Decorating & Design
Is Your Home Stuck In The Past?
Updated on July 26, 2023
From small updates like replacing builder-basic lighting to big investments like renovating a dated bathroom, it may be time to give your hardworking spaces a refresh. Here are 5 dated things to get rid of in your home, with inspiration on how to update them. Scroll down for some of our favorite Before and After’s from the H&H archives!
1. Builder-basic Lighting
When homeowner Joey Diaz moved into his downtown Toronto condo, he loved the concrete ceilings, but not the sterile feel of the builder-basic model suite, including an industrial track light that came with the unit. See how Mazen El-Abdallah of Mazen Studio helped him transform the space below.
Refresh: Standout Pendant
Mazen warmed up the living room by replacing the track lighting with a mid-century-style light, walnut furniture and houseplants. “Mazen and I agree that lighting is like jewelry for your home,” says Joey.
2. Awkward Corner Cabinet
Do you have an awkward cabinet like this in your kitchen? Good news — you can still maximize every inch of space without cramming a bulky cabinet into a corner. Keep scrolling to see how.
Refresh: Sleek Floating Shelves
“The original kitchen was visually heavy and quite dark,” says designer Barbara Wigmore of this European-inspired kitchen reno. To bring a more streamlined look to the space, she installed Calacatta onyx marble counters and a sleek floating shelf in the same corner seen above.
3. Frumpy Fireplace
When the homeowners of this Toronto Victorian-era house moved in, they loved the high ceilings, ornate architectural details and stateliness of the rooms, but the rooms were dull and lacking character. Designer Andi Wheelband of Two Birds Design helped them rejuvenate the space, starting with the living room. See below!
Refresh: Modern Marble Fireplace
Freshly painted white walls, custom built-ins and a modern fireplace surround totally transform the living room while complementing the original features (including an antique chandelier!). “The house definitely needed an aesthetic update to bring it into the 21st century,” says Andi.
4. Flat White Kitchen
When actress Karine Vanasse moved into her Quebec farmhouse, it lacked a pulse. She turned to Audrée Kemp Bélanger of AKB Design — au revoir, bland kitchen! They wanted to bring a feeling of history into a dwelling that had none (it was built in 2016). “The interior was a blank canvas without personality,” says Audrée. See what they did below!
Refresh: Shiplap Walls, Ceiling Beams and A Contrasting Island
“We brought in textures to give the impression that you’re looking at something designed a long time ago, from the shiplap and beams to the marble that gives it that timeless vibe,” says Karine. “The base is mostly white, but it’s interesting because of the textures,” she adds.
5. Clunky Corner Tub
Designers have moved away from the bulky ’90s bathrooms (corner tubs and all) in favor of serene spa-like spaces. This generously sized principal bathroom invited design firm Collective Studio to get creative. Keep scrolling to this bathroom transformation!
Refresh: Freestanding Tub, Custom Millwork, Spa Shower
Now, this spacious principal bathroom wows with custom millwork, a spa shower and slim freestanding tub. Staggering two types of wall tile in the shower is a budget-friendly way to create a luxe look in your bathroom, according to designer Jordy Fagan.