Our First “Finished” Room (Sort Of)
One room down, many more dreams to go.
Since our very first tour of Chapline House in 2021, we’ve spent countless hours dreaming about the future of this place. Some days, we even get more wrapped up in conversations, imagining than in actual renovating. We wonder: What story do we want this house to tell? While this project is, at its core, a restoration, our intention goes beyond period accuracy. We want guests to feel like the house has evolved as though Annie and Agnes, the Victorian sisters who once lived here, never left. What modern changes would they have made while still honoring the past? What layers would they have added through the decades?
With more than 18 rooms spread over three floors, it was hard to decide where to begin. But we chose to start with the largest bedroom; the one we are thinking we will call The Wilson Room. Our initial goal, however, wasn’t perfection but simply functionality. When we moved in, the room was mint green, the plaster was cracked, and the fireplace mantle painted a flat brown. It had good bones with original Victorian shutters and intact floorboards which made it one of the most approachable rooms to tackle first.
We gave the plaster a quick (and admittedly imperfect) repair job—this was before we took a class with a local expert—and painted the walls a creamy, soft white (Sherwin-Williams Timeless White). We stripped layers of paint from the corbels around the bay window and the wooden corner beads, cleaned the floors and baseboards, and added just enough furniture & decor to make the room feel clean and livable. While it’s not yet finished, it’s functional for now and that in itself felt like a small victory.
In the long run, we envision each of the three second-floor bedrooms telling its own story, brought to life through design. That idea actually started years ago, while playing a computer game Ellie and I loved as kids. The main character stayed in a Victorian-style hotel room, and we used to daydream about staying in—or even owning—a place like that ourselves (#iykyk). That little seed of an idea has since grown into our full-blown plan for a story-rich, style-forward bed and breakfast at Chapline House.
The Traveler’s Room – Inspired by our favorite childhood game will be filled with our grandmother’s collection of Asian antiques and more. This room will reflect a well-traveled soul with a love of art, history, and objects with meaning.
The Wilson Room – The most traditional room and currently the most “finished,” will blend antique charm with comfortable, modern luxuries named for the original owners.
The Botanical Room – Cozy, bright, and natural, this room will be fu of wicker, greenery, florals, and ideally opening to a future conservatory.
Bonus Attic Bedroom – A tucked-away retreat, I imagine this room color drenched in soft blue, with vintage touches and a timeless, romantic feel.
For now, everything is still in progress (and subject to changes). There’s a long list of plaster repairs ahead before we can truly dive into decorating each space. But these dreams keep us moving forward step by step, room by room. And someday, we can’t wait to share them all with the guests who will help write the next chapter of Chapline House.
