The Phoebe Files

Dear Phoebe,

"We just bought our first house in Wellesley, Ma. We've been living in a 1 bedroom apartment in Boston for years and have no furniture. Where do we start?" - Sarah, Wellesley, MA

This is so exciting Sarah! We lived in Boston for years. It's one of my favorite New England cities. And Wellesley?! What a darling town! I worked in Wellesley for years and will always have a soft spot for the 02482.

Like a bride prepping for her wedding day, you’re probably scouring magazines and Pinterest for inspiration. Furnishing your new home can be so exciting and … a little overwhelming.

I know this first hand!

When we first moved into our “new” 1790’s farmhouse last fall, I was admittedly overwhelmed. It was twice the size of our last home, a true antique and the layout was a little quirky. Add to it, the furniture from our previous home only worked in a few spaces and didn’t even come close to filling the space. Not to mention our budget was somewhat limited (no one tells you how expensive it is to move right?!) so I knew I needed to be resourceful and creative.

The most important thing for me was that I didn’t want my home to be filled with the same things everyone else can buy today. I wanted pieces that had character and personality and were uniquely mine! I wanted my home to have furniture that had a story and some history. We’re also tremendous fans of repurposing so finding the right mix of new and old was the trick for me!

Here are a few of my suggestions:

1) Know It Takes Time: You don’t have to do it all at once. Decorating your home takes time. Allow yourself the opportunity to settle into a new space. While you may think you’ll take down walls and renovate the kitchen and bathrooms, you’d be surprised what happens when you move in and take a minute to live in your new space.

I suggest to my clients ALL THE TIME to plan ahead, create 50 Pinterest boards, daydream, but NO major construction for the first 6 months (unless it’s a project house). It will take time to decorate your house just right and you will change your mind!

2) Decide On Your Vibe: What’s your style? Preppy chic? Mid-century modern with a flair of retro elegance? Coastal Cool? Years ago, people would tend to stick to one style with everything from a popular company or hand me downs from friends and family. Today’s homeowners tend to vary in what they like…which is great when it comes to decorating.

I believe in being creative and letting your personality come thru your decorating. Try out paint chips over and over. (Bonus Tip: I LOVE the peel and stick ones from Ben Moore…can you say game changer?) Get inspiration from magazines, friends, TV shows and social media. In the old days, I would flip thru magazines and tear out pictures that inspire me (truth…still do that). Once you have an idea of your style, pick a few colors and aesthetics, and keep some commonality in your decisions.

My house has a theme of dark gray and navy blue mixed with splashes of coastal inspiration and an abundance of antiques. There is also some unexpected modern inspiration with lighting and artwork. It’s a blend, but it works because it’s mine and MOST importantly, I like it. Decide what YOU like. And remember: paint is easy to change. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a room repainted. I once had a front hall painted bright yellow. And I mean Big Bird Yellow. It lasted for about a week, lol!

3) What’s Old is New: While you can pull a page from Restoration Hardware, so can just about anyone else. You want your house to be your style and reflect what brings you joy and happiness. I like a mix of old-world charm with a dose of coastal inspiration and the unexpected contemporary twist.

Now more than ever we want to think sustainable. Vintage furniture is COOL. Just flip on any home improvement show and you’ll see designers restyling old pieces into something new. Plus, you simply can’t recreate the quality in workmanship found in an old piece. What’s old is NEW and can become a showstopper in your home.

4) Start with a Few Key Pieces: There are a few core pieces everyone should have in their home. A fabulous table and chairs, a desk you love, bed frames that update a basic mattress and box spring and mirrors. You can’t ever have enough mirrors. If you get easily overwhelmed start with one simple room like the kitchen or dining room. These two spaces can be simple to start. Table and chairs anyone?!

These are just a few of my suggestions to get you started. Here’s the most important part...it will never be perfect, but it will be yours. Don’t overthink it. Start simple. Pick a few pieces that inspire you and go from there!

Love to see how it turns out. Send me pics?!

Want more real estate, design and New England tips? Follow me over on Instagram @phoebeschreiner for daily tips, advice and much more.

Have a question for me? Just ask. You can find me anytime at pschreiner@wpsir.com.

Happy Decorating!