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At Home With Amanda Cowley

At Home With..., Home Decor
By A Beautiful Mess
Lovely officeWe are happy to welcome Amanda Cowley to the blog today to share little bits of her home with us! Love the classic feel to this room
"My husband Paul and I moved into our 2.5 story brick Victorian home in the Niagara Region of Southern Ontario almost seven years ago, and from the very first time I walked through the front door, I knew it was going to be the place we would start building our lives together in. Built in 1920, the house features all the charm and character I have always imagined my first home to have — creaky hardwood floors, interesting stained glass windows, high ceilings and endless wood trim details, my favourites being the paneled staircase and our two-tiered fireplace mantle.
Since day one, the house has had a natural way of feeling homey and inviting, but it's the addition of all our treasures and cherished items that breathe real life and love into the space. Nothing makes me feel like we have really made the house into our home, than when someone steps inside for the first time, and shares just how warm and cozy it makes them feel." Lovely victorian dining roomLovely tulips to brighten any spaceBeautiful place settings"The large marquee letter 'C' we display on our mantle is probably the most unique decor item we have in our home, and was purchased at a beautiful restoration & salvage shop while on an antiquing road trip with girlfriends last year. Our hutch was a gift from my Mom's friend when we first moved in. It was her grandmother's for the longest time, and when she passed away it needed a new home. I proudly display the china my parents purchased for us as a housewarming gift, as well as a rotation of my ruby red vintage Avon glassware, and milk glass vase collection. I'm a sucker for a pretty vase, especially anything with a hobnail detail, and simply adore the fluted turquoise bud vase I just had to have the minute I laid eyes on it.
 
If I had to define my style or taste, I would have to say it's 'classic eclectic'. I am typically drawn to Victorian period furnishings, with interesting patterns or a carved design, and love anything with a scrolled detail or unique upholstery finish. I embrace colour and value the way it affects my mood from day to night and season to season. Our moss green living room, although fresh and light during the day, can easily feel moody and romantic with lots of candlelight during dinner parties in the evenings. However my favourite time of day is late afternoon during the summer months, when the sun has made its way over the house and shines through the back door, filling the kitchen with bright, warm sunlight as we cook away — those are the moments I wait all year for."  Large prints of wedding photos-- love this!Pretty office detailsAt Home With Amanda Cowley via A Beautiful MessNail Polish Rack in Office"The project I am most proud of is the portrait of my Oma I painted and have on display in our dining room. After stumbling across the photograph I used as inspiration for the painting, taken by my Opa sometime during the 1950's, I fell in love with every last detail of the image, and decided it would serve as the perfect opportunity to try my hand at painting—an arts & crafts medium that was totally foreign to me, yet something I had always been interested in. From the moment I picked up the paintbrush and started blending colours, right to the very last stroke of my signature, I loved everything about working on the painting." Lovely detailsLove a good bar cart"Over the last 7 years we have made mainly aesthetic changes to the home. A fresh coat of paint has made its way onto every inch of wall space, trim, doors and ceilings, except for our master bedroom which is the next project on the list! For a century home with 100-year-old bones, we have been beyond lucky that no serious renovations have been required, and have truly been able to spend our time in the house really making it our own. The gardens all received a lot of love, and now serve as my personal flower shop where I gather clippings of lilacs in the spring, and perennial greens throughout the summer, to bring inside and add a freshness to the space. It's amazing how adding a houseplant or two to a room, or even just a few hosta leaves in a pretty vase, can bring your home to life."StrawberriesPretty built-in shelvesLove the vintage dishesThanks for sharing your home with us, Amanda! You can find more of Amanda on her website or over on Instagram.
 
Credits // Author and photography: Nataschia Wielink

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