Emily & Jonnie’s Style Collage Apartment

Name: Emily & Jonnie Coutu of Hundred Acre Design
Location: Worcester, MA

My husband Jonnie and I have been renting our 1100 square foot pre-war apartment in Worcester, MA for 5 years. We chose it for its architectural details, high ceilings and large windows, and didn’t mind that it was lacking in some amenities such as a dishwasher, central air and in-unit laundry. As an architectural designer, original moldings trump modern conveniences every time!

We started out with very little furniture and a very small budget, so we decided to make our own dining room table using an old solid pine tabletop, an antique farmhouse door and the legs of a 1950s drafting table— all items we found at yard sales and thrift shops. After that, we made a desk for ourselves, and soon after, a desk for a friend. This began what has now become our fledgling design and furniture business called Hundred Acre Design.

In addition to handmade furnishings, much of our home is filled with Craigslist and consignment shop finds. The dining room chairs were from an old filling station, and the daybed pillow covers are vintage Army Navy linens. The Chinese Chippendale rattan chairs (photo below) were found at an antique store in Portsmouth, NH, and we painted them and reupholstered them with vintage shoe leather and ticking fabric.

Our home features an eclectic mix of farmhouse, mid-century modern and industrial, and that collage of styles defines our unique approach to design.

Thanks, Emily & Jonnie!

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