This “Strawberry Box”-Style Mid-Century House Has the Most Charming Original Details
Name: Julie Doan-Prevost, fiancé, and cat
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Type of home: House
Size: 1,200 square feet
Years lived in: 2 years, owned
Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: My fiancé and I have been living in our “strawberry box”-style mid-century home for a little under two years. We fell in love with the original details in the house, like the original hardwood and arched doorways. Having moved in at the peak of pandemic-related supply-chain issues, we had no choice but to dive head-first into secondhand shopping to furnish our new home.
We absolutely fell in love with the hunt for finding unique pieces for our home and have not looked back since. Our home is about 80% secondhand and 20% new items. We are always adding new unique pieces to our home and love the thrill of finding that holy-grail item.
Two main factors affect our decision regarding decorating our home: sustainability and staying true to the era of our home. We take many steps to live sustainably, and that includes being selective in what we bring into our home, and how those items are obtained. We strive to obtain as much as possible through secondhand means, and if new items are essential, we try to ensure they will have longevity in our home. Secondly, we try to stay true to the era of our home. Being built in 1952, the home retains a lot of post-war characteristics, and we try to maintain that feel while incorporating different styles throughout the home.
Describe your home’s style in 5 words or fewer: Mid-century, postmodern, Bauhaus, thrifted, vintage.
What is your favorite room and why? My favourite room has to be our living room — having a south-facing living room has been a godsend during long and cold winters. I think our living room perfectly encapsulates our style and contains different design styles that just work! It’s taken a lot of curating and searching, but I think we are finally in a place where we are happy with the vibe of the room. I love curling up on the couch and reading or having friends and family over for grazing boards and cozy conversations.
What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? We found the perfect white leather Eames lounger replica for a steal at an estate sale! I am so happy we waited for the right piece to come along; it fits perfectly in my office and I love taking my morning coffee while sitting in the lounger.
Any advice for creating a home you love? Be patient! The right pieces will come along if you are diligent in your search. Look for online estate sales and set notifications for keywords on online marketplaces. Also, your place doesn’t have to be immaculate on day one — I am still incorporating and swapping out pieces here and there. Taking the time to research and understand what you truly love will benefit your space and your wallet. If you are a visual person like me, make vision boards to visualize new items and how they will fit in your space.
This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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