Our Modern Organic Home Remodel • Brookes Buys

I get asked about our home design all of the time so I thought it would be fun to share everything in one place. At the bottom of this blog post are all of the details you need to accomplish the same aesthetic and I’ve shared so many good tips and insights from what I learned in the process that will save you a ton of time, energy and money.

How to begin a home remodeling project:

When I started my own home remodel, I quickly realized how overwhelming the internet can be. Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok—they’re all amazing for inspiration, but they can also send you into this roller coaster of emotions and questioning what aesthetic is right for you.

One minute you’re falling in love with an idea, and the next, some design “expert” is telling you it’s outdated or it’s just a trend. And let me tell you—hearing so many opinions while you’re trying to make real decisions and spending money on a remodel that you need to love for a long time does not feel great.

That’s why I want to start this blog post by saying: block out the noise. At the end of the day, your home should reflect you, not what’s trending or what someone else says is “in” or “out.”

And if you’re in the middle of a remodel and not finding what you love because those styles aren’t trending in the stores, then be patient and wait until they come around because they inevitably will. So don’t force yourself into a style that isn’t truly what you want because you’ll have to live with it – literally.

Finding Your Style in a Home Remodel

The truth is, there are only so many design categories out there—farmhouse, modern, mid-century, ranch, and so on. And trends rotate. If farmhouse is having its big moment but you’re not into it, skip it. That’s exactly what I did. I admired it, thought it was cute in other people’s homes, but I knew it wasn’t me.

Instead, I kept coming back to what resonated with me which was black-and-white with warm complementary tones. I’ve loved that look since I was a little girl—it feels right for me.

In sixth grade, I even decorated my entire room in black and white and wore only black-and-white outfits for a full year. So when I started seeing white walls and sleek black windows trending again, I knew —this was my style finally having its moment.

Along with that, I’ve always leaned toward warm tones. I love gold, blonde woods, beige furniture, and light finishes. Even when I first moved to San Francisco and bought furniture at IKEA, I went straight for the lightest wood they had.

I’ve never loved dark espresso tones, and I truly cannot live in gray. It makes me sad and uninspired. So when I saw the all-gray farmhouse look start to fade, I finally felt free to make choices for my own house remodel. But I had to wait it out until I could actually walk in a store and find a beige and warmer tone again.

I’d describe our home as organic modern. I love the clean look of modern design, but I still want warmth, coziness, and pieces that feel livable. If I had unlimited resources, I’d probably build a completely modern home with minimal furnishings. But also when I was looking for inspiration, I found myself gravitating toward pictures that were homey and comfortable as well.

Creating Warmth with Texture

One of the biggest design choices I made during our home remodel was committing to white oak floors throughout our home because bringing in warmth is really important to me. With crisp white walls, I didn’t want to fall into the trap of white-on-white everything, and I love decorating with texture to add warmth and depth to each space.

For me, texture is truly what makes a room feel layered and homey. Think fluffy rugs underfoot, a faux fur throw draped over the sofa, or soft linen curtains framing the windows. Those little touches make white walls feel cozy rather than stark, and they create that warm, inviting balance I’ve always loved.

At the end of this blog post, I shared links to my wall paint colors, tile choices, and some of my favorite sources. That way, if you’re looking for similar finishes, you’ll be able to easily explore them yourself.

Tackling a House Remodel in Phases

Another thing I want to emphasize is that our house remodel didn’t happen all at once, and there were times when it felt like a total nightmare.I knew I eventually wanted our house to look cohesive—not like one room was updated while the rest was stuck in a different era. Taking it step by step made that possible; however, it took several years and a lot of budgeting to make it happen.

We lived in the home through every stage—which meant lots of dust, moving furniture around, and patience.

So if you’re in the middle of a home remodel, don’t feel pressure to do it all at once. We saved up and did it in phases, and honestly, that made the process so much more manageable.

