Sometimes you get to start with a blank slate. Sometimes, you have to work with what you’ve got. Each has pros and cons. It can be daunting to have to pick every single finish and formulate the entire palette. On the other hand, it can be challenging to make all your existing pieces work together in a cohesive way that is still fresh and current. This home was the latter situation.

This project came with a lot of fixed design elements. It was purchased with the intent of turning it into a vacation rental. We had two weeks to furnish and decorate the entire home before it would be open for bookings. Talk about a daunting task. There was no time for updating finishes. Paint, tile, carpet, flooring, etc. needed to stay. Fortunately, the house came with some furniture left by the previous owners. Unfortunately, the house came with some furniture left by the previous owners. Some were better than others.

After an exhausting two weeks, I was pleased with our end result. It was very difficult blending tired furniture into today’s aesthetic. But through some re-arranging, serendipitous finds, and strategic purchases, we ended up with a beautifully furnished home.

The exterior of the home, as well as a few key pieces of existing furniture were decidedly craftsman/mission style. I was fortunate enough to find a dining table (I needed two matching), at a nearby store, large enough to accommodate all the guests (20 in total!) in a style that blended with those elements. We also scored some perfect end tables, and side chairs at the local consignment shop that coordinated perfectly with what we already had.

Each bedroom started with a few existing pieces that drove the design decisions. I had fun playing up the personalities of the separate bedrooms based on those existing pieces. Each room is definitely unique.