Melissa & Kevin’s “All About the DIYs” in Old Rosedale

Name: Melissa and Kevin; children Elle, Harper and Beckham; and Ally the cat
Location: Old Rosedale Gardens; Livonia, Michigan
Size: 2,000 square feet
Years lived in: 3 years; Owned

Melissa and Kevin are raising their family in the Detroit suburb of Livonia. They live in the historic Old Rosedale Gardens neighborhood, which was modeled after Detroit’s Rosedale Park. Most homes in the neighborhood were built in the 1920s and 30s and each house looks different. I grew up in Old Rosedale, so I know the friendly neighbors, the mature trees, the archways and coved ceilings, the creaking floors – and the small rooms. Melissa and Kevin appreciated the home’s historic charm but realized they could only fit their growing family in the house if they added onto it. The addition of a family room (and powder room) with a flat roof allowed the family to create a master suite upstairs.

In the survey below, Melissa and Kevin said friends ask, “Do your kids really live here?” After seeing the spotless living room with three little kids, I wondered the same thing. When playtime is over, toys are kept out of sight in the dining room’s yellow armoire. But there are clues that, yes, the kids live here: galaxy stickers on the ceiling above Elle’s bed, chipped paint from small shoes hitting the staircase risers and a kid-sized bright pink dining set.

Harper followed me from room to room, modeling for some shots and acting as my proud tour guide. “This is my brother’s room… this is my mom and dad’s bathroom… my dad put these silver handles on the doors… that’s a picture of my brother.” Kevin’s photography is displayed throughout the house, from family portraits in the living room to Detroit architecture in the powder room.

Our Style: Contemporary chic/transitional.

Inspiration: Pinterest and Houzz.

Favorite Element: The historic charm.

Biggest Challenge: The layout.

What Friends Say: “Do your kids really live here?”

Biggest Embarrassment: The yard! We haven’t made it out there yet.

Proudest DIY: We’re all about DIYs at our house, but we’re proudest of the pallet wall in our baby boy’s nursery.

Biggest Indulgence: Our bed. We don’t splurge on much, but the bed is worth every square inch with three kids who like to snuggle.

Best Advice: Take it room by room. We used to do projects here and there, but nothing really seemed finished. Once we focused on each area to completion, everything started to tie together.

Dream Sources: Restoration Hardware and Ballard Designs.

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