A Fabulous Forever Home Is Full of Colorful Accents

published Jul 31, 2018

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I like mixing unexpected colors and patterns together in a way that is exciting but not garish. I love how this fuchsia pillow pops against the dark grey chair and navy rug. (Image credit: Clayton Brant)

Name: Clayton Brant, husband Keith and two little boys, Fischer and Ford
Location: Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Size: 2022 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year, owned

We found a four-acre property right outside of town with beautiful trees in a very quiet neighborhood, and built a house on a very strict budget. We were committed to keeping our footprint relatively small (around 2,000 square feet), so we designed the interior of the house to use space very efficiently and functionally. We opted for an open concept floor plan and made sure certain spaces would accommodate our existing furniture. We splurged in areas that mattered to us (like the kitchen) and saved in areas that weren’t as important (carpet in bedrooms).

I love adding pops of color onto a neutral base—like this turquoise door against the white house. (Image credit: Clayton Brant)

We both love color, but I am fickle so I don’t like to commit to bold colors on walls. We chose neutrals for the main living area, and added in pops of color with textiles, furnishings and some fixtures. The result is a happy balance of colorful and calm. We love knowing that our boys will grow up here with space to roam and ride bikes and let their imaginations run wild.

We kept the square footage around 2,000 by opting for an open concept floor plan. This wasn’t my original desire, but I love how it keeps our family in the same space. (Image credit: Clayton Brant)

I live here with my husband Keith and our two little boys—Fischer (7) and Ford (3.5). My husband is an RN and I am an art teacher with all sorts of creative endeavors on the side. We are very family-focused and love more than anything else spending time together here in our home. My husband and I wanted our family to have space to run and play and to have space for gardening.

What is your favorite room and why? Since the bottom floor is open concept, the entire living space is definitely our favorite. We love spending time together, even if it is just coexisting. As I am writing this at the dining room table, my boys are playing right nearby. It has been such a great space for our family.

I knew I wanted a classic white kitchen, but added some unexpected elements like the light blue pendants and hexagon backsplash for a twist on the classics. (Image credit: Clayton Brant)

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? The last thing I bought for our home was a cheese board with a lip. I love making big plates of food for us all to share, but the food was forever rolling off of the sides! I found one that was the perfect size with a little lip to keep things contained. It was very exciting!

I believe that much of the beauty of a home lies in the history within its furnishings and decor. Much of our furniture and accessories have a story, like these chairs that my father had made for my mother as a wedding gift. (Image credit: Clayton Brant)

Choosing a smaller floor plan meant being creative with space. Here are our \mud (Image credit: Clayton Brant)

Any advice for creating a home you love? Be patient and curate your home over time. Leave walls blank until you find the perfect piece of art. Accept furniture from family and paint it a color you love.

Our builder thought I was crazy when I showed him our stair runner, but it is one of my favorite things we did! It ties in all of the color pops I used throughout our home. (Image credit: Clayton Brant)

Allow the time and space to collect these objects that can hold so much meaning and memory. It can be challenging to slow down, but ultimately I think I am happier with what I do have because of this approach.

This is my younger son’s bedroom. I love using Etsy to find unique pieces for a space and supporting handmade at the same time! (Image credit: Clayton Brant)

Thanks, Clayton!

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