Adding Character to a New Build

Wood Accents

One of the things I absolutely love about old houses is all of the wood accents, which is not usually found in new builds. Part of the reason I chose to build an A-frame is because of the character. Something I decided to do to add additional character is wood accents. Honestly, the beautiful tongue and groove you see in most A-frames was too expensive for me, so I added wood where ever else I could. Cedar open shelves, wooden window seals, wood doors and open beams and all the wooden furniture. It adds some warmth as well as charm that you don't always see in the cookie cutter new builds.

Vintage Furniture

Continuing on with the wooden accents theme, I sourced a lot of my furniture second hand. Side tables, night stands, kitchen table, tv buffet, cup holders were all bought off Facebook Marketplace or antique stores and I stuck with the natural wood look. Bringing in vintage items takes a new space, that can be bland, and makes it more lively.

Funky Fixtures

Picking out light fixtures was a bit of a nightmare, but it was also fun to take the time to pick out unique lights for each room. I picked a mixture of vintage, new and handmade light fixtures. I also went with brushed brass for faucets and pulls to add some vintage flare. Etsy has so many unique pieces to chose from. I also added vintage brass switch plate covers. Some were out of my grandma's house, some were out of my best friends house built in the 1940s and some were sourced from Etsy. I love the pop of brass around each corner.

Handmade Dishes

Check out local vintage shops, farmers markets and craft fairs to find handmade mugs and dishes. I'm fortunate enough to have an amazing grandma who loves ceramics. She made me a handmade set of dishes and I couldn't cherish them more. But, I also love having them on display. It adds so much to my kitchen and look perfect on display on my open shelves.

Concrete Countertops

A lot of the time I associate character to vintage. But, I also think having unique finishes in your home also adds character. My concrete countertops are one of my favorite features and they just add something original to my space.