We know you enjoy seeing a wide variety of homes on House Crashing, so when Katrina invited us into her Richmond townhouse to take photos, we gladly accepted. She’s a creative mom who mixes found and collected pieces with her own DIY projects. Here she is with her husband Nate and their son Luke.
On entry, the warm, enveloping wall color (Gauntlet Gray by Sherwin Williams) and rich wood floors set a cozy tone. Nate installed those floors himself on all three levels. Vintage lighting, playful coat hooks made from wooden shoe molds, and other small details give the space a distinctive, collected feel.
Upstairs, the living room continues the deep gray walls balanced by lighter furniture, a painted mantel, and mirrors and frames that reflect light. Katrina refreshed inexpensive starburst mirrors from Target with Grecian Gold Rub-N-Buff to achieve a subtle gilded look.
The delicate paper butterflies were purchased on Etsy and pinned to an old pallet to disguise a leftover hole above the fireplace where a TV might have gone. Katrina preferred keeping the fireplace as the focal point rather than forcing a TV into the space. The contrast between rustic pallet wood and white paper butterflies is charming and unexpected.
Luke’s play area combines IKEA furniture with vintage finds and DIY projects. A simple IKEA bookcase pairs with an old map, an oversized clock, and mason jars painted white and hung on the wall to create a casual, eclectic corner that feels both functional and curated.
Here’s the rest of the living room as you turn left from the play area. The before shot shows the blank slate they started with…
…and this is what it looks like now after they layered in color, texture, and personality.
The dark walls provide a dramatic backdrop for light furniture. Large frames with cheerful yellow inserts were made using basic IKEA frames, yellow paper, and inexpensive medallions spray-painted silver—an affordable way to introduce architectural interest and pops of color.
Small touches show Katrina’s thoughtful eye: a papier-mâché deer head she found at Z Gallerie was personalized with wallpaper scraps and accented with butterflies from the mantel project, tying the room together. She used Mod Podge to give the piece texture and character.
Katrina isn’t afraid to let her townhouse stand out. Details like wide-painted stripes inside the kitchen pass-through and burlap curtains made from old grain sacks add layered texture and personality. Those curtains, double-sided with printed designs, function like richly textured panels that enhance the collected aesthetic.
From the kitchen side, the pass-through shows how the grain-sack curtains add depth. Oversized glass containers and gray penny tile brought familiar delight—Katrina’s tile echoed a pattern I loved, and I couldn’t help but admire it up close. The counters are dark wood and the cabinets are painted with contrasting dark hardware for a sophisticated, modern-vintage mix.
A standout is the built-in banquette Katrina and Nate added on the opposite wall. The large white mirror above the banquette reads like a window, brightening the nook, while a shelf with woven baskets provides storage and charm. Lighting and furniture choices feel effortless yet elegant—the table and chairs were outlet finds from local shops.
Close-up of the mirror detail—Katrina scored it at an auction in Lynchburg for a great price and it anchors the eat-in area beautifully.
The same rich gray appears on the first and second floors, while the third floor—where the bedrooms are—switches to a soft blue (Oasis by Olympic). The lighter palette upstairs creates an airier, calmer feel. Staircase art, including wood planks wired with vintage glass bottles, adds a handmade and nostalgic touch.
Katrina and Nate’s bedroom features a lofted ceiling, fluffy white bedding, and an elegant tufted headboard. A vintage gate repurposed as a jewelry holder adds unexpected charm beside the bed.
An oversized coral-pink lamp complements homemade artwork above the nightstand. Katrina created the art with pastel crayons on canvas and sealed it with clear resin for a glossy, professional finish.
The nursery is light and sweet, featuring pale furniture and a tree decal kit that Katrina customized with little chalk characters peeking from the branches. The room feels playful without being overdone.
We weren’t able to capture wide shots of every corner, but one close-up shows a clever curtain tweak: inexpensive IKEA curtains were decorated with Sharpie to create a watercolor-like pattern—an accessible DIY that adds a whimsical, painterly touch.
Many thanks to Katrina for welcoming us into her home and sharing her ideas. If you had to pick a favorite, I’m calling the eat-in kitchen nook, while John loved the lighter color shift on the top floor that made it feel like a soft, bright retreat.
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