How did you develop your Instagram channel, The House of Emmaline, and what sets it apart?

The House of Emmaline started as a creative outlet. Emmaline comes from my kid's names, Adaline and Emmet. As a mom of two littles (ages 3 and 2 at the time), I craved a creative outlet outside of being a mom. Still, I wanted something where I could give it as little or as much attention as necessary because my kids always come first. I have experience in real estate and real estate photography and have always loved decorating, so I started taking photos of our house and posting them on Instagram. It quickly took off when I learned about Reels and began making videos and updating our home. My goal was to reach 10k followers by the end of the year, and I ended up gaining over 100k in that first year.

What has been the most challenging part of remodeling your home?

Home takes time, and it's not in many people's budget to remodel an entire home at once. With that being said, we've done A LOT to our home in a very short time frame, but we still have much more to do. The most challenging part was juggling all the trades to quickly complete all the big things before we moved our furniture in. This included redoing floors, painting the whole house (lots of different colors), wallpapering three different rooms, hanging lights, making electrical changes, and so on. It was a challenge, but I loved the process. Seeing the house transform into what I had envisioned is incredibly rewarding.

How did you choose the hardware featured in this project? What attracted you to Grandeur Hardware?

I saw Grandeur on Instagram and loved the products. I knew I would find what I wanted on your website, and I did. These Soleil knobs are the perfect color of brass and have the most incredible detail on them. We are very, very happy with them.

Did you learn any tips and tricks about door hardware that would benefit others?

Install them all at once if you can. Once you have the tools out to work on something, it helps to knock it all out!

Will you use this hardware again in other projects/areas of your home?

Yes! We are actually going to change out all of the rest of the knobs in our home and make them all the same.

What is your design style, and how do you incorporate those decorating decisions within your home?

I have several styles rolled into one, and my style depends on what house I'm in - it is constantly evolving. The house’s architecture also sways me towards one style or another. Our current home reminded me of a modern Georgian with lots of paneling and arches. I immediately saw a grey and white checkered entry in this home because of it, and everything evolved from there. If I had to put it into words, my style is transitional, organic, and earthy, with pops of collected items and maximalism. I am also currently interested in dark academia and moody spaces. I believe you can take several styles and blend them - creating your own unique look.

When starting a project, how do you organize and plan for it?

Most of the time, I see it in my head and go for it. I order material samples - for example, when picking out wallpaper or shades - to determine what looks best. These are crucial because colors look so different online. Then, I plan the order of steps to complete the project. I'm about to do a half bath, so I'll do electrical, lighting, wallpaper, mirror/accessories, in that order, and decide whether we will DIY it or need to hire someone.

How do you choose a house to buy and renovate?

We've moved four times in the past seven years, and it's always stressful. We knew we would have to renovate our current house. Still, we saw the good bones it had and the architectural character that was already in place, so we knew it could be really beautiful. It also had the space we needed. We can comfortably grow into this house as the kids get older, and we are excited to stay somewhere for a long time finally. If anyone is looking for advice on what to look for, it's what works best for your family and your needs. Budget, space, and location needs are different for everyone, and you can make any house your own over time. It took the renovations coming along and us seeing the transformation to get excited about this house, and now it feels like home.

What are some recommendations for readers who wish to do an extensive remodel project?

Expect to go slightly over budget. Unexpected costs will always pop up, so leave some room in the budget for them. Hiring the right people is so important. It will save you a bunch of headaches if you get quality people who do quality work—these are usually not the cheapest options. Also, have fun with your design choices. It's a great opportunity to add character to your home and take some chances!

What are some tips for readers who wish to transform their homes?

Again, you want to find quality people to do the work. If you're DIYing it, make sure to watch a lot of tutorials on YouTube or Instagram. Also, my 4-year-old son reminded me the other day when I was struggling over a design choice that "it doesn't need to be perfect," and that's so true. Sometimes, we need to go with our gut and trust it will all come together in the end!

What is next?

I'm currently working on our half-bath transformation, and then we are moving sights to our backyard. It's so muddy right now, so we want to put some time and resources into making that a great space because we love spending time outdoors.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

This is just a reminder of what I said earlier: home takes time! Try not to be in a rush, think about all the things that need to be done, and look back on everything you've accomplished so far! Thank you!