How to renovate with style

A coat of paint or a new cover on an old chair can make a lot of difference to the look of a room

Jan Stone, owner of the Painted Crate Benjamin Moore store in Cranbrook, can offer suggestions for your renovation project. — Photo by Kimberly Shellborn

Tackling renovations in a home can be a huge undertaking. But many choose to renovate because they love the original style of their home and simply want to update. Often renovations of heritage homes are restricted by local bylaws, which require you to keep within the original design and structure. 

The large, airy farmhouse house feel is something many try to achieve.

“Using inviting whites to make everything breezy and fresh” said Jan Stone, owner of the Painted Crate in Cranbrook “adds to the feeling of space and lightness of the house.”

Recovering furniture not only will help it last longer, but can add an updated feel. Depending on the choice of fabrics, you can either keep the antique look or add a modern touch to something old. An old desk can either be refinished to its original state or be painted a playful colour that will keep with the antique lines, but give it a new style. 

There are so many different trends and styles to look at. You can make changes just with a bucket of paint or add a few details to your current style. Some may go for bigger changes and actually take down walls, put new cabinets in the kitchen, or change flooring from carpeting to wood or ceramic. 

In the end, “It is really personal style that should dictate a person’s decorating choices” said Stone.