DIY

The Farmhouse project: Exterior Reveal With Maria Bosak

Maria Bosak Favoring Focal Points Eco Chic

With this reveal, we wish to honor Darrell and Nadine, the previous owners, and thank them for the farmhouse lifestyle they curated. Regardless of the color of the siding or any new window additions, it truly is their love that fills this space and reminds us of the importance of loving where you live, because your home will love you back.

Photos by Morgan Schleif, Paul Flessland and Maria Bosak

It’s hard to believe it has been almost two years since I first stood on this roof and introduced the Farmhouse Project to you. I recognize the fact that the style of our house isn’t what most people have in mind when they picture a traditional farmhouse, but our journey in this home has been more about a mindset than the actual style of the home. We’ve fallen more in love with the nightly wildlife visits, the plentiful gardens and the serene setting than we ever imagined. The kind and gentle spirit of the previous owners permeates the walls, and no amount of renovations or updates can ever change the magic of a house when its foundation is built on love.

So, with this reveal, we wish to honor Darrell and Nadine, the previous owners, and thank them for the farmhouse lifestyle they curated. Regardless of the color of the siding or any new window additions, it truly is their love that fills this space and reminds us of the importance of loving where you live, because your home will love you back.

Farmhouse Project Exterior Reveal

Farmhouse Project Exterior Reveal
Before
Farmhouse Project Exterior Reveal
After

Picking a House Color isn’t for the Weak

Speaking of house color, yes, we painted our house blue. My husband Tate and I have had a long love affair with the color blue. Tate’s obsession is even older than mine because his love of the Duke Blue Devils dates back to his teenage years. Don’t misunderstand me, I did not let Tate pick the color of our house based on his favorite college basketball team, although that would make me the coolest wife east of the Sheyenne River. We chose the color blue because we knew we wanted cedar accents and white window trim, and they would pop like crazy off of blue. Plus, Tate always likes to be just a tish more unique than he likes being normal.

Farmhouse Project Exterior Reveal

It was fun to go with a bolder color and we couldn’t be happier with the way it turned out, but we did spend many weeks deciding on which shade of blue. As you know, colors can be funny. What looks like blue on a color swatch turns out to be purple once you get it on the wall. So, we spent many weeks with our paint samples, sitting out front of the house asking every passer-by (mostly close friends, maybe the occasional delivery person) what color they liked best. I had my favorite and Tate had his. We looked at the colors in the morning light, in the evening light, in cloudy light and in sunny light. This went on for weeks. In the end, the majority of our friends sided with Tate (story of my life), so it was inevitable that we chose Tate’s top pick, “Seaworthy” by Sherwin Williams.

Farmhouse Project Exterior Reveal

We’ve had many people comment that they thought we had put new siding on the house, but we have to give credit where credit is due. Sean Finneman with Finneman Painting Plus painted the exterior of the house. The metal siding was in good shape, but just needed to be a different color.

Wow those Windows

Farmhouse Project Exterior Reveal
Before

Alongside the new color of the house, the front windows are usually the first thing people notice. Prior to the addition of the windows, the house was lacking a “wow” moment when you first approached. Given the house doesn’t really have a central entry point or another feature that would serve as a grand entrance, we decided to give the house a grand window view. We often sit in the front living room and we love nature, so we decided to go big and give ourselves the experience of being outside while at the same time adding a grand feature to the front of the house.

Farmhouse Project Exterior Reveal

Those Black French Doors

Farmhouse Project Exterior Reveal
Before

It’s hard not to notice the black french doors flanked by cedar siding when you pull up to the house. I can’t tell you how happy those doors make me. I had a vision in my head, and after searching for months and then another eight-week wait (that was totally worth it), I got the vision to come to life. We use these doors often as the patio has become one of our favorite places to spend time in the evening. Along with the new French doors, we also updated all exterior walk-through doors and overhead garage doors.

Farmhouse Project Exterior Reveal

The Patio

Farmhouse Project Exterior Reveal

Farmhouse Project Exterior Reveal
Before

Yes, we took the rock wall down. While my heart did bleed a bit, I knew it was necessary in order to give us the room we needed to create a patio that would serve as a large gathering space for friends and a relaxing place to come to at the end of the day. The new wall is lower and rounded to create a cozy nook for fires and it lends nicely to the new landscaping, serving as a backdrop for flowering perennials.

Farmhouse Project Exterior Reveal

The entire process took all of last summer and fall with the finishing landscaping touches going in just before the first snowfall. We were lucky enough to be given a beautiful and lengthy fall which allowed us to complete the project.

What I’m most thankful for with the completion of the exterior of the house is the space it provides for us to enjoy the outdoors and each other. Just last night, Tate spotted a momma deer and her fawn in the backyard as he was coming in from mowing at dusk. We treasure these moments, and the addition of exterior living space not only allows us to be closer to the wonders of nature, but it also brings us together as a family. These times will stay with us and we will always remember that what has been built here goes beyond paint color and new windows, but it is an extension of the beauty that already exists in the world.

To hear more about the vendors and products we used in our remodel, join me on the Eco Chic blog on our website, ILoveEcoChic.com.

You can also follow along on Instagram @ecochicboutique.

Love Your House,
Maria (and Tate)

 

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