admin
This Alayna Powell home tour explores how an older house can become a bright, personal home through thoughtful updates, vintage furnishings, and meaningful finds. Set in a small Midwestern town, the 115-year-old house had been on the market for a long time before Alayna saw its potential. She moved in almost two years before sharing the home, taking on improvements with patience, imagination, and care.
Alayna Powell Home Tour: A Character-Filled Old House
Alayna was drawn to the house because it offered the old-fashioned charm she had been looking for. Older homes were uncommon in her town, which made the search especially limited. Rather than seeing the work ahead as a drawback, she viewed the property as an opportunity to bring out its character.
For anyone considering a renovation, her approach offers a useful reminder: identify the features you love before deciding what needs to change. Making improvements in manageable steps can help preserve a home’s distinctive details while making the rooms feel more suited to everyday life.
A Cozy Living Room with Vintage Color
A yellow mid-century davenport couch anchors the living room. It was passed along by Alayna’s best friend, who had bought it years earlier when they lived together. The couch is known for being especially comfortable and has become a favorite spot for relaxing with Elvis, Alayna’s dog.
In both the living and dining rooms, Alayna chose soft grey walls and bright white trim. The combination gives the rooms a clean, updated feel while allowing the colorful furniture and collected pieces to stand out. When using a strong upholstery color, a quieter wall shade can help create balance without making the space feel plain.
A Small Bedroom Made Personal
Of the home’s four bedrooms, Alayna chose the smallest for her own. Its closet sits beneath the stairs, a detail she found charming and full of character. She made the room feel distinctly hers with a candy-striped accent wall, favorite colors, a pink vintage radio, and a pink chenille bedspread.
The pillowcases were made by her best friend from fabric Alayna found while antiquing with her father in Michigan. Personal textiles and small accessories can add warmth to a compact bedroom without requiring major changes. In a small space, choosing a few colors and repeating them in different details can help the room feel cohesive.
Antique Finds from Nearby Towns
Living in a small town has also made it easy for Alayna to explore antique shops and thrift stores in neighboring communities. The variety of secondhand treasures means that choosing what to bring home can be part of the fun—and sometimes requires leaving a find behind and hoping it is still available on another visit.
A practical tip for vintage shopping is to measure the space where an item will go and keep those dimensions handy. For larger pieces, consider transport before buying; a vehicle with enough room can make collecting furniture much easier.
A Sunlit Kitchen with Open Shelving
The kitchen was one of Alayna’s favorite features from the start. Its south-facing position brings in sunshine throughout the day. She removed the cabinets on one side to reveal open shelving and painted the area mint green, creating a brighter, more cheerful look. The project took nine hours, including washing and repainting the ceiling.
Open shelves can make frequently used dishes easy to reach, but they also keep items in view. For a practical setup, store everyday pieces within easy reach and avoid overcrowding the shelves. Alayna’s jadeite salt and pepper shakers, found for $15 during her family’s annual Christmas antique hunt in Atlanta, add a personal vintage touch.
What Makes This Home Feel Like Alayna’s
Across the house, Alayna combines old-house character with approachable updates: a treasured hand-me-down couch, soft neutral walls, colorful accents, and secondhand discoveries. Her home shows how paint, useful storage choices, and items with personal meaning can help a space feel welcoming without losing its history.
This Alayna Powell home tour offers inspiration for anyone updating an older home: begin with the details that make the space special, then add color and practical changes that suit the way you live.
