Vogue Hawaiʻi

Beautiful home in the town I grew up.

Lately, I've been looking up possible homes in the future that my siblings and I could own for ourselves. My sister, brother, and I have been renting for roughly 10 years, and even though we're not exactly where we want to be in our lives right now, we do think that owning a house could be a great big step to something magically fulfilling in our personal dreams. Since moving to Hawaiʻi, my family has never been financially stable enough to be homeowners, but now that we're all older, we understand what it takes to bring that foot over to the other side.

HGTV is my go-to channel; I love deciding whether or not I like the style and details, and also learning about what's beneficial and what's trending in modern homes. From watching it religiously when I go over to my cousin's house (we don't have cable ourselves), I saw a commercial for Zillow.com and decided to give it a look. Now it's my newest favorite site, and I even signed up for it. I became obsessed with looking at the homes available near and around our area, especially looking at the million-dollar homes. I live on the Big Island—the views available for luxury homes are nothing short of spectacular; even the more affordable (what's considered affordable for Hawaiʻi standards) have potential for amazing views of either ocean, mountain, or both. That's what's great about having very little buildings in our "city."

On Zillow, they have a link with amazing interior details that you can own for yourself. It looks like Pinterest for home design. I've picked a few of my immediate favorites to show to you why I'm so obsessed with this site and all that homeowning and interior design has to offer!

Kitchen:

This is basically my dream kitchen. I love the granite tops and the dark color of the cabinets. What I would change is maybe have a slightly lighter color for the bottom cabinets for a little bit more of a contrast. I also really like the glass on the cabinets so if I ever have guests, they know exactly where to grab the utencils and whatnot. Stainless steel appliances are a must. I would argue for a longer island, but that's just being picky, since it's huge and has room for people to snack and talk with you while you're cooking in the kitchen. I would argue about the floors; I'm not opposed to the tiles, but I would also like to see if wood would be a better option. Other than those few things I would change, it's pretty perfect, open and welcoming, and most of all, clean. Find out how to get this design here.

Laundry Room:

If these three laundry rooms were put together, it'd be my perfect type. In the first photo, I like the hanger space above the washer and dryer for putting clothes away or getting them ready to iron, or even for drying. The pastel blue barnyard door in the second photo is perfect for entrance to the laundry room. I don't like so much that it's just a small closet, but it would look cute in place of a door to the room. I'm not a big fan of barn doors, but for this I would make an exception. As for the third photo, I like the storage space and tiles. Having a mud room is great for rainy days or if you have a dirty job. You can just put your clothes away before you enter the main house, or do the laundry right then and there. I'm obsessed with laundry rooms specifically because I don't currently own a washer or dryer. This is a #musthave appliance included when buying my new house. Find out how to get these designs here (1), here (2), and here (3).

Bathroom:

Once I get my own master bathroom included with the master bedroom, there are certain features I would want. 1) Must have bath and shower. The first photo shows a beautiful shower and tub that is connected and optimal for romance. Are those wine glasses I see by the tub? Definitely my kind of night in. I love the bright window space to bring in natural light and moonlight as well with the fire burning in the fireplace against the brick wall, giving it just the right texture to create a certain mood. I also love how the two are connected. I can imagine myself taking a nice bubble bath while my husband comes home from work to take a shower and we both have an exciting view while cleansing ourselves—always a plus! 2) While I don't have a significant other yet, it is critical for me to have double sinks when that time comes. I am very particular with my space and how I use it, as well as the messes I make. I also enjoy large mirrors and the sink space for my skin care products and make-up (assuming I don't have my own vanity in the master closet or bathroom). Find out how to get these designs here (1) and here (2).

So you have an idea of what my fantasy house would look like, but although my tastes are expensive and sugar-daddy-esque, I can better grasp the realistic details that I want my own house to have and keep it stylish and efficient on a budget. It might be a hard task, but it's not impossible! Plus, not all my fantasies have to stay that way—I'll buy my luxury home in time. :~)

It's a weird, but relaxing hobby to look at homes and interior design. Try it out! You might find something good out of it!

Daydreaming: Love Begins At Home