Since moving to North Carolina, I’ve been asked if and how my home style has changed. What’s really the difference between our last “modern cottage” and this “modern colonial?” That’s a great question, I would love to tell you my thoughts.

Paint Color: Pigeon by Farrow & Ball

Dining Table | Vase | Stems | Pendant | Swivel Chair | Sofa | Top

First and foremost, this colonial home is different than any other home we’ve had. It has a very distinct, historical feel to it with the the meticulous millwork, and classic Georgian bones. Our past homes didn’t have a distinct architectural style or initial character, so I assigned a style to them and that became the style of the home and ultimately helped form my personal style. Our previous house was a mishmash of styles, with roman columns inside and scattered stone and stucco on the exterior. Over the years we lived there, we streamlined the exterior and interior for a more cottage-y feel that felt right for the expansive country setting. We drove it home by bringing in rustic woods and masonry and some modern elements, too. Let’s look at some side by sides!

Primary Bedroom Now and Then

I think it’s fair to say I’ve been taking more risks with paint and color, lol. To me these bedrooms couldn’t be more different! One feels very cottage-y with the rustic canopy bed and the stone. I used to seek out rustic or raw woods, and now I’m loving more lacquered walnuts and mahogany wood tones. Also, I went from white walls and contrast trim to deep mahogany brown walls and trim in the same hue, but different sheen. Speaking of trim… the crown was already in place in our colonial home, but we added the box trim on the walls and bead board on the ceiling to enhance the historic colonial style. Our bedroom is still very much in progress, but the mix of historic and modern is coming together rather nicely.

Living Room Now and Then

Looking at our last living room, we added ALL of the architectural elements in here–the window, the beams, the fireplace, the arches… Again, our North Carolina home already had all this charm and character which we’ve been embracing and elevating. I also feel like the rooms in our home here are more defined so I can be bolder in my color and design choices. While in our modern cottage, the spaces were more open to each other so I relied on textiles and finishes to bring in character and warmth.

Study Now and Music Room Then

The music room in our last house was the one pop of color on the main floor and now we have color flowing freely throughout! If you subscribe to our Love Letter you know that the study isn’t staying green for much longer, but don’t worry we have something up our sleeves. The wainscoting and ceiling light medallion were add-ons, but don’t they feel meant to be in here? Since moving I’ve also had antiques and collectables on the mind. The thrifting scene where we live is much more vibrant and I love seeking for pre-loved goods to bring in our home. I’m embracing the old, but still keeping it modern and fresh.

Polly’s Room Now and Then

Polly’s room was one of the last rooms we finished before moving and it’s still one of my favorites. Add some crown moulding in here and I think it would fit in rather nicely with the rest of the colonial rooms we have here! At this point, I was settling into my personal style a bit more.

All in all, I would say that our modern cottage helped me develop my personal style and our modern colonial has the architecture that has allowed my to embrace it fully, setting the perfect backdrop for the mesh of modern and traditional that I have loved for so long. There are times that I miss the simplicity that the cottage lended itself to–but ultimately, I believe this is the one home that we have owned that i feel most at home in, while also stretching me.

I can’t wait to see how my style evolves even more with time as we’ve settled in more!