Name: Jay & Melissa
Location: Manchester, New Hampshire
Size: 1,250 square feet
Years lived in: Owned – 6 years
Who else lives there: Dogs Brady and Cali and Cats Mama, Tony, and Pepper
Jay and Melissa made an offer on this two family on Manchester's South side six years ago only to find out through Melissa's mom that the home had been built by her grandfather in 1950. They started renovating the second floor unit first to attract a tenant, and moved in to the first floor "as-is" opting to renovate their unit while living there.
Only the brave take on a complete renovation while living in the space, but Jay, a professional painter and general handy man, is wired for these types of projects. Their home is made cozy by their choices of plush furniture, throw blankets, and vignetted nooks, and is unified by neutral creams and natural wood. The fresh baked cookies and colorful cut roses adorning all rooms pay tribute to their bed & breakfast inspired feel.
Melissa is a graphic designer and likes incorporating typography. The DIY triptych in the living room exemplifies this as well as the burlap coffee sack curtains she made using simple black ribbon.
All flooring other than the back living room (which is still on their to do list) has mix-matched original hardwood floors and no two rooms are the same. There are polyurethane boards in some rooms, while others are left sanded and dull, making a quilt-like pattern in the space, complimenting their aesthetic.
In their kitchen they removed an L-shaped corner counter top and added a center island from IKEA. In order to integrate the modern island into the space, they covered it with bead board and added a matching laminate counter top. They made the island big enough to fit up to 8 people and use this intimate setting for dinner guests, rather than a formal dining room.
Now that the work is nearly completed, they are looking for another fixer-upper two family and hope to have at it once again.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Our style: Cozy chic with a feminine, vintage flair.
What is your greatest inspiration? I find inspiration everywhere I look. Jay and I are always on the lookout for unique items from flea markets and consignment shops or even our neighbor's lawns.
Favorite Element: The open concept and overall character of the space
Biggest Challenge: Very little storage.
What Friend's Say:"It's always so cozy in here..."
Biggest Embarrassment: Can't think of anything we don't like.
Proudest DIY: The remodel of the entire house, top to bottom.
Biggest Indulgence: Beds and bedding, no question.
Best Advice: Make your own curtains and slipcovers, it costs half the price.
Dream Source: Anthropologie and Pottery Barn
Other Inspiration: Bed & Breakfasts, Elle Décor, Architectural Digest, Country Living and design websites
Resources:
Appliances: Kenmore Elite
Hardware: Home Depot
Furniture: Yard sales, Craigslist, hand-me-downs, HomeGoods, antique stores, Pier1, Purely Wood, Bob's , OPUS in Manchester
Lighting: Target, Pier1, HomeGoods, Consignment
Rugs and Carpets: Building 19, Home Depot and HomeGoods
Window Treatments:Coffee sacks from Ebay, and Target
Paint: All Sherwin Williams
Flooring: Original to the house
Thanks, Jay & Melissa and good luck on your next project!
Images: Before shots: Jay and Melissa, After: Tanya Lacourse
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I love this! Especially the kitchen. So glad to see a local home....I work in Manchester and live in Nashua. Gorgeous home, Jay & Melissa!
Lovely. Very light and airy feeling. I am particularly fond of the coffee sack valances.
The House Tour stops at image #12 unless thumbnails are unhidden - why does this keep happening, AT? I would so enjoy a scroll-down tour, and my wrist would appreciate it, too.
Beautiful home!
thanks *lynn* - slideshow should be working fine now
Thanks, Janel, yes, it is. And thanks, too, for the details accompanying each image - so much appreciated!
The coffee sack curtains are nice.
Lovely job, beautiful colors.
You are very brave to have lived thru renovation.
Only complaint is not seeing all the animals and which pretty kitty was in the pic?
Thank you!! And I also wish all the animals could have made the cut (lol) That's our cat Pepper in the pic :)
I really like this! Great job!
I love the work you did on the back room with all the wood paneling! It's amazing what some primer and well-appointed paint colors can do for a room! I also really like the color the your bathroom - such a crisp blue.
Where did you find the dark wood chest in the hallway? Was that a yard sale find or from one of the stores you noted?
great job.
Looks cozy..but all the beige is boring. I don't really like anything about this home except the original windows and those coffee sack curtains are an eye sore.
Ya know what? This isn't my style at all. It's got this country bumpkin kinda feel and the colours are not visually appealing to me personally. All around, I can assume a lot of readers would criticize this.
BUT! A huge but! It has a lot of personality, it's laid out well and I very much like the patriotic, American cozy environment they've created. It looks like a home. And it has a very unique style if you look at the little details.
Imagine hanging with a bunch of great friends on that couch with some pies and cocktails? It's inviting and represents the couple.
Super job.
great reno! I love the picture frame/photo in the master bedroom. What's holding the picture in place?
Thanks for all the nice comments!
The dark wood chest in the kitchen was from a neighbor's yard sale.
The photo above the bed is laminated on a window that was original to the house.
I'm so glad you didn't rip and replace the kitchen cause I love it and the island fits in well.
Beautiful job. I almost didn't look at this tour because the title said "mid-century" (which I'm getting very tired of as it all is starting to look the same to me.) This place in inviting and has great personality. And your cat, Pepper is a beauty!
Nice. I like the story of buying a house and then finding out your grandfather built it.
Love the colors. It is all lovely.
mid-century? 19th century, right?
Yes, it was built in 1950 by my mother's grandfather...
Absolutely LOVE it, a very warm and inviting home!
Beautiful!LOve the burlap window treatments...what a great idea. The whole house is just pretty without being too fussy.
I love it! It truly looks homey.
i love this place; it really feels like a home with personality. kudos also for working with unsightly wood panelling
Hi! I would like to copy your burlap valances and was wondering if they are on a rod or did you fasten them to the wall some other way?
Thank you!