I’m a lover of lists. Give me all the honey-do’s, goals, reminders, groceries, manifests, you name it, I don’t discriminate. And on any given day, there are four or five old school notepads and planners scattered around the house, on top of what I keep on my phone. So with all that said, it will come as no surprise that I live for resolutions. But not the kind that you float out there and “hope” will fall into place. Nope. Those will not do. Because do you know what I love more than making the lists? Putting tidy little check marks next to the boxes when I’ve completed the tasks. So satisfying. Without further ado, here are our 2019 Home Resolutions in Casa de Nixon, and we invite you to join us as we make room in the New Year:

1. Go Through Storage & Clean Out. “Storage” could mean different places for different people. You could have one of those lockers filled to the brim a la Storage Wars. Or, you could be like us and use an extra garage bay and basement for superfluous home goods and baby items “just in case”. Well, let me tell you. By the time “just in case” rolls around, your stuff is going to be so thick with dust, or damaged from poor conditions that you’ll end up tossing it anyway. So let’s make good use out of that sweet rocking chair now and donate to a family in need. 
2. Buy ONLY what you LOVE. This year we are vowing not to buy something new because we think it will make for a cool instagram square. Not because we think the color goes well with our palette or because it “might” work when we get around to refreshing the office. We are vowing to only bring in the things we truly love to surround ourselves with. And when one thing comes in, one thing must go out. Deal?
3. Scrap Sentimental. This one is a slippery slope. But in keeping with what was said above, and our design philosophy in general, do you truly love it? What does it mean to YOU? Not to your loved one on the other side, not to your mom who gifted it to you with good intentions but it’s a far cry from your personal style. Not to the you who liked it five years ago. Taking all the but’s out of it. But it cost X, but so and so would be sad if I got rid of it, but it might come back in style someday. If you don’t love it, donate. Period.
4. Delete the Clutter. Paper. Old Magazines. Receipts. Notes. Aforementioned lists. There are so many sheets flying around this house and none of them are organized. The worst part is, when I need something really important, it’s never where I thought I filed it, and once discovered, is covered in G’s and circles from our tiny design associate. No more! In 2019 we’re rolling out a new system and scanning everything to our phone and filing electronically. I just downloaded the Adobe Scan app and I’m quite sure I breathed an audible sigh of relief. 
5. Budget Better. There are certain things we just pay, without much thought, as adults. Like the electricity bill, the water bill, cable, repairs, etc. But what if we were more mindful about it? Yeah, it’s nice to come home to lights on. But the six hours I left them on with no one home cost money. Surely the dogs don’t mind snoozing with the lights off. And what about the 342 channels we don’t have time to watch on cable? Time to cut the cord. Same with the water. Do I need to stand in the shower for an extra five minutes peeling another layer off my skin? These small swaps may only save a few extra bucks a bill. But they’ll also help us to be more mindful with our usage, or lack thereof, and help out Mama Nature while we’re at it. 

We have a few more changes we’re making in the New Year, but those are bigger shifts that take up a whole page on their own, and we’ll share them later on. We want to hear from you! What are some of your Home Resolutions in 2019? Comment below!

I know. You are bombarded with lists right now between all the Cyber Monday “extended” hoopla and the mad dash for holiday gifts. But if you’re looking for something a little off the beaten path, here are a few things we’re loving for this week’s list:

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1. I’m praying this time next year we’re packing our bags for Mexico. No, not just because the first snow flew this past weekend. More for my big love for all things sugar skull. Spanish was my major in college and the history, the fiestas, the mysticism, and mostly the true spirit of celebrating the dead has always been fascinating to me. Thus, my deep desire to attend the Dia de los Muertos festivities and feel it in person. In the meantime, Coco has been on repeat, and we’re working together on our ofrenda to honor my Dad and Grandma. 
2. It’s beginning to look a lot like…OK, I won’t say the C word yet. But I’m going to hint at it with this delectable little diddy from a new shop we stumbled upon on etsy. We were asked to do a #NixonPack tree to be auctioned off for charity and I’m starting to put together all of our favorite pieces to add to it. More to come as we get closer!
3. Tabletop Pop! Our table runner has outlived the past three dining tables, and it just might be time to retire her for the season. How bold is this vintage indigo number from Eclectic Goods? Give me allll the fringe please!
4. Denim is my love language, so when this color popped up in my feed the other day I knew I had to find a place for it in casa de Nixon. I’m thinking he’s the perfect color for the mudroom cubbies!
5. With the Parade of Homes wrapping up soon, the crisp fall feels and the season of sharing, I’m starting to get into those nesting tendencies to make allll the treats and host all the friends. This lovely lady is my spirit animal and I can’t wait to (try to) recreate a couple of these for a little gathering we have coming up!

