I'm Overwhelmed - Restoring a 1929 Spanish Revival Home 

Who else would love to see how much the light fixtures in the houses are worth?? I hope Drew will do it lol. Drews mom ❤️

Some advice I heard once and worked for me: take a little time and style your bedroom first (even if it's not the final style) so that you have a nice refuge from all the other changes going on. Start and end your day in comfort and you'll remain enthusiastic while the rest of the house is put in order.

I'm voting against using the bullseye corner trim for the doorways. That was a detail from Victorian-era houses. Yours being from the '20's (?) makes those lovely "bullseye" roundettes on the cupboard doors more art deco-ish. Please keep the doorway trim as is, for now. You can always revisit this decision later. LOVE, LOVE your new house. I'm 65, studied interior design at college and get such a kick watching your RU-vid videos!

Please pay attention to the thickness of the terracotta tile (for the floor) and mortar to install it and how it might impact the countertop height after it's installed. Subtract both the tile thickness and mortar from your countertop height to find out what your future countertop height will be. I'm assuming that you will be removing the existing flooring. You might not think it's a big deal to have countertops less than 36" but that's an industry standard (I was a kitchen designer throughout my career) and you are tall (no idea as to your height) so a lower countertop height will feel wrong ergonomically. The other challenge is laying thick flooring and having to deal with getting your dishwasher in and/or out. If you lay the flooring underneath your dishwasher, you might not have sufficient height to slide your dishwasher in. If you omit the tile under the dishwasher and install the flooring up to the installed dishwasher, you will lock in your dishwasher. How will you pull it out if you need to repair or replace it? (Answer: you won't be able to unless you remove your flooring.) Also, please be aware that while textured unsealed tiles are absolutely gorgeous, they will stain like crazy. Aged and stained tiles and marble countertops might be the look you are going for but please be aware that they will never look as pristine as when first installed after they stain. This is particularly important for the marble countertops. I loved the marble slabs you were looking at, but marble and travertine are very porous. Be wary of vendors who tell you that you can add sealant and they won't stain. Ask them to prove it to you...why not ask them to seal a sample and then pour red wine over. You'll know soon enough if the red wine stains it; another good liquid to test is olive oil....see if you can remove an oil ring that has spilled onto your countertop and/or flooring. Good luck! I'm envious of your gorgeous home and so very happy for you.

Drew, as someone who’s done several remodels in different vintages, I hope you take time to be still with the property. Take a breath. It’s a Spanish house. Just listen to what it wants. (I know how corny that sounds.) Also, get an engineer in there to tell you what is actually possible before you take more time with contractor drawings. Always get a second opinion from another pro. Start to establish your limitations and then you’ll know where you can really go wild with the design. Saltillo tiles are so romantic I had them for 25 years in one house. Yes they scratch, crack, stain. All true so you have to decide if that’s what you want. I loved mine. Very happy for you!

I just went through a year long reno because a huge tree fell on my house. Here's my 2 cents: 1) $46.00 a square foot for tile is not even feasible, unless you have an unlimited budget. 2) The things that will be permanent, like floors and countertops, go neutral....always! Spend the majority of your budget on the things that are hard, or expensive, to replace. The things that can be changed easily, you can spend a lot less money on them. 3) You still have that excited glow in your eyes with abundant possibilities, wait until you hear the cold hard facts from a "trusted" contractor before you get your heart set on things. 4) Here's a secret you need to know.... all contractors lie to you.

“that’s just not me” 😂😂🤣💛 and we love that

You are so talented. You speak so eloquently. No stuttering and directly to us. Thank you for sharing all you do with us.

From one homeowner to another: refinishing the floors before you move in makes sense. Painting also makes sense. 👍 But I agree with others about waiting a year to make big renovations. I'm using the space in my house completely differently than I thought I would.

