Decorating & Design
See 10+ Incredible Before & After Makeovers!
Published on August 21, 2017
Demonstrating the power of decorating, dramatic before-and-after photos are nothing short of inspiring. In honor of the launch of House & Home‘s latest special issue, Makeovers 2017, we’re sharing some of the best before and after projects to grace our pages. From a high-contrast kitchen by Sarah Richardson Design to a charming Prince Edward County pad, slide the arrows on each image to see how creativity can transform a dated house into a welcoming home.
To see 50+ more incredible before and afters, pick up a copy of Makeovers 2017, on print and digital newsstands now.
When an art-loving family with two small children purchased this century home in Toronto’s West End, they quickly got to work putting a youthful stamp on the too-formal interior. The living room fireplace was updated from wood-burning to gas, and heavy wainscotting was removed to make way for more delicate recessed panels. The new look is lighter and more refined.
An old back stairway was removed to open up the kitchen and allow for more storage, including a full pantry wall and small servery. Flat-front cabinet doors with recessed pulls plus uninterrupted white counters create a sleek and quiet backdrop. A mix of materials — Corian, marble, walnut, stainless steel — gives the room dimension and texture.
The principal bedroom’s pale pink linens and bed wrapped in tufted grey upholstery are soft and calming at the end of the day. A modern brass chandelier amps up sophistication.
Tour the rest of this house here.
Design photographer Stacey Brandford’s kitchen required extensive structural work. Together with the help of Ikea, his longtime collaborator (and friend) Sarah Richardson and her design associate Tiffany Leigh, the entire kitchen was taken back to the studs, creating a better flow, more natural light and a high-contrast aesthetic.
From the get-go, Stacey and his wife Anne Koehler knew they wanted a black and white kitchen. The honed bluestone floors and black Caesarstone counter on the island make a strong statement, so Tiffany brought in glossy white perimeter cabinets and counters for balance.
Tour the rest of this kitchen here.
When Sophie and Cameron Burke bought their nearly century-old house, set on a half-acre in West Vancouver, the renovations by various owners were looking quite dated. But Sophie was particularly keen on the home’s original elements — the leaded-glass windows, a beautiful fireplace clad in river rocks from the neighboring creek — and knew she could give the home a cottage-inspired makeover that suited its spirit.
The home’s existing windows were left unchanged. “We didn’t want to lose the character,” says Sophie, who also kept the skylights. An enclosed porch was transformed into a dining nook, and Sophie retained the panelling to give the space a casual vibe.
The bathroom on the main floor is Sophie’s favorite room in the house. She created a custom pattern with black and white Moroccan floor tiles, then painted the walls in Farrow & Ball’s Off-Black for a little drama. A wall-hung sink and industrial lighting look suitably retro in the historic house.
Tour the rest of this house here.
H&H’s Kai Ethier transformed her blank canvas of a bedroom into a haven of patterns and hues. The makeover included expanding the closet, removing a set of old patio doors and injecting loads of personality. “It’s got a really good energy now,” says Kai.
Removing the old sliding glass doors and relocating them to the hallway made room for a daybed with storage underneath. The extra bed is an inviting spot to read.
Tour the rest of this bedroom here.
When Vi Jull, owner of Prince Edward County shop French Country, first laid eyes on this brown bungalow, the house itself was in poor condition, but the property (an acre of land with mature trees) and price tag sold her. After nearly five months renovating and redecorating the space in her signature Paris-meets-Provence style, the formerly frumpy bungalow now feels fresh and quintessentially Vi.
Removing three walls opened up the home’s main living area. Vi then installed new maple hardwood throughout and carried the hex backsplash tile up to the ceiling to help define the kitchen area. Vintage ice-cream parlor stools reupholstered in grey leather echo the Caesarstone counters.
Vi chose a simple black, white and pale pink palette for the guest room. A feathered lampshade from France and ruffled pillow from Italy soften the high-contrast space. Hanging artwork next to the mirror, instead of centered over the bed, feels fresh. The hardwood in both bedrooms was in good shape, so Vi just refreshed it with warm white paint.
Tour the rest of this space here.
To see 50+ more before and afters, get your copy of Makeovers 2017, on print and digital newsstands now.