ROOM BY ROOM
It’s halfway through the build, and the Busenitz family have a couple rooms that are move-in ready. See what challenged them the most and how they got crafty and creative with their vintage décor.
In the fifth part of our year-long chronicle of their dream-house project, the Busenitz family reveal their first completed spaces!
Six months down, only a couple more to go.
The farmhouse build in Social Circle, Georgia, is starting to feel like home. We’ve been following along as Katie Busenitz from the blog The Rustic Boxwood, her husband, Ryan, and their two children have tackled building their dream home from the ground up. Now they’ve got a bedroom and a bathroom complete and happily checked off the list. Here Katie shares how it all came together.
JT: What was your goal for your son’s room? KB:
We wanted his room to have a neutral, industrial style with modern-farmhouse vibes. Of course, it had to be “manly” as well.
What design elements really drive that look home?
The concrete floor and the vintage pieces really bring the look together. We used vintage license plates and signs for wall art. Metal lockers and old wooden boxes give him interesting storage options with lots of character. And the open shelving with its combination of wood and metal really ties the whole thing together.
Any favorite décor pieces so far?
I asked my husband to cut that “national encyclopedia” box in half. I’ve always dreamed of making it a wall shelf, and because the words are on both sides, that means we have two unique shelves.
What was your jumping off point for the design of the bathroom?
I love the Zanzibar tiles from Riad Tile, and since my sweet friend gave me the gorgeous antique sink, I knew they’d look fab together. Also, to warm up and balance the space, I knew I wanted some natural textures, so I used a pretty, jute throw with tassels from Tuesday Morning. It’s a beautiful, thick rug that was only $8. Can’t beat that price!
Additionally, I already had an old wooden box that has gorgeous lettering on both sides, and I bought this old box for $3 at a yard sale. I’ve always wanted to make it a shelf, but I didn’t want to “waste” the side that was going to be flush against the wall. So I had my hubby cut the crate in half so I could make two shelves out of it. I love the result! JT: What were the key pieces in pulling off that vision? KB: In addition to the tile and the sink, the small details like the black hardware (i.e., door knobs, light fixtures, showerhead and tub faucet), black grout, subway tile, wood shelf and black mirror all play an integral part in making this bathroom look great.