Leila’s Vintage Cocoon in Ottawa

Name: Leila Younis and Ike the Pug
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Size: 1,400 square feet
Years lived in: 4 years; Owned

Leila’s 110 year-old house is spacious, welcoming, and filled to the brim with personality. Since she bought the home four years ago, Leila has taken the time to make the space her own with both large renovation projects such as the kitchen or smaller touches like the accent walls in the living room and craft room.

Leila combines her professional experience in graphic design and web development with her love for vintage decor. She often goes on antique hunting trips and her basement is full of pieces that she ends up selling to make more room for new finds. She is also an avid collector; vintage tin toys, rosaries, and first aid kits are among the many collections scattered throughout her house.

After collecting vintage pennants for a long time, she decided to make her own. On her Etsy store, Meltingplastic, you can order custom-made felt pennants in three different sizes. She also makes other felt goods like cushions and mobiles, such as the one she is currently working on for a friend’s baby.

My Style: Vintage cocoon 🙂

Inspiration: Jersey Ice Cream Company. It’s like they can see into my interior design/decor dreams.

Favorite Element: The kitchen sink. It was a gift from a friend. She bathed both her babies in it! It was special to her and I can’t thank her enough for giving it to me. The staircase is a close second. It is original to the house and about 110 years old. I love how timeworn it is.

Biggest Challenge: The house faces north and has small windows so it can be a challenge to make the space feel bright. I’m a big lover of indoor greenery and the lack of light also means I can’t fill the space with plants the way I’d like to.

What Friends Say: My friend Bruce describes my home simply as “Darwin’s cottage”. Friends find the space “inviting and welcoming”. “Warm” is another word I hear a lot.

Biggest Embarrassment: The back room. It slants away from the home and it’s in need of some serious updating- that horrible linoleum floor and those big box store cupboards. That room is next on my list of house upgrades.

Proudest DIY: The cushions on the spare bed. I love how they turned out and I think I want to make some more to add more of a personal touch to my home.

Biggest Indulgence: The pergola on the back deck. The backyard gets so much sun and without the pergola to provide a little shade it would be unbearable to be back there. Another big indulgence was the reupholstered sofa and chair. My friend sold the pair to me for a very good price. They had suffered a lot of damage from her kitties and were in desperate need of a complete recover. It cost more than I cared to spend, but it was worth it to see them restored to their former Mid-century glory.

Best Advice: It’s your space. Make it a space you want to be in.

Dream Sources: Antique and flea markets. Truck Furniture makes some incredible pieces I’d love to own. And I’ve always wanted a SMEG fridge. One day. One. Day.

• Sideboard: Salvation Army
• Large painting: Victor Henry
• Sofa: bought from a friend
• Chair: bought from a friend
• Bookshelf: Ikea
• Project turntable: Planet of Sound
• Castle speakers: Planet of Sound
• Armoire: antique from Quebec
• Rug: bought from a friend
• Pioneer receiver: vintage flea market find
• Sheepskin: Costco
• Floor lamps: flea market finds
• Antlers: Antiquus Goods
• First aid books: found at various flea markets
• Chemist bottles: gift from a friend
• Doll: antique store in Ottawa

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*Re-edited from a tour previously published