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Amanda Cowley’s Victorian home in Southern Ontario brings together historic character, treasured objects and a warm, lived-in feel. Amanda and her husband, Paul, have made the 1920 brick house their own with colourful rooms, vintage finds and personal artwork.
Amanda Cowley’s Victorian Home and Its Historic Details
The couple moved into their two-and-a-half-story home in the Niagara Region almost seven years ago. From the first visit, Amanda felt it would be a place to build a life together. The house’s original features include creaky hardwood floors, stained-glass windows, high ceilings and extensive wood trim. Among her favourite details are the paneled staircase and the two-tiered fireplace mantel.
The home felt welcoming from the start, but family keepsakes and collected pieces helped make it personal. Amanda values how inviting the rooms feel to guests. For anyone decorating an older house, a practical approach is to let distinctive architectural features remain visible while adding meaningful pieces gradually.
A large marquee letter “C” is displayed on the mantel. Amanda found it at a restoration and salvage shop during an antiquing trip with friends. The dining and display pieces also have personal histories: a hutch was given to the couple by a friend of Amanda’s mother, and it had belonged to that friend’s grandmother. The shelves hold china from Amanda’s parents, along with vintage ruby-red Avon glassware and milk-glass vases.
Vases are a particular favourite, especially hobnail designs. A fluted turquoise bud vase adds another colour and texture to the collection. Grouping objects with different shapes and finishes can make a display feel collected rather than overly coordinated; leaving some open space also helps individual pieces stand out.
A Classic Eclectic Style with Colour
Amanda describes her taste as “classic eclectic.” She is drawn to Victorian-era furnishings, expressive patterns, carved details, scrollwork and distinctive upholstery. Colour is an important part of the home, in part because it can change how a room feels throughout the day and across the seasons.
The moss-green living room appears fresh and light during the day, while candlelight can give it a more intimate, romantic atmosphere in the evening. In summer, late-afternoon sunlight enters through the back door and brightens the kitchen as the couple cooks. When planning a room’s palette, it can help to notice how natural light shifts through the space before choosing paint colours.
Personal Artwork and Garden-Inspired Decor
One of Amanda’s most meaningful projects is a portrait of her Oma, displayed in the dining room. She based the painting on a photograph taken by her Opa sometime in the 1950s. Although painting was an unfamiliar medium, she had long wanted to try it and enjoyed the process, from blending colours to adding the final signature. A family photograph can be a thoughtful starting point for a personal artwork that connects a room to its history.
Most of the updates made over the past seven years have been cosmetic. Fresh paint has been applied to nearly all the walls, trim, doors and ceilings; the main bedroom is still on the project list. The century-old house has not required major renovations, allowing the couple to focus on making it feel like their own.
The gardens have also received attention and now provide flowers and greenery for indoor arrangements. Lilac cuttings bring a touch of spring inside, while perennial foliage is gathered during summer. Even a houseplant or a few hosta leaves in a vase can add freshness to a room. When bringing garden clippings indoors, use a clean vase and change the water regularly to help keep them looking their best.
Amanda and Paul’s home shows how historic details, family objects, colour and simple garden arrangements can work together to create a welcoming space. Amanda Cowley’s Victorian home is a personal example of classic eclectic style, shaped by the stories and details the couple chose to bring into it.