I think that’s a cedar closet! Worth keeping for storing wools, and protect clothes from moths etc. don’t paint, just sand it to bring it back to life. You should be able to smell the cedar then, if it is cedar.

Drew, I love your ideas, especially using the marble. Perhaps you may want to visit some historical Spanish homes in the area. Perhaps call your city's historical society and make friends with those folks. You may be introduced to house owners who have authentic Spanish type house details. They may have resources too! You could get really inspired looking at what the local craftspeople did throughout your community! Also, see if you can find any books in your local library on the neighborhood! Keep up the great job!

Hi Drew! I'm sure you already know this, but I wanted to put this out there anyways in case! Although marble is heat resistant, it does have a tendency to stain/ruin easier since it is porous (especially with more acidic substances like lemon juice or vinegar). Unfortunately, I've seen more than once where a homeowner ruins their countertops unaware of this fact, or simply complain about the maintenance in regards to it. Since it is considered 'softer,' it can scratch easier as well, and will also requiring regular sealing. Because of this, quartz can be used as a common alternative to the beautiful marble (though it is not as heat resistant). It might not be the same, but you can also get quartz cuts that are styled similar to marble too these days. Ultimately, I'm sure what you move forward with will be absolutely gorgeous anyways!

You got this Drew!!! Just remember this: when you don’t know what to do, don’t do anything. The right decision will come. Trust your instinct ( and budget😂) ❤️

Hey Drew, my first husband and I bought and flipped houses, and we lived in them while we did it. In one of the houses, we drove to Mexico (just over the Texas border) and got an entire truckload of12 x 12 terra cotta tiles for under $1,200.00. (That included travel costs). It was enough to do the kitchen, the dining room, and the hallway. I looked online cause all I could remember was that the name of the city started with a C. Here's what I found: Saltillo tile is a type of terra-cotta tile that originates in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico. It is one of the two most famous products of the city, the other being multi-colored woven sarapes so typical of the region. I don't know if it would be cost-effective today, but thought I'd give you the information. Also, have you checked some of the big box DIY stores for terra cotta tiles? Like Home Depot and the like. Now, I've lived on the French Riviera for a decade now, and we just moved to Italy, so my info may be totally out of date! Loving watching what you're doing. It's a great apartment!

Make sure to donate any salvageable items your local Habitat Restore (counter tops, tile, doors, windows, ect) you can get a discount on your taxes next year. You have great ideas and vision for your home, so much fun to watch.

I'm not allowed to watch your new home videos without mom 😄 she's *invested*!!!

I found it so amazing that you’re talking about removing walls or parts of walls and ceilings and roofs with no thought to how things are supported 😆, or even cost to do it! you just want it done! - nice to know your builder’s on the ball though and is trying to manage your expectations and plans nicely

Hi from New Zealand. With so many comments you probably won’t get to read this. I am going to talk about terracotta tiles. They are not glazed and not high fired, that means they are porous so have to be tended to once laid. You can use several layers of wax ( an enormous job but worth it) this makes the tiles come up to a colour much less orange and mush more like your preferred colour. There is a blog about a couple restoring a house in Italy where she researched it and found there was no easy way just hard physical work. The wax you use can be tinted to help of course. Good luck with your wonderful house. Marianne

Advice from another 1920's CA home owner, and someone with air quality data knowledge. Keeps as much plaster as possible. Contractors will tell you to rip it all out and replace with drywall. But drywall molds (especially black mold), plaster does not, because mold can't live in what plaster is made of, but it grows very very easily in drywall and the cardboard backing. It's better for indoor air quality that drywall. It's also better insulation and sound barrier than drywall. Also some drywall may off gas. If they have to go into the walls ask them to do holes then drywall patches in the plaster. Don't let contractors tear out all the plaster! And it gives character to homes.

From a fellow new homeowner you should know: This episode begins the countdown to when you realize that you definitely have to buy yourself a really good trolley to dolly all of the furniture around your house because you've never lived anywhere this big before. The bigger the space the more you want to put wheels on everything.

