This post is sponsored by Nebraska Furniture Mart. We received products and a gift card as compensation.

It’s about time I shared a house tour, right?! Before I dive in, here’s a little background on this “we built a house” story:

When The Hubby took a job here after residency, we knew we wanted to move into something with a little more room as our “forever” house. We wanted a large, open concept main floor and a guest bedroom, plus a basement for the kids to enjoy. We looked around at houses for sale here and there, but we didn’t find what we wanted, so we started to explore the option of building.

Last spring, we toured a few models and fell in love with a two-story home. It didn’t have a guest bedroom in the basement, but we were able to add it into the plans, and by April 2016, we were picking out lots. That process took FOREVER so I’ll spare you those details (mostly because I don’t want to relive it). Finally, in July 2016, we broke ground and the building began.

Someday I’ll go into a VERY LENGTHY post about building a house, but today is not that day. For now, I’ll just say that I felt like we were making decisions nonstop from July through December. ALL THE DECISIONS. But it was totally worth it, because when we moved in on December 30, 2016, we moved into our dream home.

Today, I’m sharing with you the main floor. Two disclaimers:

  1. I am NOT a designer or master decorator in any way. You will never see me featured on a home decor blog and I am JUST FINE with that. Our home fits us and that’s exactly how I want it. There are still some blank walls that need art or photos – I’ll get there eventually!
  2. I’m not showing you the office…yet. I’m finishing up a few last details and hope to have it ready by later this week. It was the last room to get any attention!

Welcome to our home!

This is what you first walk into when you enter our home. Everything is open on the main level (except for the bathroom and office) and it has been absolute heaven for this girl who loves to entertain and have everyone in the space without feeling cramped.

We had this table as our main dining table in our previous home and it fits this space right by the entry perfectly. I can’t really call this a “formal dining” room because we use it for so much more than that – space for coloring and puzzles and games and yes, sometimes eating! We chose to switch out the carpet for more hardwood in this area and I’m super glad we did. Also, I’m in love with that light fixture.

With two living rooms in this house, we needed another set of furniture, so we went to our second home, Nebraska Furniture Mart. We ended up with this fabulous couch (similar) and a matching loveseat (similar), which both recline. We basically all want to be in this living room all the time. It just feels so warm and cozy.

While at Nebraska Furniture Mart, we were also searching for a table for the breakfast nook and a little extra storage for the main level. We found a table we loved and this matching sideboard called our name. It has been the perfect room divider and storage place for cookbooks, vases, and even some decks of cards.

How beautiful is the matching table?! It is a counter height table with six chairs, so the five of us eat dinner here nightly and love it. I often sit here for bible study or planning in the morning while eating breakfast because I love all the natural light!

And that brings me to the room that has my heart and soul…

The kitchen. Excuse me while I happy sigh as I have a million times since we moved in.

The gorgeous quartz countertops. The huge island where I can prepare food while the kids eat or do homework on the other side. The beautiful vent hood. The slow-close drawers, including a drawer for the trash cans. THE POT FILLER. I could go on and on because I adore this space.

The double wall ovens. The walk-in pantry. That fabulous fridge. I’m telling you – picking a fridge is not easy, but Nebraska Furniture Mart employees were so very helpful in narrowing down our choices and getting us the best deal. Hint: buying appliances in November is a VERY good idea. Thank you, Black Friday deals. There’s a sneak peek at my office through that pocket door. I can’t wait to have it all done to share with you!

Did you see these bar stools peeking out, too? We tried to keep our old bar stools, but they were just a little too high (and pretty beat up), so we found these beauties at Nebraska Furniture Mart – where else? Since the kids will be sitting on these the most, we had them try sitting on several options, including some fabric, some with backs, and some that spin (NO, THANK YOU). In the end, these wide saddle-like wooden stools were a favorite for all of us. Sturdy, comfortable, and good-looking is a win in my book!

Around that corner is our mudroom/drop zone and a powder room. It is a life-saver to have that space for backpacks, shoes, coats, and more, as well as a bathroom on the main level.

I love every part of this home we built, but this main floor is a dream. I have loved being here with our family and welcoming people in. Baking, watching football, playing games, pizza + movie nights, fellowship with friends – everything we love fits perfectly in this space.

Throughout this week, I’ll be sharing more house tours here on the blog, but also on Facebook Live! Join me today at 11:30 AM CST for the first live tour over on my Home with the Boys Facebook page and stay tuned for the times for the rest of the week!