Old Orchard, OH - 2015

When we got to 'Leave Las Vegas' for the Midwest, we landed in Toledo, OH where we rented an apartment for a year before finding an adorable 1930's Tudor gem in the Old Orchard neighborhood.

Color and Light

• The home had some renovations previously but what had been done felt uninspired, incomplete and DARK, so the goal was brightening and refreshing most of the rooms. The scope;

• New interior paint

• Adding recessed lighting in the family room and kitchen

• New kitchen counters, backsplash tile, cabinet hardware, sink, and faucet,

• New light fixtures in the kitchen and dining room

What to Work With, What to Change?

The kitchen cabinets were a high gloss, flat panel, rust colored wood. I wouldn't have chosen them but they did not merit replacing. Once I removed the black/brown granite and dark mosaic backsplash and put in a white marbled quartz countertop and white marble subway tile, the kitchen was reborn.  The existing yellow walls did not work with the rust cabinets so I chose a soft, blue grey that blended beautifully with the white counter and backsplash.

I also found a very sweet cloth drum-shade pendant to add some interest to the kitchen nook. (Sourced from France & Son in New York — great resource and reasonable prices.)

I chose one of my most favorite paint colors, Benjamin Moore Berkshire Beige for the walls of family room and piano room. New recessed lighting transformed the family room as you can see from the before and after shots.

The nearby piano room photos show what a difference new paint can make on walls and dark window trim. 

Going for Brightness

The second floor guest bedroom came alive when we removed the olive green carpeting and exposed the beautiful hardwood floors. Replacing gloomy curtains for light and airy fabrics and adding colorful bedding and accessories completely made the room look brighter and new even though we didn't change the wall color.

Pictures (especially realtor listing photos!) can be altered or enhanced, but I think you will agree that these before and afters do not lie.