This Remodeled Home Has a Pretty Palette of Primary Colors
Name: Edward Brede
Location: Edgewater neighborhood — Cleveland, Ohio
Type of home: House
Size: 1400 square feet
Years lived in: 8 months, owned
Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: My house was built in 1905, and was apparently remodeled in 2006, during which the kitchen was added. (Lots of golden oak, and ’90s style wallpaper and polished brass hardware). I bought the house a few days before Christmas of 2018, and moved in and started the renovation.
The biggest project was replacing various floor materials on the first floor with one consistent bamboo flooring for unifying the space and provide a neutral palette as a backdrop for the limited color scheme I’d planned. Additionally, I took out some French doors, which had divided the dining room/entry from the rest of the first floor, and moved the opening a bit to open it up to the living room. I also expanded the kitchen significantly.
Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Mid-Century Modern Farmhouse
What is your favorite room and why? The kitchen is a showstopper. While it had good bones before, the upper cabinets and the aubergine paint color made the room feel cramped and crowded. Additionally, it lacked a central island or any seating area, which is a must for my kitchen. I expanded the kitchen back in to what had most recently been used as the finish area, but which was actually the original kitchen before the 2006 remodel. I put in a new peninsula with butcher block countertops, did concrete overlay on the existing black laminate countertops (!), replaced the upper cabinets with open shelving (shelf brackets from Etsy), replaced the sink with a farmhouse sink from IKEA, a range hood from Habitat for Humanity Restore, and built doors and drawer fronts for all the cabinets (there were none). A fresh coat of plum enamel and new hardware finished the look along with oversized subway tile found on Craigslist for $1 a square feet. I did all the work myself, while living here.
If you could magically change something about your home, what would it be? I have a front porch, but it’s tiny. I wish I had room for seating on the porch. I’m putting in a large patio in back to make up for it.
What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? I bought a vintage KitchenAid mixer at auction for $24.
Any advice for creating a home you love? I think it’s important to let go the ephemera of life and keep only the things which are useful or which bring you happiness. Also, plants make a home feel alive. And never, ever, pay retail prices.
More photos on his website.
This submission’s responses have been edited for length and clarity.