Young House Love

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House Crashing: A Cozy & Creative Townhouse

We know you guys love seeing a wide range of homes when it comes to House Crashing, so when Katrina invited us over to run around her townhouse and snap some photos to share with you guys, we jumped at the chance. She’s a super creative momma who lives right here in Richmond with a lot of awesome found/collected items mixed with things that she has DIYed herself. And here she is now, with her adorable son Luke and her husband Nate.

Katrina 1 Family Portrait

When you enter the townhouse, there’s a gorgeous cozy wall color (Gauntlet Gray by Sherwin Williams) that envelops you, along with the rich wood floors that her hubby installed himself on all three floors. Everything from the vintage light fixture to the quirky wooden shoe-molds-turned-coat-hooks really makes the space feel one of a kind.

Katrina 2 Entryway

When you walk upstairs there’s the living room, which is painted the same rich color, but has a lot of lighter pops (in the furniture, the mantel, etc) along with pretty frames and mirrors to bounce around a lot of light. The starburst mirrors are from Target but Katrina used Grecian Gold Rub-N-Buff from Michael’s on them to get that gilded look.

Katrina 3 Fireplace

Those paper butterflies were actually something Katrina bought on Etsy (from a shop called Embellished Paper) and pinned to an old pallet to cover up the hole that the townhouse builder had left over the fireplace for a TV (she didn’t think putting a TV in there made for the best furniture arrangement since the fireplace is on an angle). I loved the mix of the rustic wood and the delicate white paper butterflies.

Katrina 4 Fireplace Detail

And here’s little Luke modeling his play area, which is a mixture of old and new (and DIY and store-bought). The bookcase is from Ikea, but when it’s mixed with the old map, the oversized clock, and the mason jars that Katrina painted white and hung on the wall, it has a casual and eclectic feeling.

Katrina 5 Richmond Poster

Here’s the rest of the living room as you turn to the left of the little play area for Luke. Well, this is what it looked like before they moved in and made it their own…

Townhouse Before

… and this is what it looks like now.

Katrina 6 Living Room

I love how the dark walls balance the light furniture and the large frames add color with those cheerful yellow squares. Katrina just grabbed some Ikea frames and used yellow paper and some inexpensive medallions from the craft store that she spray painted silver inside of each frame to create some architectural art for a steal.

Katrina 6 5 Living Room Art

I also love the little touches, like the paper mache deer head that Katrina topped with a few extra butterflies from the mantel project – just to bring that detail to the other side of the room. The cool thing about that deer head is that he’s from Z Gallerie and Katrina modge podged him with wallpaper scraps. “He was all white and a little plasticy looking so I made him look a little more special.”

Katrina 7 Deer Detail

I love that Katrina isn’t afraid of making her townhouse stand out from all the others. No detail is too small for her, and I loved noticing small upgrades that she added, like the wide stripes that she painted just on the inside of the pass-through to the kitchen, and the burlap curtains that she added (she made them from old grain sacks herself).

Katrina 8 Striped Window Detail

Here’s the view of the pass-through from the kitchen. I thought the fact that the grain sacks had designs on both sides was so smart (they’re like a double sided curtain with tons of texture and a cool collected feeling). And you know I wanted to rub my face all over those gleaming over-sized glass containers. Katrina’s kitchen also brought a giant smile to our faces because the same gray penny tile that we used in our last kitchen was just sitting there, waiting for me to pet it. So I did.

Katrina 9 Kitchen Window

The dark wood counters and the painted cabinets with cool dark Ikea hardware stole my heart too. But my favorite part of the kitchen was the awesome built-in banquette that Katrina and Nate added to the other side of the space. The giant white mirror almost felt like a window, and the shelf on top with pretty decorative baskets added extra storage. I’m a huge fan of Katrina’s lighting and furniture choices too. They just looked easy yet really elegant. The chairs and table are both outlet finds here in Richmond (from The Decorating Outlet).

Katrina 11 Breakfast Nook

Mirror detail. Me-ow. Katrina bought it at an auction in Lynchburg for a steal.

Katrina 11 Breakfast Nook Detail

Katrina used the same cozy and rich gray tone on the walls of the first and second floor, yet on the third floor where all the bedrooms are located, she lightened up with this soft and gorgeous blue tone (Oasis by Olympic). Walking up to this floor definitely felt airier and softer, which was a nice distinction for the bedrooms I think. And of course the art on the stairs had me at hello. I especially loved the wood planks with vintage glass bottles that Katrina wired up herself.

Katrina 12 Staircase

Here’s Katrina and Nate’s bedroom, which had a sweet lofted ceiling, fluffy white bedding, and an elegant tufted headboard. I also loved that vintage gate next to the bed (Katrina uses it to hold her jewelry)…

Katrina 13 Master Bedroom

… and the oversized coral-pink lamp (it picked up some of the tones in Katrina’s homemade art that was hanging above it). She used pastel crayons on a canvas to make the art and then poured thick clear resin over it for a polished look (you can grab resin to DIY your own version at Michaels or JoAnn’s).

