HOW I’M DESIGNING A MOODY, FRENCH TRADITIONAL HOME
When we decided to build our barndominium, I knew I didn’t want a cookie-cutter house. I wanted something that felt layered, soulful, and a little moody — like the kind of home you stumble into in a storybook. My inspiration? A mix of French traditional details, vintage treasures, and a touch of modern practicality. Here’s a look into how I’m pulling together the vision, what’s influencing my design decisions, and a peek at my Pinterest “Home” Board.
The Feel I’m Designing For
Moody, French, Traditional. Those are my buzz words. I want our space to feel lived in. And I want it to feel like it could tell you a story if you sat awhile. A mixture of new & thrifted finds. Color everywhere. White does NOT do it for me. The thought of maintaining that clean bright feel makes me want to 🤮. ha!
What Moody, French, Traditional Means to Me
Have you ever been in a space that just feels like history could talk to you through the walls? But also provides a cozy, safe vibe. That’s what moody, french, traditional does for me. It feels lived in. It feels relatable. It feels like it could story-tell all day long.
Farming Fails So Far
A few weeks ago, I got overly eager to get some of my seedlings planted out. We were in a busy period with Sugar Creek Event Rentals, a travel period & then weather. So my first big planting day, I got overzealous in how much I could plant out. And boy did that go sideways on me. I ended up sending my zinnias to an early death. Queue the tears. I direct sowed new seeds into the ground and then for shits & grins, I planted out the zinnia plants that appeared to still have green stems. And surprisingly, most of them had strong enough roots to take hold and start growing. I was shocked & giddy. So even though I had a huge setback, I learned to not be that eager to get things planted out.
Design Elements I’m Dreaming Of
Moody color everywhere. Wooden beams. Trim molding on the walls. Brass finishes. Textiles with depth. Leather furniture that feels worn in. Velvet furniture that feels inviting. Stone fireplace. Lots of storage in the kitchen and pantry.
My Favorite Sources for Inspiration
inIf I had to pick a few brands that I could marry together to bring this to life: Ralph Lauren & Arhaus. Two company’s that center their brands around heirlooms. And that’s what I want my home to feel like. An heirloom. Something lived in for generations. I don’t know of any existing design brands (with a social media presence) that speaks solely to my style – but Pinterest….that platform gets it. Just browse through my Home Board and you’ll see.
How I’m Mixing Thrifted & New
It’s honestly going to be a work in progress for awhile. I have a sleigh bed that will be used in one of our guest rooms (I purchased it new when I was in college). And I have some other vintage and antique pieces that I’ll incorporate, but I won’t know what the space needs until I’m actually in the space. Which is the fun part of designing! Obviously, my home itself will be new, but I want to incorporate well loved pieces to help tell my home’s story.
Why I’m Embracing Slow Design
First of all, I have no home yet. So there’s truly no rush to figure everything out right now. Second of all, we’re acting as our own GC. So I can pick things out as we move through the process. I have an overall vision for what I want this home to feel like. But I don’t exactly know what the puzzle pieces are or how they will fit. If you allow your home to speak to you, you’ll know what direction to go. But there is patience in waiting. And that’s where I am currently.
