Name: Tanya
Location: Manchester, New Hampshire
Size: 900 square feet
Years lived in: Rented for 1.5 years
If this vibrant House Tour looks a little familiar to you, it should! You may recognize Tanya's professional name, Violet Marsh, from our popular January Boston House Call — Violetmarsh's Colorful Collection. Our small peek into Tanya's home was so popular that we convinced her to let us do a full-on House Tour with more photos. Tanya is a photographer who recently returned to her hometown of Manchester, New Hampshire after living in both New York and San Francisco. In the 2 years she has lived in this bright Victorian, she used her photographer's eye, and has creatively restored vintage and street-finds to turn this sunny rental into a vibrant and romantic breath of fresh air.
Walking into Tanya's home, we were bowled over by her confident use of color, while her home exudes a comfortable calm. Each room has curved walls, which would present more than the usual challenge for anyone to furnish, especially the living room which also includes four doorways. But the lack of corners is an architectural detail that she's accentuated with feminine and modern decor. Her romantic style mixes curvy antiques and rescued furniture that she's refinished and painted, as well as a few well-curated new items sprinkled in. She's created an approachable and peaceful home that makes you want to take your shoes off, walk barefoot on her fluffy rug and stay for dinner.
Tanya's creativity extends way outside her home. Her photography studio, Violet Marsh, started as a side business, but is now very busy. In her studio, like her home, she doesn't follow the rules (her portraits are delightfully non-traditional), which adds to their charm and her success. And after our AT Boston January House Call, Violetmarsh's Colorful Collection, she even started working with some Apartment Therapy readers who hired her to consult on their home design!
AT Survey
Style: Feminine, vibrant, curated, modern and vintage.
Favorite Element: The turret!
Most Talked about Element: Since bringing home the giant sheepskin rug for the living room, everyone touches it and asks where I found it. Before I got the rug it was my bed. The placement of it, angled in front of three windows, is very dramatic. Everyone is shocked that I only paid $110 for it. Un-inflated prices is one advantage of living in New Hampshire.
Biggest Challenge: The living room because there are no walls to put furniture against and there is only one south facing window so there is not much natural light. This room was empty for months when I first moved in because I didn’t know what to do with it. Slowly it came together and adding the sheepskin rug really finished the room. Before the rug, the couch and coffee table were floating and not grounded in the space. Living on the first floor is also challenging. My windows are all covered with sheers for privacy. Living higher up gives you the freedom to have unobstructed windows and better views.
Favorite Room: I spend most of my time in my bedroom. This may be the result of having lived in studio apartments for four years. I do my photo editing at the glass desk, and I read or watch movies in bed a lot during the winter. I think the nicest room in the apartment is the studio. The light is phenomenal in there. It’s also the only room that doesn’t have extra doors or oddly placed built-ins. The other rooms are a bit more choppy since this is an apartment created from a house.
Oldest Item: The American antique dresser set in my bedroom and matching desk in my living room. This was given to me by my grandparents when I was 14 and it’s the only set I’ve had since.
Cleaning and Organizing Tip: My grandmother said, “When you take something out put it away, and when you dirty something, clean it.” I say, “Keep things simple." I have one set of plates, one cocktail shaker, one set of pots and pans, one sewing machine, one set of towels etc. It's easier that way.
What People Say: If they don't know me well they say, "This is such a cool apartment, how much do you pay for rent?" If they know me they say, "Beautiful. You're so creative."
Biggest Embarrassment: The natural gas heating unit in my living room. It was installed this fall and it’s a horrible eye sore. It’s a brown plastic unit that takes up half of a small wall where I use to have a chair. As someone who values aesthetics, not having a choice in something that is so prominent in the room is tough. That is the dark side of renting.
Proudest DIY: The yellow-green table in my living room. I found it in the trash and loved the shape. When I stripped the many layers of brown and red paint, I found brass hardware!
Biggest Indulgence: The brushed stainless steel All-Clad cookware set from Williams-Sonoma. I come from a family of bargain shoppers where TJ Maxx and Marshall’s were household names.
Best Advice: Only buy things you truly love and take your time to figure out what that is. In my first apartment, I used plastic forks and knives for months until I found flatware that was good quality, affordable, and well designed. I still use this flatware and I still love it. Resist the urge to settle!
Dream source: ABC Carpet, although since I am dreaming, I would prefer to travel the world and curate my own collection.
Inspiration: ABC Carpet, fabric from Purl, Pattern, Plants, Paris, antique gold frames, manicured trees, scrolling ironwork, small spaces, museums, traveling, fancy hotels like Liberty Hotel in Boston.
