The Heart of The Home
The Kitchen.
I love to cook. I have always been fascinated by food, and would watch The Food Network all the time as a kid. I watched Ina and Giada make these beautiful themed meals, and even at ten years old, I couldn’t wait to have my own kitchen so I could be just like them. I loved the idea of making something delicious, inviting people over, and enjoying it together. As I got older, I was able to connect with friends through cooking, usually in a parent’s kitchen or poorly stocked college apartment. The differences in every kitchen always fascinated me, from the tools being used to the food being made (hello microplane and nutritional yeast). And each experience has changed me.
I think that kitchens might be the most revealing room in the home. They have many layers. They have their outward appearance (colors, countertops, finishes, appliances, etc.), their interiors (the tools in the drawers and the food in the pantry), and their products (the meals that are created inside them). And each of those things is chosen, used, and consumed by the people that live inside. It’s called the heart of the home, but maybe it’s more than that? Maybe it’s the soul?
When we started designing our home, I sifted through memories I had that took place in kitchens. Family dinners, conversations held while washing dishes, dance parties around a kitchen island. It’s the place that people congregate during parties. It’s the room that tough conversations happen in over a glass of wine or a half empty bowl of chips. It’s where you teach your kids to feed themselves. Where your efforts result in either instant satisfaction or terrible disaster. I took all these memories and started making lists.
In terms of function, we knew we wanted these things:
A large sink for washing dishes, and a prep sink on the island for washing 1,000 berries.
Appliances that were as beautiful as they were effective.
Durable countertops.
Tons of storage (and a solution for the kitchen aid mixer that weighs as much as a small child).
Enough space to comfortable walk past the dishwasher or fridge when it is opened.
A large island with seating on one side, and storage/appliances on the other.
An organized pantry.
A pot filler.
A breakfast nook.
A coffee/booze bar combo.
In terms of decoration, we knew we wanted these things:
Stone back splash.
English inspired cabinetry, and a kitchen island that feels like a piece of furniture.
Brass hardware.
A range hood that had a rustic wood trim detail that tied into the wood mantle across from it.
An antique-inspired custom hutch that would work as a coffee/booze bar.
So we started sourcing the big things. We knew we wanted to find a local woodworker that could make our breakfast nook and hutch, as well as a few other custom pieces around the house. Serendipitously, I came across Cameron with Sturdy Bones Woodworking, and after meeting with him, he agreed to work on our project with us. Cameron is so knowledgeable and passionate about what he does, we can’t wait for him to get to work.
After that, we took our plans and shopped around for cabinetry. We got a few different bids, and ultimately decided to work with Packard Cabinetry. Beck, who works at the Mebane showroom, is so calm, sincere, and funny, and working with him has been so fun. He really understands our vision and makes suggestions that are thoughtful and inspirational.
And then we started sourcing all the other bits. Appliances, plumbing fixtures, stone veneer, countertop, lighting, paint color and hardware. We made a spreadsheet to compile it all collect pricing. I used all the inspiration images as a guiding light, and starting pulling things together to make a collage. Here is the design collage I made for the kitchen.
Here are some of the selections we have made as well. Each image has a link to the product if you want to learn more about it.
There are still a few things to finalize, like hardware for one, but this is what we have so far. Sometimes your selection goes out of stock, and you have to pivot. Sometimes you look at a light fixture a few days later and think, that’s not quite right.
I can’t wait to see it all come together. We’re waiting on a few more permits to be approved, so we still don’t know when we will be able to break ground. Sean is currently at the property clearing trees for the septic system to be installed. His endless knowledge and work ethic are really something else. Love that guy.
Now I’m off to go roast a chicken for dinner. Hopefully it feeds my family’s soul as much as it feeds mine to make it.
Inspiration for the dream
Designing with your spouse is not for the faint of heart.
Sometimes you align, (yes, rustic stone!!) and sometimes you don’t (RIP tile flooring in bathrooms). And with something you are building (and paying for) there are certain cost evaluations you have to make. What is important and deserves the extra money? What can you compromise on and find something less expensive? And where do you start?
Let’s go back in time. Sean and I have been in a relationship for sixteen years. We have grown up together, rented homes together, bought furniture together and renovated our home together. Along the way our design aesthetic has grown and evolved. We have always loved mid century modern, so there are some elements of that sprinkled throughout our home. We have always loved rustic and natural materials. And while I love a good aged piece of vintage furniture, I know there is a threshold of patina that Sean will or will not be ok with. Does it look dilapidated, or does it look well-used? Sean loves smart home tech and clean lines, but knows that it needs to feel warm and elevated or I’m not going to be on board. I love the arts and crafts movement, but I know that it can’t feel like a witch’s cottage.
So we did like most people do and started pinning. Do you like this? No. Do you like this? Yes. What do you like about xyz? What about THIS? And slowly we narrowed things down.
