House Tour: Monochromatic, Not Monotonous
Gray never looked so good. This cozy yet elegant house has us taking notes.
Photo: Dear Lillie
Name: Jenni H., of Dear Lillie
Location: Williamsburg, Virginia
Own/Rent: Own
Time in Home: 4 years
Sheathed in a soothing gray and white palette, Jenni's home is anything but boring. Original architectural details, a vast array of textures, and warming wood and metal decor create a home packed to the brim with character. Each corner offers another curated vignette to admire. Filled with photos of the family and handmade items, Jenni's home—though impeccably tidy—is truly lived-in and loved.
Photos: Dear Lillie
How would you describe your decor style?
I'd describe my style as simple and elegant, yet still family-friendly and relaxed; a "casual elegance." We stick with mostly neutrals—lots of creams and whites, and some blacks, grays, and chocolates, too. Then, we add some gold and silver. I like the space to feel natural, but it's also fun to add some sparkle. By keeping the main spaces neutral, it's easy to add color seasonally through fresh flowers and accessories.
Photos: Dear Lillie
What is your favorite room or space in the house?
I would say either our dining room or our den. They both embody that feeling of a casual, comfortable elegance. In our den, the tufted sofa feels elegant, while the faux cowhide rug helps ground the space, making it feel informal. Adding in a tree and other simple decor keeps the space from feeling too stuffy.
I also love how our dining room feels—the chandelier and oversized mirror adds elegance and sophistication to the room, but the handmade table and wooden horse keep the room feeling family-friendly.
The dining room is still not "finished." I'm on the hunt for the perfect wallpaper and hutch to replace the cart we have there temporarily. (Well, it was supposed to be temporary, but almost two years later I still haven't had much luck finding the "right" hutch.)
"I would describe my style as simple and elegant, yet still family-friendly and relaxed; a 'casual elegance.'"
Jenni H.
Photos: Dear Lillie
On what items did you splurge vs. save?
Our biggest splurge was the master bed, the chandelier in the dining room, and the marble for our kitchen. Other than that we saved on most of our other items. We found things at thrift stores, received hand-me-downs, and even built quite a bit of furniture ourselves (the dining room table, porch table, kitchen sideboard, rolling cart, bench in the guest room, and tufted ottoman in our living room). We've also been fortunate to have worked with quite a few companies who've gifted us items like our sofas.
Photos: Dear Lillie
What was your biggest decorating, renovation, or DIY failure?
Hmmm...that's a good question! We've had our share of failures, so I'm torn on which I'd consider the biggest. I think it's our stair runner! It was a lot of work to install, and when I finished I immediately hated it. The pattern didn't fall evenly on every stair, which drove me crazy the first few months. At first, I wished I had thought more thoroughly about patterns and had stuck either with a solid or a stripe. Yet the past year or two, I'll admit it's grown on me.
Photos: Dear Lillie
What do you hide when company comes over?
We don't necessarily hide anything—we have lots of great baskets and drawers to stash items that we don't want out. Extra storage definitely helps to keep our home organized, but we do close the laundry room! Along with our laundry, it's also where we keep most of our mail, so I usually close that door when we have company.
Photos: Dear Lillie
"We have marker and crayon marks all over our table and
dings in some of our wood pieces, but that's
okay—our home is lived-in and loved."
Jenni H.
Photos: Dear Lillie
What advice do you have for those that want to achieve your style?
Look for a mix of casual and elegant pieces. Mix lots of warm rustic wood pieces with comfortable upholstered pieces, and then add some elegance with chandeliers and mirrors. Once you've got your basics, layer on accessories you're drawn to. Mixing textures is key when you go with a neutral color scheme to keep things from looking too flat or boring.
Don't be afraid to use the things you love. We have marker and crayon marks all over our table and dings in some of our wood pieces, but that's okay—our home is lived-in and loved.
Photos: Dear Lillie
What was the inspiration is for your home?
Our house was quite traditional, so when we bought it I knew it'd have some of those elements. We added a bit of an updated twist with some rustic farmhouse and glam pieces.
Mainly, we want our home to feel welcoming. We wanted it to be aesthetically pleasing, but also comfortable. We're on the go a lot, so being able to walk in our home and immediately feel relaxed and calm is nice.
Photos: Dear Lillie
"We wanted it to feel aesthetically pleasing, but also comfortable. We're on the go a lot, so being able to walk in and immediately feel relaxed and calm is nice."
Jenni H.
Photos: Dear Lillie
