STYLE + FUNCTION One of the challenges of any home project is finding the balance between creating beautiful yet functional spaces. For Valerie, the key is to keep spaces organized. “I try and have a place for everything,” she says. “I use baskets in our pantry, keep items for each season in storage bins and bring them out to be used when needed.” When it comes to style, she uses a mostly-neutral backdrop to allow her abundance of vintage and secondhand pieces to shine. “I think keeping our walls neutral and adding a pop of color with throw pillows or other dećor items makes it easier for me to switch things up and give spaces a whole new look,” she says.
The dining room shines with vintage pieces and thrifted finds. The chandelier is original to the home and adds a touch of elegance, while the table and chairs, all from Facebook Marketplace, add character. DIY shiplap brings in farmhouse charm. “The hanging scale is one of my absolute favorite pieces in this space,” Valerie says. “It was gifted to us by my father-in-law, who knew I had a love for old, vintage items.”
Valerie and her husband installed their wood finish laminate flooring themselves as a way to save on their kitchen facelift. “We decided to use laminate because it was perfect for our budget and gave the look of real wood floors,” she says. Valerie’s Dutch door is from Craigslist, and another example of her DIY work. Originally it was painted dark brown and had no hardware. “Once we were ready to put it in place, we took it out of the garage, stripped the old paint off it, sanded, stained it and used a matte polyurethane to seal it, and purchased hardware for it,” she says. “It is one of my favorite finds.”