Today I have the pleasure of bringing you a lovely home tour from my friend Jenny. We met several years ago when we were in the same bunco group. Alas, I am no longer playing bunco, but I am grateful for the friendships that came out of it. The last time I was at Jenny’s I think she and Ryan had recently just finished building their home. It was so fun to come back and see how the house had had changed and evolved since then!
One of the things you will see in the pictures is that they have really brought their own interests, personalities and travels into their space. Jenny is a wine-lover. Ryan is a coffee & beer aficionado. They both love cheering on their college football teams and traveling. Treasures, trinkets and works of art from the places they visit are all over their house. You can tell they really surround themselves with the things they love. Creating personal spaces that reflect what you most enjoy is what makes a home uniquely yours. For them, it even spills out into the outside of their home.
While most of the country starts covering up their outdoor stuff this time of the year, here in Florida we start pulling it out. The heat and humidity will soon give us a bit of a reprieve so we can actually enjoy a meal outside. In Jenny’s case, they are beyond ready. The outdoor space has recently been completely transformed into a complete oasis. It’s heavenly! Step inside and take a look…
Who lives in this home and how did you come to live here? Me (Jenny), my husband, Ryan, and our two dogs, Barley & Nole; I grew up in Ocala in the Woodfields area. When Ryan’s job brought us back here, we decided we wanted to build. We couldn’t find a lot to build on in the area of town where I grew up, so we started looking elsewhere and ended up loving Bellechase (where we built).
What was your vision for the house as you were preparing to build? Honestly, I didn’t really have a vision. We took one of the builder’s model home plans, and tweaked it a bit. We went into building this house thinking we would only be in it a few years. However, since then we’ve made some renovations and additions, and I think we’re here to stay a while!
How would you describe your aesthetic/style? Casual and a bit modern farmhouse
You have two adorable lively dogs. How do you decorate and furnish your home with them in mind? I really don’t…haha! So far they haven’t ruined anything!
Is there something you would change now that you have lived in it for several years? A bigger laundry room!
You and Ryan travel quite a bit. How have your travels influenced your home decor? I enjoy buying artwork and decorative type objects (i.e. wood bowls, pottery, etc) when we travel, so I like to display these in our home. When I buy these things, I don’t always know where they’ll end up in my decor, but I tend to stick with my same style, so I can always find a spot!
Do you work with a decorator? How has that helped you? Yes, Lorraine Owen has helped me tremendously!! Using a decorator has helped me learn so much about decorating and design…too much to list everything! It has definitely helped me learn how to pull a room together to look finished and uncluttered with furniture, wall art/decor, decorations, and architectural objects, etc. It has also taught me it’s okay to be eclectic with furniture and decorations—not everything has to match exactly!
What tips/advice would you give someone working with a decorator? Let a decorator lead you with all aspects of decor, but don’t be afraid to give your opinion. It’s your house, so even though someone is helping you decorate, you want it to reflect you and your taste.
Where do you find home inspiration and ideas? Catalogs & source books from stores, stores’ websites (especially where you can view by rooms), Houzz.com.
What are some of your favorite places to shop for your home? Restoration Hardware, Victoria’s Antique Warehouse in Leesburg, Shannon Roth Collection in Ocala, Anthropologie, Pottery Barn, and small stores & galleries I find when we travel.
What is one thing you think every house should have? An open area (inside or outside) suitable for entertaining
What do you splurge on in your home? Where have you saved? I splurge on furniture, but save by trying to use some of the replaced furniture in other rooms.
Where do you like to find art? Online and at galleries when we travel
Which room/area in your home do love the most? I love our screened porch and outside area the most, but we spend the most time in our gameroom.
Your outdoor entertaining area is out of this world. How has the outside changed the way you enjoy your home? We definitely enjoy using the outside more for entertaining than we did before we added that whole area.
I hope you enjoyed today’s home tour. Isn’t the back patio area incredible? I am inspired to spruce up our little fire pit area for fall now
Thank you Jenny for letting us “step inside” your warm and comfortable home! If you like this home tour and would like to more, click HERE.
Photography: Ale Cretul
Barbara Drake
I have been trying to buy a Fiddle leaf fig tree which I think I see in the picture. I would love to know where to buy one.
Ale Post author
I find the smaller ones pretty frequently at Home Depot. As for the full-size ones, I will find out where Jenny got hers for you 🙂
amy mangan
I love your blog! And you provide so many wonderful photos giving the reader a full look into someone’s home and design.
Ale Post author
Thank you, Amy!
Becky Hagood
The ficus lyrata also know as fiddle leaf fig can be bought from Foliage Design Systems. We sell plants and also maintain them through our guaranteed maintenance program. All of Jenny’s plants are lovingly cared for by Foliage Design.
Jenny Tompkins
Hi Barbara,
I got the Fiddle leaf fig tree from Foliage Design systems. They have beautiful ones! 🙂