Decorating & Design 2 Min Read

A Dark and Dated Home Gets A Timeless Transformation

A clean, classic, modern living room with blue and grey decor, gold accents and hardware, and a white panelled ceiling. In the corner of the image sits a bubble portrait of the two designers, who are both blonde women.

By Emma Reddington On June 27th, 2025

A before and after project in Burlington, Ont., transformed this home from dark and dated to light and bright.

Designers Erin Feasby (above, right) and Cindy Bleeks of Feasby & Bleeks Design spent 12 months updating the entryway and modernizing the family room. Find out what they spent and learn the designers’ major reno moves below.

Illuminate an Entryway

Major Moves

Swapped out the tile with a large-scale, marble-look porcelain in a herringbone pattern
Eliminated the angled transition between the tile and the original hardwood floors, extended the tiled area to the living room, then ran new hardwood up to the now straight transition
Replaced the applied mouldings that created “wainscotting” with recessed panels, and updated the mouldings and trim
Complemented the original lantern with new sconces, which were repeated further down the hall
Painted the walls a creamy white
Added two shagreen consoles and bone-inlay mirrors

What They Spent

Key costs (approximate) included the:

Main-floor hardwood, $18,000
Consoles, $4,500
Sconces, $2,500
Accessories, $1,800
Porcelain, $1,500

The entryway, before.

Modernize a Family Room

Major Moves

Brought the exterior’s Cape Cod-style indoors by cladding the raised ceiling in classic tongue-and-groove panelling for a coastal feel Designed custom built-ins and a fireplace surround
Updated the gas fireplace insert
Installed wide-plank European oak hardwood floors
Brightened the walls with paint
Added new lighting, furniture, a rug and window coverings.

What They Spent

Key costs (approximate) included the:

Furniture and lamps, $28,000
Built-ins, $24,00
Accessories, $10,000
Rug, $6,800
Drapery fabric and fabrication, $5,000
Fireplace insert, $4,000
Custom throw pillows, $4,000
Chandelier, $2,550
Art lights, $2,080

Best Design Decision: Losing the earth-tone colour palette. Lightening everything up instantly transformed the space. Also, wrapping the built-ins and fireplace mantel in the perfect shade of blue made a huge impact.