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Houzz Tour: Light and Lovely Home with a Special History
Trina McNeilly redecorates the house she grew up in for her family of 6
It might be hard for some people to imagine living in the house they grew up in. Whether it's dealing with an older home, or trying to overcome your parent's style, the idea can be a little overwhelming. But for Trina McNeilly, who authors the blog la la Lovely, it's been a welcome challenge to make her childhood home outside of Chicago her very own. "It can be pretty wonderful, and pretty strange all at the same time," she says.
With four children in the house, McNeilly's learned to make smart, simple, and creative adjustments that are affordable and kid-friendly. Above all else, she wants this home to reflect her own personal style, without losing all of the great characteristics that she grew up loving. "I know that if, or when, I ever move, I'll dream of this house always," she says.
With four children in the house, McNeilly's learned to make smart, simple, and creative adjustments that are affordable and kid-friendly. Above all else, she wants this home to reflect her own personal style, without losing all of the great characteristics that she grew up loving. "I know that if, or when, I ever move, I'll dream of this house always," she says.
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| "I have major decorating ADD," McNeilly says. "When I say I'm going to focus on a certain room, I inevitably find a million things for every other room in the house and become distracted." Many of the products in McNeilly's home are hand-me-downs from her parents that she's repurposed for an entirely new look. All of these pieces help keep the decor in a similar style that she grew up with, but with her own special touch. The rest of the pieces in her home came from online shopping deals and occasional trips to local stores and shops in Chicago. The result is an eclectic and unique house that's become the perfect home for this family of 6. |
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| The real showstopper in the family's living room is an outdoor swing from IKEA installed on one side of the expansive space. "The swing adds hours of fun during our long winters," says McNeilly. "Now the kids want a slide to the basement!" Swing: EKORRE, IKEA |
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| McNeilly found the quirky yellow arm chairs on their way to the trash outside of a house in her neighborhood. She rescued them and has plans to recover them. For now they add some fun color to the home's living room. Couch: Clayton Marcus Wall map: Plan de Paris Wall Map |
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The knock-off Ghost Chairs in the dining room is another favorite find. "They were a steal, they look fabulous, and they work great with the kids," McNeilly says. The modern plastic chairs contrast a rich wooden table and organic looking carpet underneath.
Table: Z Gallerie
Carpet: World Market
Centerpiece: One of a kind pottery piece from Anthropologie
Pendant: Pottery Barn
Chairs: InteriorExpress.com
Table: Z Gallerie
Carpet: World Market
Centerpiece: One of a kind pottery piece from Anthropologie
Pendant: Pottery Barn
Chairs: InteriorExpress.com
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One of the great parts of redecorating this home was that McNeilly was able to completely indulge in her love for chandeliers, even installing one in her master bathroom. The simple crystal fixture adds just a little bit of luxe to this simply designed space.
Chandelier: Schonbeck
Chandelier: Schonbeck
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The empire chandelier in the master bedroom is one of McNeilly's favorite pieces. "I have a thing for chandeliers, but this one is extra special," she says. "It's old and it sparkles, what could be better than that?"
Chandelier: Antique from Euro Trash
Headboard: Z Gallerie
Quilt: West Elm
Pillows: Anthropologie
Chandelier: Antique from Euro Trash
Headboard: Z Gallerie
Quilt: West Elm
Pillows: Anthropologie
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| The couple decided to keep their bedroom in a simple white palette to help the room feel soothing and calming. Instead of carpeting, they laid down pine planks and painted them white. "It's the biggest risk I've taken so far," she says. Bench: Antique from Euro Trash |
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McNeilly set up a small workspace for herself in one corner of the large master bedroom. The desk and chair were both hand-me-downs from her dad. She distressed and refinished the desk in a gray color, and then had the chair recovered in a plush green velvet.
Table lamp: Home Goods
Wall color: Moccasin, Benjamin Moore
Table lamp: Home Goods
Wall color: Moccasin, Benjamin Moore
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In the other corner of the master bedroom, McNeilly set up a snug little spot for her infant son, Rocco. An IKEA crib is accented with stump side tables and a lambskin for an earthy, cozy look.