Resources
Duvet: DKNY collection from Macy's
Living Room Sofa: C.A. Hoitt, Manchester
Bedroom Vintage Chair: OPUS, Manchester
Alabaster Bust in Kitchen: OPUS, Manchester
Umbrella Lighting Cover: Pearl River (NYC)
Bedroom Sconce: New York Vintage, NYC
Rug: HomeGoods
Window Treatments: IKEA
Bed: Concord Antique Gallery
Paint: Star Shine by Behr
Thanks Tanya!
Photos by Violet Marsh
Honest question for those who shelve books by color - how do you find anything?!
I do love the light in Tanya's place. I'm sure it helps that the homeowner is a professional photographer.
view FiatLex's profile
i love this!
(minus the color-coded books -- sorry...)
view abigailbelle's profile
I color-code my books and have no problem finding the one I want.
I'm a visual person, so I always think of books by color.
view tenderleaf's profile
FlatLex--
I sort my books by color. Since you own your books, you know what they look like. Being more of a visual person than a word person, I'll remember the look of a book's spine or where it sits on a shelf before I might its title. Probably helps that I don't have that many books.
Tanya--
Beautiful apt. Love the bed and rug!
view azure's profile
i have been hoping and patiently waiting for this house tour! i love it!
thank you for sharing!
view pixstyx's profile
when i was 8 years old, i would have chosen this house in exactly this way - and i mean that in such a good way you have no idea.
this is the most inviting space i've seen in a long time.
view creative*type's profile
Thanks, tenderleaf and azure. I'd be able to find a few books just because I remember that they're Everyman's Library cloth editions with dark blue bindings, but I couldn't tell you the color of the spine of, say, Madame Bovary. I'm sure it's a combination of having too many books and being a little OCD about being able to find things easily. :)
view FiatLex's profile
FlatLex-- your Madame Bovary is probably a Penguin classic you got in college or high school--so most likely in the orange section:)
view azure's profile
So, so beautiful. The palette, the antiques, the arrangements. And you own my dream bed, just so you know. I will now throw myself on the floor and kick and scream until you give it to me.
view rosenatti's profile
WOW! I am seriously jealous now and wish that I could find find myself a defines style. I really need help. :(
view venus_thames's profile
Lovely!
Tanya- I must know where you got the drapes in your living space. I have a little obsession with that pattern, and I'm just about to do a blog post about it!
http://shockthebourgeois.blogspot.com
view shockthebourgeois's profile
lovely!
view JulesDC's profile
So beautiful! However, with that architecture, I think it would be hard to screw up.
view narchitect's profile
Very sexy.
view bromelia's profile
every room is wonderful. love the whimsy and the natural light. thanks so much for sharing
view Sassy in SF's profile
Sooo beautiful.
view purplegold's profile
Shockthebourgeois- I think those curtains are discontinued Ikea. They do have some rugs with that pattern ... http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30109305 Maybe the curtains are still available in-store?
view lulu77's profile
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-IKEA-ANDREA-Curtains-Drapes-GREEN-Brown-MOD-Retro_W0QQitemZ310125079936QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCurtains_Drapes_Scarves_Valances?hash=item310125079936&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50
view lulu77's profile
Beautiful place, I love your kitchen, particularly the cabinets.
About your biggest indulgence, TJ Maxx and Marshalls have the best prices on open stock All Clad, Calphalon, and Le Creuset!!
view MansardRoof's profile
Lovely!
I also sort my books by colours but I have to admit I do have difficulties to find certain books ;-)
view Lillian's profile
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view Hinke's profile
One of my favourite tours ever. I just love how bright and sunny this is, the photography, the style, everything. Did you paint those shelves above the boots? If so, can you share what colour you used?
view momnipotent's profile
AMAZING!! I'd love to live in that space... one of my fave tours for sure.
view DL27's profile
Beautiful! Tanya - I love your bed frame. I would be curious to know where you got it.
view krojahn's profile
I love the sheepskin rug and I have a smaller version in my bedroom. It feels soft and cushy under the feet and my dog loves to lie on it. My problem is keeping it clean. Does anyone know how to clean a sheepskin rug? I shake mine out, but it's starting to look a little clumpy and dusty.
