This Cozy Oregon Home Tour Is The Perfect Fall Vibe

Is there something extra quintessentially fall than a comfortable cabin tucked into the woods? We don’t suppose so. For this reason we haven’t been in a position to take our eyes off Courtney Equall’s house in central Oregon. Its fashion is greatest described as midcentury meets cabincore. Wooden-paneled ceilings, a gallery wall of moody panorama artwork, and a tremendous wall of home windows are just the start of this attractive house tour.

Courtney’s Instagram feed and weblog, Woman & Gray, it’s arduous to imagine this house wasn’t at all times as stunning as it’s now. However because of some critically spectacular DIY abilities, Courtney and her husband turned a complete fixer-upper into the comfortable house all of us dream about, particularly this season when the autumn foliage peeks by these large home windows.

After all, we needed to ask her each final element about how she turned what she known as “the ugliest home on the road” into a house that has been featured in numerous publications. Be ready to get misplaced on this dreamy house tour.

 

Courtney Equall’s Cozy Oregon Residence Tour

 

 

The small print:

Identify: Courtney Equall
Location: Bend, Oregon
Sq. Footage: 1,489
Lease/Personal: Personal

 

You bought your private home as a fixer-upper. What drew you to this property, and what was your imaginative and prescient for the home?

We already lived within the space—simply a few streets away, really. This home was on my every day route that I take our boxer, Rudy, on for his afternoon stroll. I might stroll down this road and admire the homes, and I might see that each one these properties sit on the banks of the Deschutes River—a complete dream location! In the future, I observed a on the market sign up entrance of the ugliest home on the road. I known as my husband whereas I stood out entrance and advised him about the home, and we determined to go take a look. We noticed the home the identical afternoon, and it was love at first sight for each of us.

The home was going to be a giant challenge, however the location and the property made all of the work value it! We nonetheless can’t imagine how fortunate we’re to personal such a ravishing piece of property right here in central Oregon.

 

Did you’ve DIY expertise earlier than fixing up this house?

This was our third fixer-upper, however our first two properties have been largely what I might think about beauty fixers. Suppose simple updates like recent paint, new tile backsplashes, and swapping out lighting fixtures. This house was totally different as a result of it required utterly ranging from scratch within the kitchen and loos—a complete intestine!

We simply study all the things as we go, whether or not it’s from YouTube tutorials, on-line analysis, and my dad (who does have a development background and taught us a lot). My husband works in finance, and I went to high school to be a trainer, so we don’t actually have backgrounds or expertise with development. I at all times inform individuals: If we will do it, you possibly can, too! The worst factor that may occur is that you simply’ll mess it up and should do it once more. We’ve needed to redo many initiatives that didn’t really feel proper or didn’t prove the best way we had hoped. Nevertheless it’s all a part of the DIY course of. We’ve made numerous errors alongside the best way, however we’re at all times studying and bettering, too. It’s so rewarding to complete a challenge and have the ability to say, “We did that!”

 

After you moved in, what initiatives did you sort out first? 

Our to-do record was lengthy! However there have been some issues that wanted our consideration instantly. There was wall-to-wall carpet all through all the house (from 1984!) that wanted to be eliminated earlier than we might transfer in. After my husband and I signed on the home and acquired the keys, we went straight over and began to tear out the carpet. It was loopy!

A couple of weeks later, I began the One Room Problem with Higher Houses & Gardens, a twice-annual design problem the place you’ve six weeks to utterly rework an area. I had dedicated to collaborating within the problem lengthy earlier than we even knew we’d be shifting, so I made a decision to sort out the kitchen within the new home. It was in all probability the craziest six weeks of my life, however we completed the kitchen, and I’m so pleased with the way it got here out.

After the problem was completed, we determined to decelerate and tackle remodels as time and funds allowed. We’ve been tackling one room at a time since then. It’s been a whole lot of enjoyable, and we’ve realized a lot, too!

 

 

What’s your favourite DIY challenge in your house up to now?

Our kitchen rework must be my favourite! It was robust, and we have been on a decent timeline, however I’m pleased with all of our arduous work. I usually take into consideration all of the enjoyable reminiscences we made whereas we labored on it for these six loopy weeks. Second place would go to a more moderen challenge, the place my dad, my husband Nate, and I laid new brick pavers on our entrance porch. It appears to be like prefer it ought to have at all times been there and provides a lot curb enchantment!

 

What recommendation would you give to somebody who desires to vary the sensation of their area however solely has the time or funds for a number of modifications? 

Paint is my primary go-to! It’s comparatively cheap and makes a large influence. Contemporary paint on the partitions or portray your kitchen cupboards can utterly rework an area. Add some new {hardware} (numerous cheap choices there, even on Amazon) for an added bonus. Small modifications like these don’t value so much however pack a giant punch. Don’t like your flooring? Cowl them up with a rug that you simply love! I’ve even put space rugs over wall-to-wall carpet till we saved up for brand spanking new flooring.

 

 

How would you describe your design fashion? How has it developed through the years?

Oh sure, it’s at all times altering, however I make an effort to remain true to the issues I like. Like heat woods, pops of coloration, and a layered and informal vibe. I take note of traits, however I attempt to not lean too closely into them. I would like our house to really feel like us—not only a development that may nearly actually change and exit of fashion.