Have something fun you think should make next week’s Nice List? Share with the Pack below!

 

We’re big into gallery walls at NPP. Not just for clients, but in our own home as well. In our current house we have a mirror wall, a basket wall, a book wall, and even a hat wall. It’s a great opportunity to transform a room by creating a unique focal point to showcase all your favorite items. 

For the girl’s room we designed at the Parade of Homes, we knew we wanted a feature wall to display artwork, inspirational quotes, and a pop of color to brighten the space. I also wanted it to be something she could have done herself, and affordable to boot. 

We’ve done several galleries featuring frames, but that didn’t feel like the best option to achieve our goal. Frames would be harder to swap out her latest painting or the feeling of the day. What about clipboards? Bingo! I primed these to the house for about $10. Now, you could stop here if you wanted a more natural look. But if you’ve been following Nixon Pack for a minute, you may have noticed we have a thing for ombré – using one color and gradually going from a light to dark hue to create a really beautiful effect. If ombré isn’t your jam, you could always spray paint your favorite shade. Next stop, Sherwin Williams. 

Listen, I love me a big box store and you can find us at one at least once a week and twice on weekends. But there’s something really extra about getting paint and supplies from Sherwin Williams that makes every project  feel that much more elevated. We worked with our favorite paint expert, Mackenzie, to bring this ombré dream to life – keeping everything in the same realm of pink, just going up a half a shade at a time. That’s right. You don’t have to go just from the tiny chips you see. They can customize everything for no extra charge, plus we saved even more by using sample jars. Voilà! The sweetest pink palette you ever did see. 

The next part was easy. So easy a toddler could do it! Well, almost. There were a few stray smudges thanks to my tiny helper. But you don’t have to be too precise with it since you’ll be covering the majority of the board with pictures, papers and more. We bought a few of the sponge brushes for less than a buck and it couldn’t have been more simple. Could you use a brush you have lying around at home? Absolutely. But I did like the texture from this one. A nice bonus on the cheap ;). 

Remember when you’re hanging them to have a tape measure and a level on hand or you’ll drive yourself crazy. No chance of eyeballing a gallery wall unless you’re going for a whimsical look. Since it was the Parade house and not our own, we just used finish nails to hang. For other purposes I would use something more sturdy, especially if you’ll be swapping out the art often and putting stress on the nail. Side note: I read this to Jon, he says finish nails are fine. The mom in me does not want those suckers coming down. But he did say that he pre-drilled holes in the back of each clipboard to ensure they were all hung at the same height. 

To finish, we added custom, original artwork from our friend Lisa. She has the most beautiful calligraphy I’ve ever seen, and I am mesmerized by her talents on insta stories. You could not imagine my excitement when she said yes to being a part of this DIY. The quotes she chose were so inspiring, the drawings so unique and colorful – such a bright spot in this space! 

Imagine the possibilities. You could do this DIY in an office, a play room, a mud room – anywhere really. It’s easy, affordable (less than $20!), and can be a great way to display your own personality and style. Happy DIY’ing, Nixon Neighbors! We can’t wait to see what you come up with! PS – leave us a note with your email and we’ll send you an awesome Sherwin Williams coupon exclusive to friends of the Pack!

It’s finally here. I was telling Jon, I feel like we’ve been pregnant for over a year, we finally delivered her, and now everyone is coming to visit the (not so) little bundle of joy. We hope you think she’s cute, and not a face only a mother could love ;). But the reality is, we know this style isn’t for everyone. And no style ever will be. But that’s the fun part of the Parade of Homes. You get to walk through nine houses, every one with its own unique stamp. We designed this home to be a source of inspiration for all who enter. Whether it be for a large-scale kitchen renovation you’re about to tackle, or cool built-ins to showcase your deep love of books. Maybe you come with your kiddos and it inspires you to tackle an inexpensive DIY together. 

