Quick Update: Join us tonight in Boston at the West Elm on 160 Brookline Avenue for a delightful evening. We’ll be serving cookies and cocoa, and I’ll be signing books starting at 6 PM. Find more details and RSVP on our Facebook event page. We truly hope to see you there!
Following our exciting sneak peek into this home transformation during our recent visit to Cincinnati, we’re thrilled to finally unveil the full House Crashing adventure! After meticulously sifting through over 200 photos, we’ve curated this special tour just for you. So, without further ado, let’s gracefully step inside this incredibly inspiring home, shall we?
A Warm Welcome: Discovering Rick & Jessie’s Personalized Cincinnati Home
The first impression upon arriving at this charming Cincinnati residence is truly unforgettable. Did you spot the inviting welcome note adorning that cheerful yellow front door? It’s an adorable touch that instantly sets a warm, personalized tone for what lies within. We absolutely adore the trio of glass panes in the door, adding character and allowing natural light to filter into the entryway. This delightful home belongs to Rick and Jessie, two of the sweetest and most genuinely hospitable people we had the pleasure of meeting during our entire Cincy trip.
Their kindness was remarkable; despite our plane being significantly delayed (eek!), they patiently waited for us at our hotel for over an hour. Throughout the several hours we spent together, their warmth never wavered. Lacking a car in Cincinnati, they generously drove us to their home, where Jessie chatted animatedly with me while John captured the essence of their beautiful space through his lens. Afterwards, they drove us back to our hotel, making us feel completely at ease and truly cared for. It felt like we bonded so much that we’re now officially “real friends!” But enough about our journey; let’s dive into the details of their truly awesome casa, a testament to thoughtful design and heartfelt DIY projects that make it uniquely theirs.
Entryway Charm: Welcoming Guests with Handmade Touches and Vibrant Color
The entryway immediately showcases the homeowners’ knack for infusing personality into every corner. Beyond the bright yellow front door, painted in Valspar’s vibrant “Santa Monica Blvd” – a shade that perfectly encapsulates optimism and warmth – you’ll find an array of homemade touches. A standout feature is the ingenious mason jar vase, elegantly suspended from a rustic wood coat hook. This simple yet incredibly effective DIY project perfectly encapsulates their approach to home decor: functional, beautiful, and deeply personal. It’s a wonderful example of how small details, thoughtfully crafted, can make a significant impact, creating a welcoming atmosphere that is both stylish and incredibly inviting for anyone stepping through their door. Such creative solutions demonstrate that unique home decor doesn’t always require a hefty budget, but rather a keen eye for personalization.
The Heart of the Home: A DIY Kitchen Masterpiece with Soapstone Elegance
Stepping into their kitchen feels like walking into a magazine spread, yet it retains an incredible sense of warmth and accessibility. Regular readers might even recognize this impressive space from a previous feature in our Reader Redesign series. It’s always an absolute joy when someone invites us to “crash” their home after we’ve admired one of their room makeovers, and seeing this kitchen in person was an even greater delight. We can confidently say that the rest of their house maintains the same high standard of design, personality, and DIY spirit as this truly amazing culinary haven. The vision and execution here are simply superb, making it a prime example for anyone seeking kitchen remodel ideas.
The foundation of this impressive kitchen lies in its smart and stylish choices, a testament to thoughtful planning and dedicated effort. Rick and Jessie opted for versatile IKEA cabinets, which they meticulously installed themselves, showcasing their dedication to DIY and achieving a custom, high-end look on a sensible budget. This approach is a popular choice for homeowners looking to personalize their space without exorbitant costs. For the expansive island, they chose the enduring beauty of butcher block, a material beloved for its natural warmth, tactile quality, and ease of maintenance, provided it’s properly sealed. This choice perfectly complements the more sophisticated selection for the surrounding counters: exquisite soapstone, a material that brings both beauty and practicality to the forefront of kitchen design.
