When couple Brenda and Marcos bought their home, they did so knowing it was a fixer upper. But Marcos promised his wife that, within a year’s time, he would have the place in working order. Fast forward four years, and most of the house was left unfinished. Needless to say, the couple was in need of a little assistance. And who better than Jillian Harris of Love it or List it Vancouver to swoop in and save the day? Here’s how the designer transformed the tired space into a boutique-inspired abode complete with a dressing room and home office worth swooning over.
Softer Exterior
Designer Jillian Harris gave the home’s exterior a complete facelift. The new automatic garage doors and fresh siding give the house a welcoming feel, while the soft greys feel modern and up-to-date. Meanwhile, fresh landscaping and a manicured lawn bolster its curb appeal.
Better Living Room
Located off the front entrance is the new-and-improved living room that’s full of contemporary whites and blues. The coastal-inspired shades make the space feel fresh and inviting, from the wooden coffee table and ladder shelf to the sea-hued armchairs and area rug.
Keeping the Bones
The designer kept the home’s original wood-planked slanted ceiling, which is such a showpiece in a space like this. She then highlighted the look by installing a gorgeous chandelier that lends modern flair.
Statement Fireplace
The new fireplace may be functional and cozy, but it also serves as a statement piece in the living room. The floor-to-ceiling tiled surround is the perfect complement to the oak hardwood flooring, and it keeps the room’s overall design streamlined and stylish.
Warm Welcome
The front entrance features a gorgeous sliding barn door that ties into the home’s natural wood finishes, and also saves on space. The door conceals a small closet where guests can hang their coats and store their shoes.
Walk-In Closet
Welcome to the walk-in closet of our dreams. The expanded room contains beautiful wide-planked floors that give the space a fresh feel. It also features an abundance of drawers and compartments for homeowner Brenda to neatly store all of her clothes and accessories.
Finishing Touches
Contemporary palm-leaf print wallpaper adds instant texture and personality to the walk-in closet, transforming it into a boutique dressing room. A full-length mirror is perfect for testing out different outfits, and the shoe racks allow the homeowner to showcase her fancy footwear in a perfectly organized way.
Personal Touches
A framed photograph of the couple on their wedding day offers a personal touch to the dressing room. The simple gold frame adds a luxe note without going overboard.
Perfect Cubbies
Just look at all this storage space! It allows the homeowners to organize their belongings by colour, season, occasion or by any other method they desire… while likely still having leftover space to boast about in the end.
Centre Unit
This glass-topped island addition is ideal for displaying pretty oft-used pieces, from scarves and purses to sunglasses and jewellery. The drawers underneath can conceal undergarments, socks and the like.
Ample Lighting
By extending the room out to where the deck used to be, Jillian not only created a larger space, but she was able to maximize the natural light that spills into it.
Classic Touches
We love the closet’s chic two-toned walls, where shoe storage doubles as an artful vignette thanks in part to the fashionable print and coffee table books on display. And what gal doesn’t want a small candy bar in her dream closet? Because sometimes deciding what to wear calls for a sugar fix.
Custom Dressing Table
Before Jillian stepped in, Brenda was forced to do her makeup on the bedroom floor. Now, that’s a problem of the past thanks to this crafty little corner featuring a dressing table, mirror and stylish chair.
Mood Lighting
With its gold highlights and shell-like pieces, this orb chandelier is the crown jewel of the dressing room.
Extra Adornments
It’s thoughtful touches like this glam wall sconce that add an extra layer of chic to the dressing room and transform it into a truly personal and beautiful space.
Sweet Scent
Even Brenda’s perfume bottles were organized in the prettiest way possible by cleverly placing them on a cake stand. After all, the kitchen product is known for displaying all things dainty and sweet.
Eye-Catching Office
Considering Brenda works from home, her office was a major item on Jillian’s to-do list. So the designer blew out the home’s outdoor deck to make room. The updated white space features a stunning striped feature wall punctuated by bright pops of colour.
Lounge Area
Style meets function in the spacious home office thanks to these ladder shelves, adorned with practical magazine holders and boxes along with fanciful plants and artful objects. The sitting nook, outfitted with pretty pinks and oranges, is the perfect place to lounge and exercise one’s creativity.
Corner Desk
The office’s desk area features even more storage, from the upper cabinets and cubbies to the grey filing cabinet and wall-mounted corkboards. Let’s just say this is an area we wouldn’t mind teleconferencing from.
In the end, homeowners Brenda and Marcos decided to list the space, but with standout features like these, it’s only a matter of time until another lucky family calls it their own.
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