“It’s the devices that give a space its character,” states house owner Hanna Seabrook, who confesses that when she’s not running Gadabout Creative, she’s scavenging Etsy, eBay, flea markets, and thrift shops for treasures that others frequently neglect. It takes patience, but collectors– like Seabrook– never need to embellish from scratch. “I constantly start with a piece I enjoy and then develop around it,” she says.
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Naturally Curious
Despite having sufficient time to amass her collection of furnishings and accents, home searching was a more urgent matter when Seabrook’s partner, Nelson, landed a task in Louisville, Kentucky. “This house had the most potential,” says Seabrook. When building and construction was total and child Eaddy showed up, Seabrook set out to develop spaces that are inviting, balanced, and (finest of all) convertible.
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Living Room: Before
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Living Room: After
” I wanted to bring in the natural world as much as possible,” states Seabrook, who matched a classic chintz pattern (Lee Jofa’s Althea, used for both the drapes and the armchairs) with milky green walls (Farrow & Ball’s Vert de Terre). Botanical-themed accessories, like the prints around the fireplace and even a branch under the coffee table, complete the garden impact.
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Screen Saver
The fireplace surround is a disconcerting black tile. Rather than change it, Seabrook uses a wicker screen to hide it and maintain the space’s airiness.
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Cover Story
Seabrook hid existing built-ins with a flat-panel door hung with art. “In a cottage, we required all the storage we might get,” she states.
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Dining-room: Before
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Dining Room: After
” I desired a jewel box sensation in here, so I went with pale blue walls and a tonal trim,” says Seabrook about the flat-finished walls (Benjamin Moore’s Woodlawn Blue) and slightly contrasting trim in eggshell (Benjamin Moore’s Wedgewood Gray). The difference in shine and color is subtle, which helps pull together the room’s mismatched antique furniture. “Growing up, I thought about brown wood pieces as “old lady,” now I value the workmanship and combine them with untraditional accents,” she states.
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Cooking area: Before
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Kitchen: After
Designer Olivia Brock (torrancemitchell.com), Seabrook’s good pal, helped her with this cozy kitchen area. “It’s 4 inches too huge for the space, but that didn’t bother me at all,” Seabrook explains. Seabrook designated the 2 open shelves to the left of the sink for holding everyday items, making it easy to reach and return.
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Surface Smarts
” People think wood counters need a lot of maintenance, but we simply oil them two times a month,” says Seabrook. “These are 2 1/2 inches thick, which makes them look substantial.”
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Library/Den
Change your comfortable den into a library with floor-to-ceiling shelving built to display your collection. “Books and their bindings provide layers to a room,” states Seabrook, who added the racks and painted the backs brown. Keeping Netflix viewing in mind, there’s a tv tucked into extra racks (not shown) dealing with the couch. The Seabrooks agreed to utilize this blue-and-white print (Peter Dunham Textiles’ Samarkand) as the only pattern in the room.
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Primary Bedroom
Seabrook picked a clean-lined four-poster bed with white sheeting and curtains to allow her distinct discovers to be the stars. “I actually gasped when I saw the white ceramic lights on Etsy,” she states.
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Girl’s Nursery
There’s a tidy usefulness to daughter Eaddy’s bedroom. Seabrook counted on timeless, gathered nursery pieces instead of anything contemporary to outfit the room: an antique walnut crib, muted pink walls, and a nostalgic but mature material– Schumacher’s Cabanon Stripe.