My Houzz: Passionate Repurposing in a Heritage Home
Reclaimed and distressed furniture mingles with art, memorabilia and vintage finds in a couple's 100-year-old Canadian townhouse
Unique and timeworn objects come back to life in this quirky East Vancouver townhouse rental. When Tami and Josh Knepper relocated here five years ago, they designed their home to mirror who they are: "eclectic, quirky and a little weird," Tami says. From a mural made of contact paper to Josh's old Spiderman robe, this heritage home reflects the Kneppers' creative, artistic and playful personalities.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Tami and Josh Knepper, with their 2 dachshunds, Mayer and Rado
Location: East Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Size: 1,000 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 3 porches
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Tami and Josh Knepper, with their 2 dachshunds, Mayer and Rado
Location: East Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Size: 1,000 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 3 porches
Tami and Josh enjoy repurposing pieces they find for free as much as possible. Their weathered living room leather couch is one of many Craigslist finds. After they took it home, they found out Mexican designer Don S. Shoemaker had made the couch by hand. "I love things with a little built-in history," says Tami (shown here).
"Our decorating philosophy is that nothing is permanent," Tami says. "I'm a merchandiser by trade, and Josh is a filmmaker, so we are constantly inspired by things around us and wanting to create something new or switch things up." Whenever friends come to visit, they're not surprised to see that the living room has been rearranged or some things have been changed in the house.
Carpet: Value Village; shelving: Besta system, Ikea
Carpet: Value Village; shelving: Besta system, Ikea
Little collections, including these vintage postcards and Pez dispensers, are tucked all around the house. "The shorter list of things would be what we don't collect. We kind of see ourselves as a foster home for cool stuff," says Tami.
An eclectic gallery of wedding photos, artwork and memorabilia hangs behind the couple's bed. Tami's wedding dress, refashioned from her mother's 1972 wedding dress, hangs on the right. Josh's wedding-day suit, designed by his friends at Elmer Avenue, hangs on the left. "I can't bear to have them bagged up and unseen," Tami says.
Tami repurposed dairy crates as bedside tables. She scored the striking yellow velvet tufted headboard on Craigslist.
Artwork: "Practice Love" print, Urban Outfitters; watercolor: from Argentina
Tami repurposed dairy crates as bedside tables. She scored the striking yellow velvet tufted headboard on Craigslist.
Artwork: "Practice Love" print, Urban Outfitters; watercolor: from Argentina
Tami loves being in their bedroom. "Out of the five places Josh and I have lived in together, this is the first one we've put a lot of effort into making it our refuge."
She plans to update the vintage pie safe in the bedroom with new hardware and replace the metal and missing screens with an original embroidered mesh screen.
Cloth cactus arrangement: Ariana Shadlyn
She plans to update the vintage pie safe in the bedroom with new hardware and replace the metal and missing screens with an original embroidered mesh screen.
Cloth cactus arrangement: Ariana Shadlyn
Tami made this graphic mural in the bedroom for Josh. "We like to surprise each other with artful things. It was such an eyesore before, especially as the first thing you see coming up the stairs," she says.
Her inspiration for the mural came from a photo of typography painted over a door. She made the mural using an overhead projector and some shelf-liner contact paper so it will peel off whenever they move. "I think it's the perfect cute and cheeky saying for the bedroom," she says.
Her inspiration for the mural came from a photo of typography painted over a door. She made the mural using an overhead projector and some shelf-liner contact paper so it will peel off whenever they move. "I think it's the perfect cute and cheeky saying for the bedroom," she says.
A second bedroom is now the couple's walk-in closet. Aside from working in merchandising, Tami runs an Etsy vintage shop called The Cloven Heart. Part of her jewelry collection hangs above the ornate original mantel.
See a short video tour of this closet space on The Cloven Heart blog.
See a short video tour of this closet space on The Cloven Heart blog.
The couple found the closet storage systems for free on Craigslist.
"The bathroom is always the first room I work on when I move into a house," Tami says. "It's so essential to my sanity to have a pretty and well-organized bathroom." The couple added a cabinet above the vanity and shelves above the toilet.
Thrifted and personal memorabilia fills the hallway, including Josh's childhood Spiderman robe and a sign from a summer camp he attended as a kid. A painting by their friend Pamela Scharback and an original piece by Josh also hang on display.
Washroom sign: Anthropologie; shower curtain: Urban Outfitters
Thrifted and personal memorabilia fills the hallway, including Josh's childhood Spiderman robe and a sign from a summer camp he attended as a kid. A painting by their friend Pamela Scharback and an original piece by Josh also hang on display.
Washroom sign: Anthropologie; shower curtain: Urban Outfitters
Entry hall graffiti by an artist who lived there previously sets the tone for the rest of the house. The couple added their own chalkboard wall on the stair landing. "We love the quirkiness you get from previous renters making their own renovations," Tami says.
These patio chairs (and those in the living room) were free, from a local restaurant being renovated. Josh created the wood panel art from cedar shingles.
Tami sits with Mayer and Rado in the second bedroom. "I love East Vancouver. It's gritty, it doesn't put on airs, and it's growing so much. We love being in communities where we can see growth happening," she says.
Houzz call: Share your creative, colorful home with us!
Houzz call: Share your creative, colorful home with us!