Houzz Tours
My Houzz: From Dated to Dreamy in 3 Weeks
The results belie the speedy makeover of this 1940s Quebec home — which not even a colony of ants could derail
“Nothing beats the thrill of finding a special vintage, well-crafted piece,” says Marie-Eve Best, a Quebec blogger and design consultant. “It’s satisfying to know that you can give an old piece a second chance at life.”
Best and her husband, Michael Johnson, a marketing director, took that same approach when it came time to decorate and renovate their 1940s Point-Claire home. Although the house was dated and needed lots of work, they were able to look past that due to its ample light, interesting architectural details and generous spaces. With help from their friends, family and contractors, they revamped the home in just three weeks by building their own furniture and adding new baseboards, doors, stair rails and lighting. They also gave their kitchen a makeover with new flooring, new hardware and repainted cabinets.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Marie-Eve Best and Michael Johnson; their son, Theo (age 2); and their cat, Penny
Location: Point-Claire, just west of Montreal
Size: 1,700 square feet (158 square meters); 4 bedrooms, 1½ bathrooms
Best and her husband, Michael Johnson, a marketing director, took that same approach when it came time to decorate and renovate their 1940s Point-Claire home. Although the house was dated and needed lots of work, they were able to look past that due to its ample light, interesting architectural details and generous spaces. With help from their friends, family and contractors, they revamped the home in just three weeks by building their own furniture and adding new baseboards, doors, stair rails and lighting. They also gave their kitchen a makeover with new flooring, new hardware and repainted cabinets.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Marie-Eve Best and Michael Johnson; their son, Theo (age 2); and their cat, Penny
Location: Point-Claire, just west of Montreal
Size: 1,700 square feet (158 square meters); 4 bedrooms, 1½ bathrooms
AFTER: Special pieces, like this beautiful vintage Dutch wall unit, anchor the living room. “It was given to me by my aunt, who had it in her home for decades until she decided to part with it,” says Best. “I kept it in storage for years until we had a space that could hold it.”
Wall paint: Decorators White, Benjamin Moore; Dutch wall unit: vintage; banquette corner couch: built by Marie-Eve Best and her father with Ikea cushions
Wall paint: Decorators White, Benjamin Moore; Dutch wall unit: vintage; banquette corner couch: built by Marie-Eve Best and her father with Ikea cushions
AFTER: “Even if you’re budget conscious about your renovation and focused on the finish line, always share your thoughts and concerns with your contractor,” says Best. The couple considered just laying the new hardwood on top of the existing kitchen floor to save time. But their contractor thought it would be a better idea to pull up the subflooring, so that the hardwood would be uniform throughout the entire first level of the house.
Dining table: Docksta, Ikea
Dining table: Docksta, Ikea
What that revealed was an unexpected surprise: a massive colony of carpenter ants. “There was a lot of blood, sweat and tears that went into the reno — a lot of tears,” says Best.
The carpenter ants put a big dent in their budget, but they were able to deal with the issue immediately. “With an older home, you come to expect nasty surprises behind walls and under floors,” says Best.
Wall paint: Decorators White, Benjamin Moore; cabinetry hardware, LED light: Ikea; tile: The Home Depot; artwork: Norma Dvorsky
The carpenter ants put a big dent in their budget, but they were able to deal with the issue immediately. “With an older home, you come to expect nasty surprises behind walls and under floors,” says Best.
Wall paint: Decorators White, Benjamin Moore; cabinetry hardware, LED light: Ikea; tile: The Home Depot; artwork: Norma Dvorsky
AFTER: White paint and some wall lights gave the room a nice update.
Wall paint: Decorators White, Benjamin Moore; bed: Malm, Ikea; wall lamps: PS 2012 LED Wall lamp in black, Ikea; side tables: Tate End Table, EQ3
Wall paint: Decorators White, Benjamin Moore; bed: Malm, Ikea; wall lamps: PS 2012 LED Wall lamp in black, Ikea; side tables: Tate End Table, EQ3
The family room is where the couple enjoys watching TV. The bright yellow and white rug adds a jolt of color; the vintage oar is a tribute to Best’s grandfather. (It came from his cottage, and the couple made it their own by painting chevron stripes on it.)
Wall paint: Decorators White, Benjamin Moore; rug: Draper, DwellStudio; coffee table: Structube
Wall paint: Decorators White, Benjamin Moore; rug: Draper, DwellStudio; coffee table: Structube
AFTER: Best built the dining room table and bench with her father. The dining room pendant was designed and built by Lambert & Fils. “I think it’s important to invest in lighting,” she says.
Wall paint: Decorators White, Benjamin Moore; chairs: The Home Depot; chandelier: Lambert & Fils
Wall paint: Decorators White, Benjamin Moore; chairs: The Home Depot; chandelier: Lambert & Fils
Theo’s nursery is decorated in a rugged nautical theme. The rug and crib are from Ikea, and the rocker is from EQ3. “It’s the most comfortable thing in the world,” Best gushes.
Rocker: Karbon Swivel Chair in Urban Vapour, EQ3; crib: Sniglar, Ikea
Rocker: Karbon Swivel Chair in Urban Vapour, EQ3; crib: Sniglar, Ikea
This angled fireplace is located in the center of the house, adding a quirky touch to the floor plan that the couple has come to love. “By the time we moved in, the house felt updated and a better reflection of our style — modern, comfortable, casual,” Best says. “We hosted Christmas two weeks after moving in, and it confirmed that we had made the right choice. Everyone was so comfortable in this home, and the open, airy feel made it a great space to entertain.”
The historical legacy of the house lives on through framed architectural drawings on the living room wall. “We were given the original blueprints drawn up by the original owners in 1946,” Best says. “I’ve framed some of them, and I am obsessed with dissecting their details.”
Best and Johnson love to read to Theo on their banquette couch. That’s their cat, Penny, lounging on the coffee table. The room is often flooded with gorgeous afternoon light, which warms the entire first floor of the house.
“My advice to any first-time homeowner is to try to salvage and update what is already there if you can, before resorting to a full gut job,” says Best. “It’s amazing how much money you can save by putting in some elbow grease. We can be quick to tear it all down and start from scratch, but I think we have to be careful not to destroy the home’s personality. The quirky details are what give it character!”
Wall paint: Decorators White, Benjamin Moore; rug: RugsUSA.com; floor lamp: Lambert & Fils; coffee table: La-Z-Boy
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More: My Houzz: Vintage Cool Style for a Montreal Apartment
“My advice to any first-time homeowner is to try to salvage and update what is already there if you can, before resorting to a full gut job,” says Best. “It’s amazing how much money you can save by putting in some elbow grease. We can be quick to tear it all down and start from scratch, but I think we have to be careful not to destroy the home’s personality. The quirky details are what give it character!”
Wall paint: Decorators White, Benjamin Moore; rug: RugsUSA.com; floor lamp: Lambert & Fils; coffee table: La-Z-Boy
Show us your home makeover
Browse more homes by style:
Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Eclectic Homes | Modern Homes | Contemporary Homes | Midcentury Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Barn Homes | Townhouses | Apartments | Lofts | Vacation Homes
More: My Houzz: Vintage Cool Style for a Montreal Apartment
Wall paint: Decorators White, Benjamin Moore; rug: RugsUSA.com; floor lamp: Lambert & Fils; coffee table: La-Z-Boy