Our photograph, while beautiful, doesn’t quite capture the subtle elegance of the soapstone counters in their entirety. In person, this material possesses a much more refined and sophisticated appearance; what might seem “loud and swirly” in a photo is actually very understated and tasteful, with delicate, almost velvety veining. This stunning dark stone, reminiscent of honed black granite, offers a deep, matte finish that feels incredibly luxurious to the touch. What’s even better, Rick and Jessie reported that it’s remarkably easy to care for, with no issues of staining or scratching encountered so far, making soapstone countertops a durable choice for a busy family kitchen. This feedback is particularly insightful, as we’ve often heard that dark honed granite can sometimes require higher maintenance to retain its pristine look. Soapstone, in their experience, presents itself as an exceptional and surprisingly practical alternative for those seeking a durable yet supremely elegant countertop material that ages beautifully and develops a unique patina over time.
Adjacent to their thoughtfully built-in refrigerator, they incorporated a framed chalkboard—a delightful and functional addition that truly warms the space and adds a personal touch. The message inscribed, “we love the sun in our house,” brought a chuckle, as we were ironically shooting just after sunset due to our delayed flight. This made it our very first “house crash” ever without the benefit of abundant natural light! However, we’re incredibly grateful that we still managed to capture a plethora of stunning shots. It’s truly difficult not to when a home exudes this much charm and character, regardless of the lighting conditions. And how utterly sweet is that cheerful yellow stool? It adds a lovely pop of color and a touch of playful functionality, perfect for little helpers in the kitchen, further emphasizing the family-friendly nature of this thoughtful design.
Seamless Transitions: Dining, Living, and Personalized Comfort
Transitioning effortlessly from the kitchen, a captivating view opens up towards the dining space, an area that Rick and Jessie are actively transforming into another hub of comfort and style. Their plans include building a custom bench along the wall, intending to create a cozy, banquette-style seating arrangement—an excellent choice for maximizing space, fostering an intimate dining experience, and providing additional storage solutions. Between the chic floating shelves they’ve already installed, they envision adding a monumental piece of art, which will undoubtedly serve as a striking focal point and a conversation starter. Underfoot, the sweet striped runner from Dash & Albert adds a touch of classic pattern and texture, grounding the space beautifully and connecting it visually to the adjacent living areas. This thoughtful progression ensures that each zone flows harmoniously into the next, creating a cohesive and inviting open-plan living experience.
In the main living area, John and I were particularly captivated by their phenomenal wood accent wall. This textural masterpiece instantly infuses the room with warmth, character, and a touch of rustic modern charm. The use of wood, especially reclaimed or repurposed, is a brilliant way to add depth and a unique story to any space, making it a standout feature of their home. Every element in this space seemed to tell a story and reflect their personal flair. From the media cabinet, which they skillfully painted themselves to achieve a custom look, to the heartfelt homemade art displaying significant dates in their family’s history, every detail had us beaming with admiration. This truly was one of those uniquely personalized homes that resonate deeply, showcasing how intentional design and dedicated DIY efforts can create an environment brimming with love, individuality, and unforgettable character.
Creative Nooks: Desk Area and Thoughtful Hallway Decor that Tells a Story
Across from the stunning wood wall in the living room, a thoughtfully designed desk area offers a functional yet stylish workspace, seamlessly integrated into the family’s main gathering space. A cheerful green filing cabinet provides a welcome splash of vibrant color and practical storage, demonstrating that even utilitarian furniture can be a design element. Meanwhile, more handmade art adds a unique, artistic touch, infusing creativity into this productive corner. This setup beautifully demonstrates how even areas designated for work can be infused with personality and creative flair, making mundane tasks a little more inspiring and ensuring no space feels purely utilitarian.
We absolutely adore the vibrant yellow glass lamp, sourced from World Market, which perfectly illuminates this creative nook. Its cheerful hue is beautifully complemented by the intriguing swirly canvas art positioned behind it, creating a captivating visual dynamic that draws the eye. This combination not only provides essential task lighting for the desk but also serves as a stylish vignette, highlighting the homeowners’ keen eye for selecting pieces that add both function and aesthetic appeal. It’s a perfect example of how lighting and art can work together to define a space and enhance its overall ambiance.
