When our Client purchased his small fixer-upper, he knew he wanted it to be more than just a functional long-term rental. He envisioned a vibrant, playful, and unique space that would reflect his own personality and blend of styles. However, the home’s lack of character and very small rooms presented significant challenges.

The Client’s personal aesthetic is eclectic—spanning boho, African, mid-century, and even Victorian influences—but he struggled to make these styles feel cohesive. He already owned furniture for the rental but wasn’t sure which pieces to keep and which to replace.

Small Rooms: The limited footprint of the house required strategies to make the rooms feel as large and welcoming as possible.

Primary Colors: While the Client loved bold colors, finding a balanced palette that wouldn’t overwhelm renters in the small space was a key challenge.

Closed-Off Layout: The house’s partitioned spaces felt disjointed, but the Client didn’t want to make major architectural changes.

Functionality for Renters: The home needed to be not just expressive of the Client’s vision but also practical and appealing for long-term tenants.

[Image Description: A flat lay of fabric swatches, color palettes, and furniture samples chosen for the redesign, including deep blues, greens, and warm peach tones.]

To transform the house into a Neo-African Eclectic rental, we focused on maximizing the home’s character and flow while maintaining a vibrant, playful aesthetic.

Cohesive Color Palette: We created a harmonious palette that balanced Maceo’s love of primary colors with complementary tones, ensuring vibrancy without overwhelming the space.

Highlighting the Hallway: A high-contrast pattern in the hallway became the visual centerpiece of the home, connecting the rooms while keeping the other spaces more subdued.

Maximizing Natural Light: We optimized window treatments and used mirrors strategically to reflect light, making the small rooms feel larger and more inviting.

Focusing the Eye: Unsightly items were hidden or minimized, and furniture placement ensured an easy visual flow through each room.

Balancing Styles: By curating Maceo’s existing furniture, we retained key pieces that represented his eclectic taste while integrating new, neutral elements to tie the styles together.

Making the Space Functional: Furniture layouts prioritized flow and functionality, ensuring renters could easily move through the home and feel comfortable.

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Daniel and Laurel’s Craftsman-style home underwent a thoughtful transformation, prioritizing functionality and aesthetic cohesion while preserving the historic charm they cherished. By addressing their layout frustrations, storage deficiencies, and style-blending dilemmas, we crafted a space that feels intentional, harmonious, and tailored to their family’s needs.

Their home now features functional layouts that accommodate modern-day living without detracting from its historic essence. Every room flows seamlessly into the next, with furniture, colors, and storage solutions that work together to create a welcoming and visually cohesive environment. Through our careful balancing of antiquity and modernity, Daniel and Laurel now have a home that reflects their unique tastes while feeling more organized, usable, and family-friendly.

Are you struggling to make your historic home functional for modern living while maintaining its charm? Do you feel stuck trying to blend styles or create a cohesive look across challenging layouts? Whether you’re reimagining a single room or tackling your entire home, I’d love to help bring your vision to life.

Working with me means collaborating to create a space that reflects your personality and lifestyle while ensuring every design element is purposeful and harmonious. Contact me for a free consultation