A very beautiful place!!! It looks so warm! I could totally spend days there without ever leaving... *sigh* I need a vacation:)

Love the rug in the living room too... plus Henry is absolutely adorable! Great post ^.^

the picture of Henry in the chair is priceless!

I applaud all who dare to make any wall in their house black... It is so yummy, especially with white trim.

Lovely home. Full of personality and warmth and charm. LOVE your beautiful stairway and stained glass window, love your kitchen tiles. Nice!

Nice place. I love the photo of your dog in the chair, and the wall of (family?) photos that are all in different styled frames.

Great place! I love that rose-colored paint in the bedroom. It's soothing and romantic at the same time.

Oh, your home is great! The last picture couldnt suit it bettter for a great closure of the slides show! Lovely! (We do that here too, I mean, we turn our dogs into pillows--and they love it! haha!)

very nice home, awesome dogs.
In the closeup photo of the flower you can see a photo framed with the bar code still on it. Ha, I wonder if that was just put there quickly and they forgot to take out the "picture" that comes with the frame, or if it's there for a reason.
That golden mirror... I am currently hunting for one of those

I know EXACLY what you mean by advising ppl not to buy matching sofas and chairs... :(
Loved your black walls, and the curtains in the family room.

Love, love, LOVE your place!!! Such warm and cozy, and full of charm! I fell in love with your fireplace shelf. We have a very similar fireplace and I'm looking for a shelf like yours... Would you care to share the details? Is it a solid piece? Looks like pine... thank you in advance! :)

Thank you everyone for your comments on our home! I've put a list of resources on my facebook page notes (http://bit.ly/36wxke) for those of you you want to see them. If anyone wants the actual paint colors, I'll be happy to give them to you. The room that appears black is actually very dark brown. And to Aster, the photo that has the bar code is actually a magazine cover that I was featured on back in the 90's and the code is the bar code that the magazine uses on its cover. :)

Gorgeous! Where did you get that banana peel vase? I love it!

I LOVE your house. It's fabulous and your personality shines through, which I think is a big part of great design.

It's close to the look I'm going for in my own home. I have two chocolate brown walls in my open layout living room/dining room and I've had a few people think they're black when the lights are dim. Regardless of what color people think the wall is, they always compliment it. I also have white molding around it.

One question: Where did you get that rug in the living room? I love it so much!

looove that blanket on the zebra chair. and the zebra chair.
beautiful home.

What a wonderful home. This is what good design is all about - the kitchen counters are outdated, the fireplace bricks are ugly, the zebra print rug is unfashionable... and yet it all works, because these things are part of an overall tapestry of colour and texture created by personal style rather than adherence to fashions or rules. I like it a lot.

Love the family hanging out pic !! and the dog!! totally adorable house !!

Nikki, the link to your facebook doesn't work :(

Oh Henry...! (have always had a thing for Great Danes)

Lovely warm home.

Lovely rose bedroom. I would be delighted if you would share the paint colour.

I love this house. By far the best I've seen on apt therapy... Your family is adorable!

oh, and what is the kitchen colour - the grey. They are calm warm colours. Quite a feat to achieve that!

And if you don't mind, I was interested to see you remake antique lamps. I have a couple, but the fittings on both (the bit the bulb slots into) have broken. Do you ever have to replace this bit - do modern fittings work?

Here's the resources for everyone who has asked - feel free to message me directly on FB if you have a specific question! - Nikki

Entryway:

wool rug from Overstock.com
Antique entry table, painted black
Vintage 1910 wood Bissel floor sweeper
Chandelier style candelabra
1970’s ceramic oversized vase that used to be a lamp made by an artist

Kitchen:
Drop ceiling was changed from acoustic tile to Ceilume tiles, which look like tin and are paintable...and a green product
backsplash from Home Depot. Comes in sheets, is plastic, looks like tin and is easy to hang!
Painted cabinets white – Sherwin Williams. Used to look like a 1960’s nightmare.
Wall paint from Sherwin Williams from a paint swatch for another cheap brand of paint
Coffee/espresso machine from Craigslist
Whiteboard/corkboard/wall-mounted organizer from Pottery Barn

