An Outdated Duplex in a Small Alaska Town Turned Warm, Cozy Home
Name: Rachel Klein, her husband and his brother
Location: Sitka, Alaska
Size: 800 square feet
Years lived in: 3.5 years, owned
You got to see a look into Rachel Klein’s Alaska home—and her interior design skills—with her kitchen’s before and after published earlier this year. She recently submitted more photos of the rest of her home… and like the kitchen redo, the entire place is now bright, airy, warm and welcoming.
Rachel, her husband Zach, and his brother share this duplex, living in the larger side and renting out the other side, which is a one-bedroom apartment. “Our side of the house is about 800 square feet and although there are three of us, we love its cozy feel. It definitely needed a bit of work when we moved in and the very first project we did was a new paint job throughout the home.”
What is your favorite room and why? My favorite room is probably the living room because that is where we spend the most time. I love sinking into our comfy couch with a good book or to watch some TV. It’s the most social room in our home and where the three of us spend most of our time together.
Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Small, bright, cozy, and inviting.
If you could magically change something about your home, what would it be? If I could magically change anything about our home, it would be the bathrooms; they are very dated and funky (not in a good way). We have been mentally preparing ourselves to renovate them in the near future, but it seems like such a daunting task (although it will be so worth it once it’s done!).
“Our kitchen was in the worst shape, so we eventually remodeled that in 2016 (previously featured on AT). We still have a little more work to do, especially with the two bathrooms, but it is a great home for us.”
What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? One of the last things I bought for our home was the rug in our living room. We wanted a larger area rug, and although I love flatwoven rugs, Zach really wanted one with some plush to make it comfier to walk and lay on. We found an 8×10 for a great price at Target and it fits in our space really well. Plus, it is super comfy!
Any advice for creating a home you love? I don’t worry too much about other people’s styles or opinions about trends (besides Zach’s). It is our home, so we create it to fit our lifestyle and what we personally like. We also display art, books, and knick-knacks we’ve collected over the years since they remind us of places we’ve been and things we love. These personal touches are really what makes it feel like home.
Thanks, Rachel!
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