My Houzz: Collected Charm in Downtown Providence
Art, vintage furnishings and curated displays bring fresh appeal to this couple’s Rhode Island rental
Faith Towers
March 1, 2018
Houzz Contributor. Faith Towers is a designer, writer and crafter with a passion for all things creative. She received her art degree from Skidmore College, and her work has been featured in Forbes and Yahoo. She writes her blog called Design Fixation and also spends her days designing wedding invitations and stationery.
Houzz Contributor. Faith Towers is a designer, writer and crafter with a passion... More
![Transitional Living Room by Design Fixation [Faith Provencher]](https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/bc215d090a8c8950_0671-w618-h422-b0-p0--transitional-living-room.jpg)
Apartment at a Glance
Who lives here: Elizabeth Crane Swartz and Bob Swartz, plus their puggle (pug and beagle mix), Fenway
Location: Providence, Rhode Island
Size: 1,480 square feet (137 square meters); three bedrooms, two bathrooms
“I grew up in a house with a gorgeous pink living and dining room and learned not to be afraid of color,” says Elizabeth Crane Swartz, an artist and jewelry maker. She and her husband, Bob, who works in wine distribution, relocated to downtown Providence from the Boston area when he got a new job. For the past year, they’ve decorated their rental apartment with their collection of art and vintage furniture.
The glass coffee table is a hand-me-down from Elizabeth’s mother and was the perfect foundation for the living room. The wicker basket underneath it provides a bit of extra storage.
Who lives here: Elizabeth Crane Swartz and Bob Swartz, plus their puggle (pug and beagle mix), Fenway
Location: Providence, Rhode Island
Size: 1,480 square feet (137 square meters); three bedrooms, two bathrooms
“I grew up in a house with a gorgeous pink living and dining room and learned not to be afraid of color,” says Elizabeth Crane Swartz, an artist and jewelry maker. She and her husband, Bob, who works in wine distribution, relocated to downtown Providence from the Boston area when he got a new job. For the past year, they’ve decorated their rental apartment with their collection of art and vintage furniture.
The glass coffee table is a hand-me-down from Elizabeth’s mother and was the perfect foundation for the living room. The wicker basket underneath it provides a bit of extra storage.
![Transitional by Design Fixation [Faith Provencher]](https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/0421014a0a8c89bd_9744-w400-h560-b0-p0--transitional.jpg)
Convenience was the couple’s main priority when looking for a place in Providence. Their apartment is across the street from the train station, which allows them to get back to Boston easily, and being downtown puts them just steps from dozens of great restaurants.
Elizabeth, seen here wearing one of her hand-painted necklaces with Fenway the puggle, enjoys watching the sun set behind the Rhode Island State House from the living room window. “We’ve been enjoying renting, especially when it snows, since we park under the building in a parking garage — no shoveling!” she says.
Elizabeth, seen here wearing one of her hand-painted necklaces with Fenway the puggle, enjoys watching the sun set behind the Rhode Island State House from the living room window. “We’ve been enjoying renting, especially when it snows, since we park under the building in a parking garage — no shoveling!” she says.
![Transitional Dining Room by Design Fixation [Faith Provencher]](https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/53e13d280a8c8976_9673-w400-h556-b0-p0--transitional-dining-room.jpg)
![Transitional Living Room by Design Fixation [Faith Provencher]](https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/0831fdec0a8c8966_6682-w618-h411-b0-p0--transitional-living-room.jpg)
Elizabeth is self-taught when it comes to interior design. She has long collected shelter magazines and takes inspiration from her aunt in New York City. “She has a great eye for pattern,” Elizabeth says. “She’s dangerous to shop with.”
Elizabeth’s mother also has inspired her design sensibilities, and the living room is especially representative of her mother’s aesthetic. “The large oil painting in the living room is a great example of my mother’s influence — it’s on permanent loan from her and I dread the day she asks for it back,” Elizabeth says.
Painting: Pat Fouraker
Elizabeth’s mother also has inspired her design sensibilities, and the living room is especially representative of her mother’s aesthetic. “The large oil painting in the living room is a great example of my mother’s influence — it’s on permanent loan from her and I dread the day she asks for it back,” Elizabeth says.
Painting: Pat Fouraker
![Transitional Living Room by Design Fixation [Faith Provencher]](https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/5391aef60a8c895f_9650-w400-h560-b0-p0--transitional-living-room.jpg)
Fenway likes to nap in the pile of pillows on the large leather sofa, which the couple have had for many years.
The gallery wall includes treasured art created by their three children when they were young, as well as other paintings collected over the years. At the top left is a portrait of Elizabeth done by daughter Lulu when she was 4; at the top right is a piece, titled A Hill, by then 3-year-old Abby; and in the center is Electric Apple by then 6-year-old Jack.
