Every home has a few awkward design issues, and ours is no different. In honor of our blogiversary week, we promised a behind-the-scenes look, so here’s a candid tour of the quirks we inherited and the simple fixes that made them feel intentional instead of disastrous.
House Quirk #1: The window above our bed isn’t centered—by more than a foot. To visually correct it, we hung a pair of tan curtains much wider than the window on either side. That inexpensive trick (a $25 curtain set) shifted the eye and made the built-in wall feel balanced and calm.
House Quirk #2: A steel fuse box dominated the middle of our den. We disguised it by creating a makeshift mudroom along that wall. A row of hooks, some paint, and strategic placement of outerwear and accessories keep the fuse box out of sight and make the corner functional. Widening the doorway to the sunroom and opening the passage to the kitchen, plus installing continuous hardwood floors, helped the whole area feel more spacious and cohesive.
House Quirk #3: Our living room had a strange wooden divider with a stained-glass center panel and a corner of faux stone linoleum. The divider had to go—so one afternoon I took a hammer to it and hauled it out to the curb. As for the linoleum, the plan was an oversized natural-fiber rug to mask it, but the odd shape made finding the right rug difficult. On a hunch, I pried up the linoleum and discovered authentic hardwood underneath, intact and in great condition. A small welcome mat now handles practicality without needing to hide anything unsightly.
House Quirk #4: The den was clearly an addition from the 1970s. During that renovation, a section that had been an exterior window was bricked over rather roughly, leaving a dusty, mismatched patch. We planned to paint the dark brick, beams, and paneling anyway, so a coat of paint quickly unified the wall and removed the obvious patchwork look.
House Quirk #5: When we moved in, none of the bathrooms had an outlet. In 2006, no less. That meant drying hair in the chilly sunroom—hardly ideal. The permanent solution was simple: hire a licensed electrician to install a double outlet next to the bathroom mirror. For $65 we gained convenience and a small upgrade that made a big difference.
Have a persistent design flaw at your place? Maybe you’ve already tackled one that seemed impossible. We shared ours—now it’s your turn to share what you’ve fixed or what still drives you crazy.
Update – Want to know where something in our house came from or which paint colors we used? Click the shop button below to see more.
