My Houzz: Renters Personalize Their Home With Color

Kate and Mike Bowler’s apartment in Somerville, Massachusetts, is an example of how to work with existing decor, especially when renting. When the couple toured the third floor of this triple-decker apartment building, Mike loved the views of the Boston skyline, but the bright yellow walls and patterned carpeting didn’t appeal to Kate. So they compromised — if he would help her paint every wall in the 1,200-square-foot unit, she would give the space a chance. Four years later, Kate is happy to have taken the leap of faith, as together they’ve transformed their rental into an inviting, colorful home filled with artwork, collections of jadeite and milk glass, and a mix of vintage and new furnishings.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Mike and Kate Bowler and their cat, Griffin
Location: Somerville, Massachusetts
Size: 1,200 square feet (112 square meters); 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
Year built: 1885

It was important to the couple to make their rental their own, and their artwork was where they started. “I love to collect art — both vintage paintings and more modern pieces too,” says Kate, who also enjoys painting. Many of her collected prints and original paintings decorate the walls.


Kate’s approach to design is influenced by her mother, Margaret van Geldern, who taught her how to mix and match vintage items with more contemporary pieces to create an eclectic style. The couple bought much of their furniture and decorative items from Ikea, Craigslist and flea markets.

Their cat, Griffin, affectionately referred to as G-Unit, approves of the comfy Ikea sofa. He loves to lie at the end of the chaise and bask in the sun.

Sofa: Ikea; jute coffee table: Wayfair


Kate’s mother is a seamstress and made the custom-designed Roman shades seen here, as well as curtains and throw pillows for other areas of the apartment.

Kate recently took an upholstery class herself, and gave new life to this armchair. Above it is a gallery wall with collected art from flea markets and yard sales. “The Adventure Begins” print, though, was created by one her favorite artists, Annemarie Buckley, owner of Scouts Honor Paper.


An open mind and the willingness to take a chance on a piece of furniture is another important characteristic of Kate’s philosophy on decorating. “We’ve been known to pull over on the side of the road to grab a rickety old table or chair and throw it in the back of the car.”

Paint: Sweatshirt Grey, Benjamin Moore; ottoman: CB2


A colorful vignette of favorite books, a vintage typewriter and a collection of matchbooks from local restaurants welcome visitors into the living room.

Bookshelf and throw: West Elm


Unexpected color combinations give the dining and kitchen area a cheerful, distinctive feel. The storage cabinet is filled with cookbooks, dishes and a few pieces from Kate’s jadeite collection.

Paint: Sea Salt, Sherwin Williams; table: Ikea; tablecloth: handmade using fabric from Spoonflower


The candlesticks on the kitchen table are part of Kate’s collection of vintage milk glass.

Chair prints: Perla Anne



Out the back door is a view of downtown Boston, which is about 3½ miles away. The view was one of the selling points when the couple first saw the apartment. They enjoy their location for other reasons as well, including the short walk to a number of excellent restaurants in nearby Davis Square as well as the subway in Porter Square. “It’s a perfect balance of feeling like you’re in a quiet residential neighborhood while still being accessible to the amenities of the city,” says Mike.


A hot pink bar cart holds a variety of wine and craft spirits from local makers. The cart also includes a monogrammed ice bucket and even a tiny yellow flag in a milk glass vase to match the lemons.

Bar cart: Society Social; serving board: Sur La Table


The kitchen had very little storage space, so the couple added their own. This piece does double duty, providing both storage and a much-needed work surface. On display are more jadeite pieces that Kate has collected.

Cabinet: Target


More of Kate’s vintage milk glass can be seen on the kitchen windowsill, holding flowers in the color scheme that has become a signature of their home: bright pink and yellow.


A monogrammed shower curtain personalizes the apartment’s small bathroom. A fresh bouquet in a milk glass vase sits on the vanity, along with a Kate Spade candle and hand soap from local shop Follain.


Kate tried to use every square inch of available space in the bathroom. Even the small gap between the shelving unit and the toilet is functional, holding additional rolls of bath tissue. More jadeite pieces are used as storage for makeup.

Storage boxes: Ikea


Extra dining chairs are stored in the hallway. Because the apartment is a rental, the couple were unable to change the zigzag wall-to-wall carpeting. Rather than cover it up, Kate decided to paint the walls varying shades of gray to tie in the gray tones. She has come to love it, jokingly telling her friends that “it’s by Missoni.”

Kate painted the art piece of the egg carton, at bottom.


When the couple moved in, there was a door separating every room of the apartment. They decided to remove most of them, creating a more fluid layout.

Kate’s painting of a rotary phone hangs in the entryway to welcome visitors.


In the bedroom, dark navy paint accents the sloped ceiling, making it a focal point in the room.

The couple switch out their bedding according to the season. “We’re not one-and-done decorators. I love swapping out textiles and accessories to keep the look of a room changing over time,” says Kate. Pink and yellow appear again in this space, this time in the mustard yellow headboard and magenta duvet cover.

Bedding: One Kings Lane; paint: Midnight Navy, Benjamin Moore


Colorful accessories fill one corner of the bedroom with file drawers put to use as storage. Simple key hooks are used to organize Kate’s jewelry.


Kate has collected colorful gift boxes from one of her favorite brands, Kate Spade, to create a bright corner vignette.


“I’m so happy we ended up making the decision to live here,” says Kate, “because I fell in love with the neighborhood. Somerville is a great city.”

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