My Daughter Is Building a New Home: I Couldn’t Resist Decorating It!

There’s something exciting about a brand-new house! Especially when it belongs to my daughter! Bridget and her family recently purchased a new home not too far from where I live. They chose the Columbia model, a spacious two-story home with an open main level area and a finished basement

Since the house isn’t built yet, I took photos with my phone while touring the Columbia model. Of course, I couldn’t leave them alone! I digitally redecorated the rooms with colors, furnishings, and accessories to imagine how their new home could look once they move in. Keep in mind, all walls, structures, windows, layouts, and what you see out the windows remained the same as the original photos I took.

New Home Exterior Options

Where your help is needed is with the exterior. Bridget can’t decide which color combination she wants so I’m sharing three options she’s considering and would love if you’d tell me which exterior palette is your favorite. Just drop a comment at the end of this post letting me (and Bridget) know which one you like best. She’s anxious to hear your opinions!

Here’s option one for her new home. This combination pairs Mountain Sage green siding by James Hardie on the lower level with a warm neutral called Cobble Stone above, along with black shutters, a black front door, crisp white trim, and gray stone.

 

Option two is the lightest and warmest of the three, with Navajo Beige siding, soft Pebblestone Clay shutters, white trim, gray stone, and a Slate Tile blue front door. It has a traditional, welcoming look that feels especially timeless.

 

Last but not least, option three is a little quieter, with Monterey Taupe siding on the lower level and Cobble Stone above. Black shutters add contrast, while the front door and gray stone bring in just enough color.

 

In the comments below – tell me if you like one, two, or three the best! And now, let’s move on to the inside of the new home.

New Home Entry and Hall

Here’s the view through the entry hall when you step inside the front door. I love that you can see through to the backyard from this angle. The staircase is u-shaped, which I prefer over a long, straight-up stairway.

 

There’s a flex room just to the left of the front door. The Columbia model we toured had it set up as a home office, which I redecorated to look like this. The layout is the same as the original photo I took, I just swapped out the desk, shelves, curtains, and accent wall for something warmer. You can use this room for anything – a sitting room, a library, or even a guest bedroom.

 

The Kitchen and Dining Space

The kitchen is to the right of the living room, and the large island is one of the features that makes the Columbia model so family-friendly. When using digital editing tools for my photos, I kept the kitchen light and bright, adding warm woods, creamy neutrals, woven textures, and touches of brass to soften all the new finishes. The model home decor felt a little sterile to me, which is why I chose to edit all the images I took.

 

The dining area sits right beside the kitchen and is surrounded by windows, making it feel especially bright and inviting. I chose natural wood furniture, linen curtains, woven shades, and greenery to give the space a relaxed look that works beautifully with the kitchen. When creating a decorating scheme, I used a style that I think Bridget will like. I can always edit these further to give her the exact look she wants.

 

Main Gathering Area

The living room is open to the kitchen but still feels like a room of its own. Soft cream upholstery, muted sage walls, warm woods, traditional landscape art, and a large, patterned rug make the space feel comfortable and collected rather than overly “new.” I left my grandson in the photo and simply swapped out furniture and colors. I didn’t change the layout of the rooms in any of the photos. The views out the windows are left intact.

 

From the staircase, you get a better sense of how the living room fits into the main level. Bridget likes that the family can be together while still having clearly defined spaces for cooking, eating, and relaxing.

 

Second Floor Loft and Bedrooms

At the top of the stairs is this optional loft, creating another gathering space for the family. However, with baby number five on the way, I’m pretty sure Bridget will close this off and use this space as a bedroom instead. The Columbia model offers both options – loft or bedroom. Since the new home includes a finished basement, they won’t really need an extra space for watching television or playing games.

 

For the primary bedroom, I went moodier than the model with deep blue walls balanced by creamy bedding and warm wood furniture. There’s even enough space near the windows to create a cozy little sitting area. In the model, this room had carpeting, but I swapped it out for hardwood flooring and an area rug. I also added the ceiling light since this space only had tableside lighting.

 

Traditional landscape art, an upholstered bed, woven leather bench, and layers of neutral bedding give the room a cozy and warm ambiance. This master bedroom is much larger than their current bedroom, so I’m sure Bridget will enjoy the space.

 

No offense to the person who decorated the model home, but the primary bathroom was a bit boring. I enhanced it with soft sage walls, creamy stone, warm wood cabinetry, and aged brass accents. It’s serene and understated while still relating nicely to the colors I used elsewhere in the house with digital design tools.

 

For a boy’s bedroom, I went in a slightly different direction with navy bunk beds, plaid bedding, touches of red, and personalized sports artwork. It’s playful and practical while the warm woods and natural textures help connect it to the rest of the house. I think any of Bridget’s three sons would love this room.

 

For this girl’s bedroom, I used soft blush walls, floral bedding, twin upholstered beds, woven textures, and an adorable bunny print to create a sweet room that doesn’t feel overly juvenile. The placement of the beds is the same way it appeared in the Columbia model home, I just added some embellishments, changed the textiles and art, and added that sweet little overhead light. Bridget already has one daughter, and with another on the way, I think this room would be perfect for them to share.

 

Looking Forward

Once the house is built and my daughter and her family move in, I’m sure the rooms will take on a personality all their own. There’s more bathrooms, a large pantry, and the finished basement but I didn’t take photos of those spaces.

Part of what makes a new home so exciting is that it begins as a blank canvas and slowly becomes layered with furniture, favorite things, family photos, toys, and all the little details that eventually make it feel like home.

Here’s a photo of Bridget and her family in the living room (redecorated digitally, but I kept the family intact) holding the “sold” sign to celebrate the big moment. The house will be ready in April, just shortly after my new granddaughter arrives in February.

 

Look for future posts about Bridget’s house and working with a builder. There will be plenty of design and decorating ideas to share. And don’t forget to leave a comment below telling me which exterior color palette you’d choose!