Venturing into the hallway, another heartwarming DIY project instantly caught our eye: a homemade ruler used to lovingly track the growth of both of their daughters. This thoughtful piece of decor, which Jessie actually crafted as part of one of our Pinterest Challenges, is more than just a measurement tool; it’s a beautiful keepsake. It chronicles precious family memories, marking milestones and adding a deeply personal touch to an often-overlooked transitional space. It’s details like these that truly make a house feel like a cherished home, demonstrating how everyday objects can be transformed into meaningful heirlooms and charming decor, enriching the family narrative within the home.
Dreamy Daughters’ Rooms: A Haven of Imagination and DIY Art
Rick and Jessie are proud parents to two wonderful daughters, and their commitment to creating imaginative and personalized spaces truly shines in their bedrooms. The youngest daughter’s room is a vibrant testament to creativity and childhood wonder, brimming with delightful homemade art. Framed craft paper adorns the walls, a simple yet incredibly effective way to bring color and youthful energy into the space. This budget-friendly approach demonstrates how thoughtful presentation can elevate even the simplest materials into charming decor, perfectly suited for a child’s imaginative world. Such DIY kids’ room decor ideas are not only economical but also foster a sense of individuality and artistic expression, making the room truly unique.
Beyond the framed artwork, a whimsical homemade mobile gracefully floats, adding another layer of visual interest and playful charm above the crib. These handcrafted elements not only decorate the room but also foster an environment where creativity is celebrated and imagination can flourish. It’s a truly inspiring space for any child, illustrating how handmade touches can create a nurturing and stimulating environment, turning a simple bedroom into a personalized sanctuary of play and dreams.
Their other daughter’s room is equally enchanting, filled with treasures that any child, including our own Clara, would undoubtedly adore. The absolute showstopper in this room is that incredible DIY play kitchen! It’s a masterpiece of imaginative play, meticulously crafted and bursting with potential for endless hours of fun. Such a thoughtful addition not only provides entertainment but also encourages role-playing, creativity, and a love for domestic arts from a young age. It’s exactly the kind of unique, handmade item that elevates a child’s room from functional to truly magical, becoming a focal point for both play and learning. This play kitchen DIY stands as a testament to creative parenting and ingenious home projects.
Among the many wonderful details in this room, the plastic animal art stands out as particularly awesome and unique. Yes, I admit, I had a genuine “moment” of adoration for it! It’s such a clever, whimsical, and unexpected way to bring a touch of nature and playfulness into the decor. Jessie actually drew her initial inspiration for this creative project from here, and then brilliantly put her own unique spin on it, documenting her process on her blog. This personalized art piece perfectly encapsulates the joy and individuality that permeates Rick and Jessie’s entire home, showcasing how even the simplest objects can be transformed into engaging art.
Beyond the Tour: A Heartfelt Thank You and Inspiration Galore
And so concludes our captivating tour of Jessie and Rick’s truly charming Cincinnati home. We are immensely grateful to them for their incredible hospitality—from patiently waiting for us after a delayed flight to graciously allowing us to traipse through their beautiful home, snapping photos and chatting their ears off. Their generosity made this “House Crashing” experience one of our most memorable. Their home is a vibrant testament to the power of DIY, personalized decor, and creating spaces that genuinely reflect the lives and loves of those who dwell within. It serves as a fantastic source of interior design inspiration for anyone looking to infuse their own residence with character and warmth.
For even more inspiring details and behind-the-scenes glimpses of their creative process, be sure to hop over to their wonderful blog. But before you go, let’s play our favorite game: what was your favorite part of this incredible home? While I’m absolutely smitten with the unique plastic animal art and truly love, love, love that magnificent play kitchen, not to mention those sophisticated dark soapstone counters, John found himself particularly enamored with the classic apron sink and the modern dark window trim above it in the kitchen. It’s clear that this home offers a treasure trove of inspiration for every taste and preference, proving that a home designed with love is always the most beautiful.
Psst- Can’t get enough of home tours and design inspiration? Don’t want to stop snooping around? You can dive into dozens more exciting House Crashing adventures and discover endless DIY and decor ideas right here. Happy exploring and happy decorating!