Living Room
Red wall paint Sherwin Williams Poinsettia
zebra rug from Home Goods
Leather sofa from Jordan's Furniture
antique coffee table from dealer in Boston – originally from China
small desk from Craigslist
chair for desk from neighbor’s curb
large modern chair (now the Great Dane’s chair) from Jordan's Furniture
Fish painting from artist in Paris
Super Nik illustration from best friend/illustrator Christine Marchand
“You Gave Away Your Youth” lithograph created by a friend in college
antique trunk used for tv from...not sure where
Curtains from Pier 1

Family Room
Rug from Company C
Leather sofa from Craigslist
Zebra chair from Home Goods
Red leather swivel chair from Home Goods (to replace the previous chair that the Dane ate)
Curtains from Ikea
Wall mirrors from everywhere – antique stores, home good stores, yard sales
Small end tables – found curb objects, painted black
Buddha encostic painting by Paola Savarino, Boston
Billy Holiday painting on wood by street artist in New Orleans
Egg tempera and gold leaf painting by Gorghey, Paris
Angora throw with multi-colored fringe from Home Goods
Antique trunk used as coffee table - found object

Dining Room
Hand-painted striped walls, Sherwin Williams Gourmet Mushroom and Amber
Table and parson chairs from Overstock.com
Mission chest came with hubby
Framed Contents Magazine cover features a photo of Nikki from the early 90’s
Aluminum antler candlesticks from Roost
Vintage glass book case filled with recipe books
Antique mens armoire turned into a wine & liquor cabinet by John
Original artwork by Nikki

Main Bedroom
Vintage armoire from antique store
Antique zebra wood dresser from Nikki’s childhood
Small end tables from friend
Velvet comforter from Pottery Barn
Sweet Home needlework (framed) gifted from antiques dealer friend in Colorado
Signed Johnathan Adler banana bud vase
Elephant art made by Nikki’s mom
vintage birds print from flea market
Bedside boudoir lamps from Home Goods

Guest Bedroom
Wool rug from Building 19
Bed quilt made by Nikki’s mom, designed by Nikki
Hydrangea painting above bed painted by Nikki
Gold leather chair from Home Goods
Lambs wool throw knit by Nikki’s mom
Self-portrait painted by Nikki
Office desk made by John from old wood found during demo (as part of the ceiling) in an unfinished interior room. Ikea legs made it a desk.
Giant gold mirror came with John
Sock Monsters made by Nikki

Small Bedroom
Wool rug from Building 19
Bed quilt made by Nikki’s mom
Curtains from Target
Electric guitar is Jack’s – he stepped on it and broke the neck, making it a cool piece of artwork
White side table is antique sewing machine (still in there), painted white
Wall paint Sherwin Williams
Floor paint Sherwin Williams

Fourth Bedroom
Not featured because two small boys make it a disaster

Oh, and FB link will work now - I forgot that I had privacy setting set so no one could find me. Those of you with FB understand this!

Blandwagon - thank you for acknowledging our countertops and being honest. They are on the list of things to do! As well as those hideous bricks on our three fireplaces. The house is 120 years old and was last updated before us in the 60's, if I had to guess.

Does anyone have an opinion on painting brick? We've been debating this for 2 years. Re-tuckpointing would be the best solution but with three floor to ceiling fireplaces? Ugh, what a project! Thanks!

N

Definitely a fan of painted brick here. I've done it, with good results.

OMG i love that huuuge doggy.

Beautiful, and more importantly, comfy. As the "Mama" of three dogs (I also have a Frank (a Pug mix) and Henry (an Australian Shepherd) with a Delilah (Pekingese) on the side...I always love seeing the homes of multiple pet owners. People don't understand that you actually can have a lovely home and several pets at the same time. Sure, there is more cleaning, but for me, they help make my home complete.

I love the color choices and I could not agree more about your advice on the non-matching furniture.