No matter your reason for coming to the Parade of Homes, we thank you for supporting this wonderful event, and all of the talented people who came together at JMG Custom Homes to make it happen. Our goal was to highlight all of the incredible local shops we are blessed to have in Central New York. A big thanks to our furniture partner, China Towne. I was shocked to see how many one-of-a-kind pieces they had sourced from around the globe. It really helped us achieve that lived in, layered, collected feel we were going for. And a huge hug to our dear friends at Sweet Salvage in Jamesville. They were kind enough to let us showcase so many of their unbelievable vintage gems and hand-painted furniture. If anything catches your eye, we’d love to hear all about it in the comments below!

Want free tickets to attend the event? It runs for two weeks! Head to our Facebook page or instagram at @nixonpack for more!

It has been almost a year to the day since Jon and I were approached to design a house for the Parade of Homes. I started sharing the process immediately through our insta stories, and in posts. But just the other day, I had a friend ask me, almost sheepishly, what IS the Parade of Homes? Shoot. It didn’t occur to me that not everyone shares my obsession. You see, for as long as I can remember, I dreamt about designing a home for the Parade of Homes. I felt a gravitational pull to the event each year, and stayed far longer in each space than most.

So to answer her question, and maybe yours: The Parade of Homes is a showcase of new homes held annually in several regions throughout the country. Each participating builder selects a floor plan they’d like to spotlight, and works with a designer to bring it to life. Then they stage it to display the latest in design trends, the layers and layers of knick knacks and love to show every angle in its best light. In our case, the builder is JMG Custom Homes (and the design team is #NixonPack). When they asked us to meet last year, I had to pinch myself. This was a goal I always had, and knew would happen someday, I just didn’t think the someday was this day. We were warned again and again what an undertaking it would be. How much time it would take. The stress at the end. Everyone was right by the way. We took it all into consideration, and in truth, went back and forth about it, because when we commit, we really commit. 

There have been hundreds of several times I have wanted to turn back. Just this morning actually. It’s exhausting. And there are a whole bunch of things that are not as you imagine. A lot more compromise than I anticipated. But just like with the unexpected hiccups, there have been so many wondrous surprises. Like the insanely talented people we would meet and create with. Learning a lot about myself and how to work through different dynamics and personalities. How deep our love runs for all things home.

Our vision from the beginning before the hole was even dug, until the final day of the Parade is this: We are striving to create a space that inspires. Whether it be a first time homebuyer looking for ideas, a couple seeking to tackle a big renovation, or someone who is attempting their first DIY. Maybe it will give you the gusto to go vintage hunting at our favorite spot down the road, Sweet Salvage. Perhaps it will give you the permission you think you need to mix metals in the kitchen. Or do a wall of orchids because they bring you joy. Paint a lemon tree in your kiddo’s bedroom. We look at a home this way – You aren’t just funny. Or just smart. Or just kind. You’re all of those things. So the style of your house doesn’t have to be just “farmhouse” or “modern”, or “traditional”. It can be a little bit boho, a little contemporary, a little vintage. Because when your house becomes a home, it’s a mirror of all the people in it. And it showcases every angle of your personality. Even the quirky side. So that’s what you’ll find in any #NixonPack home, and we can’t wait for you to see what we’ve cooked up with JMG and a whole crew of talented people.

The Parade of Homes runs October 13 – 28 in Jamesville, NY. Check back for more glimpses into our designs, and for special dates and giveaways during the event!

How are we here already? This week we’re celebrating our Season 1 Finale of Walkthrough Wednesday and what an amazing ride it has been! I cannot believe how many incredible homes we have been able to tour, how many fabulous people we have been able to meet, and the unbelievable crew we’ve had the privilege of working with. We are grateful from the stones in the foundation to the roof and back again!

