A Family of Five Gets a Dreamy Victorian Farmhouse Facelift

After sharing their bedroom with all three boys, Katie and Brad deserved a principle bedroom that could serve as an oasis at the end of their busy days.

Carolyn and Billy were able to create a vaulted ceiling with exposed beams that had been hiding in the attic. The new, open space creates a sense of serenity. Hanging above the bed was one of the beautiful antique lanterns Katie had been storing in preparation for the reno. The black of the lantern and the ornate bed posts add a modern pop to the otherwise softly hued country bedroom.

Katie and Brad’s home was built in 1895 and had loads of original charm on the exterior, like a gorgeous redbrick and gingerbread (the ornate white trim found on Victorian homes).

The interior, however, was a different story. The main floor had been updated by the previous owner, but the second floor hadn’t been touched since the 1970s. Shag carpeting and dated windows and walls were no place for cozy kid bedrooms, so Katie and Brad had all three kids sleeping in their principle bedroom. It was a recipe for disaster!

With the $130,000 renovation, Katie and Brad were finally getting their own bathroom (along with kicking the kids out of their bedroom).

Billy and Carolyn chose beautiful siding in green to contrast against the rich dark wood of the antique sideboard turned vanity. Polished nickel hardware add a touch of shine, while the vintage clawfoot tub honours the heritage of the 127-year-old home.

Before Billy and Carolyn got their hands on this room, it had 1970s wall paneling, and a stomach-turning red, shag carpet. It lacked any kind of charm, and it wasn’t fit for Brad and Katie’s three-year-old son Elliott.

Post-renovation, the room is unrecognizable! Billy and Carolyn went all out for Elliott. Gorgeous new baseboards and wainscoting bring back the original charm of a Victorian heritage, while grasscloth wallpaper adds a sophistication that can easily grow with Elliott as he ages in this bedroom. And Katie’s old thrifted bed looks like it was made for this room.

To add a touch of whimsy to this little boy’s room, Carolyn hand painted a diamond pattern over the existing wood floors. The look is so sweet and magical!

And nothing tops the secret toy storage in the old heat pass through in the floor! That was a clever project of Billy’s that Katie and Brad were psyched to discover!

Billy and Carolyn made a bathroom out of nothing! Well, almost nothing. Prior to the renovation, this was an empty room. Billy and Carolyn knew a second bathroom would make a world of a difference for the family of five, so they designed this bathroom to function efficiently for three little boys. It boasts a double sink vanity, and a huge glass shower.

The boys’ bathroom also features an antique clawfoot tub that Billy and Carolyn painted blue to match the blue tile of the shower. We love how Carolyn styled it with a little wood stool and bath caddy. The wood adds a relaxed, farmhouse vibe to the chic blue of the bathtub.

What was once an old storage room with 1970s wall paneling is now one of the sweetest nursery rooms you’ll ever see!

Carolyn chose an apple orchard wallpaper to play on the beautiful apple trees just outside the farmhouse door. She contrasted the wallpaper with a gold sconce and beautiful antique-inspired cribs.

Carolyn relied heavily on textiles to add warmth to this cozy nursery. The colours of the curtains play on the wallpaper, but the thick, bold stripes add just the right amount of contrast to the small, busy pattern of the wallpaper.