We agree on a color palette inspired by nature. An exterior that blends into the woods around us. We like archways. We like stone. Cabinetry with an English aesthetic. A focus on function with ornamentation second. Durable materials that will stand the test of time. Clean lines on trim and millwork. Mixing wood tones. Aged brass but not unlaquered brass (Sean couldn’t handle the patina).
Today I compiled some images that have been ever present on our Pinterest boards to show what we want to build. As time goes on I plan to focus on different rooms of the house and go into further detail. It’s exciting for me to see it all together!
So we began with pinterest board collaborations and discussing likes and dislikes. We figured out the things we were passionate about integrating into the build and started sourcing materials. Sean really wanted to do LVP instead of wood because it’s durable and can handle wet environments. So we started looking at wood tones and plank widths to determine what we liked, and then researched who sold them. We knew we wanted to integrate a stone veneer on the fireplace and as a back splash in the kitchen, so I started researching brands and ordered some samples. The bottom line is, you just start.
I’ve learned over the years that if there is something you’re scared or uncertain about, or you feel insecure because you don’t have the knowledge you think you should have to pursue a project, the best medicine is research. Lean in! We live in an age where you can learn to do almost anything on the internet (hello I tiled my whole last remodel, thanks youtube). The experts think it’s cute when you’re curious and your questions come from a place of respect. People want to share knowledge. They want to pass on their expertise. Sean is an expert at this and I often find him nose deep in his phone researching something random just because he likes to learn.
Learning is your constant companion in life, and you get to choose your topics. And sometimes your special knowledge is funny (ask me about romantasy). And sometimes your special knowledge is applicable and useful (watch me cut in a paint edge). And if you want to know anything about light bulbs, you can ask me. Because I know.
Welcome to Fickle Crow
Hi there! You’re here, which means you’re probably one of our family members or friends. You know us. But in case you don’t, or if you haven’t been hearing us talk bout this project for four years, then this is for you!
We’re Megan and Sean. We have lived in North Carolina for ten years this April. We spent most of our childhoods in Northern California, although Sean lived in Wilmington, NC until he was nine. Ten years ago, after spending two hours to commute 30 miles every day, spending all our money on rent and gas, and struggling to make ends meet, we looked at each other and said, “What are we doing here?”. We wanted to own land, own a house, and live in a way that brought us back to the things we loved. We tried to figure out a way to make it work in California, but ultimately knew we needed to leave.
Sean has always been a dreamer. I have a theory he descends from a long line of dreamers. Ancestors that planned and dreamed and probably schemed (a little), to get them where they wanted to go. He’s always inspired me with his ability to problem solve. If he wants something, he’ll figure out how to get it done. I mean, what kind of a person daydreams about products he could bring to market to solve a problem, or teaches himself how to build a wrap around porch (and does it)? Sean does. So when he said to me, “I think we would be really happy in North Carolina”, I believed him. What an adventure! We drove across country with all of our possessions in a trailer behind us, and restarted our lives out East.
So what happened next? How did we get here, ten years later? Personally, a lot. Two kids, two dogs (RIP), career changes, and so much growth. We renovated our house and land into a peaceful wooded oasis, and had so much fun doing it we thought, let’s do this again! While on paternity leave after the birth of our oldest daughter, Sean, of course, was relaxing by scrolling through a land for sale site. He stopped. Looked over at me. “Holy s***. Look at this.” It was the listing for what is now our property. We had looked at different properties before, but nothing had felt right or met our needs completely. But here it was, ten acres of wooded land at the end of a preexisting neighborhood. When we walked it with the realtor, it felt just like a dream. There were ferns everywhere, beautiful hardwood trees mixed with a few juniper and pine, and a small open meadow. It felt like we were on the set of a film. My sibling, Mady, was with us and I looked over at them and sang that infamous theme from Twilight (you know it) and started to laugh. Sean rolled his eyes. We put in an offer. And here we are.
That was August of 2020. As you can imagine, building a house with a newborn during a global pandemic wasn’t going to be possible, so we took the time to plan. We got a huge wet erase grid paper mat and some markers, and started to draw. I dove into floor plan examples I found on pinterest and made notes about things I did and didn’t like. We have always loved to entertain, but our current house was two stories, and too small. We needed a great room. We needed a large covered porch. How do you create a bathroom that is comfortable for two people to use at the same time, while still maintaining some privacy? We drew it all out, made adjustments, and when we had something we felt strongly about, we sent it to a draftsman to make it structurally sound. Here it is.
As it turns out, building a custom home takes a lot of planning and time. It’s January of 2025 and we’re finally ready to start. We’re doing a lot ourselves. Sean is, as I type, cutting down trees to install the silt fence that we need in order to start digging. I can’t wait to share the progress as it happens. I plan to post build updates and share design plans here and on Instagram, so follow along. We can’t wait.
It’s going to be an adventure.