It’s still Monday! :) I have a deep love for built-ins, so you can expect to see more Marvelous Mondays posts focused on them in the future. The kitchen is the heart of most homes, so to me it makes sense to incorporate a cozy spot for eating meals, doing homework, or just lounging while the chef does his thing (definitely a “he” in our house). These are all such beautiful examples!

Top to bottom: Better Homes & Gardens | BHG | Southern Living | Canadian House & Home | BHG

Plus, built-ins usually mean extra storage! Which one would you most like to have in your house?

Southern Living

After months and months of scouring Trulia, FMRealty, and Zillow; debating endlessly about where, exactly, in the Triangle we might want to live; and going back and forth on our goals and how much money we want to spend, we have finally found a home that we both like. Like, really like. Maybe love. I am trying to not be under any illusions that this particular house might actually become ours (we haven’t even seen the inside!), but it’s enough to make the whole mortgage and home buying process much more real. We already have a realtor in mind; we’re knee-deep in wading through the sites of different mortgage lenders, and have reached out to a few options. It’s exciting, but also completely nerve-wracking!

Here’s what I would like to know: For those of you who have already gone through the home buying process, what is the ONE piece of advice you’d like to impart at this stage of the game? (If you have more than one piece of advice, I’d love to hear it, but I don’t want to tax you!) It can be super simple and easy, or something very specific and involved. What one thing do you wish you had known at this point in the process? We’re all ears!!

No matter what the color of the rest of the decor, I love black trim on a staircase. Five of my favorites:

Top to bottom: Donna Griffith via Desire to Inspire | via Young House Love | unknown | Southern Living | Joe Schmelzer

For not too much effort (not even as much effort as painting a full room), I think black handrails can make a huge impact, especially if your staircase is open to the room. Have a favorite?

Time for a new column! Can’t promise how long this one will last, but I’m liking the sound of it. The idea is that I’ll post five things in one category. I’ll try to keep the category very narrow, so we can keep this going for awhile. I have a feeling the categories will usually be from home design, but I could also see MM posts falling under fashion, weddings, parties, or holidays. Today: my top five favorite built-in bunk beds for four. There were a surprising amount of contenders.

Top to bottom: Elle Decor (photo by Miguel Flores-Vianna) | Domino Mag via Flickr | Urban Grace Interiors | Platt Byard Dovell White via Handmade Charlotte | Traditional Home

These bunks make me so happy, especially the small details: the privacy curtains, the individual reading lights, the clever ladders, the little knick knacks in each space. Now I just need an expansive vacation home to build a set in! Which one is your favorite?