Step Inside a Historic Colonial Home 2023

Step inside our beloved 1960 colonial house and embark on an inspiring video tour showcasing years of dedicated work, smart budgeting with thrifted furniture, rewarding DIY projects, and thoughtful modern traditional room makeovers. Discover how we’ve transformed this vintage gem into a vibrant, family-friendly sanctuary, blending timeless charm with contemporary comfort.

Can you believe it? Six incredible years have flown by since we first opened the doors to this house and began weaving our family’s story into its very foundations. It feels like just yesterday we were moving in, full of dreams and a little bit of trepidation. So much has been accomplished within these walls, from extensive renovations to countless small, personal touches that truly make it ours. Yet, as we reflect on this journey, there’s still a palpable excitement for the many more adventures and transformations that lie ahead for our home.

A beautifully organized home office for two, featuring a shared desk, two comfortable desk chairs, and ample storage cabinets, showcasing efficient and stylish design within a modern traditional colonial home.

This entire journey of turning a house into our cherished home has been profoundly enriched by each and every one of you. Your consistent input, encouraging words through messages, thoughtful comments, and heartwarming emails have been the fuel that keeps us going. The motivation and inspiration you provide are invaluable. We are truly, immensely thankful for this incredible Bless’er House community that we’ve all meticulously built and nurtured together over these past years. It’s more than just a blog; it’s a shared space where we connect, create, and inspire one another.

From Humble Beginnings to Our Dream Colonial Home

It’s hard to believe how far we’ve come. It feels almost like it was only yesterday when Robert and I exchanged vows, embarking on our life’s adventure together. Just a year later, we found ourselves as very young, first-time parents to a beautiful newborn, navigating the uncharted waters of parenthood. We were, quite frankly, totally broke, but rich in dreams and determination. To save diligently for our very first house, we moved into my parents’ spare bedroom, a humble but vital stepping stone on our path to homeownership. Those early days were a testament to our resolve and the foundational belief that hard work and patience would lead us to our goals.

Fast forward to today, nearly 12 years married, two wonderful children, two beloved houses later, and a wealth of hard-earned lessons under our belts. Every step of this incredible journey, every renovation, every thrifted treasure, and every DIY success (and occasional stumble!) has been shared with you. You, our wonderful community, have been such a colossal and integral part of this evolving story. This Bless’er House community doesn’t just feel like a group of loyal readers; it genuinely feels like an extended part of our family, cheering us on through every major milestone and minor makeover.

The Genesis of Bless’er House: A Creative Outlet Blossoms

This blog, Bless’er House, began its life as a much-needed creative outlet for me. In those early years of motherhood, during precious toddler nap times, I would retreat to our garage, paint brush in hand, transforming thrift store furniture pieces. Each stroke of paint, each sanding session, was a therapeutic act, a small rebellion against the chaos of new parenthood, and a way to channel my passion for design and decor. It was a humble beginning, driven purely by a desire to create and share. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that this simple act of sharing would blossom into a blessing beyond anything I could have ever fathomed, connecting me with thousands of like-minded individuals across the globe.

The essence of Bless’er House has always been about more than just aesthetics. It’s about the journey of transforming spaces on a budget, celebrating the charm of vintage finds, and embracing the satisfaction of creating something beautiful with your own hands. Our colonial house, built in 1960, presented a unique canvas. It offered a solid foundation and a timeless architectural style that perfectly suited our modern traditional vision. We aimed to respect its heritage while infusing it with contemporary comfort and functionality, making it truly adaptable for 21st-century family living. This delicate balance between old and new is at the heart of our design philosophy, allowing us to create spaces that feel both fresh and familiar.

Embracing Modern Traditional Style with Thrifted Finds and DIY

Our approach to home design is rooted in the “modern traditional” aesthetic, a style that expertly marries the elegance of classic design with the clean lines and functionality of contemporary living. This means honoring the architectural integrity of our 1960 colonial home while incorporating fresh paint colors, updated fixtures, and streamlined furniture. The beauty of this style lies in its versatility and its ability to create spaces that are both sophisticated and supremely comfortable. We believe a home should feel lived-in, loved, and reflective of its inhabitants, rather than a sterile showroom.

A cornerstone of our decorating philosophy revolves around the art of thrifting. We are passionate advocates for giving pre-loved furniture and decor a second life. Not only is it an incredibly budget-friendly way to furnish a home, but it also allows us to inject unique character and history into every room. A carefully selected antique chest, a vintage mirror, or a charming old lamp can tell a story that mass-produced items simply cannot. Our DIY projects complement this beautifully, allowing us to customize pieces, build bespoke solutions, and add personal touches that elevate our spaces. From painting dated dressers to crafting custom shelving, these projects are not just about saving money; they’re about the joy of creation and the pride of seeing your vision come to life.

This blend of thrifted treasures, hands-on DIY, and modern traditional styling has allowed us to create a home that is truly unique and deeply personal. Each room tells a part of our story, showcasing how thoughtful design decisions, even on a budget, can lead to stunning transformations. We’ve tackled everything from major room overhauls, like our master bedroom retreat and the children’s playful spaces, to the smaller, impactful projects that make daily life more beautiful and organized. Through this blog, we aim to demystify the renovation process and empower you to embark on your own home transformation journeys, proving that beautiful design is accessible to everyone.

More Than Just Walls: The True Meaning of Home

Ultimately, I believe this journey underscores a profound truth: a house is so much more than the collection of pretty things you place within its walls. It’s certainly delightful to curate beautiful spaces, to find the perfect piece of furniture, or to complete a satisfying DIY project. But the true essence of a home transcends material possessions. A home is your soft place to land, a sanctuary where you can fully be yourself, pursue any passion, create without judgment, and feel every emotion without reservation. It’s the backdrop for family laughter, quiet contemplation, shared meals, and comforting embraces.

This tiny corner of the internet, Bless’er House, strives to be a similar haven for you. We hope it’s a place where you feel inspired, supported, and connected. Whether you’re here to gather ideas for your next DIY project, seek advice on paint colors, or simply enjoy a moment of shared creative spirit, we want you to feel welcome and at home. Our goal is to empower you to create a living space that truly reflects your personality, nourishes your soul, and functions perfectly for your family, regardless of budget or experience level.

We invite you now to step into our world and experience the warmth and character of our 1960 colonial through our latest house tour video. See firsthand how our modern traditional vision has unfolded, how thrifted finds bring depth, and how every DIY project contributes to the unique narrative of our home. It’s a comprehensive look at the evolution of our spaces, designed to inspire your own home journey.

For those curious about the specific details that bring our rooms to life, including exact paint colors, decor sources, and furniture links, you can easily shop our home through our dedicated resources page. Every element you see in our tour can be found there, making it simple for you to recreate similar looks in your own space.

Don’t forget to head over to YouTube to see the full video tour in stunning high definition. We’d love for you to subscribe to our channel and join us for more home inspiration, DIY tutorials, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of life in our colonial home. Your support helps us continue creating valuable content for this wonderful community.

Sign-off image for Bless'er House blog, a decorative graphic often used at the end of posts.