Sarah’s House: Chic in the Suburbs

The entrance to Sarah’s house has a flood of natural light, and lots of surfaces and seating.

Sarah’s suburban dream home had a large hallway to work with. She filled it with a heavy console table to anchor the room and provide tons of practical storage space. 

Sarah created two separate seating areas in the large living room, and kept it feeling open with an over-sized mirror and a mix of pastels and airy prints. 

The front hallway opens right onto the living room, so Sarah made sure that initial view was a striking one. An asymmetrical layout around the fireplace brought some dimension to the square space.

The fireplace and light fixtures in the living room are elegant and romantic, but a modern city print above the mantel keeps the room feeling contemporary. 

Sarah chose lilac as a colour theme in the living room, and you can see how she accented it in minimal amounts, through prints, pillows and decor items on the coffee table. 

Sarah selected a plush couch in a neutral tone, piled high with the most inviting pillows we’ve ever seen. 

Accent chairs are the perfect opportunity to try a bolder print, or unique shape. 

Sarah installed paneling, added hooks for book bags and coats and topped off the mud room with a warm rusty red that brings out the beautiful tile she put in on the floor.  

Sarah took the opportunity of decorating a small powder room to use a bold wallpaper, that would have overwhelmed in a larger space. Over-scaled lighting and an additional shelf brought even more personality to this fun powder room. 

Sarah gave her suburban kitchen a complete overhaul, and set aside $15,000 of her upgrade budget to take it from basic to beautiful. 

Sarah used the large area beside the working area as a breakfast area. A round table allows for easy movement in the space, and seating with plenty of cushions keeps it cozy. 

Sarah keeps the table and chairs within the grey family and mixes taupe for warmth. 

Charcoal gives Sarah’s kitchen a moody look that’s great for entertaining. 

Sarah amped up the storage in her kitchen with open-cupboards to show off a gorgeous dinnerware collection, and an island with additional storage for larger items. 

Lighting is a great way to bring style into what is normally a utilitarian room. These lanterns were a great find that worked perfectly with the grey of the kitchen. 

Be creative with your decor and hang pieces of art in unexpected places for a look that’s eye-catching. 

The print in Sarah’s window treatments works so well with the back splash, it’s a completely cohesive look for the kitchen. 

A family room off the kitchen has a distinct style but carries over elements from the kitchen, like cool tones and contemporary prints. 

Sarah went for a totally wild light fixture that brings a fun, playful feel to the classic look of the family room.

A casual family room shouldn’t be devoid of style. Sarah keeps the space cozy but packs it with beautiful art work and a stylish collection of decor. 

We’re picking up on a trend here…

A rich navy blue mixed with glossy wood finishes and unique artwork are perfect for Sarah’s dining room. 

Sarah mixes old and new elements in the dining room. This sideboard is reminiscent of art deco decor, but the stripes in the carpet and chairs are totally contemporary. 

Sarah picked up on the motif on the dinnerware and carried it through to the napkin rings with a bright peacock feather!

What does a decorator do with extra space? She turns it into a project room! 

Colourful drawers are a great DIY for basic storage pieces. 

An expansive wall space with hanging storage looks cool and keeps materials and tools close at hand. 

Sarah manages to create a bedroom for a young girl that can grow in style as she gets older too!

The wall decals pick up on the pillow motif, and bring artistic flair to this contemporary bedroom.

White furniture against white walls keeps the room from overwhelming, but the colourful textiles, decor and flowers give the space a youthful vibe. 

Sarah went for a bright, colourful pattern that was carried through textiles and wall decals. 

A wall-mounted desk is a great way to conserve space in a small bedroom. 

Sarah carries the colour trends from the bedroom into the bathroom.

A gorgeous vessel sink sits atop a beautiful vanity. 

If you’re working with open storage, hide items in colourful boxes and baskets to match the decor. 

For a boy’s room, Sarah goes for a masculine look that’s hip and modern. 

Sarah finds a stunning chrome chair to bring a vintage vibe to the working space. 

The bedroom colours are carried through the bathroom, accented with a bold grey stripe and marble counter top. 

Angular hardware draws on the shapes in the mirror frame and shower tiles. 

An over-sized bedroom called for over-sized furniture, even a column or two. 

A wallpapered statement wall helped emphasize the prints in the headboard and bedding. 

A king size bed requires lots and lots of pillows. 

Sarah scored this desk for $150 and with a few updates, like painted legs and new knobs, it looks like a high-priced antique. 

This bedroom is calming and relaxing, the perfect escape after a mega home makeover!

A master bedroom wouldn’t be complete with a stunning ensuite to match. 

Sarah brings extra personality to the vanity with unique hexagon mirrors above the his and hers sinks.

Sarah splurges in the bathroom with gorgeous tile, a beautiful standing tub and serene seating. 

Sarah’s suburban home offers a large finished basement that’s great for a big family.

The walkout basement provides lots of light and Sarah makes it cozy with rich red upholstery.

A mix of charcoal grey and rich red looks cozy but modern. 

Even a basement hangout deserves classic, gorgeous seating. Sarah keeps the space looking chic with a pair of elegant seats. 

The extra large basement was the perfect space for a pool table and additional family games.