French Country Home Tour

This post may contain affiliate links.

Have you ever moved to a new city? A place where you really didn’t know anyone? Maybe you are in the midst of getting settled right now. Let me introduce you to my friend. We met in a completely untraditional way and an unexpected friendship formed eight years ago. I was new to town, didn’t know more than a handful of people, had two toddlers and a new company with my husband. I needed friends. I actually called on this sweet lady for work. She was the head of her neighborhood HOA and was willing to chat with me over coffee. Little did I know that years later we would be still be friends, sharing life over drinks and lunch. Our worlds are very different yet exactly alike. She is the calmest, most peaceful person I know. Her personality brings my chaos level down ten notches when we are together. I am so thankful God placed her in my life and wanted to share her home with you today. It is beautiful and so is she. Really.

Jennifer has a love of traveling and has been all over the world. Germany was her home for seven years when she was younger.  New Orleans and simplicity are two of her greatest inspirations. It shows in her style and décor.

The house is nestled in a cozy neighborhood cul de sac lot, but feels far away from it all.

If you use the meandering walkway to the front door (which no one does!) these are the gorgeous floors you are introduced to…

The friends and family door is where I go when I visit and I am welcomed by this cool mud room. The built ins (as well as all exterior doors) are painted an unexpected and beautiful shade of purple by Benjamin Moore called Grappa.

I love Jennifer’s bold style. It carries a graceful confidence, much like her.

Next is the kitchen. This is probably my favorite room in the house. Not because I like to cook, but because it is just a flat out amazing spaces.

The details always make a home. Jennifer shows off her collections of copper pots, stoneware crocks and rolling pins in this picturesque kitchen.

I could do dishes all day long with a window like this to daydream out of…

The marble countertops and soapstone island are a great mix of subtle and strong.

Jennifer is a realtor, and an excellent one I might add. She has been in the business for 21 years.

In that amount of time, she has seen it all. This creative lady took all of her knowledge and experience and used it to design and build this house exactly the way she wanted. Along the way she collected and added personal touches that add character and charm.

The main living area in this house is very open. Off the kitchen is the living room and dining area.

A girl after my own heart…a bird cage!? LOVE it! And in the details…a nest under a giant cloche.

 This dining room is a eye catching focal point. The whole room has views to the back yard through amazing French doors. The skylight casts just the right kiss of sunlight to make this room warm and magical. The table is from a shop in New Orleans called Dop’s Antiques it is made out of reclaimed Cypress.

The master bedroom is casual and lived in. The armoire has traveled many a mile and seen many shades of paint. I love the wall to wall jute rug.

The master bath is clean lined, simple and elegant.

Being a realtor means Jennifer’s phone is always on and that means working from home a good bit. Of course that makes a fabulous home office a necessity! This office was painted a bright green apple color (that I loved) but got changed to an equally beautiful navy. The paint is a high gloss oil based lacquer from Fine Paints of Europe. This bold paint move is a great way to add extra interest in an unexpected way. It is incredibly hard to photograph. It looks simply stunning in person, I wish that conveyed in photos.

The doors between the office and entry are 100+ year old doors from a farmhouse in France. Once again a New Orleans antique store score. When Jennifer found them their natural beauty was hidden behind 12 layers of white paint. She had them restored by a man named Kavanagh who owns Strip Ease (no lie) in New Orleans.

When all that work is done Jennifer and her boys hang out in this lovely backyard retreat.

Dinner at the grand outdoor table anyone? The doors lead to the master suite.

My favorite, and the most used outdoor area is the screened in porch. With mosquitos the size of your fist in Texas, it’s nice to have a safe haven. Plus a fireplace for the few cold months we have. I love outdoor elements that make your yard usable year round.

Here are a few other rooms and touches in Jennifer’s home…

The guest room.

The powder room.

One of her two boy’s rooms.

This fence is another great example of the details that make this home unique. With two GIANT dogs this fenced in area was a must. I don’t have pictures, but this fenced yard leads to the laundry room. The dogs can be ushered in and out through their own personal door!

This house has an upstairs that is in the process of being finished out…for the new buyers. That’s right Jennifer is moving. The good news is she is building again. That means in about a year or so I will have another one of her glorious homes to share with you!

Thanks for letting me show off my friend’s house. I hope it is inspirational not only from a decorating standpoint, but in relation to friendship as well. You never know how or when an unexpected friendship is waiting to be formed! Expect the unexpected!

She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. Proverbs 31:16

I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. Psalm 9:2