Stop Everything, This is the Wallpaper Sweet Dreams Are Made Of

When describing her home’s style, Jackie has one word: eclectic! And it comes as no surprise, the design blogger is all about mixing and matching, “I love whimsy and romance, rich colours and patterns, cozy textiles, organic themes and elements, and mismatching pieces that normally would be in a set. For example, all our dishes, cutlery or chairs don’t match because I’m like, ‘why have one beautiful thing, when you can have ten beautiful things?’ I live my life and design my house always with the philosophy of trying to romance the ordinary.”

There’s no missing this house! The front door is a candy apple red, flanked by cheery red and pink potted flowers. It’s proof that a simple painting project can totally transform a home.

Against the blue wall in the dining room, this white antique hutch becomes a statement piece to be appreciated. It’s so important to consider how colours will play against furniture, and potentially highlight them further.

Read more: This Vancouver Heritage Home is Cool and Contemporary Without Forgetting Its Roots

When you have bold painted walls, you can play with colour contrasts by simply swapping in new, fresh flowers, or colourful fruit in a bowl!

Fact: you can never have too many plants in a space, and this dining room proves it! We especially love how the varying shades of green contrast against that deep sea blue!

Read more: This Eco-Conscious Montreal Home Definitely Isn’t Afraid of Colour

The trick to prepping meals when you’ve got kiddos in the mix is to make the kitchen a part of their play zone. That way, they’re happily distracted, but still in view. This easel fits snug beside the island, so parents can prep without losing sight of their little Picasso.

Read more: This Bright Montreal Home Mixes Family-Style Fun With Flair

Kitchens are a go-to when it comes to renovations, but Jackie had a very unique approach. “I updated the very ’90s kitchen by staining the oak cabinets, changing out all the hardware, painting the backsplash, and updating the light fixtures and window treatment. It’s really important to me, whether we do a DIY makeover or hire other people to do it, that we stay true to the original character of the house. I would never remodel to make it 100% modern because I think the soul of the house is so unique and I want to stay true to that. This also presents a challenge when you’re shopping for brand-new fixtures, flooring etc. I want to maintain that unique character or vintage feel, even in all the new things that we introduce.”

The living room is the perfect example of how antique furniture can look fresh and modern when balanced with crisp white walls.

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A view from above shows off how beautifully layered this living room is. Rugs overlap, throws are tossed over ottomans and chairs. The look is so cozy and inviting!

“I have a lot of favourite items throughout the house. Anything vintage or that I made definitely holds a special place in my heart. I have a huge vintage teacup collection (mismatched, of course) that I have displayed in the dining room hutch. I also have a red velvet, vintage armchair, in near perfect condition, that I adore, and don’t allow my toddler to touch! And the brass chandelier in our bedroom is definitely a favourite. We found it at the flea market (the best place to get vintage housewares, by the way!) If we ever move, I’m taking it with me!”

This home definitely took a page out of “The Little Book of Hygge.” It’s so cozy and thoughtful.

This hallway needed storage and a spot to place items by the door, but practical corners can be pretty too. The stripes of this antique chair are downright regal.

Read more: This Stunning 1920s Home Enchants With Antique Treasures and Chic Charm

Jewel-toned candle votives line a dresser, and add to the magical quality of the home’s decor. It’s important to stop and assess areas of your home every so often, and mix things up, play with colours and textures, and create interesting places for the eye to rest.

“There are tons of DIY elements in our house, and every single task we’ve undertaken has been a challenge! The main problems come from the fact that our house was built in 1944 and the last design work/renovation that was done on it before we bought it was probably in the early ’90s. Old houses can be built very strangely, definitely not to the standard or dimensions of a typical new build. For example, I’m in the process of installing a new stair runner and all the treads/risers are not the exact same width, depth or height. And there’s a 90 degree angle turn at the bottom because there’s not enough room to have straight stairs all the way down. That has been a really tricky problem to solve.”

The jewel tones in this bedroom are so regal, and look gorgeous against the dusty blue wallpaper. It’s a unique colour combination, and makes for a bedroom fit for a queen, which was exactly Jackie’s intention when she began decorating the space. “I’m living in a fairy tale every time I walk into our primary bedroom with the Chinoiserie wallpaper. That’s kind of why interior design is so important to me. Just like the clothes you wear, having a living space that you feel good in is so important to your well-being. I want my house to be a visual feast.”

“The Chinoiserie wallpaper in the bedroom has been something I had been dreaming about for years. I just think it’s the most beautiful type of pattern that speaks to all my favourite things in design: it’s very old-world vintage, it can be very colourful, it’s got organic themes, it feels a bit whimsical and romantic….I just love Chinoiserie wallpaper! I toyed with the idea of designing my own wallpaper with an artist and getting it custom-made just for our room, but then when I was approached to do the HGTV Home Tour, I knew I wouldn’t have time to do that. So I scoured the internet for the closest thing to what I was envisioning and I think it turned out beautifully.”

Once again, a vintage piece is given a new purpose in this thoughtful home. A gorgeous little teacup and saucer beside the bed become a handy dish for jewellery. This is a great way to show off old teacups (instead of relegating them to a cupboard to gather dust.)

Jackie’s home is a treasure trove of design lessons: “Interior design is not something you need to be afraid of. It doesn’t have to be fancy or trendy, it just has to be you. And it’s okay to take chances and try new things! Short of knocking down walls, nothing is permanent, and even knocking down walls can be undone (though it is time-consuming and expensive). You can always sell furniture you don’t like, repaint walls, and switch fixtures.”

“I just love how transformative and self-actualizing owning a home can be. I mean, I never realized just how creative I am. Or how much resolve I have to finish what I start. Or how much patience I have to tend to other living things and grow my own food. Or how much belief I have in myself to learn any skill, even plastering or reupholstering.”

Just like in the bedroom, a mirror in the bathroom amplifies a beautiful bouquet of wildflowers. It’s the perfect touch of colour to compliment the blue tiled floor.

When the pandemic hit, most people were forced to adjust to working from home, but Jackie had always worked from her home (which explains why she designs spaces to create joy and wellness). If anything, the pandemic brought about a love of gardening and landscaping. “Our front yard garden has completely transformed and I have big plans for the backyard as soon as we get some major renovations done to the back of the house. I do believe my relationship with the house is always changing and evolving, but it has much more to do with having a family than anything else.”

“If you ever have an opportunity to live in or buy an older home, I say go for it! But you do have to take the good with the bad. Sometimes the strange little details are just quirky, but sometimes they’re infuriating. And you should expect to do a lot of remodelling, whether it’s professional or DIY. The more I look at new houses coming onto the market, the more I’m thankful that we found this house and we can call it ours. I just don’t like how new homes are built these days. I know it works for most people because they aren’t as picky as I am, and they also don’t want to have to renovate or do anything to the house. They just want to move in and live their lives. But for me, all the love and care that I put into the changes I make, obsessing over the details, and creating the little moments of whimsy and romance, are essential to a joyful existence.”

Discover more of Jackie’s design tips and tricks on her blog, www.eclectic-spark.com.