We started with remodeling the master bathroom and then tackled the bedroom floors. Then the next year, we remodeled all of the bathrooms. Then, the next year, we refinished the rest of the floors while we shifted walls and the layout. For reference, our floors are authentic hickory wood floors that were sanded down and re-stained, which was a massive project in itself.

Home remodeling can get expensive, and it’s so easy to sink all of your budget into one space and then feel stuck like you don’t have any left for your other projects. So just be mindful, have a solid plan and know that if you’re remodeling the whole house then it’s likely going to take years.

How to Find Home Renovation Inspiration

Getting started and having a vision for your home renovation can be a whole hurdle in itself.

My best advice for designing your home renovation projects is to let your vision evolve. Use Pinterest or Instagram as your vision board—pin everything you love without overthinking it. Over time, you’ll notice patterns in what you’re drawn to. For me, I realized I was screenshotting the same types of photos again and again, and that helped clarify my true style.

There were so many times when I’d see someone’s home and I’d think, “Wow that’s so beautiful!” only to reflect later and realize that I couldn’t actually see myself living in that space.

You may start the home remodel thinking that your style is one thing, but then you start seeing a different style emerging and that’s all part of the process, too!

Home Upgrade Tips: Working with Designers

Another part of our home remodel journey involved getting help from a designer—but in a very specific way. I hired her to create CAD drawings because I struggled to visualize certain layouts and when I was really struggling to make choices on certain things like paint colors.

But here’s the key: you have to set clear expectations. Designers are creative, and if you don’t set boundaries, they’ll start pulling options for everything, which can quickly eat up your budget.

So, if you decide to hire professional help, be really specific about what you want. Whether it’s just picking paint colors or drafting a layout, communicate upfront so you don’t end up in a 20 hour project when you only wanted a 5 hour project.

Home Improvement with Realistic Goals

At the end of the day, a remodel doesn’t have to be a “dream home” build. Most of us don’t have the option to design a house from scratch, and that’s okay. What matters is creating a home that feels right for you and your lifestyle. For me, that meant a balance of modern clean lines with cozy textures and thoughtful updates over time.

Home Remodeling Lesson Learned: The Truth About White Oak Cabinets

One of the biggest lessons I learned during our home remodelling journey was with my white oak custom cabinets. I absolutely love the look and warmth of white oak—the texture and grain are so beautiful, and it creates such a cozy, organic feel in a space. But here’s the thing: you have to be very careful with the varnish.

When we remodeled our master bathroom, the cabinet maker used a spray finish that I didn’t know much about at the time. Within six months, the wood had turned completely orange. I was so bummed because I had chosen white oak specifically for its natural, light-toned beauty.

If you’re considering natural wood cabinets, here’s my advice:

– Ask exactly what varnish or finish is being used.
– If the sample looks even slightly orange, say no.
– Find a custom cabinet maker who understands how to keep white oak from shifting in color.

There are even YouTube tutorials that explain the right sprays and techniques to use, so you don’t end up with an orange tint. Thankfully, the cabinet maker I eventually worked with had the formula nailed down—my white oak turned out clean and gorgeous, just the way I wanted it.

Decorating Your Home Remodel with Meaningful Decor

Don’t Be in a Hurry to Fill Spaces on Walls

I’m really choosy about the decor I put in my home. I’m not a knick-knack person at all and I struggle with putting paintings on walls.
Each piece in my home needs to trigger some sort of emotion.

For me, art has always been more about clothes, fashion, and pottery rather than paintings on the wall. So when I’m decorating my home I lean way more into pottery, sculptures, family photos, something someone made for me or my family, and pieces that feel personal.

Some of my favorite artwork came from my grandparents, like paintings my grandmother picked out years ago. I love them not just for their look, but because they carry a story.

That’s why I always encourage people not to rush into filling their walls with random decor just because it’s “on trend” at Target or HomeGoods. If it doesn’t truly speak to you, skip it. Wait until you find pieces that mean something—whether that’s a sculptural pot, a meaningful photo, or something handmade. That kind of art will never go out of style.

