Tomball Early-American Farmhouse Project
Where do I even begin with this project? Nerve wrecking, wanting to pull my hair out, an honor in every way… When my brother and sister-in-law called to tell me they bought land near us to build their dream home, I was over the moon excited for them and their family. Then they asked me to help design it—I was totally humbled! No matter who our clients are, it’s always such an honor to create homes for families, but when a family member calls on you to help them with their own home, it’s even more special. To know my nieces, and even my own family, will have memories in this home, put the pressure on me!
Let’s be honest, working with family is never easy. My sweet sister-in-law, Grace, had a lot of opinions-some of which were great and others were questionable. I’m all about functionality, livability and practicality and Grace challenged me on those points. For example, she put a reclaimed wood countertop on her kitchen island. Now, it’s stunning…I mean it’s truly one of my favorite things about her home now, but at the time, I couldn’t help but think about all the things that will live on that surface! Needless to say, we made a great team with this home. I pushed her, she pushed me and the outcome turned out to be the home of their dreams.
What I love most about this home is the unique style of it. It’s not your true modern farmhouse. Grace’s love for early American antiques helped drive the design of the home with hard selections & furniture design. Grace loves antiques and I had to rein her in with her shopping to make sure that we got functional pieces that her family could actually use rather than just filling the home with pieces that look pretty. This was something that we were constantly taking into account when planning furniture. Pairing new pieces with family heirlooms and antique finds is what really gives this home character and tells a story of the family.
If you’ve been following Moore House Interiors for any amount of time, you know that we have the most incredible photos of the homes we design and it’s all thanks to Grace. Sister-in-law, friend and the official photographer for MHI. This photo shoot was special for so many reasons—one being that this was Grace’s home. She’s been thinking and planning this shoot for as long as I can remember, but also because we brought in the incredibly talented stylist, Becki Griffin with Curious Details. Both Grace and I have loved Becki’s work for years and she brought such a special touch to the home. It was truly an honor to work with both of these ladies in their element and I think their work speaks for itself.
Grace, thank you for trusting me with your home and pushing me and letting me push back. It was an honor to walk alongside y’all in this journey. Jim, I’m just glad you get to live there! I’m excited to watch our kids grow up together and all the memories we will create in your home as a family.
Y’all keep on scrolling for the gorgeous pics of our Tomball Farmhouse & let Grace tell you about their experience working with the MHI team.
How did you first hear of Moore House Interiors?: Ashley is married to my twin brother, Matt, so I knew about her from the get go!
Which services did you receive from Moore House Interiors: New Construction Design, Furnishing Design & Styling
What brought you to Moore House Interiors?: I have been in Ashley’s own home and have photographed her various projects and the feeling of home and comfort that is still unique to each client's taste is always present. I also love antiques and MHI is a very practical design firm, and incorporate family heirlooms and affordable options, paired with smart decisions into their design without sacrificing the aesthetic of the design.
What did you enjoy about working with Moore House Interiors?: I enjoyed seeing Ashley in her element, and her team being excited right along with us during the building process. Being family, I could be 100% honest, and, as a control freak, I struggled with complete trust of a few of Ashley's recommendations. In the end, we always circled back to her way of thinking and I'm glad we did! She showed a lot of patience in the process, and was respectful of my opinions, but her vision of the complete home was perfect.
That's the trust part—she see's the whole thing from start to finish, and trusting her vision was the best decision we could have made. As we unpacked, our belongings just fit right in, as if the home had been waiting for them from the beginning. As with any project, there can be issues that come up, and we had some bumps in the road with our builder. Being naïve to the building process, when my husband were unsure about the process or what the end product would look like, the MHI team was a great resource and comfort to us. They also stood up for us and were passionate about the project as well as the quality of the workmanship. They spoke the language the builder speaks, so they could help translate any concerns directly and concisely.
Would you recommend us to a friend? Why or why not?: Absolutely. I walked into Floor & Decor to look at tile, and I about had a panic attack. The sheer volume of options, and creating a final design plan that resonates with your likes and antiques is impossible for me! Ashley came up with a design and presented it to us effortlessly. She took that stress out of the build for us and I could not be more grateful! Also, working the MHI team is just plain fun!
What motivated you to hire a designer? Was there a particular reason you chose Moore House Interiors?: I had seen MHI’s work and knew they would be able to bring my dreams into reality!
What was your favorite part of working with us? What was your favorite part of your design experience?: Having Ashley's help unpacking when we moved in, it was so neat to watch our items seamlessly land on a shelf or counter like they had just been waiting to arrive, and had belonged there all along.
Do you think investing in a designer's services is worth it compared to doing it yourself? Do you feel a designer brings value to the process?: Absolutely. The designers vision, and navigating the realization of it is invaluable to the process.
Many people say that interior design is a luxury service & it’s too expensive. What do you say to your friends & family who believe that they might not be able to afford it?: Again, MHI is a practical design firm. If you want a $3,000 light fixture but it’s busting your budget, no problem! They find equally beautiful alternative at a fraction of the cost. Using a designer is akin to having a wedding planner, they take your vision and make it a reality!