Thanks!
view ensuenos's profile
i really loved looking at these pics. lots of lovely little details. thanks for sharing your home.
view red.door.read.'s profile
I think I'm in love. With its natural lighting, and the right balance of luxe and shabby chic, it just feels so lived in and happy. I especially want one of those cream brackets under the bright pink shelves. It's absolutely gorgeous.
view irish's profile
I love how bright & light everything is. You have a wonderful home.
view LB783's profile
ensuenos, I handwash our dog's sheepskin in mild soap, dry it on the line and it works perfectly.
view bromelia's profile
Hi Tanya! I live in Exeter not too far from you and I was wondering if you knew of any good thrift shops in the Manchester area. I'm more familiar with the Seacoast so I don't make it your way very often even though it's only 25 minutes away. I sometimes go to the Salvation Army in Salem, but am looking for some place new.
Love your apartment!!
Thanks!!
view giggit's profile
Whew...It's nice to hear that I'm not the only one who ate with plastic forks until I found the perfect silverware set. Thanks for sharing! Beautiful Home.
view dawndedecorator's profile
Gorgeous home, I love the welcoming vibe and great light.
Here's an idea for covering radiators/cooling units via ikeahacker
http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2009/03/handsome-makeover-for-ugly-ac-unit.html
view Vero Moda's profile
LOVE
view tabithacat's profile
I love your home SO much. It is so inspirational. :)
view caitlinmarie's profile
lovely home!
who makes those black pull-on boots in photo 11? they look like great barn boots and I'm in need of a new pair!
view my little apartment's profile
lulu77Chances are you won't see this, but thank you! Those are EXACTLY what my living room needs :)
Of course my space won't look half as good as Tanya's. I keep flipping back to this tour- it's gorgeous.
view shockthebourgeois's profile
Beautiful home, you have a great eye! This home tour makes me so happy because I also live in an old Manchester apartment. I moved here last July and I'm still in the process of decorating.
Giggit - You could try OPUS ( http://www.opusnh.com/ ) It looks like Tanya bought a few of her things there. It's a fun consignment shop in Manchester.
view Megan in AZ's profile
This is really lovely. It reminds me of urban outfitters meets anthropologie, and I mean that in the best way possible. Lots of girly touches and bright colors and I just adore the bright white everywhere. Beautiful place.
view imavunderbrah's profile
Very charming, modern, lived-in and light without being either too sparse or too cluttered. Wish I could master that skill...
view Hydra's profile
this is one of my favorite tours of all time, for some reason this apartment matches my taste perfectly. i like the living room and studio sitting area best.
great post, and adorable space. great use of color.
view search4rosie's profile
Tanya, your apartment makes me want to move back to NH! The curvature of the walls really adds terrific yin energy and your use of color makes me smile.
Katy
http://fengshuibyfishgirl.com
view fishgirl's profile
I'm not usually into romantic spaces, but this is gorgeous. All the bright whiteness really brings out all the nice colour choices in furniture and objects. You are so lucky to have this place.
view Rebecca_J's profile
What a beautiful home. I hope one day my home takes on that lovely romantic quality. Thanks for sharing!
view crash's profile
This is my dream bachelorette apartment!
view ecw0389's profile
hello all! thanks for your awesome fedback! it is so fun to read. here are the answers to your questions:
1. drapes in LR are from IKEA
2. bed is from concord antique gallery, concord nh
3. pink shelves in LR were painted using glossy ralph lauren paint-- don't know the paint color.
4. my sheepskin rug is faux so i think i can dry clean it.
5. thrift stores: OPUS in manch, concord antique gallery, log house antique gallery in hooksett, and goodwill in hooksett.
6. black boots: they are dark green actually and i got them in london last year.. can't remember where.
view violetmarsh's profile
If I didn't have kids and a husband - this is how I would decorate and live. I LOVE it. So relaxing. I love the whites/yellows with your great shots of "oddball" colors to break it up. Especially like the cabinet in the kitchen.
view tenbar's profile
one of my favorite house tours yet!
view michu25's profile
i agree with michu25. definitely a favorite of mine!
also, i'm insanely jealous of our amazing natural light.
view abigailbelle's profile
like a breath of fresh air---it's lovely!
view bcthree's profile
Great apt. Where did you get the mirror that's hanging on the wall next to the bookshelves?
view moniquejoyce's profile
moniquejoyce- the mirror is from morocco.
view violetmarsh's profile
I am getting ready to move into a space that needs some serious tlc. I have found myself constantly looking at this post for inspiration. I'm in love.
And can anyone tell me where I might find those shelving brackets and wall hooks?
view mechelle's profile
mechelle: thank you for your kind comments. striped wall hooks are from anthropolgie, shelves are from IKEA and painted and the brackets i bought at the chelsea flea market, NYC. happy decorating!
view violetmarsh's profile
I like your flat, but I think if the view from when you are sat down on the sofa was more minimalist, it would look better
view emal's profile