Katrina 14 Master Bedroom Detail

The nursery was really charming too, with light colored furnishings and a sweet tree decal kit on the wall, which Katrina made her own by adding little chalk creatures poking out of the trees.

Katrina 15 Nursery

I wish the wider shots of the room had turned out, but we did manage to snag this curtain detail that captured another one of Katrina’s tweaks that was really charming. She took inexpensive Ikea curtains and colored them just using a regular old sharpie for a watercolor-ish look that was painterly and whimsical.

Katrina 16 Nursery Curtains

So thanks so much to Katrina for opening her house up to us and letting us share all of the inspiration with you guys! Let’s play the favorite-part game. I’m calling the eat-in area of the kitchen, and John’s all over the color palette shift that occurs when you transition upstairs (it really felt like you were up in the clouds on that top floor).

Update: We just learned that Katrina used to have a blog, so although she no longer updates it we thought we’d share it in case you wanted to check it out.

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Comments

  2. Marci says

    The whole townhouse is gorgeous but I’m especially loving the built in banquette and want to replicate it in my home!

    Reply

  5. Rachel says

    Usually I love crown molding, but here I’m digging the straight contrast between the gray walls and white ceiling.

    Reply

  6. Meghan says

    Sorry if this has already been asked–do you know where those dining chairs in the little nook are from?? They’re exactly what I’m looking for in our dining room! Thanks!

    Reply

  9. Heather says

    I LOVE this house. She must be an extremely artistic and creative person. I would be scared to paint my walls such a dark gray, but in their home with their furnishings it looks awesome. Thanks for taking us into other people’s homes with you. :)

    Reply

  10. Brenda says

    I just love the butterflies! Such a nice, light touch, and I love how it’s carried in other parts of the room.

    Reply

  12. Sarah Belcher says

    My favorite detail is the ruffle at the bottom of the curtains in the living room. Love that! That might get added to my guest room curtains…

    Reply

  14. Kate says

    Great tour! It had a different feel than some of your other crashing posts, which was fun. You can tell that it’s a well-loved home!

    Reply

  16. jbhat says

    Absolutely charming. The view from the kitchen to the butterfly wall was my favorite shot….such gorgeous tile too.

    jbhat

    Reply

  18. Tracy says

    This house crash was exactly what I needed for inspiration for our house!! That photo of the dining room looks like the size of ours, and the bench seating would be PERFECT. And I love the old gate for jewels! :)

    Reply

  19. Karen says

    Hey Sherry – I know I’m a bit off-topic here, but I was just wondering about the few touches of the ikat kraze around your lovely home(s). I’m afraid of buying anything ikat because it seems like such a trend – and just when I invest in pillows, etc., the style will go out. What are your thoughts on trends like these? Thanks!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I’m a lover of that Bully Baldwin quote: Be faithful to your own taste, because nothing you really like us ever out of style. I just think life’s too short to not grab stuff you love.

      xo,
      s

    • heather says

      Amen to that quote! So true. I just recently bought a bedspread from a well known company that also happens to be local, for a steep discount ($220 to $84!). The point is this, it’s an old fashioned style to most people. In fact the woman behind me, well over 70, exclaimed how much she loved it—because she got the same one when she got married 50 years ago. It’s nothing you see on any of the popular design blogs but I loved it, and couldn’t believe I found one at that price. It’s beautiful to me and that’s all that matters. :)

      On another note, I apparently have a similar design taste to a 70 year old woman. I own it all while laughing at myself.

  22. LaTonya says

    Thanks so much for crashing a townhouse! It’s nice to see how cookie-cutter homes can be personalized so well. Maybe you can also try an apartment crash! I’m not a homeowner, and I would love to see how a fellow renter has worked around restrictions in modifying their living spaces.

    Reply

  23. Jessica says

    What a great house crash! As someone else said already, ‘m glad you crashed a townhouse, too, as it gives me great ideas for mine small townhouse :) I love the gray they chose and the table, chairs, mirror are among my favorites also. I want to study this post more carefully.

    By the way, I saw this photo on my fb wall from bhg,today and couldn’t help but think of you!

    http://www.bhg.com/decorating/decorating-style/cottage/home-tour–incorporating-color/?socsrc=bhgfb0731131

    I’m trying to remember if you mentioned how you decided on the blue for your front door. The blue and the yellow one in your old house are two colors I never would have thought to consider on my own, but seeing them on each of your homes has made wish I paint a bold color on my front door. Where I live now, all the doors have to match based on the HOA rules — nice colors but no originality! Oh, well! ;)

    Reply

  24. Erin says

    I love this townhouse! I live in a small bungalow looking, board batten home on a farm, and I have been struggling with interior makeover options and I think a lot of ideas that I see here would work. It’s a beautiful balance of dark woods, modern, rustic, charming, creative. Great job Katrina.

