We’re thrilled to reveal that the entire front half of the duplex is finished — which means the open living and dining areas on both sides are complete and ready to be shown. We couldn’t be happier with how these spaces came together.
When you enter the left side and turn toward the living area, this is what you see. Aside from steaming and hemming the curtains, the space feels finished and welcoming.
We placed a beloved secondhand rug from New England Loom in the living area and paired it with our favorite Crate & Barrel sofa for durable, comfortable seating. We trusted this sofa enough to buy it multiple times — once for our home in Taft Steel and twice for the duplex in Taft Truffle — because it’s proven comfy and hard-wearing with kids and a dog in the mix.
Flanking the coffee table are two armchairs and a small pouf ottoman. The armchairs are the same style we use at home, just in a darker color for durability, and we added pink bolster pillows for extra comfort and visual warmth.
We also brought in a quartz-topped end table for the marble look without the maintenance — perfect for rentals where spills are inevitable. Behind the sofa, a large art print pulls the colors from the nearby kitchen into the living area; it feels like it was made for this room.
The kitchen — which we’ll show in a future walkthrough once it’s fully finished — shares the same tones as the art and dining area, tying the open plan together. We sourced a print from Juniper Print Shop that matches the palette perfectly.
To appreciate the transformation, it’s helpful to look back. When we bought the duplex, this room had severe water damage and fake plastic paneling hiding other problems. We stripped everything to the studs, reinforced framing, and rebuilt the space. We salvaged a few original elements where we could, like exposed brick chimneys and hardwoods, and reused rescued doors as closet doors upstairs.
During the build, we decided to raise the doorway and add an interior transom to bring more light in and create a feeling of historic detail. Reframing the opening made the transom possible and it’s one of the features we love most in this home. We also installed solid five-panel doors and pocket doors for authentic, inspired-by-original details.
Now the space reads as an open, inviting living and dining area. We planned the dining light placement months before drywall and floor refinishing, and lucked out that those early measurements worked perfectly.
To define the long room, we used area rugs and pendant lighting to create distinct living and dining zones. Floating the furniture around the rug makes the living area feel cozy, while a centered chandelier marks the dining space so everything reads natural and intentional instead of like a long corridor.
Because the tall, original-style windows take up so much wall space, we had limited spots for the TV. Mounting a slim console and the TV to the wall keeps sightlines open and avoids clutter, leaving the seating and rug as the first things you notice when you walk in.
We debated cable management options and ultimately used a single white cord cover to keep things tidy. With smart TVs, you can minimize equipment and hide most wires, which helps the room feel clean and modern.
The door next to the TV hides our locked owners’ closet; the adjacent door leads to the powder room. Converting what used to be a closet into a downstairs bathroom was a huge functional upgrade.
The powder room is functional and pretty for now, and we may add wainscoting or wallpaper later to make it a jewel box. For the moment, we love the vanity and mirror — they feel elevated without being expensive.
Throughout the house we mixed brass and oil-rubbed bronze intentionally: brass in the chandelier and mirror, and oil-rubbed bronze for curtain rods and door hardware. Repeating each finish a few times around the space helps the combination feel cohesive and deliberate.
Now let’s move to the right side of the duplex, which mirrors the left but has a slightly different character. This side had less water damage originally and some unique old trim details. The floors were in good shape and we refinished them to match the other side.
We used the same core pieces here — the same sofa and armchair styles — but changed rugs, lighting, and some accessories so the two sides feel related but distinct. Furnishing two full units was a financial commitment, but it was also a creative chance to try different looks while keeping practical, durable pieces throughout.
We kept furniture low to preserve sightlines to the tall windows and let light flood the rooms. Rattan mirrors and woven textures add warmth and texture, while a mix of soft and bright rugs sets the tone for each side.
The dining tables are secondhand finds that we sanded and refinished ourselves — a huge savings and a fun DIY that we’ll document soon. Secondhand tables can be a great choice for busy homes because they’ve already proven durable over time.
From the front door, the open layout, rattan mirrors, and mixed-metal lighting feel warm and welcoming. We painted each side’s interior steps to match the front door color — playful pink risers for one side and soft green for the other — which is a charming detail you notice when the front doors are open.
Next up: finishing two kitchens, two laundry rooms, the back patios, and landscaping — plus hemming a hundred curtains. We’ll share the completed kitchens and mudroom/laundry photos soon. Thanks for following along as this duplex came back to life.
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