Moving Diaries: Episode 3

Moving Diaries: The Marble Fireplace Room

Welcome back to Moving Diaries! We’re officially closing the chapter on the sunroom (at least for now) and stepping into what has quickly become everyone's favorite room in the house: the marble fireplace room. It’s one of those spaces that immediately draws you in with its timeless character and beautiful architectural details. But as stunning as it is, this room has also managed to humble me more than any other project so far.

Instead of completely renovating this space, we're taking a different approach and letting the home's original charm do most of the work. My vision is to create a cozy sitting room that feels collected, inviting, and lived-in. Two sofas will face each other to encourage conversation, centered around an oversized slipcovered ottoman that's as practical as it is comfortable. The built-in bookshelves will be filled with thrifted books and vintage finds, and I'm carving out the sweetest little reading nook that I already know will become one of my favorite corners of the house.

Most of the updates in here are all about layering and styling rather than making dramatic changes. We'll be painting the walls and ceilings in Benjamin Moore White Dove to warm up the room without taking away from its historic character. I'll be adding sconces near the reading nook for a softer glow, swapping out fabrics, and styling the built-ins to make the space feel collected over time rather than perfectly designed overnight. Sometimes the smallest details have the biggest impact.

And then there's the project that's keeping me up at night: the custom bright gold door handles. Replacing them isn't really an option, so I'm attempting to patina them into an unlacquered brass finish myself. It's definitely the DIY I'm most nervous about tackling, but if it works, I think it'll completely transform the look and feel of the room. If it doesn't... well, at least it'll make for a good story.

One of my favorite parts of restoring an older home is learning when to preserve, when to update, and when to simply let the house shine. This room is a reminder that not every space needs to be completely reinvented. Sometimes it's about highlighting what's already there and adding thoughtful layers that make it feel personal and welcoming.

Wish me luck on those door handles, and I'll see you in the next episode of Moving Diaries.