My Houzz: Personalized Updates in an 1880s Cincinnati Home
First-time homeowners say goodbye to wood paneling and hello to an eclectic, cozy home
Lavelanet, a product designer, admits to loving the idea of a “project house” but initially finding the process overwhelming. Martin, an operations manager for a local brewery, “was adamant about the beauty we could unveil,” she says. “I’m so glad I listened to him!” The couple are seen here with their 5-year-old Boston terrier, Rocky.
After: Painting the walls and trim and refacing the fireplace were the big projects in the dining room.
Pink velvet GamFratesi Beetle chairs for Gubi surround a vintage table. The large antique mirror on the mantel is from a local estate auction house.
Browse pink dining chairs
Pink velvet GamFratesi Beetle chairs for Gubi surround a vintage table. The large antique mirror on the mantel is from a local estate auction house.
Browse pink dining chairs
Framed art collected at thrift stores forms a gallery above the sideboard.
An Insider’s Guide to Creating the Perfect Gallery Wall
An Insider’s Guide to Creating the Perfect Gallery Wall
Originally, the sideboard and hutch were one large stacked piece. The couple separated them and added custom legs to both to give them height.
Rocky, seen on the entryway bench, loves to be anywhere he can sunbathe. “You can usually find him lying on the entry rug, the attic couch or in the nursery — all spots where direct sunlight streams into the home,” Lavelanet says.
How to Design Your House Around Your Pet
Rocky, seen on the entryway bench, loves to be anywhere he can sunbathe. “You can usually find him lying on the entry rug, the attic couch or in the nursery — all spots where direct sunlight streams into the home,” Lavelanet says.
How to Design Your House Around Your Pet
Before: The family room was in good shape but featured wood paneling that the couple chose to remove.
After: The homeowners had the trim painted white to match the rest of the interior; the walls were painted a neutral gray.
“When planning how to decorate a room, I decide on a theme and then use a cohesive color palette to weave all the rooms together,” Lavelanet says.
The large vintage lockers (painted white by Lavelanet) create additional storage in this space.
“When planning how to decorate a room, I decide on a theme and then use a cohesive color palette to weave all the rooms together,” Lavelanet says.
The large vintage lockers (painted white by Lavelanet) create additional storage in this space.
Lavelanet added fringe to this half-circle mirror in the living room for a custom look.
Just off the dining room, an original window opens to a spot where milk could be delivered in days past. The couple chose to keep the feature. “I’m more an old soul, and I love that my home reflects that,” Lavelanet says.
In the entryway, they removed the ’70s-era wood paneling, added insulation and repainted. They also had the original large window restored. “The room was dark and cramped. Now it’s my favorite place in the entire home,” Lavelanet says.
Shop for indoor pots and planters
Shop for indoor pots and planters
“My personal design style is eclectic, and I love to decorate in layers,” Lavelanet says. Her parents owned an interior design business for over 15 years, which she says has influenced her style. Her decorating goal was to “create an environment that feels cozy and lived-in, with tiny surprises in each layer that you may notice over time. I focus on finding things that inspire me and remind me of something special.”
Lavelanet often repurposes things for new functions, taking time to find items that inspire rather than focusing on particular trends. Here, a reclaimed mail-sorting cabinet with new hairpin legs becomes a catchall for mail, keys and odds and ends.
Lavelanet often repurposes things for new functions, taking time to find items that inspire rather than focusing on particular trends. Here, a reclaimed mail-sorting cabinet with new hairpin legs becomes a catchall for mail, keys and odds and ends.
The vintage painting of the French countryside is a souvenir from a recent trip the couple took to Europe.
After: The couple replaced the existing appliances with new stainless steel ones, painted the cabinets and walls white and replaced the countertop. They drew inspiration from French country farm cottage style.
The island was created using an old wood table left behind by the previous owners.
The island was created using an old wood table left behind by the previous owners.
A vintage curio cabinet and wood shelf hold some of Lavelanet’s favorite vintage wares.
“I like to collect old, beautiful things,” Lavelanet says. The couple added custom shelves in this built-in nook and use them to display books, glassware and knickknacks.
In their bedroom, they removed a partial wall (not pictured), making the room feel much more open.
The master includes a walk-in closet that’s large enough to fit a full-size dresser. The couple added shelves for additional storage.
The couple, who are expecting their first child, converted one of the bedrooms into a nursery. Lavelanet says she wanted to create a space that would feel “magical” for the baby. The armoire is vintage.
Open shelves hold a few toys that the couple bought on a recent trip to Paris.
After: The bath received a complete renovation, including replacement of all the plumbing. “We’ve learned after working with many people throughout different phases of renovation that it’s so important to have a good relationship with your contractor,” Lavelanet says.
An old wooden cabinet provides storage for towels and other essentials.
An old wooden cabinet provides storage for towels and other essentials.
A mostly neutral palette with subway tile and a white vanity gives the renovated bathroom a clean, crisp look.
The previously neglected third-floor attic space received all new insulation, drywall, electrical, trim and plumbing to make it usable. This small corner gives Lavelanet a place for crafting and other creative projects.
14 Tips for Decorating an Attic — Awkward Spots and All
14 Tips for Decorating an Attic — Awkward Spots and All
On the other side of the finished attic is Martin’s space, with a vintage-style refrigerator and 1970s couch.
New plumbing and electrical allowed the couple to bring the laundry area up from the basement to the now-finished attic. A vintage cabinet holds fresh linens.
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More on Houzz
How to Remodel the Laundry Room
Find a general contractor on Houzz
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More on Houzz
How to Remodel the Laundry Room
Find a general contractor on Houzz
Who lives here: Victoria Lavelanet and Jeff Martin and their Boston terrier, Rocky
Location: Cincinnati
Size: 1,800 square feet (167 square meters); three bedrooms, 1½ bathrooms
First-time homeowners Victoria Lavelanet and Jeff Martin bought their 1880s home in Cincinnati knowing it was a house that, in Lavelanet’s words, had “overlooked character that could be saved.” She adds, “What we loved was the location, big backyard and driveway, original wood double-hung windows, the master walk-in closet and all the space we had to work with.”
The couple bought the home in 2014 and worked with general contractor Shawn Zemojtel of Problem Solved to remove wood paneling and restore the home’s original trim. They also had new insulation and drywall added to the walls. The couple worked closely with Zemojtel to renovate the entry, bathrooms, living room and laundry area. “He has such a passion for old homes and a talent for carpentry,” Lavelanet says of their contractor.
Find a general contractor near you on Houzz