HHello! I’m Kylee, and I’m excited to share more of our new home. A few weeks ago we moved into a Cape Cod–style house, and I still can’t quite believe it’s ours. After years in a townhouse, this feels like my first true house: no shared walls, a yard to care for, and more rooms than I expected. It’s been a steep learning curve—choosing a lawnmower, learning when to prune, and figuring out adulting—but I’m loving every moment.
I shared a few early photos before, but today I’m giving a more complete empty-house tour. (Update 2022: you can see more photos after we settled in here.)
One of the things I loved about this property is the long driveway leading to a setback detached garage. It gives the house a classic, charming feel.
You walk straight into the living room from the front door, so creating a welcoming entry that reads as its own space is my first design task. I want the entry to feel intentional even though it opens directly into the main room.
I can’t wait for cooler weather to use the gas fireplace. We loved our previous fireplace and are thrilled to have another one here.
From the living room you can see into the dining room and kitchen. After years of eating at a kitchen island, we’ll actually need a dining table again. I adore the double arches that define the spaces—open, yet still feeling like separate rooms. Houses with distinctive floor plans and many cozy rooms appealed to us during the search.
I’m still surprised at how perfectly remodeled the kitchen is. During our house hunt we saw many homes with updates that didn’t match our tastes, so we were prepared for a remodel. But this kitchen checks many of our boxes: marble counters, a butcher block island, lovely paint colors, and great light. I may tweak the light above the sink or add island pendants later, but it’s wonderful as is. I also wrote a post about styling the glass-front cabinets and shared some kitchen sources in that post.
How we found this house was a bit of luck. It was listed and went pending quickly, then the sale fell through while we happened to be in Portland. We visited the open house, fell in love, and—despite multiple offers—our offer was accepted.
Overall, the kitchen brings me a lot of joy. I cook a lot and love the layout and finishes. If you missed the styling post, I shared details about the cabinet paint color and what’s inside those glass cupboards.
The house has three bathrooms and each is nicely finished. This main-floor bathroom is a favorite because of the beautiful tile. The bedrooms are simple boxes for now—one will become a home office and the other a guest room. I’ll share them once they’re dressed up.
Downstairs is a finished basement. The stairwell opens to a bathroom on the left and a bedroom to the right. The basement bathroom is nicely done as well.
The basement bedroom includes a pull-down Murphy bed, making it a great guest room. I imagine the upstairs guest room will be for short visits, while this space could host longer stays or visitors with kids or pets.
There’s a large open area in the basement with a fireplace and TV alcove. It’s not a top priority right now, but eventually we’d like new flooring, fresh paint, and probably a big sectional for cozy movie nights.
On the other side of that open space is a wet bar/mini kitchen. We’re still deciding how to best use that area, so plans are TBD.
A full laundry room feels like a luxury after my townhouse’s tiny closet. I’m considering wallpaper to make it cheerful and spark a little joy in the space.
Finally, the primary suite occupies the entire upstairs in a converted attic. We plan to install new hardwood floors up there soon. Supply delays are common right now, but we hope to have that wrapped up in the coming weeks.
I’m debating paint colors for the upstairs and may lean toward a darker, cozier palette to make the space feel moody and restful.
The primary bathroom is a dream with herringbone floors and a double vanity. We may make a few minor updates like new lights or hardware eventually, but for now we’re enjoying the space as it is.
The shower is stunning. There’s a small nook behind it that feels a bit underused—I’m considering a vanity table there for makeup. To the left of the bathroom is a very large walk-in closet, almost more space than we need, which is a wonderful problem to have.
Thanks for taking the tour with me. We’ve started decorating and settling in, so I’ll share updates soon. If you follow my Instagram, I’ll post progress and behind-the-scenes as we go.
(Update 2022: you can see more photos of our home since we’ve settled in a bit here.)
If you’re just catching up, here are a few recent posts related to Kylee’s move:
Kylee Moving Home Again
Kylee’s Home Buying Story
Kylee’s Cape Cod Style House (first few photos)
Styling Glass Kitchen Cabinets (Kylee’s House Update)
Changes and Empty Nester Life