Wall art: Debbie Carlos
Crib: IKEA
Wall art: Debbie Carlos
Crib: IKEA
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| One of the spare rooms was transformed into a playroom for the four McNeilly children. The armoire on the far wall was McNeilly's mother's, and was refinished and distressed for a fresh new look. Rug: STOCKHOLM RAND, IKEA Kids table and chairs: Pottery Barn Kids Kids play furniture: Pottery Barn Kids |
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| Instead of using the standard LACK wall shelves from IKEA, McNeilly came up with a creative idea and used the brand's BEVKAM spice racks for wall shelves with an added railing for security. She simply spray painted all of them white, and installed them directly onto the wall. Silver poufs: Target |
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In her oldest son Luke's room, McNeilly put in a set of bunk beds — perfect for those overnight play dates. A chalkboard wall encourages creativity, and removes the need for major wall art.
Bunkbeds: Pottery Barn Kids
Bedding: Batman and Spiderman sheets from Pottery Barn Kids, Star Duvet and Shams from IKEA
Bunkbeds: Pottery Barn Kids
Bedding: Batman and Spiderman sheets from Pottery Barn Kids, Star Duvet and Shams from IKEA
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| Ella is the only daughter in the McNeilly household, so she went all-out with her bedroom decor. Pink and white bedding, bright pink accents, and a super shiny flea market disco ball gave her a perfectly girly bedroom. Bedframe: Macy's Bedding: Bed Bath & Beyond. Pink floral duvet and shams, gift Blue polka dot pillow: Anthropologie Pink chair: Euro Trash, reupholstered |
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| Although McNeilly loves her house, one room she'd love to remodel is the kitchen. It was remodeled twice by her mother, and is a beautiful blend of dark wood and granite, but isn't quite McNeilly's style. She dreams of an all-white kitchen with marble countertops, but the current setup does the trick for now. "I think that the white kitchen will have to wait for my one-day-someday-house," she says. Barstools: Pier 1 Imports |
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McNeilly's style is sophisticated, but since this is a house with four kids, there's also a distinct sense of playfulness throughout. A magnetic chalkboard wall allows the kids to (temporarily) decorate their house too!
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The covered back porch is where the family loves to spend summer nights. The collage on wall was made by McNeilly's husband as a gift to her for their 14th wedding anniversary. The frame is filled with photos from their last 14 years together.
Chairs: Lloyd Flanders Outdoor Wicker Set
More Houzz Tours:
Cozy and Creative Home for 5
Artistic and Peaceful in Ann Arbor
Scandinavian Style with a Twist
Chairs: Lloyd Flanders Outdoor Wicker Set
More Houzz Tours:
Cozy and Creative Home for 5
Artistic and Peaceful in Ann Arbor
Scandinavian Style with a Twist
Comments
robynl Lovely home. Quick suggestion - paint the wall surrounding the fireplace a different color to really make that gorgeous mantal pop! Love all your chandeliers and your style.
18 months ago · Like
mugsy1703 Too eclectic for me.
18 months ago · Like
ronald7 I know what you mean about the kitchen. We moved into a house with brand new, rather horrible pine kitchen cabinetry. Not my style at all but we didn't have the budget at the time to replace. I had all the doors spray painted white at the local car body repair shop, and hand painted the rest myself. It made a huge difference
18 months ago · Like
susieposson Lovely home, beautiful family, so nice they wanted to live in her childhood home! Making memories even more special
18 months ago · Like
NOrma Remick The kitchen is lovely. As for the rest of the house I can only say it's rather "average".
18 months ago · Like
Two Ellie The swing may be the funnest idea EVER! It all looks beautiful.
18 months ago · Like
Sara Ballinger - 1130 Creative, LLC Trina, I don't know you, but I think your home is FABULOUS. A perfect blend of old, new and YOU. Well done!
18 months ago · Like
Trina McNeilly Thank you all for the kind compliments and suggestions! My home is always a work in progress and everything is in constant rotation with 4 little ones running about!
18 months ago · Like
franki7 The disco ball says it all! You can just tell your family is having a ball. Nice! franki
18 months ago · Like
designchallenged What a lovely, warm, and fun home. So inviting.
18 months ago · Like
traceychalk Only just seen this Trina. I love what you have done mixing old and new. xx
16 months ago · Like
Toni I love your swing! We have a swinging chair in our home, suspended from the ceiling. It's the most used chair in the house, even after several years. We also have spinning chairs at the kitchen bench (they go up and down too) and a chair on wheels in the corner. It all makes sitting fun.
8 months ago · Like
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Trina McNeilly Sounds like such a fun house, Toni!
8 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on Nov. 25, 2011.
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