![]() Natural transitions and designated areas were important to AJ. Furniture should be cohesive, but it doesn’t all have to be the same.” Space to Breathe. “I try to stay away from being matchy-matchy. “I had mapped out the living spaces and was walking around my make-īelieve kitchen island.” Since the kitchen is a natural gathering space, she knew just what she wanted: a light color scheme reminiscent of the coast, warm wood finishes in true farmhouse style and accommodations for entertaining. “When we were creating the floorplan, my husband came home to find blue tape all over the floor,” she says. It goes incredibly well with grays and brass.”ĪJ knew she wanted an open floorplan with a clear line of sight from the kitchen. “The chairs are from World Market, and that brown leather is my new favorite color. “We had the perfect nook designed for it,” AJ says. AJ and Garrett specifically wanted a space where their daughters could do homework, have computer time, and color. AJ says, “This may be California and we don’t have need of an actual mudroom per se … but a dumping ground for life before you enter the main home? Yes, please.” The drawers hold the kids’ shoes and any items that AJ and Garrett find themselves reaching for on their way out. “And I knew I wanted something other than the traditional railing, so we came up with a white oak railing with square iron balusters.” She had the balusters installed without a shoe for a cleaner look. “There is something truly magical about a wide stair,” she says. Her stairway was carefully planned out, from its dimensions to its materials. Stairs are often overlooked but not in AJ’s home. ![]() It is amazing what you can find.” The Right Scale. However, I do love checking out TJ Maxx Home Goods. She says, “The majority of the items on our shelves have been collected over time, like the white elephant that was my grandmother’s or the Michael Aram mussel shell from our wedding. AJ’s shelves hold a mix of cherished treasures and stylish items she snagged from home retailers. Bookshelves are a wonderful way to give a personalized twist to a room-especially when filled with items that reflect the homeowners. “Most people think we are crazy … and this may be true, but we love having a vision and then turning it into a reality.” By combining their talents, they created a stunning coastal farmhouse with modern influences. “Garrett and I are a great team,” AJ says. I feel that new construction can sometimes come off flat, so it was important to bring in elements that gave life to the designs.” They did this by pulling from both their coastal and farmhouse styles and melding clean and purposeful lines with a welcoming touch. “My contractor husband, Garrett, and I love a blank slate,” AJ says. AJ describes the exterior of their home as a “blended modern farmhouse with East Coast influences.” She wanted to stay true to the theme of natural elements and contrast and achieved this with Ipe wood decking with a dark exterior and white highlights. AJ says, “We did Ipe wood decking and a custom X-patterned fence.” Farm Cottage Charm. A porch is a wonderful place to enjoy the perpetually sunny California weather and watch the kids. However, even though they didn’t have to move far, it was quite a journey to get to home sweet home, one that included demolishing the existing house and building a new one-that exuded coastal farmhouse style- from scratch on the lot. ![]() For AJ Olson Whitfield, a realtor and broker associate at Villa Real Estate, home is located just across the street from her family’s previous residence. Sometimes you don’t have to travel far to find home. The mantel shelf is 100-year-old reclaimed wood from an old barn in East Mississippi. Leather sofas and rustic wooden tables with X-details give the living room a countryside sensibility. ![]()
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