    Reply

  25. Marissa C says

    I loved the pallet/butterflies and all the found items.

    However, it could be the pics, but man the 1st floor color just seemed so dark. Maybe with higher ceilings?

    Reply

  26. Brandy says

    Okay, I am officially IN LOVE with their townhouse. I love all of the detail they have everywhere. Absolutely beautiful!

    Xoxo,
    Brandy

    Reply

  29. Victoria says

    My favorite house crash ever! I wish I lived there. At any rate, I got a ton of inspiration to use to update the look of my apartment that I have lived in for 20 years here in San Francisco. After all this time my look seems a bit stale but I was stuck for ideas. Not anymore. I am charged up and ready to cull, rearrange, decorate, and diy for a whole new look with mostly my old “stuff”.
    Can’t pick a favorite thing ’cause I love it all. Thank you and thanks to Katrina.

    Reply

  30. Bobby says

    That’s my daughter and son in law. they are both so creative and we are so proud of them both. Way to go Katrina and Nate and Luke.

    Reply

  31. Sandy says

    The entire house is so welcoming and interesting and it’s my favorite too! I love the picture near the stairs that is right next to the wooden shoe-molds-turned-coat-hooks. Any idea where Katrina got that picture? I love the large graphic and want to get one.

    Reply

  32. marthastewart says

    Burlap sack curtains, a pallet on the wall and a rusty old gate??? I think I should make a trip to the dump to get some items for this new design style, “homeless-bag-lady-chic”. PEOPLE, just because you can, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t.

    Reply

  33. aeriel says

    I love the black and white animal plates on the wall of the breakfast nook. Any idea where she got them?

    Reply

  35. Jaime says

    What a fabulous space! Very inspiring! I wonder what fabric was used for the drapes in the play area? Love love :)

    Reply

    • Katrina says

      It was discontinued fabric that I picked up at an outlet sale.
      So sorry that so much of my stuff is discontinued or outlet finds that aren’t available anymore :(, but that is just the thrifty shopper in me. I love to hunt for special finds!

  36. Kim says

    Love the butterflies over the fireplace! They are adorable and I love how she made them wrap the wall, too! You really get a sense of movement!

    Reply

  37. 22209 says

    My comments repeat others already made, but I want to add to the numbers :) This is my favorite house crash, and I especially love the stripes in the kitchen pass-through.

    Reply

  38. Kari says

    That lamp! Swoon! I’ve been searching everywhere for a beautiful gourd lamp like that! Do you know where she got it from?

    Reply

  39. Cyndi T. says

    What a wonderful tour!

    Question for YHL or Katrina on the kitchen wood countertops. Are those Ikea? Can you provide some details on them – they seem thicker than some I’ve seen from Ikea. Love them!

    If Ikea, can you provide details as to which specific tops there were and what color you used to stain and how did you seal them? They are so gorgeous.

    Thank you!

    Reply

    • Katrina says

      They are Ikea NUMERÄR countertops. We stained them with Minwax stain, a mix of Ebony and Classic Gray. They turned out warmer than you would think. We sealed them with a water-based poly.

  40. Rebecca says

    Loved this little townhouse! The colors, the mixture of old and new, everything, so beautiful. That living room rug is gorgeous, and the nursery is so calming. And the dining room banquet is AMAZING! Thanks so much for sharing, it’s very inspiring!

    Reply

    • Katrina says

      The couch is striped, and the fabric reminded me of a French Feedsack stripe. I actually custom ordered it from a vendor at High Point market. However, Ballard Designs has the same fabric for their custom furniture. It is called Callisto Stripe Taupe on their website.

  42. Amber K says

    Do you know where the rug in the living room was purchased from. I am in desperate need of one and this would be perfect!!! Thanks!!

    Reply

  46. Alisha says

    I love it! It’s comfy and lived-in while still being very polished and classy. And Mod Podge can work miracles. :)

    Reply

  47. Melanie P says

    I read through all of the comments hoping for info about the Richmond map- I’m hoping Shades of Light makes more, I would love a Charlottesville one!

    Reply

  48. Nate says

    FWIW, she’s going to be too modest about the rug. She didn’t *just* get it from Shades of Light, she designed it for Shades of Light.

    Reply

  50. Katrina says

    Well, I guess I should join in the fun and post on my favorite part of the house. Kinda hard to do when I designed the whole house, but I think my favorite part is the rug (which I designed myself). Also, the way the light glistens through the large aqua glass jars in the pass thru window. I also like how it feels like a real home, lived in and all around cozy. I struggled for awhile to include Luke’s stuff in the design. I think the final result feels designed but still livable for the whole family. As a new mom I learned function has to come before form and not to take myself too seriously. Thanks John and Sherry for coming to visit, and thanks everyone for all your fun comments. It was fun to read and respond.

    Reply

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