Standing boldly on ten wooded acres in McDonald is Justin and Karey Foote’s forever home. Inside, bathed in abundant natural lighting, contrasts of stone, slate and quartz mingle with natural textures and complementary wood finishes. From the moment that you arrive on the property, every detail of the Foote family farmhouse speaks to the intentionality with which it was designed. Their modern, transitional farmhouse, custom built by Joe Wall Homes, boasts over 4,000 square feet of finished space with room to grow.
Karey, who began documenting their build progress on Instagram, never dreamed in 2019 that she would have over 74,000 people following her family’s story. But now, four years later, she offers advice and tips to others embarking on the same adventure. We had the privilege to speak with Karey about her family’s journey to their stunning home and got her advice about the building and design process.
What makes this your forever home?
We were fortunate to find ten acres with the help of our realtor, Wendy Dixon. We loved this area because it was in the "country" but still close to Ooltewah and convenient to Chattanooga. We designed this house to fit us now and to grow with us. We wanted plenty of entertaining and personal space. We also designed the exterior to have a timeless look no matter what color we painted it.
How do you balance function with aesthetics?
We included lots of storage (cabinets and closets) to enclose things and to keep things organized. We made the kitchen functional by keeping things our kids need to get to at their level. We also included a mudroom with lockers for the kids to keep their coats, shoes, and school gear. We have two laundry rooms to accommodate the large amount of laundry families can accumulate during the week. Each kid has their own bedroom with an attached bathroom and walk in closet so that they can have their own personal space. They each had a say in the color and design features of their rooms.
What build advice would you give to someone just beginning their own custom home?
Take your time during the entire process. Make a list of your must haves and find a house plan that includes them all. If you can't find the perfect house plan, you might want to enlist a draftsman to help you out. In our case, it was our builder. The design process took a couple of months to get just right. Building right now takes a lot longer than it used to and you will need to have patience. It will be tempting to try to rush things or settle just to get done but you will regret that in the end. Don't settle! This is your house and you are paying for it. So, make sure it's done the way you want it and make sure it is done right. Focus on the bones of the house first as you can’t change those. You can change paint colors, finishes, and decor, but once the home is built, structural things are more difficult to alter.
What were must-haves when building your home?
Our must-haves were: a walkout basement, lots of windows for natural light, a wood-burning fireplace, large porches, a two-story foyer, different ceiling heights, a large, open kitchen island, a walk-in pantry, a kitchen sink looking out of a window, a curbless shower with frameless glass in the master, an en suite for each bathroom, and a chicken coop.
What are your top design tips and tricks?
You can design the home of your dreams on any budget. You just have to shop smart. Watch for sales, shop around, and use cheaper materials to create a designer look. For instance, you can arrange simple subway tile in a fun pattern to create a more boutique look. Don’t be afraid to mix and match your furniture. For example, the seating in your living room doesn’t all have to match and can be a great way to mix textures and fabrics in a space. To keep a design cohesive, keep the basic elements in the home the same. It will help it flow from room to room. For example, I used four to five main colors: black (windows, cabinets, doors, hardware, and light fixtures), white (walls, cabinets, tile, and countertops), beige (wood flooring, beams and other wood elements, gold hardware and lighting), and gray (chrome faucets and hardware, pale gray paint, gray/concrete like tile, countertops, and decor). We also incorporated green throughout the house and kept it in the same green color family. Keep your style the same from room to room. If your style is modern, stay modern throughout the whole house. If your style is French country, keep it all French country.
For more design tips and tricks, follow Karey on Instagram @ourforevertnfarmhouse.
Building right now takes a lot longer than it used to and you will need to have patience. It will be tempting to try to rush things or settle just to get done but you will regret that in the end. Don't settle! This is your house and you are paying for it. So, make sure it's done the way you want it and make sure it is done right.