A Charming, Eclectic Farmhouse in Michigan

Written by

Diana PaulsonPhotographer
Diana PaulsonPhotographer
Equipped with an eye for photography and an interior design background, Diana has been blending these two passions to create stunning images for Apartment Therapy.
updated Apr 30, 2019

A Charming, Eclectic Farmhouse in Michigan

Written by

Diana PaulsonPhotographer
Diana PaulsonPhotographer
Equipped with an eye for photography and an interior design background, Diana has been blending these two passions to create stunning images for Apartment Therapy.
updated Apr 30, 2019
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Home Type
Bedrooms
Square feet

2000

Sq ft

2000

Name: Kim and Patrick + daughter Fiona + dog CeCe
Location: Brighton, Michigan
Size: 2,000 square feet
Years lived in: 5 years, owned

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Built in 1940 — with a mint green exterior and eggplant shutters — Kim and Patrick’s Cape Cod style house is steeped in history. “There has only been one owner prior to us and the land for the home was originally parceled from the lot belonging to the house next door. Two brothers living side by side with a little foot path connecting the two houses,” Kim describes. They were the first homes built in the area; most of the other houses date from the ’70s and ’80s. “The floors creak with every step and it gets drafty during the winter, but it is the coziest place we have ever lived.”

Kim works full time making CAD catalogs for a cabinet manufacturer by day and is a talented illustrator by night, specializing in custom house portraits and landscapes. Her husband is in law enforcement, but they both enjoy treasure hunting at thrift stores, refurnishing old things, and tackling DIY projects. They also love playing with their two-year-old daughter in the beautiful home they’ve created.

Apartment Therapy Survey:

Our Style: We have a quirky mix of vintage with some mid-mod, farmhouse, and traditional elements. Very eclectic!

Inspiration: I am always inspired by nature, but of course the internet. My favorite design blogs are The Makerista and The Hunted Interior.

Favorite Element: All the crooked frames filled with family photos, my artwork, and memories.

Biggest Challenge: The floors! With a German Shepherd (read: German Shedder), I am always cleaning up her tumbleweeds. She has scratched the floors (all original hardwood) and we would love to refinish them someday.

What Friends Say: That it has a gathered and homey feel.

Biggest Embarrassment: Our bedroom rug is actually turned over to the backside because our dog pulled many of the fibers out on the front and we never replaced it! Also, our windows constantly have little hand prints and doggy nose prints.

Proudest DIY: The sideboard in the dining room and the light in the kitchen. Also, all the tile in the house we did ourselves. Patrick finished the walk-out attic space off of the master bedroom with reclaimed oak flooring from a resale shop, and it looks great!

Biggest Indulgence: Does a Kinetico count? The fancy water filtration that you absolutely must have when you live on a well. We also had the home retrofitted with insulation to help keep it warm and quiet. I recently started diffusing Young Living essential oils in place of scented candles to improve air quality and to pursue a healthier lifestyle.

Best Advice: Don’t be afraid! Every DIY project has a moment of oh, no no no, why did I start this (read: anytime you paint something dark), but I have been so pleased with the outcome of projects I initially regretted starting.

Dream Sources: Anthropologie! and I would love to visit the flea markets in Paris.

Resources:

PAINT & COLORS
Dining Room — Chalkboard Paint
Upstairs Bathroom — Behr – Antique Tin
Entry/Hall/Kitchen — Behr – Chocolate Froth
Living room paint — custom (some of the walls are actually different shades of the same color!).

ENTRY
Stair Treads — Improvements
Hall Runners — Overstock

LIVING ROOM
TV Console — Remington style from Target (no longer available)
Storage Basket — IKEA
Cushion Covers — IKEA
Pink fringe throw blanket —
Nordstrom
Drapes — IKEA
Rug — nuLoom from Overstock.com

DINING ROOM
Printer’s sideboard — DIY with plans from Ana White
Bamboo mat/rug — French Freak
Oil and diffuser — Young Living
Drapes — HomeGoods
Round chair cushion — Home Decorators

KITCHEN
Appliances — KitchenAid
Overhead light — DIY
Track light — Lowes

SUN PORCH
Chairs and cushions — IKEA
Velvet Pillows — World Market

BEDROOM
Mattress — IKEA
Duvet — IKEA
Drapes — IKEA
Sheepskin — IKEA
Ladder Shelf — Art Van
Chair — HomeGoods
Mirrors — Target

FIONA’S ROOM
Rug — nuLoom
Crib — Target
Bookshelf — HomeGoods
Good Lookin’ Pillow — H&M
Drapes — Target

BATHROOM
Rolling Cart — HomeGoods
Floor Mat — HomeGoods
Other Sources — Salvation Army, Habitat ReStore, Estate Sales, my mother in law, and the Property Disposition at University of Michigan.

Thanks, Kim!


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