Restoring Our 1904 Victorian: A Designer’s Journey Home

As a designer, I’ve always believed that beautiful spaces are essential to creating a true sense of home. In 2022, my partner and I found ourselves standing inside a 1904 Victorian house that was moments away from being listed for rent. We had originally purchased it with the full intention of renovating, but life had other plans, or so we thought.

We sat in the hallway on the creaky wooden stairs of an empty house, quietly taking in its aging charm and untapped potential. It was in that moment, surrounded by silence and shadows of the past, that we looked at each other and realized: this has to be our home. How had we not seen it before?

The very next day, we called on friends and family, grabbed tools, and got to work. No overthinking. No timeline. No turning back. Our first act? Gutting one of the bathrooms, complete with a brown toilet, tub, and sink.

We took on the role of general contractors ourselves because no detail could be missed. Every decision, every material, had to feel just right.

After two years of long days and hard choices, our home was finally complete. And as I sit here now, beneath soft light, surrounded by carefully chosen wallpaper, timeless finishes, and thoughtfully restored architecture, I can truly say I love it all.

This home is layered with history, and we were lucky enough to add our chapter. The original character lives on through preserved details, and yet, everything feels fresh, like it was always meant to be this way.

Come take a look. You’ll find stories in the woodwork, personality in every fixture, and soul in every corner. We didn’t just renovate this house, we brought it back to life.