 

Your private home is nestled in a ravishing wooded space alongside a river. How did you weave in nature all through the design?

Thanks! We really feel so fortunate to have discovered a house in such a stunning setting. I like to include numerous crops and pure components all through our house. We changed the previous carpet with mild hickory wooden, swapped out our previous metallic again door for a wooden one, and altered the brass chandelier above our eating desk to a woven rattan one. All of those components mixed assist to offer our house a type of natural, collected vibe that I’m at all times drawn to.

 

 

We’re drooling over the wall of home windows in your lounge. What was your thought course of when designing round this gorgeous characteristic?

Thanks! They are surely the point of interest of all the house. Once we moved in, the home windows have been lined with previous pink vinyl blinds, which have been saved down more often than not. We tore them out on our first day in the home and determined that, with all this pure mild and sunshine to get pleasure from, we shouldn’t cowl these home windows up! When it was time to furnish the area, my sole aim was to not impede the view—nothing that was visually too heavy in entrance of the home windows.

 

You’ve added a whole lot of trendy components to your private home, but it surely nonetheless has a comfortable cabin vibe. How do you deliberately preserve that steadiness?

That’s precisely the vibe I’m at all times striving for! I wish to permit the home to be what it’s: a country chalet-style house that sits out within the woods. The juxtaposition of extra rustic components, like our vaulted pine-clad ceilings, with trendy decor, like our Malm hearth, is my favourite design combo! They only complement each other so properly, in my humble opinion.

 

 

Working with such an open format (together with an open-concept kitchen and residing area and a lofted space that serves as the first bed room), how did you outline the varied areas?

I used to be actually frightened about this once we purchased this house, but it surely turned out to be a non-issue for us. The open ground plan downstairs is nice for household time and permits us to prepare dinner within the kitchen, sit on the eating room desk, or lounge in the lounge, and we’re all nonetheless collectively in the identical area. My youngsters are rising so quick, and I’m absorbing on a regular basis we spend collectively! The bed room upstairs within the loft makes for a dreamy bed room, and I like waking up very first thing within the morning and looking the home windows on the river and the timber. It makes me really feel like I sleep in a tree home!

 

 

You utilize a whole lot of paintings, baskets, and different ornamental gadgets so as to add heat and texture to every room. The place do you supply these equipment? What’s your greatest recommendation for making a layered, personalised look with out contributing to litter?

I like to search out artwork and equipment at thrift shops and classic retailers. An previous portray provides a lot character to an area. I’ve additionally been identified to border a sentimental card that I like or a bit of the children’ paintings from college. Artwork doesn’t have to be costly to be stunning! And it makes your artwork really feel distinctive and private to you and your fam.

I additionally use baskets all through our house as a result of they’re cute, they add a great deal of texture, and so they’re so purposeful! Suppose shoe storage for the children, additional throw blankets in the lounge, or perhaps a cute spot for hand towels within the kitchen. This helps a lot once you reside in a small-ish area to keep away from feeling such as you’re dropping the battle with litter.

 

 

We will’t assist however discover the distinctive lighting fixtures all all through your private home—from the lavatory to the kitchen to the bed room sconces. How do you issue lighting into the design, and the place do you store for fixtures that fit your fashion?

I like a press release mild fixture! Lighting is so essential and units the temper for a whole area. That is one side of design the place I wish to go daring and large. One of many first issues our friends at all times touch upon after they go to is the sunshine fixtures. A few of my favourite lighting sources are Blueprint Lighting, Serena and Lily, and even IKEA.

 

 

We noticed a small wood figurine (Is it a horse? A unicorn?) on the shelf in your lavatory. What’s the story there?

Good eye! My Swedish grandmother at all times had a Swedish horse someplace in her house, and I keep in mind trying to find it once we would go to her once I was a child, nearly like a recreation. Generally, it will be on the mantle above the fireside in the lounge, and generally it will be hiding on a shelf within the kitchen. Years later, after my siblings and I have been all grown, my mother gifted us (my sister and three brothers) every our personal Swedish horse, so all of us have one in our properties. It’s nonetheless type of enjoyable to see if you could find it round the home once we go to each other!

What’s your favourite approach to refresh a room for a brand new season, particularly for fall?

Foliage and layers! Including a number of fall-inspired stems to a vase or swapping out some pillows are each easy (and cheap) methods so as to add some coziness to your private home for fall. We additionally added a number of pumpkins to the entrance porch this 12 months!

 

On a crisp, cool fall day, the place might we most certainly discover you, and what would you be doing?

Outdoors for positive! Our neighborhood has a great deal of winding trails alongside the banks of the river. Fall is the very best time to discover them as a result of they’re quiet after the busy vacationer months throughout the summer season, and also you’ll usually have the ability to discover them with out ever passing one other individual. It’s fantastic!

 

 

What challenge can we count on to see you tackle subsequent?

Nate and I are going to demo our previous deck within the yard. The plan is to utterly exchange it and add a DIY hearth, too. I’d love to have the ability to get pleasure from our yard even within the winter months. And a comfortable hearth will (hopefully) permit us to do exactly that!