CUSTOM FITTINGS

This Southern California master-planned update shows that even simple farmhouse additions go a long way.

This Southern California renovation shows that even simple

farmhouse additions go a long way.

Custom design can be hard to come across in a large master-planned community, where homeowners can choose between only five different floor plans. So it made sense that shop owner and instagrammer Jaclyn James of Jaclyn James Home chose to renovate her San Diego, California, home, turning her modern beige abode into a classic farmhouse.

FLEXIBLE AND FARM-FRIENDLY

Jaclyn’s home is a new build, located in a suburban community at the highest point in north San Diego County. Throughout the renovation process, Jaclyn balanced her personal preferences against the home’s placement in the master-planned neighborhood. “I wanted to keep with what a buyer would expect coming into the community so someone, in theory, could make it their own,” Jaclyn says.

" Black and white

has just always been my thing.”

Versatile and timeless,

Jaclyn’s home shows that the smallest changes can evoke

the American farmhouse style.

When planning your living room seating, consider comfort as well as vantage point. Jaclyn strategically positioned her leather couch opposite the fireplace. “You kind of sink into it,” she says. “Then we have this gigantic fireplace across from it. It’s so cozy.”

In the master suite, Jaclyn created a relaxing seating area for her and her husband to enjoy. “I ship-lapped this wall all by myself, then stenciled over it,” she says. “I used a semi-gloss stencil to give it some texture, then I repainted it and gave it a ‘chippy’ feel.” She also installed a vintage 1950s fireplace mantel against the wall.

Keeping most of the architecture intact, Jaclyn approached the process with her color palette in hand. She implemented a black and white scheme, “making [the structural fixtures] a little more timeless.” She then supplemented the new color scheme with movable décor and accents so the farmhouse style would shine through—subtly but certainly. Versatile and timeless, Jaclyn’s home shows that the smallest changes can evoke the American farmhouse style. The key is consistency.

She focuses on quality and continuity, rather than sheer quantity. If you’re adding shiplap, like Jaclyn did, try to use it throughout the home. “Pretty much any room that’s been renovated has shiplap in it,” she says. Another reason to use the material? “Adding wood anywhere adds warmth,” Jaclyn says. And in a farmhouse, a little warmth goes a long way.

LIVE-IN ACCOMMODATIONS

Jaclyn, her husband and their son lived in the home during the renovation process, so they needed to be strategic about where they worked. “We began with the areas we’d use first: the living room, foyer and master bedroom,” Jaclyn says.

But the home really started coming together once the kitchen was finished. “The kitchen really changed the entire feel of the house,” Jaclyn says. “It’s the heart of the home for me. I love to entertain. ”With a huge open floor plan overlooking the yard, the combination kitchen/breakfast nook took over two months to complete. “Every little bit of the kitchen is something that I planned, picked out or wanted,” she says. “That really made a huge difference.”

“None of the furniture I have is really a set,” Jaclyn says. “It’s all mixed and matched pieces. If you want to change it up, you can do that easily.” Plus, you won’t have to commit to throwing out or moving in an entire new set of furniture every time you want to make a change.

Jaclyn replaced the kitchen’s upper cabinets with open shelves: simple rustic wood shelves and L brackets from Signature Hardware. She also “laid tile to create interest,” using “black grout to add high contrast.” Accenting the neutral color scheme, the eating area contrasts the rich brown of the table with white metal bistro chairs.

First, the kitchen underwent more substantial structural changes. For instance, Jaclyn removed additional cabinet space and pushed back one of the posts as far as she could without hitting the plumbing. “I wrapped the room in shiplap so it would paint out beautifully,” she says. She also introduced marble countertops. For the island, she selected a “butcherblock counter to offset the marble. ”The wooden surface, in addition to creating contrast, is also ideal for food preparation. “It gives a really good space to get dirty and cook,” Jaclyn says. The family even redid the floor. “All the flooring on the entire first floor was ripped out and refinished,” she says.

Jaclyn focuses

on quality and continuity, rather than sheer quantity.

For the master bedroom, Jaclyn favors a neutral palette with varied textures, such as a chunky knit gray blanket laid across the bed. Overhead, the chandelier spreads curlicue arms in a sweeping gesture, graciously illuminating the room by night.

