Let Sarah Richardson show you how to take your house up a notch
Elegance, sophistication, glamour and period details aren’t words you might normally associate with a decade-old resale home in a subdivision, but that doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to being satisfied with minuscule trim profiles, lacklustre lighting, stucco ceilings and bare-bones design. Your blank canvas of a room is merely waiting to be turned into a work of art with a bit of creative energy.Stacey Brandford
Prefinished floors can be sanded and stained to achieve the colour and finish you want. I paid about $3 a square foot to turn the floors in this house from honey maple to a rich walnut tone.Stacey Brandford
If you want your dining room to be a place that’s used and enjoyed outfit it in a way that reflects your personality. Forget fussy china and prim, proper place settings, and set a table that mixes fun patterns with practical easy-care dishes and accessories.photos by Stacey Brandford
Stacey Brandford
Stacey Brandford
If your stucco ceiling has not been painted, removing it can be an easy, though a bit messy. Spray water at the stucco to soften and scrape it off with a wide putty knife. Then apply a thin coat of plaster to smooth it all out. Then say hello to an elegant plaster crown moulding. Handmade crown can be installed for about $8 a linear foot.Stacey Brandford
By installing a chair rail, I was able to use neutral geometric wallpaper around the base of the room, and a cheerful pattern featuring fluttering dragonflies on the upper section of the walls. The cream, silver and taupe palette creates a room that is light and bright while the classically inspired pattern brings a touch of beauty and elegance.Stacey Brandford
I added character and a bit of enclosure by installing antique glass door panels. Since the doors came from a library cabinet, they were interior panels in perfect condition, complete with leaded glass and hinges ready to be affixed to the frame we created to hold them. At $475 for six panels, the addition of old world charm came at garage sale prices.Stacey Brandford