We rent a brick 1970s ranch that’s never been updated. I love how much our home has transformed in just two years, without doing any major renovations. When we moved in, it was a mix of paneling, old appliances, and laminate countertops. All of that stuff is still there, but it no longer defines the look and style of our home. I’ve pitched several ideas to our landlord, and she has been game for all of them. They have been easy, budget-friendly improvements that my husband and I have enjoyed doing. Our landlord has paid for the cost of materials in each of these projects, so we’ve been able to enjoy the rewards without any of the financial burdens involved in investing in a home we don’t actually own.
This is the smallest house we’ve ever lived in. That’s made me really evaluate space planning and the items I keep; I watch shows that feature tiny house design to get ideas. Our home isn’t exactly a tiny house at 1200 square feet, but I’ve found the ideas can be applied in much the same way. Where is there under-utilized space and how can I maximize it? After applying these principles, this house actually feels more spacious than much larger homes we’ve lived in.
Since the quarantine, our home has become even more of a haven. My daughter and I spend a lot of long days at home and surrounding myself with beauty has made it all the more enjoyable. My husband appreciated what I do design-wise before, but he has a whole new appreciation for it now. We spend our weekends lazing on our sofa—all four of us, including the dog. We enjoy mojitos on the porch while our daughter plays in her fairy garden and play cards at the kitchen table while we listen to tunes. Home means the world to us right now.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My Style: My style depends so much on the space I’m in. This particular house has short ceilings, and is void of architectural interest, so I’ve used color in the budget-friendly form of paint to make it sing. So much of what I use to decorate is vintage, so this blurs the lines of definition a bit—which I love! I’m always trying to balance comfortable and practical with polished and stylish when designing a space for my family.
Biggest Challenge: Not actually owning the space. The finishes I’ve brought into my home are not necessarily those I would use in a house we owned, but using things like peel and stick tiles have helped elevate this space dramatically.
Proudest DIY: The sink in our main bath was quite bad originally. It had exposed white PVC pipes, which made it feel like it belonged in an institutional facility. Rather than replacing it, I went to town on it with some gold spray paint to match the faucet we installed. You would never know it was a plastic pipe now!
Biggest Indulgence: I never buy cheap pillows or curtains. There’s something about an expertly made cushion with designer fabric, filled with feather inserts that makes my heart flutter. For windows, it’s very much the same in terms of getting what you pay for. Having a good, quality fabric with lining makes a room look so polished. I’ve even taken fabric to a tailor with specific measurements to make this more budget friendly. I like to think of it as wallpaper I can take with me later.
Best Advice: Think outside of the box. Don’t let anything limit you. If there’s a will, there’s a way! I’ve used tape many times to fake a wallpapered look on a wall and it cost me pennies. Make it work for you!
Resources
PAINT & COLORS
Kitchen uppers — Benjamin Moore “Chantilly Lace”
Kitchen lowers — Benjamin Moore “Onyx”
Kitchen peninsula — Behr “Retro Pink”
Living room — Benjamin Moore “Oregano” on walls, “Huntington Beige” on fireplace
Dining room — Benjamin Moore “Kendall Charcoal”
Master bedroom — Ralph Lauren “Iron Blue”
LIVING ROOM
Coffee and side table — CB2
Curtains — Etsy
Rug — Jonathan Adler Now House
Etageres — From my Chairish shop
Abstract framed paintings — Etsy
Dotted Pillows — Etsy
Kelly Wearstler graffito pillows — Etsy
Letter pillow — Etsy
Swivel chair: Wayfair
Small bird painting — Etsy
Sconces above etageres — Lamps Plus
Blue Lamp — Robbert Abbey
Bone Inlay Jar — Etsy
The vertical mini frames are a dollar store hack I made here with the help of my daughter
All other items are vintage
DINING ROOM
Dining table, chairs abstract painting and mirrored buffet — Vintage
Light fixture — Etsy
Bench — Tov Furniture
Rug — Nuloom
KITCHEN
Mini fridge gallery wall tutorial here — Hausmatter website tutorial
Wall tile — Tic Tac Tile
Peninsula Tile — Art3D tile
Ceiling light — Illuminate Vintage
Rug — Etsy
Art Deco lamp on peninsula — Modern Lantern
Cabinet hardware — Spearhead Collection
Shelving system above oven — IKEA
Poster print — Etsy
Coat rack — Poly and Bark (I painted it)
BEDROOM
Light fixture — Etsy
Bed cover — West Elm
cabana striped cushions on bed — Etsy
Headboard — We upholstered a vintage wooden headboard with Jim Thompson fabric
Bedside chest of drawers — Patagonia Home
Bedside lamps: bases are vintage and I made shades here — Tutorial
Rug — Ballard Designs
Mirrors — Amazon
Wall sconces — World Market
yellow painting — Etsy
All others vintage
BATHROOM
Wallpaper — Barneby Gates, Pheasants, Wallpaper Direct
Wall tile — Tic tac tile, straight
Floor tile — Floor Pops, Altair
Faucet — Parlos
Window Valance — Recreate Your
Pendant light — A19 Artisan Lighting
Vanity light — DecoCreation Studio
Wall mirror — Target
Vintage jars — Vintage
Felt head — Hausmatter Vintage
Corner cabinet — Vintage
Tray on toilet — Target
Soap pump — Target
Hand Towel — Target
Trash can — Marshalls
Vase for Toilet paper — Homegoods
Toilet paper holder on wall — JQK
Towel Ring — Vintage
HALLWAY
Hallway wallpaper — Linwood fabric Amala Red
Cabinet — Vintage
Ceiling light — Amazon
Cordless lamp — Modern Lantern
Lucite shadow box frames — Etsy
Mirror — Chairish
Rug — Nuloom
DAUGHTER’S ROOM
Bedding — West Elm and Target
Headboard — Charish
Book cubby — IKEA
Desk — Charish
Rug — Nuloom
Taped wall using protapes — Tutorial
Window treatments — Spoon flower fabric on cornice boards
All light fixtures — Vintage
Thanks Katherine!
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Correction: An earlier version of this post mistakenly referred to the living room’s paint color as “Oregan.” It’s actually “Oregano.” We’ve updated it to be more accurate—hopefully, we can blame it on Mercury retrograde.
