Houzz Tours
My Houzz: Feel-Good Design Energizes a 1940s Ohio Home
Saturated colors and bold prints turn a boring beige house into a cheerful, inviting family home
Valerie Esiso abides by the design philosophy "Function first, then feelings." So when she, an interior designer, and her physician husband, Michael Essandoh, had just one weekend to find a home in Columbus, Ohio, they were able to see past its outdated beige tiling and carpeting. "I have three little kids, so I always think of the functionality of all my design decisions within their context first. Then I rely on my feelings and instincts to make the final choices," she says. With new hardwood floors, updated bathrooms and added doses of bold color, the 1940s Cape Cod–style home is now a feel-good, inviting space.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Michael Essandoh, Valerie Esiso and their 3 children
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Size: 3,600 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Michael Essandoh, Valerie Esiso and their 3 children
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Size: 3,600 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Esiso rescued and re-covered these midcentury armchairs, designed by Paul László, for a fresh, modern look. The fabric is from Robert Allen.
The cutout wall opens up the kitchen to the main living room and makes it easier for the couple to keep an eye on their kids.
The cutout wall opens up the kitchen to the main living room and makes it easier for the couple to keep an eye on their kids.
Because of previous homeowner additions, the kitchen is now in the middle of the house. This has proved to be one of Esiso's biggest design challenges, one that she addresses with a "no playing in the kitchen" rule for her young kids. "The layout is off, with the placement of the fridge on the opposite side of the island in relation to the cooktop and the sink," she describes. "I never would have designed it with the cooktop in the middle, because of the kids running around."
The couple replaced the existing ceramic tile flooring with slate and chose a new backsplash to match.
The couple replaced the existing ceramic tile flooring with slate and chose a new backsplash to match.
This playroom area, off the kitchen, is meant to elicit feelings of fun and creativity in her twin boys and daughter.
Tables: Lack, Ikea
Tables: Lack, Ikea
This formal dining room "is most reflective of my personal style," says Esiso, who draws inspiration from designers such as Jonathan Adler, DD Allen and Caitlin Wilson.
It took a while for Esiso to find the perfect rug for this room; she went with this one from Pottery Barn because of its African feel. The artwork on the far wall is an original piece by Esiso.
Paint: Web Gray SW7075, Sherwin Williams
It took a while for Esiso to find the perfect rug for this room; she went with this one from Pottery Barn because of its African feel. The artwork on the far wall is an original piece by Esiso.
Paint: Web Gray SW7075, Sherwin Williams
The twin boys share a room upstairs. Esiso refinished the hardwood floors here and elsewhere upstairs to make them uniform with other new flooring. The slanted ceilings and dormer area are true to the home's classic Cape Cod design.
Most of the house has low ceilings, except for the two kids' bedrooms, which have ceilings higher than 8 feet. "I don't think the ceilings are much more than 7 1/2 feet high. It would have been lovely if it were all just a little bit higher," she says.
Paint: Decisive Yellow SW6902, Sherwin Williams
Most of the house has low ceilings, except for the two kids' bedrooms, which have ceilings higher than 8 feet. "I don't think the ceilings are much more than 7 1/2 feet high. It would have been lovely if it were all just a little bit higher," she says.
Paint: Decisive Yellow SW6902, Sherwin Williams
Esiso chose wide stripes to perk up her daughter's room. A favorite piece of outgrown clothing is framed as artwork.
Pink paint: Exuberant Pink SW6840, Sherwin Williams; Dark gray: Software Gray SW7074, Sherwin Williams
Pink paint: Exuberant Pink SW6840, Sherwin Williams; Dark gray: Software Gray SW7074, Sherwin Williams
Esiso had the master bedroom gutted after they moved in, because she wanted it to be the calmest place in the house — a retreat from all the craziness. "I narrowed the color palette down to calming blues and greens and ended up going with this particular blue for the walls because it had the contemporary vibe that would work with the rest of the house," she says. She used the same paint one shade lighter for the ceiling. She also added a walk-in closet.
Paint: Lakeshore SW6494, Sherwin Williams
Paint: Lakeshore SW6494, Sherwin Williams
The master bathroom was also gutted, and the couple installed a double sink, toilet, separate shower and tub.
Paint: Hearts of Palm SW6415, Sherwin Williams; tiles: Hamilton Parker; tub: American Standard, Plumber Surplus; custom acid stained concrete countertop: Del Col Concrete
Paint: Hearts of Palm SW6415, Sherwin Williams; tiles: Hamilton Parker; tub: American Standard, Plumber Surplus; custom acid stained concrete countertop: Del Col Concrete
Esiso relaxes in the hub of her home, the living room.
The front of the home's Cape Cod–style exterior has remained relatively unchanged. Most of the previous homeowner additions were made to the back of the house.
The family now feels at home in Columbus. "I love that it is a small city with big-city aspirations," Esiso says.
The family now feels at home in Columbus. "I love that it is a small city with big-city aspirations," Esiso says.
Paint: Lightweight Beige SW6092, Sherwin Williams