This is one of my favorites for sure!

lulu - I've been able to use modern fittings, yes. Depends on the age of the lamp but there are some creative ways around it. I've also re-wired a few (the first time was after the plug of one burst into flames when it got plugged in - I carefully test each one now before use!) - it's really not as hard as it sounds. And if you have a local Paper Source store, they have classes from time to time on how to make your own paper lampshades. Very fun!

Frankie - the rug is from Company C http://www.companyc.com

lulou - the color in the main bedroom is Sherwin Williams Chinchilla. It's actually more of a very grayed out dusty purple and not rose colored at all, however.

kissum - the banana bud vase is part of Jonathan Adler's new line http://www.jonathanadler.com

Everyone - thank you thank you thank you for all the wonderful compliments! We do love our home (and our pooches, too!). And thanks to Tanya for choosing us and taking amazing shots of our home, which is now a captured memory for us when we get old. :)

Blandwagon - I was searching for a way to explain what I thought - well done, couldn't have said it better myself!

Nikki

Thanks for the info. I'll try replacing the fitting on my thirties standard lamp. Wish me luck!

wow...I love your place. I really like those curtains in the living room but can't quite figure them out. Did they come that way or did you alter them somehow? Very cool anyway. Thanks for opening your door to strangers. :-)

I love the curtains in your front family room and how your whole house has such a lovely atmosphere which comes through in the photos. Henry looks so serene 'sitting' on the chair!

Hey! That trunk 'coffee' table is like a deeper version of my 'freecycle' one! I had picked mine up with the idea of using it to put my tv on but it's doing a fine job of storing my yarns for the time being!

As an almost 28-year-old who doesn't quite consider herself an "adult," this tour gives me hope that I too can have a grown-up house someday. The decorating sense is polished with personality - well done!

Misscorinne - my husband always jokes with his kids (my three step-sons) that "Nikki hasn't grown up yet". This is probably why the house looks the way it does. I can still remember finally having enough money to buy my first new couch, really new, right from the store (wow!) Mostly, my sense of style has developed from being not quite adult (despite my 43 years), an artist, broke most of my young adulthood and having a sort of nontraditional view of the world. I really connected with your comment - keep that youthful spirit alive and follow your heart & instincts when decorating your home. It doesn't always have to "make sense" to be right. And thank you for the compliment, of course!

Centerd - those curtains in the living room came just like this from Pier 1. My husband bought them before we met - so they're probably about 4-5 years old? They def look handmade. I think you could totally make something like them out of vintage fabrics, clothing or bedding, if you know how to sew!

Great place,
Definitely paint that brick- I've done it too and it looks great.
Go for it- love the kids and dogs- Thanks for sharing

Acrossthepond - LOVE the word "freecycle"! I'm now using that in my descriptions of the stuff I find!

Everyone - color suggestions on painting the brick? We actively use one fireplace but not the others (the rooms are so small that they become infernos)...and I'm worried if I paint it white (which is my first inclination to keep the paint colors consistent with the trim) that the smoke will create a mess. I'd love any feedback you have!

This home is just great. The lived-in feel is refreshing, yet your taste has kept it from seeming messy. I have the same leather couch and the same dark living room color haha. My favorite house tour by far.

Great homey feeling place with fun and unique pieces! BTW, I LOVE to lay my head on doggies like they are pillows! Very cute family pic ;o)

super tour!!! love your home! and henry!

Did you just paint the plywood on the stairs?

@ Kellenor the stairs are original to the house so they're hardwood. We pulled up the 1980's style wall-to-wall that was on them when we bought the house and that's what was underneath. Thought it was kinda cool so we just left it until we re-finish all the floors (most of which are wide-plank pine).

Your home is beautiful! It's done with such taste and personality. There isn't a boring cliché in site(I'm a little bit Ikea'd out these days). If I could have created a dining table of my dreams, with an inkling of your decorative eye, it would have been yours. Did it come from Overstock.com as-is? The color is precisely what I've been looking for to paint a few items around our place. If I can copy your dining table with a few cans of paint and a sheet of glass, or even lacquer finishing, I will be fulfilled.

Nice place. I love the photo of your dog in the wine cabinet, and the wall of (family?) photos that are all in different styled frames.