Cosmetic historic house remodel using little more than white paint and budget-conscious furnishings.

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Remodelista reader Kate McCann recently sent us an over-the-transom email: “I am a NYC-based still-life stylist who is working toward making a transition to interior design.” She included a few photos of her latest project, her own shingled house in northwest Connecticut that she shares with her partner, Kevin, and their dog, Willa Mae.

The interior had been updated 15 years ago, she told us, “in a nineties, Martha Stewart way: it was very traditional and packed with furnishings.” Using little more than cosmetics—white paint, new lighting, and a selection of cost-conscious fittings—she gave the rooms a new, invitingly low-key guise. Intrigued by the simplicity and effectiveness of her approach, we asked to see the whole house.

Photography by David Prince, unless otherwise noted, courtesy of Kate McCann, Grey Dove Design.

a former barn, the structure was converted into a \1,380 square foot dwell 17 — Above: A former barn, the structure was converted into a 1,380-square-foot dwelling in the 1930s.

mccann gave the cozy living room a clean look by whitewashing all but the beams 18 — Above: McCann gave the cozy living room a clean look by whitewashing all but the beams and floor, leaving the windows uncovered, and selecting modernist furniture in black-and-white.

The sofa is Room & Board’s Vela design (since discontinued); for dog-proofing she tops it with Flokati Throws, $39, that are all wool and machine-washable.

a bright, versatile off white, benjamin moore white oc \15\1, was used in 19 — Above: A bright, versatile off-white, Benjamin Moore White OC-151, was used in various finishes throughout the house: matte on the walls; pearl on the doors, trim, wainscoting, and mantel; and flat on the ceiling.

After working in the creative departments of Martha By Mail and J.Crew, McCann freelanced as a stylist for 15 years. “Interior design has always been a passion,” she says. “I helped friends with their homes and gradually started working on projects with bigger scopes.” She went back to school to study interior design online at Rhodec International and has just launched her own firm, Grey Dove Design.

the living room opens to the dining room. note the sconces 20 — Above: The living room opens to the dining room. Note the sconces: “I wanted to replace them,” McCann tells us, “instead, for budget reasons, I just swapped out the fake wax drip candle sleeves with simple white sleeves ($1 each) and used black chandelier shades in place of white ($21 each) from Just Shades.”

McCann had a maximum remodel/refurbishing budget of $40,000 and kept a careful tally of costs:

Furniture: $14,852
Lighting: $2,970
Rugs: $2,714
Artwork: $2,030
Throw pillows: (15) $1,550
Bathroom accessories: $202

All told, she spent $28,894 on furnishings and $7,991 on labor (painting and electrical).

the andover dining table and companion benches are from room & board and co 21 — Above: The Andover Dining Table and companion benches are from Room & Board and come in custom dimensions; to accommodate the space, McCann’s is 30 inches wide. The twisted sculpture is a walking stick from the local farmer’s market.

“I would have loved to purchase furniture from small workshops that make everything by hand, but my budget didn’t allow for this,” says McCann. “Room & Board, while a large company, often employs small businesses to manufacture their designs. For example, my dining table was made in Vermont by Lyndon Furniture, which uses lumber that’s responsibly harvested.”

last updated in the \1990s, the kitchen&#8\2\17;s vintage wood cabinets had 22 — Above: Last updated in the 1990s, the kitchen’s vintage wood cabinets had been painted a yellowy-white. McCann refreshed the space with a brighter white (Benjamin Moore White OC-151), and replaced its track lighting with a large Alabax Light from Schoolhouse Electric that works well with the black hardware.

Her electrician also installed new recessed lights: “the trims were yellowed and looked old once we gave the house a fresh coat of paint,” says McCann. “Changing fixtures can transform a room.”