I love that you're being considerate of the style residence that you're designing. Bringing in the Spanish-Colonial design style into a native piece of architecture in Los Angeles; bringing the character back into the home is definitely something to be proud of, and something I love to see clients and other designers appreciate. I can't wait to see how your inspiration takes flight.

Have you considered engineered quartz in a marble pattern? I only ask because marble is so easily stained and scratched. We topped our dining room sideboard with marble and within a couple years it isn’t looking so nice anymore. Dishes are very hard on it. Also, I’m very much enjoying watching your design process in action. This house is going to provide so much great content for your channel. What fun!

Everything is so cold. I know the colors don’t translate well on line but being in the richly colored room where you put your new piece of furniture was such a relief from all those cool/cold colors.

I'm gonna put something out there for you to consider, just because it's your house and you own it and you can do whatever you want: Put in a secret door. When I bought my house and re-did my bathroom the door had to be moved to the center of the wall so instead of a plain ol boring door I put a giant bookcase on hinges that swings open to reveal my bathroom, I've never regretted it. It's so fun and different and everyone who sees it thinks it's awesome. It doesn't have to be the door to a whole room, it could be the door to a cupboard covered with a piece of art. It's just so fun having something so extra because it's my damn house and there's no landlord to say no. Also you could get some beautiful textured glass for your skylight that would let in loads more light but hide the light cables. I replaced the amber glass in my entry with textured glass so I have privacy still, but the difference it made to the amount of light, colored glass is pretty but you don't realize how much light it cuts until it's gone!

I love the olive green tile with the monet countertop combo. However choose a countertop with not so many veins because in a narrower kitchen like yours a busy one might look way too overwhelming.

Hi Drew! Just a warning about Saltille floor tiles. They don't wear well. I have a friend in Tucson who had them throughout her new house (except bedrooms). She said she wished she'd never chosen them. They chip, scratch and stain so easily. Dining room chairs tore them up. So beware! 😳 I am so enjoying the videos of your plans for the house!!

This is your dream home and you have the talent to make it into anything you dream of... :) Don't let it overwhelm you. You're taking on too many projects all at once. Get tthe work done from contractors that you can't do and wait for that to be finished. Sit down and draw out one room at a time and then go shopping. Your diys include revamping thrilft finds. Do that next. Get the big pieces done and set in place once the floors, ceiliingss, walls and fixtures are done. Then concentrate on the rooms you are going to LIVE in next, ONE at a time. When you get the first ROOM fiinshed the rest will follow. Enjoy the journey Drew. This is a huge project and you are decorating with your HEART...take your time, relish the beauty you are designng and let your creative juices flow naturally. ❤

The unglazed orange clay "Terracotta" tile will need to be sealed, which darkens it significantly. It may still be too orange, but I would try using a sealer on the sample, to see how it will look installed.

..IT'S been a long time since I've done any design work in California, but here in Texas, when you are selecting slabs for a client, the fabricator is actually the purchaser of the slab because they are responsible for any damages that can happen, ... including stress fractures in the slab which can cause breakage ... So ... if that is the case there, and you are wanting to keep any remnants you need to let the fabricator know before you settle on any pricing ...

Drew I love your countertop ideas. Something to keep in mind if you’re going with a really interesting pattern in your marble and bringing that up the wall. Keep the tile going up the wall subtle, so that your marble has it’s moment to shine. Just a thought, instead of doing another tile above your marble backsplash, perhaps do a plaster treatment. That would be in keeping with the history of the house. So excited to see what you do! Congratulations on your new home

I loved the dove paint swatch because it looks so beautiful in all the different lighting

You are the only person I enjoy , looking at paint swatches with!

It's so much fun hanging out with you while you plan your new home!

