room upstairs by the front staircase could be turned into a workout room or sitting room if the only access to it would be through your master bedroom after the staircase is gone.
How were you able to get a house that’s all framed and roughed in? The project seems like it would so fun! I can’t wait to see what’s coming? What’s the square footage?
abby says
Love the potential of this house! First of all remove the staircase. Make a long hallway. Make the guest bedroom somewhere else. Turn that small space into either a closet or a reading/office area for you! I would not want guests coming through my master bedrooms to get to theirs!!! Make the big room only the living room space. Then through pocket doors leave dining room. Do not close off the to hallway then in that room. I would then take out the dumbwaiter and butler pantry. Fact is it will get no use. I would reuse butler pantry maybe as a feature wall in dining room. Repurpose those cabinets! Then knock down that wall to have an open kitchen space with nice eye line and function! You keep the character of the home and have a lot more space and functionality! Good luck! Can’t wait to see what you do!
Aisha says
I agree. Dont close off the hallway.
Katie says
I like getting rid of the front staircase, and making that front room a big living room, with the dining room through the pocket doors. I would want to keep the dumb waiter and butlers pantry, but am wondering if there’s a way to make the dumb waiter a doorway while maybe exposing its original innards?? Just so that you keep some of the original charm of the house intact. I also like the idea of making the small bedroom a sitting area for the master, if that still leaves you with enough rooms for guests.
Aisha says
Hey! I dont usually comment… anywhere. But I love the place!!! And would love to give my 2 cents. I think removing the front staircase is SUCH a good idea. I love open space, an airy comfy feel to the house. I would:
1. remove the front staircase and see if the upstairs room could possible get its own door instead of an entry from your room? or make it into a suite in your bedroom 😀
2. keep the kitchen in the back, remove the butlers area, make that dining in front of it and keep that huge space as a living space.
Christine says
I do know that whatever you chose will turn out amazing but anyway….I like the idea of the front room staying as your living room. I also like the idea of keeping the dining room next then the kitchen which I know does take out that cool butler pantry area. If you really don’t want to lose that I’d ,over the kitchen to the dining area and possibly out the dinning to the original kitchen area. I’d hate to lose the front staircase in my opinion but that’s because I’d hate to lose a guest room because there wasn’t a proper entry. All in all,it’s going to be gorgeous anyway and I can’t wait to see your ideas!
Haneen Matt says
Oh man, this is hard!!! I really feel like an entry wouldn’t be an entry without a staircase. Only because I’m thinking of your gorgeous ombré stairs that are such a statement when you walk in! I also love holiday decor on stairs in the foyer around Xmas time. BUT, with that said, I trust you know what you’re doing! And we have both a front and back staircase and we don’t use the front often, so I get it. Can’t wait to see what you decide!
Stacy says
Love the house!! I think you should leave the dumb waiter & butlers pantry. What cool features !! I think the kitchen in the middle would be great with the dining in the back room or in front of fireplace but not when you first walk in:) I’m sure it will be beautiful. Can’t wait to follow along !
Katherine B says
I can’t wait to see what you guys do with this house!!! I love the idea of removing that first stair case to open up the entry more. I am partial to old house details so would keep the dumb waiter and butler’s pantry and work them into the design. In fact, I am slightly jealous. Some day I need to buy a house with those details! 🙂
Debbie says
Love older, restored homes! Leave the front staircase, possibly remove the back one and find a place for an awesome mud room in the back. The previous comment about a formal dining room being a “pass through room”… is to be considered, wasted space in my opinion. Could it be where the office space is now, on the other side of the house? I like the idea of the kitchen in the middle, with an office or gathering room in the back. Keep the “butler’s pantry” cabinets and use them somewhere as focal point., Lose the dumb waiter- it’s cool, but will inhibit your design choices and will likely never be used anyway. Can’t wait to see the kitchen! My 2 cents.
Furniture5stars says
I agree. Dont close off the hallway and thanks for sharing..
Whitney Shortt says
Whew! Hard choices! I like the idea of removing the front staircase because it seems to cramp the entry way and that long hall way would be dramatic. I think I’d rather walk into the living area instead of a dining area for the front entrance. Deciding to keep the kitchen in the back or move it to the middle is a tough one. I think it comes down to how you want the flow and interaction to be with your family every day and guests when you entertain. Loving these videos and can’t wait to see what you guys decide!
