Before and After: A Wood-Everywhere 1950s Home Gets a Bright New Life
When Laura Wilson and her fiancé purchased their 1959 home from the original owner, they knew the house needed a lot of love. They also knew they had their work cut out for them. “This home had multiple layers of finishes from past times and had been neglected since, BUT we saw the potential!” Laura writes.
The couple spent two months and about $30,000 in Canadian dollars renovating the whole main floor, doing most of the work themselves.
“As designers, we were comfortable with that portion of the job, but it was the first time renovating ourselves,” writes Laura, who co-owns Velvet Sweatpants Interior Design with Sarah Ward. “We had a lot of ups and downs, but learned so much! Mostly it [truly is] just a lot of blood sweat and tears when you are doing it all by yourselves; a great test of a relationship!”
“We are all round very proud of the space!” Laura writes. She said she “wouldn’t change a thing” in the living room—though she would love to purchase the Article Nirvana sofa at some point.
To stay on budget, Laura says they opted for an IKEA kitchen and purchased appliances on Canadian classifieds site kijiji.
Laura describes the home’s new feel as comfortable and unpretentious. “I love the boho cottage vibe and how we made a small space so functional and made it feel like home to anyone walking through the door,” Laura writes.
That includes what Laura calls the “flex space,” to the left of the door when you enter.
In the bathroom, chic new tile replaced dated flooring and particularly stands out.
And in the bedroom, new flooring and window treatments also made a major difference.
“It’s hard work but the end result is so rewarding!” Laura writes.
Thanks for sharing, Laura!