Lol I could never live in a house for a year before deciding on what changes I was going to make. I'm with you Drew feel your space then make your changes when your feeling it. Best wishes for you and your journey ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

It is so rare and special to find an old home with all of the original elements still in place! Don’t be hasty or solo when making important and permanent decisions; these elements can NEVER be restored when discarded or sold. Get restoration experts to advise and counsel BEFORE hand. You are no longer a renter trying to put your personal stamp on the unit… you are the keeper of what the original design was.

A glass hallway ceiling could cause a whole bunch of greenhouse effect and make the room be uncomfortably hot on many days

Hi! I have a keen interest in restoring older homes...i have a 1923 bungalow style home in Portland Oregon. I have had a lot of experience using Benjamin Moore White Dove throughout my home, especially on kitchen and bathroom ceilings and trim. It was recommended to me by my professional painter and i never get tired of it. Also, if you are looking for a great neutral color, i LOVE Benjamin Moore Edgecomb gray. I have used it in the bottom portion (below chair rails) in both bathrooms, my bedroom, and my lower kitchen cupboards and i never ever EVER get tired of it. Finally, if you are looking for SHAPES of tile in an older home, i would never look at any other shape then OCTAGON. it is very period, shows movement, and again, i never tire of it. I have enjoyed all the effort of restoring my home and am excited for your adventure! Best, Jerry

I would recommend not touching the rooms that are functional with any extensive reno for now. The kitchen might look dreary but it is totally usable. It is better to move in and live in the space for a while, see how you use it, how it looks like throughout the day and night and design a cohesive plan for the look of the entire house. Once you have done that you can start with the extensive renos one room at a time so you don't feel too overwhelmed. And of course you can adapt your plans or change your mind about design as you go along.

The light fixtures are priceless! Honestly? Appraisal is unobtainable at present!

I just found your channel today. I needed this! I'm isolated in Indiana for years since my Mom got dementia. I miss having my "optimist" friends, laughter and making things happen. I think your house is filled with laughter. You really cheered me up today. ♥️♥️

I bought a farm in the middle of nowhere in Belgium but am out of funds to continue reno so now I just save up and watch these videos for inspiration. Can't wait what you do to your new place! It's gonna be amazing I bet.

Drew, I really feel like you should make the beautiful marble the star of your kitchen. The Zellige tiles are amazing, but maybe not in addition to the marble. I agree that the rectangular charcoal tile is too contemporary for your space, and the terracotta will give it more of an authentic original look with the era of your amazing new home.

So exciting...when I built... I used tile everywhere, it was so overwhelming picking it all out..had to call my parents to the store.. it all turned out so beautiful, my builder was always showing my house..just have fun... my husband traveled around the world for his work...so it was all on me..have to say.. loved every minute..❤

Shopping for countertops is so fun. So many beautiful options

Everything you’ve picked is gorgeous! One piece of advice- if it’s marble, not granite, it needs a lot more careful treatment. Marble is softer and it stains, needs to be cleaned differently than granite. We put porcelain tile in our bathroom (which is amazingly durable and pretty). Porcelain can take almost anything and be fine. But we also put in a marble ledge and seat in the shower and now we have to be much fussier about cleaning products - can’t let anything with dyes get on the marble (like my color reflective shampoo). So take that into account in your choices.

I LOVE the light fixtures in this house, the one below the skylight is a work of art!

Hi Drew, I understand the excitement of purchasing a new home. The wheels are spinning with ideas, but take your time. Do your homework on the home. If you have to live in it for awhile, do it. Let the your home speak to you (sounds weird), but is true. You don’t want to be house broke. I wish you all the best and I will definitely be following you on this journey.

Oxford White and the veiny marble for sure!! The drama in the kitchen will be breathtaking!!

We used Calacatta Monet in our kitchen and we still absolutely LOVE it!! Also FYI, make sure you do your research on all it takes to care for marble vs quartz and see which would best fit your lifestyle. Marble is gorgeous but very finicky long term.

