After Dark Home Tour
It’s sort of rare to see homes photographed after dark. Nighttime images aren’t “Pinterest-worthy” and aren’t drenched in bright, natural light, but they’re definitely moody, cozy, and most of all- realistic. Honestly, I like my house just as much after the sun goes down as I do during the day. I thought it would be fun to give you guys an after dark home tour to show you how it looks in the evening with the lights flipped on- if you’re reading this at night, pajamas are encouraged! Click through for the post…
To make things even more realistic, I shot everything with my iPhone. Maybe that was because I was being a tad bit lazy… but it was fast and easy! Hopefully you’ll still enjoy the photos. Let’s get started, shall we? Obviously we should enter through the front door…
I’m happy to report the curb appeal and flower boxes are just as charming in the moonlight. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… my FAVORITE time to walk the dogs is at dusk because people haven’t closed their curtains yet and I love peeking into a lit house. Call me nosey, but it’s fun to see how my neighbors decorate. As I’m walking, I think of how I’d change their floor plan, renovate, etc. Is that mean?! I think it’s just the designer in me. I can’t seem to shut it off.
Regardless, Emmett didn’t realize I was snapping photos from the outside in, so this is what our late night typically looks like. This entire post is basically a big dose of reality, giving you a peek at our evening routine- work, tv watching, and dog snuggling.
Anyway, through the front door is our entryway and main living space. We usually drop our keys and mail in this area of the living room.
The other side is our sofa, built-ins, and lounge area. You can see it in the daylight in this post! We do a lot of Netflix watching here… typically with dogs on our laps (proof below).
My favorite light source in the living room is the picture lights installed on the built-ins. They’re actually battery powered and were the easiest to install! I love the soft glow they add. Sometimes we don’t even turn the large wall sconce on, and use the picture lights as the main light source instead. They’re perfect for movie watching and super soft light.
The living room is our main hangout in the evenings. I always have a couple candles lit- something about it just helps me unwind.
Let’s make our way into the kitchen… it’s fairly open to the living room, as we widened the doorway during our renovation.
Click here to see what the space looks like in the daylight. I almost like it better at night! We went all out with the lighting. Everything is on a dimmer- under cabinetry lighting, sconces, pendants, recessed can lights, …the works. That was 100% Emmett’s doing, and I have to say- I’m glad we did it. The mood instantly changes and can be adjusted to fit our needs.
Let’s move over to the breakfast nook, eating area, and coffee station…
I suppose at this hour, it’s more like a “midnight snack nook” than a breakfast nook, but you get the point. We get a lot of use out of our coffee bar. In the winter, this would be an accurate depiction of what it looks like, because typically we’re awake before the sun comes up. On the contrary, if you noticed the bottle of wine- no judgments! Sometimes I leave it out for easy access rather than tucking it away into the bar.
Now let’s step into the laundry room. I completed this space for the One Room Challenge and it’s still one of my most favorite reveals in the house. We also refer to it as the “dog room” because that’s where all of their stuff lives.
Remember these portraits I painted of the dogs? I’ll have to add Crosby once he gets older and starts looking like an adult. I’m really happy to have Finn’s portrait… I know it’s something I’ll cherish forever.
Stepping outside the back door under the carport, you’ll notice the back porch light and a view into the dining room and kitchen. Just like the front exterior, there’s also a window flower box there, but you’ll have to wait a few more days for that fall DIY!
Let’s go back inside and I’ll take you to the next room on the tour… the bathroom. It’s just to the left of the kitchen, at the end of the hall.
This project was another One Room Challenge space and it’s our one and only bathroom. It may be small, but it’s mighty in terms of aesthetic. The tile is still my absolute favorite!
Next up, the guest room. It’s right beside the bathroom… which is extra convenient for company.
Further inside the guest room is the beloved green dresser– I get so many questions about that thing! I found it at an estate sale in Ohio and moved that heavy baby all the way across the country with us during the move.
Let’s step back into the hallway and check out a different view…
I have to admit… the hallway still isn’t finished. The french doors arrived, but we haven’t had time to install them, and everything needs a second coat of paint. Some areas might even need a first coat of paint, if I’m being honest. I suppose I’ll get to it eventually? I want to reveal the finished space already! In the meantime, check out the linen closet here. It finally has a door on it.
Last, but not least…because we’re skipping the office since it’s a construction zone right now, is the master bedroom. It’s at the very end of the hall- which is nice for privacy when we have house guests visiting.
I’m thinking Emmett made the bed- or the dogs jumped up, because the bed-making job looks sub par or lumpy for some reason. That’s not my handiwork, I can assure you! Either way… we hardly ever use the ceiling light on the fan in this room. It’s super bright, and the sconces are typically all we need. They’re much more inviting.
The above image shows my side of the bed, and the below image is Emmett’s side. Sometimes we’ll drag a dog bed in here and Cash will also take up residence on my side of the floor.
Uh oh… I lied. There is one more space, but I forgot to shoot it, so I’ll share an after dark photo from a previous shoot. It’s the backyard! We love lounging under the pergola on the outdoor sofa or around the firepit.
We also entertain outside pretty often. We’ll fill the backyard with friends and cookout. It’s always a lot of fun- I love seeing it all lit up! You just can’t beat the mountain views at sunset.
Whew! That was a lonnnng post… sorry guys! Did you enjoy the tour? I know things aren’t as pretty as they look in natural light, but there’s something magical about the ambiance, warmth, and cozy feeling that occurs once the sun goes down. Would you agree? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. Do you like your house better during the day or at night? Would you be into more nighttime or “after dark” tours? I got the idea from this post I participated in a couple years ago!
If you’re wondering about resources, you can find all of those right here! Want to see where our house started? Find all of the ugly before images here.