A Discussion with Bonnie Ryan and a Look at her Pacific Northwest Dream Home

Bonnie Ryan and her family recently moved into their newly built Modern Farmhouse home in Spokane, Washington that was designed by Bonnie herself. The hands-on project has been documented on Bonnie’s popular Instagram, @theryanhaus_, where she posts snapshots of the gorgeous home along with design tips and inspiration. We were struck by how the brand new home balances both modern and old world elements, so we decided to catch up with Bonnie to find out where she gets her design inspiration. We discussed how Waterstone is the “jewelry” of her kitchen space, her renovation advice and more.

When did the home begin getting built, and how far along in the process are you now?

We broke ground last March, and are pretty much done now. Just a few small things to be done, mostly outside.

How would you describe the overall aesthetic of your home, and where do you go for design inspiration?

Our home is mostly Modern Farmhouse, with some aspects of French Country and old world charm. I have found so much inspiration from Instagram, and our travels throughout North America and Europe.

It’s clear your kitchen layout is very intentional and well thought-out. How much time did you spend on planning the kitchen compared to other areas of the house?

The kitchen is definitely the heart of our home. When we began designing the house, we started here. We wanted an area we could entertain in, host lots of family and friends. We definitely spent the most time designing this area.

What are your favorite features of the kitchen?

There are so many things in our kitchen we love. A few faves are the range, faucets, and lighting. Our La Cornue Range is what we based the entire design around. I loved the high end European look it brings to our space. Finding the perfect pot filler and faucet to complement it was easy once I found Waterstone. Our faucets are the jewelry to the space. And finally I love our pendant lights, they bring in the old world/french country charm.

Why did you decide to go with Waterstone’s Traditional PLP Pulldown Faucet?

First of all, the look is stunning. I love the oversized neck on the faucet, and the traditional design. We wanted a clean look, and the pull down sprayer definitely brings this. Finally the variety of finishes is amazing. I ordered samples first before deciding and love the Classic Bronze we went with.

Which Waterstone finish did you use, and why did you go with that one specifically?

We chose Classic Bronze. It ties in so well with all the other elements in the space, and has the antique look I was hoping for.

Are there any other unique features of the home or kitchen you’d like to share?

We love our brick backsplash, and we love how the Classic Bronze Pot Filler pops against the white washed brick.

What’s your advice for anyone building or renovating a home?

Have fun!! Building or renovating can be so stressful, if you let it. Don’t stress, and take your time. Step back, slow down and just have fun! This process can be the best if you don’t sweat the small stuff! Take your time especially when choosing a builder or contractor; this relationship can make or break your experience. Trust your gut! I wavered on a few things, but when I trusted my gut I was so happy with the outcome!