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The secret to Beth and Nelson’s style can be found in their love of old things. When the couple moved into their new digs on Somerset Street, they filled the airy rooms of their old-fashioned apartment with thrift store finds and antiques. The result is a homey mix of nicknacks, art and even the occasional piece of taxidermy that manages to showcase their various collections without feeling cluttered.
What is your decorating inspiration?
I think it’s all based on things that we’ve accumulated over time. I don’t know if it’s a design style necessarily because I kind of like things that tell a story. Old things, of course. You’ll notice that when you walk about the home it doesn’t seem to have any logic, every room seems to have a different story. This comes from an enjoyment of going to flea markets and rummage sales.
What is your favourite DIY project?
We re-upholstered some chairs and we refinished the dinning room table. There’s a lot of stuff we had that just required small fixes, although the plan is to do some major stuff like built-in bookshelf.
What has been your biggest indulgence?
The stuffed pheasant maybe. We have some grand ideas, and the pheasant is the start of one idea. We want to have more taxidermy, but it’s hard to find. I think it would be nice to have a baboon or a stand alone piece.
What’s your greatest decorating challenge?
We run the risk of transforming our hour into a museum, and that’s not necessarily the most comfortable thing. The problem for Beth, especially, is that she has a problem with collecting things. She’ll collect things like glass bottles, and as a result the house is constantly growing and evolving. This is a big space, but we might just out grow it with stuff. Also, finding places to put new art on the walls. There are some things that we refuse to surrender, and that’s a problem.
What is your best piece of decorating advice?
I think this house was born out of a love of thrifting. I have friends who fear going into a charity shop because they don’t know what they are looking for. I think it’s worthwhile, rather than going to a big box store, just to rent a car and go to an estate sale and make a day trip out of it. You’ll enjoy decorating more when you are proud of whatever it is you’ve acquired. Don’t be afraid of buying something that needs a little work. I think a lot of people who go buy used things out of a fear that what they will buy will be broken, but usually it’s not difficult to fix.
Another tip is to start small. For example, our kitchen was kind of inspired by a birthday gift I received from a girlfriend: three bright teal canisters. Decorating can be like putting on an outfit, it can start with something small like bracelet and evolve from there.
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