That hall closet look like it has natural cedar paneling. Perfect for storing your woolens. If the scent has faded, you'll need to lightly sand and treat it to bring back its natural moth-repellent oils.

Happy Birthday! May you enjoy many, many more and decorate many, many more homes. You were born to brighten our world with beauty. Good to have you here on earth with us. LOL

you decorate and remodel your new home when you feel like it sweetie. You are the one who has to live in it and I know you will do a beautiful job. you have great taste and I can't wait to see all your remodel videos.

I love the marble with the chunky veining, and the Chantilly Lace paint. Making the arched doorways is a fantastic idea! You don't need doors there, and it opens up the space. I am so excited to watch this process!

That green tile would also match your fireplace tile. Remember that if you get that really thick hexagon tile, you might have to look at the total weight to make sure the floor and ceiling below can handle that extra weight. You might also have to take some length off the doors to go with that thicker tile. Really enjoying the process so far, but take it slow and go with your heart. Keep on inspiring us.

Breathe… whatever you decide, it’ll be perfect! Best part is it’s yours and you can do/undo/redo as much as you like ❤️

That hutch is beyond beautiful!!! That is a dream piece for me.

Time for a good spreadsheet! You need to list every renovation area and estimated costs for each. It is nerdy, but necessary to pick and choose your battles and how to make the most of your budget, as home renovation can end up costing you as much at the house did. Ouch! You have to prioritize the structural issues, like the HVAC, plumbing, any electrical, and as you have already done the foundation/pests. Even though you don't care much for the gray slate flooring in the kitchen, it is a neutral and in good shape so you could make it work with the right stone counters/backsplash, I'd make it low/no priority on the expense list and direct that money to a must do. You may have to demo those tile bathrooms, which while a heart break, may make the home more structurally sound for longer term. You could save some of the tiles to use as accents to create a nod to its original history. This home is beautiful and your respect for its details and original structural beauty is wonderful to see. Just don't get in over your head financing renovations that might lead you to struggling to keep the home. Contractors can make most anything happen for a price so it is up to you to decide if it is a want, need, or must do and whether it is worth the expense. It is very important to reign-in creative desire for esthetic function to stay within budgets. Pick your battles wisely. Enjoy it all, even the struggles for wise choices above creative possibilities. Looking forward to seeing your processes and progress!

When we bought our house in LA last year people told us the same thing- live in it awhile. And… it’s so true. We kinda split the difference and did a bunch of cosmetic work before we moved in, plus refinished floors, but I’m really glad we waited on some other stuff. It’s interesting, what parts of the house you actually end up spending the most time in vs. where you assume you will prior to moving in. I was dead set on redoing a bathroom right away but after moving in, I realized the bathroom was totally fine and not a huge priority, meanwhile, we spend almost half our time outside, so we put the time and money into making our yard amazing. Same story with a few other projects/areas. Basically, don’t rush it. There is something to spending time in a space before deciding how you want it to be. Good luck! What a beautiful property! So excited to see what you’re gonna do with it!

Take a week off but don’t give up. You are doing really well. Love your choices.

Perhaps for the room with the red bounce back light, you could get a uv film and put it on the window glass. I have this in my home to preserve art work and textiles from sun damage. It does change the light coming in and it’s really easy to install. Wishing you joy and love in your new home!

Happy Birthday!! 🎉✨ SO excited for this series. ☺ PS. That closet isn't "original wood," it's a cedar closet that a lot of older homes have for storing off-season clothes. :D

I love the idea of the green tile with the green veined marble but I’m sure whatever will be picked is gorgeous!

Hey drew, something to think about: if you’re going to change out the glass in the skylight and think that’s it’s already too bright, go with a glass that has texture over a frosted option. Frosted will diffuse the light but make it seem even brighter. A textured glass will diffused the light slightly but create greater differentiation in light quality, ie a more dappled and playful effect. I sense a possible diy stained glass panels video opportunity!

