This Home Features Budget Decor Ideas Like DIY Artwork, Bold Black and White Stripes, and More
Name: Chelsea Missiris, my dreamy husband, and hairy Bernadoodle
Location: Jersey City, New Jersey
Type of home: Historic Carriage House
Size: 800 square feet
Years lived in: 2 years, owned
Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: We were walking around Jersey City one day and saw a sign for an open house so we popped in just to see. Immediately walking through the door we were in awe. This carriage house is totally hidden from the street—you would never even know it’s there, and feels like a secret garden. I was instantly in love.
Powder Room- I love having a dramatic powder room. The stripes are a fun surprise to guests. I painted them myself as well as added caning to the vanity (DIY on my instagram).
Built in 1865 by John B. Coles, it housed his horses. You can still see the archway they walked through in the brick! Being an interior designer I obviously want my home to be a show stopper—just like all my clients. However, I don’t exactly have the budget that my clients have; I had to get creative. I used a lot of paint to give it a fresh look (like my DIY striped bathroom or painting all my kitchen cabinets a light grey and changing the hardware).
Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Vintage, artistic, layered, cozy, eclectic.
What is your favorite room and why? I love my dining room! We host lots of dinner parties and have so many laughs around that table. The chandelier casts a beautiful glow and the gallery wall of all the artwork I’ve painted make me happy.
Any advice for creating a home you love? I think a home needs to be eclectic and mixed so it doesn’t feel like you just pulled everything from a catalog. It should feel lived in. Curate pieces you love over time from the places you have been. If you find something that you like but doesn’t really go, make it work by refinishing or painting it.
This submission’s responses were edited for length and clarity.