My Houzz: DIY Love Reforms a Dated Cape Ann Home
Handmade touches and classic neutrals transform a dark Massachusetts house into a beautiful home fit for a family
Expectant parents Jen Migonis and her husband, AJ, bought their home three years ago, wanting room for their son to play and grow in. The location, just a 15-minute walk to the beach, and a solid school system are what convinced the couple to see the possibilities, despite a less-than-ideal interior. The home had dark and dated rooms untouched for decades, zero insulation and floors suffering from what Jen describes as "nauseating linoleum," but the industrious couple knew that with a lot of DIY love and patience, they could create a bright place for their family to call home.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Jen and AJ Migonis and their son, Drew
Location: Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts
Size: 1,600 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
That's interesting: Although it's located on chilly Cape Ann, the home had absolutely no insulation when the family moved in.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Jen and AJ Migonis and their son, Drew
Location: Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts
Size: 1,600 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
That's interesting: Although it's located on chilly Cape Ann, the home had absolutely no insulation when the family moved in.
The couple removed an existing nonload-bearing wall that separated the original cramped kitchen from the dining area. They added an island with a Carrara marble top, keeping a bright and open-concept kitchen in mind. New stainless steel appliances and a Maytag convection stovetop replaced the very outdated stove. "It was pretty rough before. The 1950s stove took nearly an hour to boil water for pasta," says Jen. "The brightness of the room now makes me happy every time I’m in it."
A silver faux pressed-tin backsplash gives the sink area an antique feel. "We ordered semicustom cabinets to fit our space but were careful not to have to move plumbing and windows in order to keep the cost down," says Jen.
Backsplash: Shanko 309 Lacquer Finish Steel, Home Depot; cabinets: Thomasville; appliances: Home Depot; countertop: Bianco Carrara marble, Doyon's Appliance; sink, faucet: Franke and Moen, Home Depot
Backsplash: Shanko 309 Lacquer Finish Steel, Home Depot; cabinets: Thomasville; appliances: Home Depot; countertop: Bianco Carrara marble, Doyon's Appliance; sink, faucet: Franke and Moen, Home Depot
The kitchen flows into the dining area, located to the right of the entry. A turned-leg pine dining table found on Craigslist was stripped of its shiny orange coating and given a dark, distressed finish. The linoleum floors went out, and new hardwood floors were stained a dark warm walnut color.
An antique window and inherited vintage lamp accent the dining buffet. "Like many people I love the gray-blue color palette and think it perfectly reflects the ocean," says Jen. "I’m a big fan of calming colors on the walls and having the rooms easily flow into each other."
Rug: Malika, Pottery Barn; chairs: Overstock.com and Harry, Ikea; paint: Driftwood Gray, Martha Stewart Living and Ultra Pure White, Behr
An antique window and inherited vintage lamp accent the dining buffet. "Like many people I love the gray-blue color palette and think it perfectly reflects the ocean," says Jen. "I’m a big fan of calming colors on the walls and having the rooms easily flow into each other."
Rug: Malika, Pottery Barn; chairs: Overstock.com and Harry, Ikea; paint: Driftwood Gray, Martha Stewart Living and Ultra Pure White, Behr
To the left of the entry is the living room, featuring many of Jen's budget-friendly DIY projects. The blue and white drapes are actually shower curtains from Target that she cut in half and adorned with a white band of fabric to make affordable window treatments.
The couple whitewashed the paneling, trim and brick fireplace, making what was a dark space feel open and cheerful.
Paint: Vanilla Ice Cream 2154-70, Benjamin Moore; armchairs: Tullsta, Ikea; pillows: HomeGoods
Paint: Vanilla Ice Cream 2154-70, Benjamin Moore; armchairs: Tullsta, Ikea; pillows: HomeGoods
This door off the kitchen leads to the basement, decorated for the coming of spring with a moss wreath. A glittery coral-colored "M," another one of Jen's DIY projects, stands for the family's last name.
Upstairs, one of three small bedrooms was turned into son Drew's sea-inspired nursery. Jen credits her style and inspiration to her mother and her love of browsing magazines. "My mom has always loved decorating and shopping relatively frugally," she shares, "so I think that’s partially where I get that gene from. Then marrying AJ was like a continuation of how I grew up, only he was very renovation minded as well."
Wheel: Christmas Tree Shop; bedding, rug: Pottery Barn Kids
Wheel: Christmas Tree Shop; bedding, rug: Pottery Barn Kids
Jen's father made Drew's sailboat mobile by hand in primary colors, adding a personal touch to the nautical design scheme.
Lamp: Fisherman Table Lamp, Pottery Barn Kids
Lamp: Fisherman Table Lamp, Pottery Barn Kids
Baskets, buckets, and a vintage red wagon corral Drew's toys and books. Jen made the Migonis family plaque.
AFTER: The finished master bedroom.
The couple opened up the bedroom ceiling to add dramatic lines and make the space feel bigger. Jen repurposed shower curtains into window drapery as well as pillow shams. The tufted headboard is a DIY project that Jen made out of pegboard.
Jen also whitewashed the mantel around a newly installed electric fireplace and created a small sitting area. The once-gold mirror was inherited and painted white to fit the home's neutral color palette.
Paint: Moonshine 2140-60, Benjamin Moore; curtains: Feather Gray, West Elm; floors: stained with Jacobean, Minwax; fireplace: Home Depot
Jen also whitewashed the mantel around a newly installed electric fireplace and created a small sitting area. The once-gold mirror was inherited and painted white to fit the home's neutral color palette.
Paint: Moonshine 2140-60, Benjamin Moore; curtains: Feather Gray, West Elm; floors: stained with Jacobean, Minwax; fireplace: Home Depot
The newly tiled shower, reflected in the mirror, is outfitted with neutral variegated penny tiles. A white beadboard ceiling adds character. The couple came in under budget at $2,500, becoming members of Overstock.com to receive a 7 percent discount on tiles.
Shower tile: Overstock.com; paint: Harbor Gray AC-25, Benjamin Moore
Shower tile: Overstock.com; paint: Harbor Gray AC-25, Benjamin Moore
Jen covered a kid-friendly safety gate at the top of the stairs with old maps.
Attached to the wall next to the entry is a handmade giant ruler for charting Drew's height.
While it's snowy now, Jen loves that they live within a mile and a half of the beach. "It’s amazing to run or walk by the ocean whenever we want to. Our neighborhood is made up of mostly capes or small ranches that people are gradually renovating or tearing down," she says. "There is a great mix of children and older folks who just love waving and talking to Drew."
Paint: Cumulus Cloud MSL260, Martha Stewart Living
Paint: Cumulus Cloud MSL260, Martha Stewart Living
Here Jen poses for a picture with an active Drew. As for the family's future renovation plans, Jen says, "We are starting the process of creating a nursery for our little girl, due on April 5, and turning the guest room into a more grown-up room for Drew."
Your turn: Share your renovated home with us!
Your turn: Share your renovated home with us!