A sneak peek at the Parade of Homes

I have a bathroom before and after I want to share, but first I need to post a few photos of houses included in the upcoming Eastern Idaho Parade of Homes. This annual event is presented by the Eastern Idaho Home Builders Association, and what I found most interesting in the five houses I toured was that the more reasonably priced homes had more personality than the larger, bigger-budget houses. It’s always fun to walk through these homes and get ideas for your own house, and I wanted to share a few photos of things I liked:

First up, the two largest homes I visited had similar finishes—lots of tans and browns, rock outside, stain-grade trim, and beams inside. These are pretty typical choices for east Idaho.

In one of these houses, owned by a farming family, I loved the personal touches. On the ends of the mantel, the family’s brand made an appearance. It was a subtle, sweet detail.

Similarly, on a barn door in the kitchen, the family’s farm logo was etched into the glass.

If you’re going to have a glass door on a master bath, antiqued glass provides a little privacy.

And one thing I’d never seen before was this shiplap “wall” in the hall that was essentially an enormous bifold door behind which the family hid their Christmas tree. So smart.

In the other large home, I liked these cabinet doors with an interesting profile.

I also liked seeing a cabinet color besides stained wood. These lowers were a moody gray-green—really pretty.

In a more budget-friendly home, I was happy to see a lot of character in furnishings. Such cute artwork here:

The kitchen was cozy with lots of storage and a square island that felt quaint and very size appropriate for the space.

Lots of built-ins were added to this house, which eliminates the need for buying bulky furniture.

This Craftsman was oozing with curb appeal. The yard front and back was amazing:

Inside, the Craftsman details continued with style-accurate pillars separating the living room from the kitchen and dining.

Lastly, this modern farmhouse is such a breath of fresh air (full disclosure: I’m partial because I helped decorate this property). We tried to adopt an autumn feel on the front porch and in the main living areas of the home:

The homeowners have bought beautiful furniture and thoughtfully selected really good storage solutions like shelves and sweet niches.

The east Idaho Parade of Homes runs 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 14 through 16 and Sept. 21 through 23. For more information, check out the parade Facebook page. •

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