A Surprise Design Makeover for a Pittsburgh Family Home

At the top of the design wish list for most families is a cozy and comfortable living room. A little style never hurts as well. To make that happen for a special family of four in Pittsburgh, Houzz partnered with The Ellen DeGeneres Show to make over the interior of their 1920s side-gabled Craftsman.

Designer Jennifer Jones of Niche Interiors helped transform their living room into a warm and inviting gathering place, giving their home a fresh new look. As an extra surprise for the family, their bedrooms also got a colorful design overhaul.

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Photos by Jason Snyder

The Living Room: A Whole New Layout and Look

BEFORE: Jones started the design process by collaborating with the couple through a Houzz ideabook. The husband and wife looked through living room photos on Houzz to narrow down their style preferences; the husband favors rustic, industrial style, while the wife prefers transitional.

“They both were drawn to fuss-free rooms that felt light and bright,” Jones says. “The main goal was to make the home feel welcoming, brighter and inviting for the whole family. We wanted it to be a space they want to spend time in.”


AFTER: Jones took design cues from the industrial-style clock above the fireplace that the couple picked out together. The color palette marries the two styles and includes layered, neutral tones of taupe, ivory and gray.

Kaleen Glam Collection rug; La Brea studded sofa: Apt2B; accent pillows: Cyan Design, Pure Inspired Design, The Pillow Collection, Susan Connor New York, and Loom & Mill; Elliot coffee table: Zuo Modern; round sea grass basket: Kouboo; Petra side table: Arteriors, Masins Furniture; Warm Gray Scroll Trellis draperies: Loom Decor


BEFORE: Original Craftsman details, like hardwood floors and wood trim around the windows, are found throughout the interior. At night the room was dim, as the only light source other than the windows was the ceiling fan light.

The family members spend most of their time together downstairs, so creating an inviting layout for more family interaction was a top design priority. They also wanted to make sure there was ample room to maneuver the husband’s wheelchair around the furniture.

“The furniture was smashed against the walls, so there was no easy way to have a conversation with someone,” Jones says. “We wanted to make it more conducive to talking, and wanted to create more conversation areas,” Jones says.


AFTER: The husband has a special chair that eases his transition from his wheelchair, and Jones recovered it with a chic gray fabric to match the new color palette. She also painted the fireplace gray to neutralize it in the updated space. Fresh white paint for the walls, ivory curtains and three new lamps help illuminate the space. New flexible seating options in the form of poufs allow the daughters to curl up next to their dad.

Plankton wood console: Worlds Away, GoreDean Home; Bubble glass table lamps: Dimond Lighting, Fratantoni Lifestyles; Petra side table: Arteriors, Masins Furniture; Colin charcoal throw blanket: Anki Spets, Area; Arteriors Home Darby wood table: Chachkies; Alessandria polished nickel hammered bowls: Arteriors Home, Chachkies; vintage book set: Booth & Williams





AFTER: A new floor lamp and a soothing art piece brighten up a previously dark corner.

Albany dark gray linen modern lounge chair: Baxton Studio; abstract landscape painting: Gina Perillo; Rico Espinet Shinto tripod floor lamp: Matthew Izzo; Arteriors Home Darby wood table: Chachkies; Alessandria polished nickel hammered bowl: Arteriors Home, Chachkies





The Master Bedroom: A Rustic Retreat

BEFORE: The first-floor master suite is a recent addition to the home. The space is accessible from the outside through a ramp that was part of the addition.


AFTER: A geometric rug softens the redecorated space, while a new reclaimed-wood headboard complements the couple’s existing rustic bookcase. A design priority for this space was to make it cozy and inviting. Above the headboard is a gallery wall of black and white family photos, including pictures of the family’s visit to The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Reclaimed-wood headboard: East Coast Rustic; Blue Alex accent pillows: Safavieh, Zopalo; Raindrops Keep Falling pillows: Cyan Design, Zopalo; Theo Multi blanket by Anki Spets, Area; rectangular rattan storage basket: Kouboo; Collegiate metal alarm clock: Timewise Clocks, Expressions of Time; Oddity glass bottle vases: clickhere2shop; Essentials Mellow Yellow bone boxes: Imax, Uber Bazaar; Pharmacist’s Dispensers: Trovati Studio; Traditional White Essentials Celebrations trunks: Imax, GwG Outlet; Zane spheres: Vertuu Designs; Panache rug: Loloi; old fire hose reel photograph: The Andy Moine Company; Sutter burnished silver picture frames: Lawrence Frames


On top of the bookcase are items with personal meaning, such as prints of vintage firefighter badges and helmets, and vintage dairy bottles.

Firemen’s Hats print and Derby Hat, Eight Cone and High Cone Helmets print: Buyenlarge; bronze jack table sculpture: Cyan Design, Moss Manor | Sarah James Moss


Girl’s Bedroom: A Girly Getaway

BEFORE: Pink and purple are the favorite colors of the couple’s older daughter, who is 5 years old. Her existing hot-pink polka dot bedding was the starting point for the rest of the decor.


AFTER: A fresh coat of blush-pink paint, colorful confetti decals and white drapery panels on top of existing Roman shades freshen up the space. A chevron-patterned beanbag chair and bold accent pillows make for versatile seating options for sleepovers and play dates.

Fuchsia velvet pillow: Therese Marie Designs; faux arctic fox pillows: Zopalo; gray linen pillow with sequin trim: Therese Marie Designs; Moza Contemporary Table lamps: Cyan Design, Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes; flower capiz seashell wall mirror: Kouboo; chevron beanbag: Majestic; sheer window curtain grommet panels: Home Linen Collections; Colorful Confetti Dots Wall Decal: The Lovely Wall Co.; Astronomical Vase Collection: Cyan Design, Moss Manor | Sarah James Moss


New colorful toy bins keep her things organized.

Amanda Lane purple ikat pink/lavender throw pillow: Kess InHouse; Poetic Plush Hope Hippo: Bella Tunno; Maya metal baskets: Imax, Uber Bazaar


Girl’s Bedroom: Aqua Adventure

BEFORE: The couple’s Superman-loving 3-year-old daughter is a fan of aqua and lavender. Jones wanted to make her room as playful and interactive as possible.


AFTER: “I wanted to add more fun accents to tie together her existing decor,” Jones says. Rainbow-colored triangle confetti decals in the shape of pinwheels add a dash of fun for the adventurous toddler, while bright yellow curtains and pale aqua painted walls tie everything together. “Her room is on the smaller side, and I didn’t want it to feel cluttered,” Jones says. The turquoise beanbag also makes for flexible seating, as in her older sister’s room. A new ceiling fan helps with air circulation.

Rainbow triangles wall decal: The Lovely Wall Co.; Bello citron/gray jacquard oblong pillow: LaCozi; Generation transitional swing-arm wall lamps: House of Troy, Modum Decor; teal beanbag: Majestic Home Goods; perforated bud vase: Lazy Suzan, Bella Vici; stuffed alpaca bear: Sitara Collections


Eames Elephant: Vitra, Design Public; Poetic plush monkey: Bella Tunno; stuffed alpaca bunny: Sitara Collections; Doodle grommet-top curtains: Best Home Fashion

See more photos of the finished house

Watch the reveal on The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Missed the surprise announcement? Watch it here

URL: A Surprise Design Makeover for a Pittsburgh Family Home http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-26038.html