My Houzz: Organic Touches in a Fairy Tale-Like Home in Boston
A kitchen remodel and nature motifs turn a family’s 1920 Colonial-style house into a warm and welcoming home
“A lot of people tell me that our house looks like a house from a storybook,” Tatiana Ivanov says. The photographer and design enthusiast draws inspiration from nature in decorating her family’s 1920 brick Colonial-style home in Newton, Massachusetts, which she shares with her husband, Alexander, and their two daughters, Valerie and Elize.
After buying their house in 2011, the couple repainted the interior walls and remodeled the kitchen.
“Our family loves to spend time in nature, and we love to be surrounded by natural and organic design elements at home,” Ivanov says.
Egg accent chair in dark gray wool: LeisureMod
After buying their house in 2011, the couple repainted the interior walls and remodeled the kitchen.
“Our family loves to spend time in nature, and we love to be surrounded by natural and organic design elements at home,” Ivanov says.
Egg accent chair in dark gray wool: LeisureMod
Ivanov enjoys getting creative with the displays in a bay window of a bedroom-turned-playroom for Valerie and Elize. Here, she strung together dozens of purple and blue origami cranes. She swaps out the displays each season, and the designs usually incorporate elements of nature, such as butterflies, flowers or moss.
In front of the other window hangs a string of bananas plant.
10 Style-Boosting Design Ideas for Your Houseplant Collection
In front of the other window hangs a string of bananas plant.
10 Style-Boosting Design Ideas for Your Houseplant Collection
Ivanov bought a moss-covered branch at a wholesale flower exchange and uses it as an artful clothing rack.
“We use natural wood in furniture pieces; natural stone as countertops in the kitchen; natural fabrics, like wool, in lounge chairs; and organic sheets in bedding,” Ivanov says. “We also have a lot of houseplants that make our house green year-round.”
A hanging potted golden pothos vine adds a touch of green to the living room wall. The white Madura curtains feature a laser-cut floral design.
Rug: HomeGoods
Rug: HomeGoods
“We usually spend a lot of time in the kitchen or dining room, as we use the dining table to eat, work and do homework with the girls at night,” Ivanov says.
The prints on the wall shelves were gifted by friends over the years.
Natural wood dining table, Sidera chairs, Piano white wall shelves and Firefly pendant light: CB2; find modern globe pendant lights
The prints on the wall shelves were gifted by friends over the years.
Natural wood dining table, Sidera chairs, Piano white wall shelves and Firefly pendant light: CB2; find modern globe pendant lights
The couple worked with Edward Sarkisyan of Smart Coats to remodel their kitchen. The countertops are quartzite, and the backsplash is natural stone. “We had an old linoleum on the floors before the remodel. We installed porcelain tile for better cleanup and durability, and have been happy with the upgrade,” Ivanov says.
White kitchen cabinets: Woodmark via Home Depot; Jetson pendant lamps: Stilnovo
Kitchen Counters: Quartzite Offers Strength and Beauty
White kitchen cabinets: Woodmark via Home Depot; Jetson pendant lamps: Stilnovo
Kitchen Counters: Quartzite Offers Strength and Beauty
“We spent around $25,000 toward our kitchen remodel. Houzz was my go-to site for design inspiration and shopping for light fixtures and furniture items for our remodeled kitchen space,” Ivanov says.
Ivanov applied a floral-patterned wall decal to add a contrasting accent to an otherwise bare pale blue wall in the master bedroom.
The homeowner loves to buy fresh flowers for the house every week. “They make me feel calm, at peace and welcomed. It is appealing to my eye,” she says. Seemingly small touches like this have turned the space into what she calls “a sanctuary of an aesthetically relaxing experience.”
Curtains: Madura; browse Sputnik-style chandeliers
The homeowner loves to buy fresh flowers for the house every week. “They make me feel calm, at peace and welcomed. It is appealing to my eye,” she says. Seemingly small touches like this have turned the space into what she calls “a sanctuary of an aesthetically relaxing experience.”
Curtains: Madura; browse Sputnik-style chandeliers
The artwork displayed in the bedroom is a collection of prints, drawings and photographs from friends.
Bestå Burs TV unit: Ikea
Bestå Burs TV unit: Ikea
“During the warmer months we are outside in the backyard — grilling, eating, playing, meeting guests, hanging out and relaxing,” Ivanov says.
“When we saw this house at the open house six years ago, we fell in love with this outdoor patio and birch trees in the backyard. They remind us of our homeland, Russia,” she says. “This is our happy place for summer dinners, hosting parties and reconnecting with nature.”
“When we saw this house at the open house six years ago, we fell in love with this outdoor patio and birch trees in the backyard. They remind us of our homeland, Russia,” she says. “This is our happy place for summer dinners, hosting parties and reconnecting with nature.”
The couple’s two daughters are pictured playing on a wooden bench that came with the backyard. “We love feeding birds, thus our backyard has a couple of birdhouses that we take care of,” Ivanov says.
Ivanov is pictured outside the two-story brick house with her two daughters. A Japanese maple tree and tulips add color to the front yard. The house “has a charming and cozy feel to it. It is not huge, just a perfect 1,600 square feet to comfortably fit a family of four,” she says.
See more of this home
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
See more of this home
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
Who lives here: Alexander and Tatiana Ivanov, and their daughters, Valerie, 7, and Elize, 4
Location: Newton, Massachusetts
Size: 1,600 square feet (149 square meters); three bedrooms, 1½ bathrooms
Year built: 1920