DOLLAR-SAVING DIY

Jaclyn sells home furniture online and is a master at all things DIY. On her second story, she personally retiled the bathroom floor, complete with an exquisite stencil job. “We renovated the entire master bathroom, but I still didn’t like the floor,” she says. Unfortunately, she couldn’t afford to hire a contractor to redo it, so she researched the process and painted it in eight painstaking days, saving her family thousands of dollars. “It was my most tedious project ever,” she says. “But it’s also probably my favorite DIY to date.” From the renovation touches to her DIY savvy, Jaclyn has created a farmhouse vibe that’s custom after all.

BY STEPHANIE AGNES-CROCKETT PHOTOGRAPHY B Y C H A D M E L LON S T Y L I N G B Y V I C TO R I A VAN V L E A R A N D J AC LYN J AMES (opposite) Oversized features like this gigantic wooden clock make a bold focal statement. Framed on both sides by vintage window panes, the circular timepiece rounds out the space. Plus, its creamy color complements the neutrals of the pillow, box and curtain rods, making the piece the perfect geometric and tonal fit.(left) Although many people keep wreaths to the winter months, Jaclyn uses them as farmhouse accents in her foyer year-round. A wreath will add a charming burst of color and fresh air. Tie the space together with supplemental foliage in a vase or jug.

If you want to change thelook of your staircase without a full overhaul, try painting it with chalk paint,like Jaclyn did here. (top left) Jaclyn is a huge fan of GonewiththeWind, so she loves having an enormous staircase with “eighty-something” feet of bannister. “It makes me feel like Scarlet O’Hara every time I go down the stairs,” she says. “I have a ball decorating it at Christmas.”(top right) Jaclyn’s second-floor landing boasts vintage movie theater seats. “I found them at the vintage market place that comes to town once a quarter,” she says. She had been looking for chairs like these and seized the opportunity. After dashing over to the vendor and confirming that the item was still up for grabs, Jaclyn singlehandedly hefted them into her husband’s truck.“I tried to keep the really chippy farmhouse pieces as décor."

Grout color matters for your white subway tile. White grout provides a more traditional look, while darker grout, such as gray or black, adds amore modern and trendy feel. (top left) In her renovated kitchen, Jaclyn used various textures, such as shiplap paneling, subway tile, butcher-block and a marble countertop. While renovating the space, Jaclyn strove to maintain classic versatility in case there are other renovations down the road. “If you wanted to modernize the tile, you could take it out and change it,” she says.(top right) “We were going to do a custom door for the pantry,” Jaclyn says, “but the budget got a little tighter than we would have liked.” Thankfully, she had purchased this door “months previously, for $49 at an estate sale.” The door was a little short, so she enlisted her contractors to lengthen it. Then with a black coat of paint and the addition of tempered glass, the door was soon ready for installation.

Right next to a window, this shelf bed is a perfect place to lounge and relax. The dark pillows contrast the white painted wood surrounding it.

(top left) For rooms with minimal furnishings, consider emphasizing the highest and lowest areas. In an eight-day process, Jaclyn stenciled the floor by hand, creating a chic, intricate design. She also installed a decorative molding piece near the ceiling. “It helps draw your eye up into that chandelier space,” she says.(top right) The James’ playroom features an adorable teepee. “My five-yearold son has a blast in it,” she says. “It’s a great imagining space.” Jaclyn finished off the simple nook with a magnetic blackboard, DIY calendar and inspirational “CREATE” lettering. Small potted plants add a pop of color to the otherwise neutral room.(right) Jaclyn likes to keep her décor versatile and has refinished her antique vanity more than once. “Last time I did it, it was a flat black,” she says. However, she determined the color was “way too black for this room.” To soften the look, she “took a sanding block and sanded it off in certain areas, then added wax to smooth over the rough edges.”

(top left) Jaclyn enlisted a woodworker to construct a shed for the backyard. Like the house, the shed embraces farmhouse style and includes “little window boxes, lanterns that work and a corrugated metal roof.” She uses the extra storage space to house some of her son’s toys. “It’s Mommy’s shed on the outside with my son’s toys on the inside,” she says.(bottom right) Jaclyn’s advice for choosing patio furniture? “Do your research. Pay attention to what works with your climate.” If you know you’ll get a lot of rain, for instance, you may want to invest in waterproof furnishings. After “five years in the San Diego sun,” Jaclyn’s furniture is still in great shape.