Meada Spencer says
What beautiful potential! We just recently finished our dream home renovation and already there are a few things we would do different
Morgan Graham says
First off, I know whatever you decide and do it will look fantastic! Me personally, I like seeing a staircase when I walk in! I also can’t imagine you not having a beautiful staircase after seeing yours that you currently have and what a statement it is! You’re not losing that beautiful long hallway, it is just a hidden gem with keeping the front staircase and still easily assessable. I kind of like it “blocking” off the hallway, office and Winter’s room. I don’t know how it is at your house, but my daughters make a mess and I don’t always want people walking by my oldest daughter’s room especially when she’s been playing. Let’s just face it. She doesn’t make a mess, it looks like a tornado hit it after she’s been playing. Haha. With having the front staircase, it may keep people from wonderi down your hallway especially if you have family or friends that randomly pop by. Your house is probably picture perfect 99% of the time though and mine is definitely not. Lol I wasn’t sure about having the dining room when you first walk in, but your current dining room is gorgeous and I’m sure this one will be as well! I like the idea of having the whole front room a living area, but I also like the idea of moving the kitchen to the current dining room, keeping the butlers pantry and dumb-waiter (keeping some of the original charm and characteristic of the home is really neat in my opinion!), and a family room is the back! Then you also don’t have to worry about the guest room upstairs. So that’s my vote and keep the front staircase! Another thought, not sure which door you will use as your main enterance, but do you want to have to go to the back of the house to get up stairs and for company to have to as well? Can’t wait to hear and see what you decide!
Kassie says
First, what a beautiful home! I LOVE old houses. Second, my opinion is to leave the stairs. I think stairs in a foyer make such a statement, and I love driving by grand homes when the front door is open and seeing a beautiful staircase (especially decorated at Christmas time). Third, it’s a little odd to me to have a kitchen and dining room completely separate from the kitchen, so my vote is to open the kitchen up (maybe put the butler’s pantry in another place, because I”m all about keeping some history) and have the dining room back by the kitchen. Whatever you choose to do, it will be incredible, because all your spaces are beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
Lorna says
I think you should remove the front staircase, it just feels too close to the front door. I don’t see how removing that staircase means the guest room has to be entered through the master bedroom though, because that staircase opens into a hall, can you not leave it that way?
But as to the kitchen placement, I like the idea of it in the middle, with the front room being the living room and your potential library as a dining room, instead. You could leave all these open through the now long hallway. And maybe use part of the living room as a library. It would be a shame to lose some of the original character by removing the butler’s pantry to keep a back kitchen open and I think the kitchen would work better in the middle.
Whitney says
I’m also an Interior Designer, we are also getting ready to take on my business partners major home renovation! This has been years in the making, so much tweaking! What I can say is- if this is truly your dream(forever) home I would consider the dining space to be able to accommodate a growing family. You want to comfortably be able to sit 15+ people for hosting holidays and entertaining. I feel as if dining rooms get cut short because they are not used as often, mostly around the holidays when we have big gatherings to accommodate! I would love to see the floor plan on this house- that’s where my creativity soars!
Jennifer says
I’m a new follower and am excited to follow you on this journey! I can see that the house is going to be amazing. It has fabulous bones! 🙂
I agree with a lot of the others that you should have the front room be the living space, then the dining and remove the existing wall and keep the kitchen in back. As someone who loves to entertain, I would hate having to carry things from my kitchen, through the living space into the dining room to have dinner. And then clearing the table and carrying dirty dishes and food back through into the kitchen. That was my first thought!
Whatever you decide, I’m sure it’s going to turn out absolutely gorgeous!
Ginny says
I would remove that front staircase and open that hallway up!! I also love the idea of taking out that dumb waiter and the pantry and enlarging that area and opening all that space up! Open up that floor plan!! I can see it!! Whatever you do it will be gorgeous!! Can’t wait!
Ashley stevens says
Hi!
I left a giant response on Instagram earlier. I would remove the front staircase. Add shelving and a library ladder in the living room with nice seating areas when you first walk in on the wall to your right. Please please please do not remove the dumb waiter or butlers pantry. Even if you never use it. It’s beautiful and unique and doesn’t exist in the world anymore. I don’t know where the laundry room would be but it has possibilities for use. I would make the middle room with the bay window the kitchen and do built in seating in the window for a breakfast area. Love your placement and sight lines for the island. I wouldn’t close off the door to the hall. I adore center hallway homes and the entrance into all the rooms from it. I have no idea how big that room is and if that would work for a good kitchen layout. I would make the room on the other side of the front stairs the formal dining room. That fireplace in the dining room with a huge table would be amazing. I like the idea of the family room in the back and having it be a little more private and cozy. A mudroom/laundry room behind the stairs would be great. I would steal that upstairs bedroom for an office off of the master and have a full on master suite. Another option would be to open it to downstairs with a partial wall or railing and make it a loft space or playroom. I’ve more recently started following you and I’m positive you will make it amazing. I’m so glad someone with vision and character is getting their hands on this jewel of a house. Can’t wait to see how it turns out.