Today we’re taking you on a house tour of a truly spectacular property at 2055 Rippleton Cross Road in Cazenovia, NY. It’s a 4 bed, 5 bath, 4,200 square foot stunner on a majestic 64 acres. I didn’t want to leave. Imagine the horses you could have? The gardens! The pond and the barn – the rolling hills, the winding driveway. I could go on forever, but I won’t keep you. I’d rather you watch. OK one more, look at the master wing! Swoooon. This week’s finale features a re-grouting DIY, bold design ideas in the kitchen, and the one thing you *need* to consider before sealing the deal on a home.

Also, pay close attention because we have a giveaway tucked inside to celebrate the season and you don’t want to miss it! For more, head to our stories on IG @nixonpack, all the other homes featured this season on YouTube, and you can see more about this listing from Linda Crawford, here: https://nys.mlsmatrix.com/DE.asp?k=88…

We truly cannot thank all of you enough for coming with us on these tours each week. Your time, your kind notes, and your company has been an absolute joy. We can’t wait to show you what we have in store for Season 2! Have suggestions? We’d love to read them in the comments below!

*Kaylea Nixon is a Licensed Realtor with My Town Realty.

Today’s house has a pretty great voice booming from it. If you’re in the Syracuse area, I know he’ll sound familiar to you – Joey Walker on 93Q. And as great as that voice is, the person behind it is even cooler. Joey is legitimately one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. The type of person where the moment you meet him, you instantly know he’s one of the good guys. So, it comes as no surprise that his family is, too. 

When they were considering their first home, they asked us to take a look, in all its shag carpeted glory. I could instantly see the potential, and so could they. Which, I have to say, not many people can see past the puke green shag, so they got even more points in our book. He and his wife Tiffany have made a lot of DIY changes so far and have swung from the first time homebuyer ropes with relative ease. They called us over to check on the progress, suggest other ways to increase their value, and give them some hacks to hide all those toys. Without further ado, here is this week’s Walkthrough Wednesday, presented by Busch Products and Cambria!

The baskets you see above are here, and a bit of a splurge. But the best part is they double as such a great statement piece and no one would guess they’re chock full of toys. Looking for a more budget-friendly option? Check out Home Goods – so many designer dupes for a fraction of the price – especially in the clearance section! And my favorite place to source baskets this summer has been at our local Farmer’s Market. Hand-woven, one of a kind, and you’re supporting local. A win-win! 

If you haven’t yet, we’d be so grateful for you to take a minute to subscribe to our YouTube channel, here: so we can continue to bring new episodes every Wednesday! And as always, a big squeeze to our video partner, Call of the Loon, for putting up with Jon’s antics us each week. What’d you think of this one, friends? Comment below!

We’ve seen a lot of houses, and have met so many homeowners in our real estate and home design careers. But I’ve never met a homeowner who designed his own tool for custom moldings. That’s #goals. I never would have thought of something so outrageously awesome. Leave it to an architect to do just that. And it’s only one of the stamps we saw on this gem that helped to personalize it and give it that extra wow factor. 

True to form, the layout was also unique. There are three levels of living – the main floor with all the necessities (kitchen and living room), plus a large laundry room, family room and gorgeous dining room to boot. My favorite part was the deck overlooking the most stunning vistas of rolling hills I’ve seen in a while. (Thanks, Call of the Loon for those spectacular drone shots!) My only regret was not saving this for a few more weeks when the leaves start to change. I bet it’s a showstopper.

Upstairs on the second level there are two bedrooms – a grand master featuring an oversized master bath (ready for a refresh and your chance to make it magnificent!), his and hers closets, and even an attached nursery or study. The second bedroom would make for a great guest room or children’s room with attached ensuite.

On the lower level you have two additional bedrooms, a bath, kitchenette and large living space. It doesn’t give off basement vibes at all. The windows are all above grade, you have a slider to the outside, tons of light and loads of possibilities.

The floorplan won’t work for everyone, as I’d imagine it might be a challenge for younger families who want everyone on the same level. But if that doesn’t bother you, or you have older kids, maybe family that visits often and you need extra space- this would be one to move to the top of the list! The double lot, uniquely crafted home, and personal touches throughout make this house such a standout. 

Where do you want to see the Pack next week? Comment below! We love hearing from you guys and are so grateful you come along with us each Wednesday! 

To see more, subscribe to our YouTube Channel, here, or follow our stories on instagram @nixonpack, and be sure to check out our Presenting Partner Cambria and Busch Products!