Buying Furniture for Your House Improvement

Truly, it will take me a full year to go back through each room and refurnish because I will go back through room by room and wait until the right piece speaks to me.

Right now, furniture that is super low to the ground is trending—seriously, measure a few couches and you’ll see what I mean. It looks modern and curvy, which I love, but I wish it sat higher. Since it’s not feasible to have all of our furniture custom-built, I just let those trends pass until something more my style shows up.

I’ve seen so many people move into a new home and immediately buy whatever they can find just to fill the space. Six months later, they’re already replacing it because it wasn’t quite right. I made that mistake in our first house, and I promised myself I wouldn’t do it again.

So the lesson is: don’t panic-buy furniture.

Yes, it means the house won’t feel “finished” overnight, but it also means that when it is finished, it’ll truly reflect you.

Home Renovation: Why One Person Needs to Lead the Charge

One thing I don’t think people talk about enough when it comes to a home remodel is decision-making. In my case, my husband had almost no involvement in the remodel—he didn’t want to, and honestly, it worked better that way.

My best advice is to make this decision ahead of time as to who’s going to lead the charge.

I know for some couples, it’s a team effort, but I really believe in having one person having a single point of accountability. That way, decisions can be made quickly and the project actually moves forward.

If both partners are debating every cabinet color or tile pattern, you’ll stall out, you’ll argue, and trust me—your contractor isn’t going to sit around waiting while you decide. They’ll move on to another project, and suddenly you’re living without cabinets for months.

For me, that meant I built a small team—my contractor, my designer, and myself—and I made the design calls.

Of course, my husband had a few “must-haves” that I made sure were included, but overall, I was the one guiding the vision and this is how we were able to actually move quickly.

Final Thoughts on My Home Remodel

At the end of the day, a home remodel isn’t just about paint colors, furniture, or following the latest trends—it’s about creating a space that feels good to you. My biggest piece of advice? Block out the noise, take your time, be patient, wait until you find things you absolutely love, and make choices that reflect who you are.

That’s when a home remodel transforms from just another project into a home you’ll love for years to come.

Now before you go and shop my remodel finds, click and bookmark these posts if you’re also looking for seasonal decors for your home. You can check out my decor finds for spooky Halloween, nostalgic Christmas, or fall home decor here.

Shop My Home Remodel Favorites

If you’re curious about the exact products I used throughout my remodel, I’ve outlined them all for you here. From hardware and lighting to paint colors and tiles, these are the items that brought my vision to life.

Consider this your shortcut if you’re planning your own project and want the same look without all the second-guessing.

Shop this LTK post with all the house links and you can also shop my home decor on Amazon.

General House Details:

– The window and door paint is Black Magic Sherman Williams.
– The walls, trim, and ceiling paint is Decorators White Benjamin Moore.
– The floors are real hickory wood with a stain from Sherman Williams called MW411 Birchbark.

Kitchen:

– The countertops are porcelain from Porcelainosa: https://go.shopmy.us/p-23765257
– Faucet (color Chardonnays): https://go.shopmy.us/p-25043301
– Pulls: https://rstyle.me/+r0PMuTdeUQEFto5HClYQXA

Shop this room on LTK: https://liketk.it/5ntDU

My cabinets are white oak with a zero sheen finish so basically the raw wood has no stain. Be careful of a gloss spray with white oak because the cabinets will turn orange in the sunlight.

Mini Bar:

– Bar paint is Shoji White Sherman Williams with a Viola stone: https://stonesystems.us/

Shop this room on LTK: https://liketk.it/5nJsv

Formal Dining Room:

Shop this room on LTK: https://liketk.it/5ntFa

Laundry/Mud Room:

– Painted cabinets (Sherman Williams City Loft)
– Countertop: https://go.shopmy.us/p-25059243
– The floor tile I purchased as 24×24, and I had the tile guy cut it down into smaller sizes for the checkerboard floor:
– https://go.shopmy.us/p-25059341 – white
– https://go.shopmy.us/p-25059243 – black

Shop this room on LTK: https://liketk.it/591Ez