This Michigan House Has a Different Gorgeous Rug in Every Room
After receiving a sudden MS diagnosis, Katy Maiolatesi explains that she and her husband, Andy, moved from New York to Michigan to be closer to family and to be “back to the same city we lived in for years prior to our NYC adventure.” Katy is an educator and comedy writer and Andy is a staff editor for Audubon Magazine. And for the past nine months they’ve shared this 1876-square-foot house in East Lansing with their two Shih Tzu dogs, Gilly and Jolene.
“We chose this house for its mid-century vibe, even though it needed some design updates. The outside, which initially drew us in, is in great shape, but the inside walls were painted a different circus-type color in every room, and the kitchen and bathrooms needed to be brought into this century,” Katy writes. “We had painters come in before we moved to coat the entire house in the same color — a much appreciated Sherwin-Williams ‘Repose Gray’ lightened by 50%. I, like I do with many things in life, obsessed over this color for weeks before choosing it, and I am very happy with the result. Everything vertical is now bright, cohesive, and soothing.”
“We have slowly updated the kitchen and bathrooms into places that feel new, funky, and calm. If we can’t walk out our door into a bustling NYC street, we are going to make up for that with a house that we want to spend our time in.” Although their kitchen was about “75% renovated” when they moved in, they had new quartz countertops, a sink, and a faucet installed, as well as added a DIY sage green subway tile backsplash. And Katy says they recently added new vinyl flooring.
“Listen, sometimes you have to go with the peel-and-stick vinyl tiles, which have come a long way in recent years,” Katy admits. “They turned out great and I love the punch they give the kitchen. We kept the white appliances and the maple cabinets. At first I was disappointed to be inheriting both, but choosing elements that complement them, rather than having an entirely white kitchen, has been made the space unique and pleasing.”
While Katy describes this home’s decor style as “filled with fun stuff,” she says her own style is always going to be fluid. “Sometimes I see something and immediately know my house needs to have it, and other times I will scour the edges of the Earth to find an item that I’ve conjured in my head and know a room needs.”
Thanks, Katy!
This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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