We’ve been in our home for 15 years now, and in that time our family has grown! With three kids, our 1,500 square foot, 1890’s home can feel small at times. But after all that we’ve invested in it, making it our own, and all of the memories we’ve made here, we truly love this place.
Financially, it makes more sense for us to stay put. The costs of moving, and a larger home would eat into our budget, leaving less for travel, retirement, and our kid’s education.
We’re committed to living small, and have made changes over the years to accommodate our family’s needs. A few years ago we added built-ins in in the living room, kid’s rooms, and master bedroom. With high ceilings, we maximized our storage by using the vertical space.
This year, I had a few smaller changes in mind, one of which was painting the entire inside and outside of the house. This change made a great impact- the house felt new!
I used a light, neutral colour palette through most of the interior, which makes space feels larger and light, and balances my bright furniture.
In the living room, I changed the window coverings and toss cushions. For the drapes, I chose this seagull patterned linen by Kravet. The fabric is light and airy, and feels perfect.
The toss cushions on the sofa are various coordinating fabrics from Tonic Living and Kravet. On the fireside bench, and the other cushions, I used Seacloth, which adds a bit of fun, and ties in with the green in the carpet.
Several light fixtures throughout the house needed updating. In the living room, I went with this sleek and contemporary brass fixture. I like how it contrasts the style of the home, and my rustic/vintage furniture.
I also replaced all of my old track lighting with new more modern track lighting and installed a geometric pendant light in the upstairs hallway. In the den, I put in a new rope chandelier, and new brass fixture over the kitchen sink.
In the kitchen and dining area, I painted the walls and changed up the fabrics. The most dramatic change was the wall colour, I used this beautiful inky blue called Newberryport Blue by Bejamin Moore.
All of these changes have made a big difference, and we’re feeling good in our small home. As a designer, the house is of course never finished, but it’s getting pretty close!!
If you have a small space that needs help, or a room that needs refreshing, I can help! Send me an e-mail, you can contact me here!