Warm Casual Elegance In New York – Home Tour
Today’s home tour features a house that simply exudes warm casual elegance! The perfect place for a family of four to nest in with a mix of estate sale, antique shop and thrifted finds. Let’s get started on touring this beautiful home, located in Buffalo, New York.
Homeowner Liz defines her style as having warm casual elegance and I couldn’t agree more! I’ve been admiring her style for awhile now and how she’s been able to transform her home with lots of paint and on a budget.
I’m going to let her take it from here…and lots of photos for you to devour!
“My husband and I lived in a 1920’s city home with original wood floors, moulding, built in cabinets and french doors. It was my husband’s home before we married and I enjoyed decorating it and we created great memories. Eventually our family of four grew out of that home and the street was much too busy for our two children (then 12 year old daughter and 11 year old son who has autism). Having a child with autism brings many challenges. One of the challenges we faced with our son was his climbing out of windows or over fences and running away. Simply put, he was an escape artist that Houdini would have admired.”
“We moved into our current home eight years ago. We had long admired the well kept houses on the quaint, beautiful tree lined street. When we decided to move, there were some important considerations. Among those were a quiet neighborhood, a tall fence, not too many windows, a second story that wasn’t too high, being close to the city and a home that was appropriately sized so that we could keep track of our son’s whereabouts. When this house came up for sale, I jumped at the opportunity to view it. My daughter and I walked in and it immediately felt right. The strictly traditional 1930’s era home wasn’t exactly my taste or have the character that our previous home did, but it was charming and perfect for our family.”
Before –
“The decorator in me was up to the challenge of turning our house into a home more reflective of my style. I wanted to brighten and soften these spaces with a neutral palette and decor. The goal was to create a home that exudes warmth, comfort and a casual elegance. My taste can vary, but I’ve always stayed true to my traditional heart and enjoy mixing old and new decor. There’s just something about an old piece of furniture or china that I’ve acquired and proudly display. Though I don’t change my furniture much, there is an ever changing array of accessories. Much of what you see in my home has been acquired from estate sales, antique shops and thrift stores.”
Before –
Room By Room Warm Casual Elegance Home Tour
Living room:
“My living room is definitely a mix of old and new. To brighten and open this space, I opted for a greige wall color and hung light drapes high and wider to give the appearance of a bigger window. The gray velvet sofa is custom and I love it’s transitional style. I added cream French style chairs with casual elegance, a neutral traditional rug and lots of textured pillows to soften this space. The two antique cabinets in this room have been painted a few colors over the years and are now white. I think they tie in with the flow of the room. The chandelier is the perfect scale and adds the right amount of bling. To add dimension and interest to the fireplace, I layered a couple of beautiful vintage mirrors. During the winter months, I enjoy sitting in front of a toasty fire having a cup of coffee or a glass of wine with a friend or two.”
Family room:
“This room is probably my favorite! It’s a cozy area where everyone gathers to lounge. At one point, this was an outdoor patio with an awning and the brick wall now painted white was the back of the house. The previous owners added this room and it serves as our family room. To open this space and make it feel a little bigger, I chose a light gray for the walls. The sectional was selected to fit perfectly and provide ample seating for family and friends. This room definitely gets a lot of use.”
Casual Elegance In The Dining Room:
“I wish the dining room was more spacious for entertaining. Though my furniture is too big and heavy for this small space, it’s hard to part with these old pieces. I replaced the chairs with some I found at a local thrift store. I refinished and upholstered them with neutral paint and fabric to add contrast against the dark table. The bluish gray wall color, white drapes and light rug helps to enhance and brighten this space. My favorite addition is the vintage chandelier which adds sophistication. I love entertaining, especially during the holidays. When setting my table, I enjoy mixing my collection of vintage China I’ve acquired over the years.”
Kitchen:
“This kitchen was in desperate need of cosmetic updating. Though I wasn’t crazy about the cherry cabinets, they weren’t going anywhere. Painting the kitchen walls a neutral color helped open this dark space. My favorite makeover is the breakfast nook. I refinished this great table and chairs I found at a thrift shop, made a no-sew faux roman shade, put in some vinyl flooring and added a touch of rustic glam with the chandelier. I still have yet to add some crown moulding and white baseboard. This spot is where many coffee dates happen.”
Master bedroom:
“I had this room painted a light blue which makes it feel peaceful. The antique dressers were painted white to create the French country look I was going for. Though I eventually plan on making some changes in here, I love the cozy and inviting feel all the bedding and pillows add to this space.”
My daughter’s room:
“I just adore this room! When my daughter decided to attend college locally, I redecorated her room. Her requests were gray walls and an upholstered bed. I kept her room neutral and added touches of pink and gold accents. The dresser and nightstand were such a great find. I painted them white and the original hardware gold for a fresh clean look. This room is filled with casual elegance and is so feminine and pretty! I always look forward to decorating it for Christmas!”
Editor’s Note* We just adore this shabby chic Christmas theme too!
My son’s room:
“It’s not easy to take good photos of this bedroom because of lighting. Though my son struggles to speak, he made clear his preference for gray walls. I painted his old dresser and nightstand black and added light and neutral bedding. I feel it’s taking on a traditional coastal vibe.”
Bathrooms:
“The only thing that has changed in our bathrooms is the paint color. I’m always amazed at the transformation a simple coat of paint can achieve!”
Casual Elegance In The Hallway:
“This diy stencil job took me about 10 hours. The hallway barely gets any light and had dark green carpeting and gold walls. Replacing the carpet and painting the walls with neutral colors helped brighten it up a bit and give it that casual elegance that I was after!”
Backyard:
“Most of our summer is spent in our backyard. This is basically an extra living space where we gather and enjoy our short summers. There wasn’t much back here, so I’ve worked hard to create a bright and lovely garden. The darker outdoor furniture was the best choice at the time of purchase because of our kids. However, my goal is to eventually change things up and incorporate a lighter classic and more traditional look.”
“Looking back, I am so happy we chose this home to raise our children and create lasting memories!”
We invite you to follow Liz for more tips on achieving casual elegance on Instagram @ Liz_Seefeldt !
PIN THIS POST FOR INSPIRATION!
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Beautiful! May I ask where you purchased your gorgeous light blue/gray rug in your master bedroom??
Thank you so much Sheryl! The lamp in my bedroom was purchased at a local antique shop and the rug was purchased at Home Depot a few years back.
Can I ask what color of paint you used in your living room? Our walls are similar to the creamy yellow you used to have. I have been dying to brighten them up with a warm neutral. I just love the color you chose! Would you mind sharing? Thanks so much!
Hi Sharon. The living room was painted 8 years ago and I cannot remember the color. I tried to look for the can in the basement, but can’t find it. I will definitely get back to you as soon as I find out.
Thank you Janet for featuring my home on your blog today.
Your home is absolutely lovely. You have a great eye for decorating and color choices. I love every room.
So glad that you enjoyed the tour Carole!
Thank you so much Carole! I really appreciate your sweet compliment.
Thank you for the house tour and inspiration. I just moved from a large home into a condo. I find it very dark and dreary. Liz’s beautiful home has inspired me to make decisions that I have struggled with. I am a DIYer and have plenty of work ahead of me, but these photos will cheer me on. Thank you for the post.
Lovely home! Great taste – especially as I notice a chair and a rug in this house that I have in my home (LOL).
Thanks Janet for the tour! If I am noticing some items in these very talented ladies’ homes that I have in mine, I must be learning well from you guys.
Keep the tours coming!
That’s amazing Annie and I’m so glad that you enjoy the tours!
What a beautiful home. Such inspiration!
We couldn’t agree more DaleAnn!