THE STARBUCKS GRILLED CHEESE IS UNBELIEVABLE THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY PASSION

I have champagne taste and a beer budget, so I always try to find the look without paying as much for it. With your subscriber numbers, you probably won't be under the same budget constraints. That original skylight was a FIND! Love the light neutral wall paint color. Watch out for clay tiles, porous marble, and stone that cannot be properly cleaned. Cracks, stains and mold are not trending...🙂 Perhaps resist the urge to go too busy with finishes in small spaces?

for tiling the upstairs kitchen/stairs/bathroom areas, i HIGHLY recommend using a light-wood-tone terracotta tile instead of the red tone, and only use the tile in the actual kitchen and bathroom. I did this in my home and where I didn't need/want the tile, I just switched to a matching hardwood flooring. That hardwood (if you can find the perfect color match to the terracotta, giving it that monochromatic flow) might be good for the stairs and landing, and then having a seamless transition into wood-toned-terracotta for the potentially wet areas like the bathroom and kitchen, making it way easier to deal with water spills. regardless of what you choose to do though I bet it'll be gorgeous! congrats!

I am blown away about the arch that will lead to a coffee bar area. Fantastic - and useful - idea. Great job!

8:46 STUNNING!!!!! WOW

Painting absolutely everything a base white is a great way to start. It's easy to live with while you work and gives you a nice clean fresh starting point on which you can make further decisions. Its a shame about the skylight, it can be so irritating when something that seems fairly straightforward to us turns into a structural and planning nightmares! Removing the painted glass though...amazing! Opening up doorways into arched pass through style openings is a really great way to get some of that open plan feeling but keep the separation too. Exiting plans! Edited to add: obviously this is a personal style choice, but I find full walls of tile can make a room very cold and clinical even when you use a lot of colour and pattern. Its also harder to drill into for adding fixtures, and of course harder to change overall if you want a new look. In your kitchen with the beautiful marble countertop you don't want to distract from it!

So excited but understand the overwhelmed feeling, I’m 5 months into a renovation after my house flooded

You’re in heaven! Your excitement is so infectious!

Have you ever watched any of the renovations of castles on RU-vid? I guess because there is so much work to do on them and they’re so extremely old that they aren’t as expensive as you would think they would be. Then they have their RU-vid channels which end up paying for the work that they are doing. Most of them turn into a bed-and-breakfast, I mean could you imagine going and staying in a castle for your vacation? It’s just something really interesting that I thought you might like. I really enjoy watching them.

Drew, this is so exciting to watch. That "Wooden closet" looks like cedar! Cedar closets are wonderful things. Just sand it down to bring out the aesthetic qualities. Keeps bugs, and mold out and you can store important papers, photos, etc. I had one and it was the only place that was safe to keep my art and vintage clothes.

Having gone through my interior designer friend's new home when she was exploring paint options, I learnt that if you are looking for a cohesive paint look throughout your home, you will need to use different colours of paint, because light and the reflective environment outside will make the same paint colour look very different in different spaces. Have fun choosing. Oxford looks great in the blue room. Maybe trying a white with a slightly purple/blue undertone in the room where you get the red reflections will help tone it down. Swatch, swatch, swatch. 😉

Wow!!! The skylight reveal!! so many options!! The original closet is cedar! Super cool!!

Love being along for this ride

-central Wisconsin: Happy belated Birthday Drew! Say, those narrow French doors to the breakfast nook, they would make great pantry doors.

I’m smiling while I listen to you plan and I’d love to see your reaction when you get prices for everything you want to do. My husband used to install a lot of handmade terracotta floors. It’s a process and needs to be sealed. I used to apply wax by hand every month and buff it with a m@chine to keep it the way I liked it. Those marble samples have grey in them like the floor that is already there. It seems a little much to add a tile border to that marble but what do I know. Everything I’ve seen you do looks great. Have fun.

