With two young boys and a longing for more outdoor space, Chelsea Mohrman and her husband Kiel sold their land-locked Clintonville house in favor of a Worthington Cape Cod with room to roam outside. A beautiful tree-lined ravine at the end of the street sealed the deal and made the home the perfect choice for Chelsea and her family.
“The outdoor space around here makes us feel like we wake up every morning at summer camp,” Chelsea said.
The inside gives off an equally oasis-like vibe, and Chelsea said it’s truly a place where the family can unwind.
“I love our cozy living room because it is where I am most likely to be caught relaxing (if/when there is time!),” she said. “It’s also where we play games, watch movies, and gather with friends and family. I love the light that this room gets and am never not comfortable when I am in it.”
The previous owners of the home made it mostly turn-key, but Chelsea and Keil have added their own touches throughout. Built in 1954, the cape cod started at around 1,680 square feet (including the 300 square foot basement). Since moving in five years ago, the Mohrmans have added 250 square feet.
“We painted the beige walls white, added detail like board and batten in the kitchen and living room, built in bench seats in the kitchen, and swapped out all the light fixtures for modern Schoolhouse Electric fixtures,” Chelsea said.
“Eventually, after being here for a few years, we gutted and renovated the upstairs bathroom,” she added. “It didn’t really “need” it but we really wanted a different style and know we will be here for years to come.”
Several projects, including the bathroom, have been largely DIY-adventures.
“Doing the entire thing ourselves saved us a lot of money as we only had an investment in the supplies (classic tile which is cost-friendly!),” Chelsea said. “Last year, we updated the unfinished area of our basement with white paint, newly painted gray floors, and white uniform shelving. We also added a workout area in the back.”
The couple’s biggest house project is their most recent – a mudroom addition off their kitchen. They hired a contractor to build the space up to the drywall, and then took over to add all the interior finishes. The room now holds their washer/dryer, an extra pantry, and refrigerator storage, along with a place for coats, backpacks and shoes. It also serves as a studio office space for Chelsea’s vintage selling side business.
Chelsea’s love of vintage and her eye for design is unmistakable and evident throughout the house. She describes her style as “comfortable vintage modern.”
“I do feel like my style is always changing, though,” she added. “I love clean lines but I also get really excited about special ornate items like a gorgeous detailed gold framed mirror. I love old art, vintage paintings, textured items like wall hangings or dried florals. I try to balance statement pieces with easy-going minimalist pieces that create balance in a space while keeping it visually interesting and not over stimulating.”
At Home is a monthly column on Columbus Underground focused on urban home remodeling and style as well as older home renovations and unique homes in Columbus. If you would like to have your home featured in the At Home series, please send an email to [email protected].
Photos by Lindsey Thieken unless otherwise noted.
