Bentley Grove: First Night, Best Night
We’re in! We moved to our new house exactly 9 months after we broke ground, which is fitting since it totally felt like I gave birth. There were highs and lows, but the end product was worth the pain. Since we were living right next door, the moving process was pretty easy. Our sons came over and we quickly got all the big stuff in, but now four weeks later I’m still bringing bags of stuff over. It also happened to be Valentine’s Day and we cooked our first meal that evening.
Soon after we moved in, I had big plans to decorate each room right away. But, as construction tends to do, our budget had other ideas. The furniture funds quickly went towards a propane tank, driveway prep, sod and a few extras we added. I was a little disappointed at first, but I’ve since embraced the slower pace. Now, I have time I want to get each space just right.
As a designer, I’m so used to creating a polished, finished look for my clients that it took a mindset shift to approach my own home this way. But I know that I want every detail to be intentional. Today, I’m sharing a few things I’m glad I prioritized and a couple of things I wish I had done differently.
Our Trim Package - I knew I wanted to customize our trim from the start, including door and window casings, crown molding and baseboards. The standard approach for casings is a single piece of wood around the sides and top of the doors and windows, either with some shape or a squared-off design. Instead, we used two pieces of trim with a simple reveal along the inside edge.
For crown molding, we went with a classic 6-inch profile, which works well with our 9-foot ceilings. Our 5-inch baseboards were another common choice, but we opted not to use quarter round along the bottom. This was something we had to push for since quarter round is typically used to hide imperfections in flooring installation. I have no regrets about this decision. The clean look was worth the extra effort. The only thing I’d change? I wish I had selected the trim before framing was finished. In a few spots, we had to use narrower casings because there wasn’t enough clearance around the door openings.
Interior Door Hardware - Another detail I wouldn’t change is our door hardware. We chose black knobs and added backplates to all the downstairs doors. Since we went with a budget-friendly brand, the upgrade wasn’t too far out of our original budget.
Wallpaper and Painted Ceilings - I know firsthand how much personality wallpaper adds to a space. I ended up installing it in three of the five rooms I originally planned for, with the other two coming later. Keeping the walls safe during the last few weeks of construction was a challenge, but a few (okay, many) notes reminding the trades to be careful helped.
I also painted the ceilings in our dining room and master bedroom a soft blue. It was a simple, no-cost upgrade, but the impact is huge. There’s so much more you can do to your ceiling besides painting it white.
Now that we’ve been living here for a while, I’ve noticed a couple of things I’d change if I could go back. The first is the sightline from our main living space, through our bedroom and into our bathroom. When all the doors are open, you can see straight into the side of our shower and the wall where we hang damp towels. Not exactly the prettiest view. I wish I had thought through that a bit more in the planning phase.
I also miss having my closet connected to the bathroom. In my previous home, I loved stepping right into my closet to get dressed. Now, I have to plan a little better in the mornings. It’s a small thing, but something I’d reconsider if I were doing it again.
Finally, I should have designed a dedicated place for shoes, hats and purses at the back door. The back entry is too narrow and our laundry room counter is very small. I think we’re going to add a cute bench in the carport that we can hide shoes under and wall hooks in the laundry for all the hanging “stuff”. I also have a small area near our stairs for a shallow table, so that’s on my shopping list.
Even with a few small regrets, I wouldn’t trade the experience of building a home that’s truly ours. Every detail was chosen with intention and I love seeing our vision come to life, one room at a time. If you're planning a custom home or renovation, take your time and think through the details that will make it feel uniquely yours. And if you need help bringing your vision to life, I’d love to chat. Reach out anytime!
Thanks for Reading!