Amy says
I have been following you on Instagram for awhile now. I love your bright, cheerful design style. I rarely comment, but I’m hooked on following this renovation. Here’s my 2 cents:
I, too, think I’d lose the front stairs–too close to the front door and upstairs rooms are more private, family areas, so having a staircase at the back of the house seems logical. I think I’d like the kitchen in back, dining in middle, and living room in front. I would hate to lose butlers pantry/dumb waiter (I love the original woodwork/history of them!), but it does seem the most logical for best use of space. The people that suggested you need another living space are forgetting that you will have the library/office on other side of hallway. What if you put a spiral staircase in the front corner of the first room (with fireplace) for access to the guest room? It appeared to be directly above living room area. Then, you could close that room off from master and access from living room. As it would only be used sporadically (I’m assuming, since it’s a guest room), the unconventional access shouldn’t really be that much of an issue. Quirky, but it would solve access problem and potentially be a cool piece in living room.
Angel says
Another option is to take out the front staircase and move the dining room to the designated ‘library/office’ space and if needed open up the wall going into the room. You can then put the kitchen where the dining room was and have your big living room. The old kitchen area can be turned into a family room or library.
April Moody says
Hi. I love the idea of an old house keeping all it’s charm and unique features. That’s what makes the house so great, is all the history and stories behind it. You don’t want to be in a cookie cutter house with everything that we all think is great now. Like the open kitchen/living/dining area. I have that in my house now and I wish you would not walk into my entire living,/kitchen/ dining area. Sometimes life gets in the way and the kitchen is a mess and I wish I could hide it from visitors. (You know?) I would try to find out any history of the house’s owners and what was the purpose of the two staircases. I know it has changed hands and been somewhat renovated, but I would study up on the original house’s time period and try to give honor to that in the way you renovate it. I would love to see some vintage pieces here and there from salvage places etc. to give a nod to that original time from which the house was built. I like things that are clean and new, but I also like to have some vintage things here and there to give my house a little character. (Not all old run down things, but things that make a statement or tell a story) Maybe you could investigate some of your family and ancestors though old pictures, or journals, or stories from your grandparents, and bring some of their history into your house. I don’t mean a bunch of junk, but a few items. I like things very clean and uncluttered, but you can also have a few special unique pieces. I love that butler’s pantry! You must use it! Also the dumbwaiter is the coolest thing! How many houses today actually have one? I am sure it will be great no matter what you do, but my vote is to keep it as close to the original design as possible with modern conveniences. It will be great!
Elizabeth K says
What if you made the front staircase more narrow, widened the back staircase, and widened the hallway between the staircases and made it so that you can still access the library from the front of the house and see down the super awesome hallway, but don’t lose the functionality of two staircases?? Can you make it so the hallway is open on both sides of the front staircase, if the staircase is more narrow? I’ve never seen anything like that before, but seems like it would be very visually interesting!
Kari says
Love it!!! I love projects like this, but my hubby (who would be very good at it) isn’t a big fan of busy-work :). I am a Real Estate agent in KC, specializing in New Construction. So…. I see a lot and have a lot of opinions!!! This house is going to be amazing!! First of all, I would try to retain as much “original” as possible, since the overall “historic home”‘is what captured your attention. I would move the kitchen like u mentioned up, the one room, and have a family room in the rear. I think if the kitchen is all the way at the rear, it will be so far removed from the Living Room that it will no longer be that open, cook-while-kid play, kind of layout. The island/hood design you mention sounds beautiful!!!
I’m torn about the staircases….. My gut says keep them both, to retain the original floorplan…… However…. I recall your entry in your current home, and see how this new entry would feel very limiting, as is. Any way to push the front door out?, to create a Foyer of some sort?? Or turn the stairs?? To go into LR or Library??
Ellen says
This is a dream of mine to be able to do what you are doing! So exciting! I think you should have your living room when you first walk in and I don’t know how much room you have (in the front room or library/office) but can you turn the staircase? So you still have the access to the guest room but the stairway isn’t right in your face when you walk in the door. cant wait to see the final product!!
Kathryn Syracuse says
Hi. Get rid of the front stair case, keep the kitchen where you have it now and put your dining table in front of the fireplace if there is room.
Melissa Dale says
Hi, I’m new to your blog and I think you’re style is so fun! The new house looks amazing and since you asked for feedback, I thought I throw in my two cents! First, I love the original butler’s pantry and the dumbwaiter is fun too and I like that they are original and speak to the age and time that the home was built. If you want to keep those features, why not make the original kitchen space an amazing mud room or small craft room for your girls? Then, remove the front stairs and make the small guest room part of your master or make it a very girly dressing room for yourself. Then, you can make that entire front space open and have a very large and open floorplan. In addition, with the staircase at the back of the house, it makes the second story where the bedrooms are more private. we just built a new home with the second story staircase at the back of the family room and I love it! Good luck and have fun on your new adventure.