One Woman’s “Life-sized Dollhouse” in Cincinnati

Name:Emily and Gigi the dog
Location:Norwood, Ohio
The basics:5 months, owned — 1,067 square feet

Emily and her adorable dog roommate Gigi settled into this cute craftsman after a decade of renting. It was love at first site for Emily and after the ink dried on her contracts she set about turning the house into her ideal first home.

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there:I purchased my 1921 Craftsman Bungalow in March 2017 after 10 years of renting and moving to a new apartment each year. I was settled in Cincinnati and knew it was time, my house was the first and last house I saw and I knew immediately that I could make it mine with some hard work and serious elbow grease. I affectionately named it my Life-sized Dollhouse and got to work.

Over the past five months, I ripped up the wall to wall carpet and refinished the original hardwood floors, I painted every wall, I found homes for my beloved furniture and plants and made my house a home.

这只是我和我的八磅的小狗,吉吉,我们couldn’t be happier or more in love with our old, creaky home!

你最喜欢的房间是什么,为什么?My favorite room is currently the guest room. From the three window dormer letting in endless light, to the vintage wicker headboard find and the antique rug snatched from my parents, I often think about ditching my room for the guest room.

If you could magically change something about your home, what would it be?The bathroom! It is still very generic with builder-grade materials. I am saving up for a bathroom reno – hopefully with lots of white tile, natural wood and a window!

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home?My mom is a Goodwill/Thrift Store wizard, her most recent finds for my house are the wicker rattan bar and faux Marcel Breuer Cesca chairs in my dining room. She knows my style better than anyone and has a knack for finding the most unique items.

Which fictional character would be most at home in your place?Adrian Monk from Monk. I like everything in its place, perfectly curated and ready to entertain at a moment’s notice. I think we have a similar level of particularity, although he may need to warm up to living with a dog!

Emily’s words of wisdom:Don’t be afraid to mix and match, a friend once told me that some of my quirky furniture would be unattractive or odd if not paired with the rest of my quirky furniture. Let your home exude YOU, whether that means a Lazy Boy recliner or a tailored leather sectional, there is no room to judge a home that fits you.

Thanks,Emily!

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