A SoCal-Feeling, Canadian Bohemian Dream Home

Name: Sophie Leger, hubby Laurent, daughters Charlie and Olive, baby boy Louie, and bad dog Willis the miniature dachshund
Location: Moncton — NB Canada
Size: 2000 square feet
Years lived in: 3 years, owned

After moving out of our last home, which was very cookie cutter/traditional/boxy/closed off, we knew what we didn’t want. So when we stepped foot in this house, we both instantly fell in love. It was just so bright, open, and airy with the skylights and vaulted ceilings. We were sold and knew right away we had to have it.

Fast forward three years later, our home is larger than life with its six inhabitants. It’s full of endless chatter, screams and laughs, crumbs, toys, and laundry. Our eldest daughter Charlie is 7 and is obsessed with Marie Kondo. Olive is 5 and probably the most sensitive child on the planet. And our newest member—baby Louie, who is 10 months old—will probably never learn to walk because he never touches the ground. Our stinkiest member is our beloved miniature dachshund Willis, who will be turning 10 this summer and often seamlessly blends with our home’s decor (it’s kind of a “Where’s Waldo” effect). And finally there’s Laurent and me, who have been together for nearly 12 years.

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: SoCal Feel Canadian Bohemian Dream

What is your favorite room and why? My favorite room is the living room; it is where we spend the majority of our time. It’s cozy and bright and where all the fun stuff happens. You can often find all six of us cozying up on the couch having one of our many “movie nights.”

If you could magically change something about your home, what would it be? I would transport it on a beach somewhere. I type this as my freezing cold lifeless hands attempt to move across the keyboard in this subzero deep freeze we have going on here on the Canadian East Coast. This fall we had the pleasure of renting an Airbnb directly on the beach in Lawrencetown, NS and I cannot describe the joy and serenity we experienced from being oceanfront. It would be a dream to wake up to that every day.

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? Belly Baskets! I am in love with their texture and shape, but mostly their ability to hide a multitude of sins. Just kidding—not sins, but junk in general. With three kids we’ve come to collect large amounts of stuff, and it’s just nice and practical to have these in every room, to make it look like we’ve got our shit together if we need to at a moment’s notice.

Any advice for creating a home you love? My advice is to start with a clean white canvas. I love painting all my spaces white; it’s so easy then to add textures (my fave) and color with accessories and larger pieces. Mixing old vintage/antique pieces with new creates lots of interest and is always one of my top tips.

Thanks, Sophie! Check them out on Les Belles Cabanes.

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*This submission’s responses have been edited for length and clarity.