Yes, you won't regret going with the more red terracotta. It is just such a warm, happy, heightening vibration for the body! An energy level. Oh yes and also it's a treat for the eyes. When I lived in San Pedro California, Los Angeles county. We used to head towards Laguna and there they had modern and from what I remember restoration tiles. Terracotta they had much of it. I love that place oh how I loved it. See if it's still there.

Just reading the number of suggestions in the comments is so overwhelming! Cheering you on dear!

Your mood board is so elegant. Putting in the arched doorways in the dining room instead of removing walls is an excellent choice, particularly since there are other arches already in the house, the new ones will look like they were always there. Your closet with the original wood looks like it might be a cedar closet that is meant to repel moths from wool coats and garments. (In the 1920s people wore very fine wool suits and coats even in LA!) If you sand the wood a little you might experience the lovely aroma of cedar. This is such a fun project to watch you work on.

Check out b&w tile for replacement tiles for the vintage bathrooms!!! They specialize in recreating historic tile!

You are so talented. I could literally watch you all day.

"I feel like I am at an adult amusement park" -- a true sign that you are a homeowner! What will now become captivating and entertaining will stun you! (Garden hoses never seemed interesting to me until I got a mortgage!

14:34 likely 'cedar lined closet' great for repelling moths and other bugs that eat clothing fibers. The orange tile 19:28 from what I understand, in Italy they would traditionally treat them with old oil, coating them then letting it cure and then wiping the excess off to get that beautiful old patina.

Habitat for Humanity stores are a great resource for all sorts of materials, including tile! You've likely checked their locations out before, but it might be a good resource for this new house journey :) really looking forward to more house updates!

Drew, What an exciting adventure you are going on, thank you so much for sharing it. I have been watching your videos since you first started posting and look forward to them each week. Since you asked for ideas I think you may want to consider leaving the walls above your marble backsplash painted. I have noticed that you really enjoy redoing your spaces and this way you would be able to easily highlight different colors of the marble and completely change the mood of the kitchen. Best of luck with everything.

That hutch 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 please don’t change a thing! It’s beautiful and fits the space and vibe soooo good 💕😉

Terracotta tiles were popular in south Florida a few decades ago. They are beautiful but as with many things there are issues. Tile experts recommended a sealant which make the color darker. Also keep in mind that they are slippery when wet so surrounding a pool maybe isn't a good idea. Happy Sunday!

I like the Chantilly lace. It's a nice neutral.

I'm in love with that hutch!

you have so much experience that I don't think living in the space for awhile is needed

Replace the skylight glass with frosted glass. It will still let in a lot of light but won't be as blinding as when you removed the 'marble' glass

Those doors are tiny and oddly placed. I think archways will be a big improvement and work better with the style of house.

Drew, I bet this is the best birthday ever. Happy birthday to you 🎂

Definatly Chantelli lace. I think the white will brighten the place so much up. I love the house♡

Take your time. You're right. So many choices are so-o-o overwhelming. Also, remember your kitchen is small. Some of those large marble patterns are so large that they would overwhelm a small kitchen, make it look too busy, confuse the eye, etc. Re: wall color, here's a tip. Many decorators suggest picking out your primary fabric first, then letting the colors in it dictate other colors to use, from wall color to other fabrics. Again, take your time. Give yourself a chance to consider everything that is involved. As English writer John Heywood wrote in the 16th century, "Rome wasn't built in a day."

I'm loving these videos because I really feel every step, every experiment, every idea you're having about the house as it comes to you. What I'd like to see is your plan for the overall house - for example, I'm unclear on if you're going to have two kitchens or not! Where will each room be and what will the room be for? For me, it's hard to know design specifics without first knowing the size, location, and layout each room will have.

Your wood closet is cedar and can be sanded to refresh its fragrance. Count yourself blessed by this find.

So much Talent Bundled Up in that One Man Body.