The gallery wall includes treasured art created by their three children when they were young, as well as other paintings collected over the years. At the top left is a portrait of Elizabeth done by daughter Lulu when she was 4; at the top right is a piece, titled A Hill, by then 3-year-old Abby; and in the center is Electric Apple by then 6-year-old Jack.
![Transitional Living Room by Design Fixation [Faith Provencher]](https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/83f173c90a8c897c_9679-w400-h560-b0-p0--transitional-living-room.jpg)
Elizabeth’s design aesthetic includes lots of color and texture. She doesn’t adhere to a particular style, so the white walls throughout the space allow her pieces to stand out.
The space is a true family collaboration. Here, a drawing by Lulu sits on a side table next to a slipcovered settee passed on to Elizabeth by her mother.
The space is a true family collaboration. Here, a drawing by Lulu sits on a side table next to a slipcovered settee passed on to Elizabeth by her mother.
![Transitional Living Room by Design Fixation [Faith Provencher]](https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/a6016ef40a8c8987_9690-w400-h560-b0-p0--transitional-living-room.jpg)
A felted dog that looks a bit like Fenway adds a touch of whimsy to a curated display on top of the buffet by the dining table.
![Transitional Living Room by Design Fixation [Faith Provencher]](https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/a9019f8d0a8c896c_9663-w400-h560-b0-p0--transitional-living-room.jpg)
One of the couple’s design challenges in the new apartment was finding the right furniture to fill all of its angles and niches. They were able to place the vintage pieces given to them by their parents over the years, including this dresser in a small corner of the living room.
![Transitional Living Room by Design Fixation [Faith Provencher]](https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/e7e123b10a8c892a_9596-w618-h455-b0-p0--transitional-living-room.jpg)
![Transitional Living Room by Design Fixation [Faith Provencher]](https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/956110280a8c8924_9591-w400-h560-b0-p0--transitional-living-room.jpg)
A large window-frame mirror fills the entryway wall, adding both form and function. A collection of white vintage pitchers accompanied by a sign reading “Chien bizarre” (French for “strange dog”) is displayed on top of the drop-leaf table.
Marli table lamp: Lulu and Georgia
Marli table lamp: Lulu and Georgia
![Transitional Bedroom by Design Fixation [Faith Provencher]](https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/3ab157840a8c8941_9619-w618-h384-b0-p0--transitional-bedroom.jpg)
Lulu and Abby, who are away at college, stay in this room when they come home to visit. Grown son Jack lives in North Carolina but visits often.
![Transitional Living Room by Design Fixation [Faith Provencher]](https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/fc31e49d0a8c8931_9604-w400-h560-b0-p0--transitional-living-room.jpg)
A colorful vignette fills the transition from the entryway to the living and sleeping areas. A footed white milk glass bowl holds shells the family has collected over the years. A trio of seascapes hangs above the table, tying in the surrounding colors in the bedroom and hallway.
![Transitional Bedroom by Design Fixation [Faith Provencher]](https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/064110a60a8c89a8_9723-w618-h428-b0-p0--transitional-bedroom.jpg)
The master bedroom is quite wide, so the couple decided to ditch their previous four-poster bed and buy a lower, more contemporary bed frame. The bed is low enough that 11-year-old Fenway can easily hop up for morning snuggles. Elizabeth bought the lamps online and made the shades herself by covering the existing ones with french espadrille fabric from Les Toiles du Soleil.
Lamp: Wayfair; pillows: West Elm; grid-tufted upholstered bed: West Elm
Lamp: Wayfair; pillows: West Elm; grid-tufted upholstered bed: West Elm
![Transitional Living Room by Design Fixation [Faith Provencher]](https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/a911012a0a8c89a2_9717-w400-h560-b0-p0--transitional-living-room.jpg)
The couple’s dresser is topped with Elizabeth’s favorite accessories and a few sentimental items.
![Transitional Living Room by Design Fixation [Faith Provencher]](https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/1781becf0a8c89b7_9737-w400-h560-b0-p0--transitional-living-room.jpg)
A custom piece of typographical wall art with all of the family members’ names hangs on the master bedroom wall.
Nightstand: Hemnes, Ikea
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
Nightstand: Hemnes, Ikea
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
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Everything about this apartment is lovely
I personally think that the gallery wall which includes treasured art made by their three kids when they were younger is one of the best features, Priceless!
Interesting collection of found treasures. Only one criticism. Brown leather sofas! I am so sick of seeing them as the go to for DIY homeowners. There is a world of fabrics and colors that can be successfully applied to upholstery pieces. Professionally, I will never use them. If a client requests them, I source something much nicer and they are always pleased with the results.