Renters Have Vibrantly Painted Every Room in This 160-Year-Old Row House

Cullen Ormond
·8 min read
Gray couch and pink coffee table and ottoman sit atop multiple area rugs in living room with plant artwork hung on pink brown wall.
Gold velvet chair next to accept tulip table in corner of pink living room under artwork.
Blue lamp with light peach shade sits on accent table under art in living room with peach wall.
View of pink living room with multiple patterned area rugs.
Dog portrait hung on graphic wall over art and decor atop white mantle in living room.
Pink living room seen from yellow record room with corner chair and ottoman and green hand shaped chair.
Pale yellow record room with fireplace, potted plant, acrylic coffee table, and patterned area rugs.
Patterned couch in record room with dark pink accent wall diplaying art.
View of light yellow record room with patterned couch and multi-patterned rugs.
Curtain separates pale yellow kitchen with blue cabinetry and tiled floor.
Wood and rattan decor atop blue cabinetry in pale yellow kitchen with graphic backsplash and tile.
Stool next to skirted island cart in tiled kitchen.
Mirror hangs above white mantel in eggplant bedroom with white bedding.
Marimekko fabric draped above white bed with white bedding in eggplant bedroom with colorful artwork and potted plant.
Black dresser with mirror in eggplant bedroom.
Wood dresser in corner of eggplant bedroom.
View of yellow bathroom with blue sink cabinet from blue hallway.
View of combo office, guest room, studio with skirted daybed, easel, and green walls with decorative paint.
Skirted daybed with purple and green throw pillows in front of green wall with decorative paint featuring hung artwork.
View of skirted daybed in front of green wall with decorative paint and hung artwork.
Office, guest room, studio with decoratively painted green, pink, and white walls.
Floral curtain hangs on window behind easel in combo office, guest room, studio, with guitars in front of mantel.

ABOUT THIS TOUR

HOME TYPE: Apartment

LOCATION: Church Hill, Richmond, Virginia

STYLE: Eclectic, Maximalist, Vintage

BEDROOMS: 2

SQUARE FEET: 1700

Designer and painter Tricia Collins has shared this two-bedroom rental in Richmond, Virginia, with her partner, Will, and their “goofy dog,” Buffy, for almost four years. As avid movers, the couple has agreed that their current 1860s classic row house (located in the historic Church Hill neighborhood) is their favorite space so far.

View of pink living room with white mantel, graphic wallpaper, and multiple patterned area rugs.

“It’s the most at home we have both ever felt, and we have so many special memories,” Tricia writes. “I have really let my creativity flow here.”

Dweller sits on living room floor with patterned area rugs.

That artistry can be seen on the walls, as the couple has painted all of the rooms, and also in the framed artwork Tricia created. Because of their shared effort to transform the home, it’s a perfect blend of the pair. Will is more practical and minimal but has supported Tricia’s desire for color and whimsy in the space. Tricia admits that their interior designing is never fully done.

Marimekko fabric draped above white bed with white bedding in eggplant bedroom with colorful artwork.

Even though the home is an ongoing project, it still feels alive. That could be due to its historical details.

“We have gorgeous historic features like pocket doors between our double parlors, a mantel in virtually every room, and transom windows above each door,” Tricia shares. “We also have layers of bad paint jobs, creaky floors, and lots of little quirks.”

Dweller sits at easel in front of window in combo office, guest room, studio with decoratively painted walls.

While those unique characteristics are special to the couple, they’re shared among friends. Tricia describes her and Will as “social introverts,” a trait that leads them to host many functions in their home.

Black dresser with mirror in eggplant bedroom.

“Instead of using the double parlors as a living room and a dining room, we have a record/media room, which suits us much more,” Tricia explains. “We can shut the pocket doors at night and have a cozy small living space or open it up and have tons of seating for our friends.”

Dweller reflected in over-the-door mirror in combo office, guest room, studio.

Being a guest in their home, spending magical evenings listening to their extensive vinyl collection, or pulling a book from their at-home library seems like a gift. It’s so fortunate to tour the space — even virtually.

Resources

View of skirted daybed in front of green wall with decorative paint and hung artwork.

PAINT & COLORS

  • Record/ media room arch mural — Backdrop “Ghost Ranch”

  • Pink room/ living room — Backdrop “Studio Hours”

  • Bedroom — Backdrop “Lobby Scene”

  • Bathroom hallway — Valspar “Cosmic Blue”

  • Guest/office mural — Leftover “Studio Hours” and a mystery green sample quart I had.

Gray sofa sits atop multiple area rugs in living room featuring art hung on pink brown walls.

LIVING ROOM/PINK ROOM

  • Coffee table — Facebook marketplace, the best Facebook marketplace score of all time!

  • Both lamps — Thrifted

  • Pillows — Thrifted

  • Rugs — Thrifted

  • Green club chair — Thrifted for my very first apartment when I was 18.

  • Tulip side table — Thrifted

  • Drum side table — Target

  • Small tchotchkes — From my beloved grandmother’s house, or found at estate sales and Goodwill.

  • Art — Painting of our beloved former dog, commissioned by Will for our second Christmas together, painted by our friend Thomas Sara (@two-moss); he also did the two prints above the sofa.

  • Painting of our former beloved cat — By me

  • The sofa was a big purchase from a furniture store I used to work at called LaDiff.

Corner view of record room with hand-shaped chair, record player, album organizer, and wall art.

RECORD/MEDIA ROOM

  • Bottom layer rug — Urban Outfitters

  • 2 top layered rugs — Thrifted

  • Record shelf — IKEA

  • Loveseat — Facebook marketplace find

  • Chairs — Thrifted

  • Hand chair — On eBay

  • Small tchotchkes — From my beloved grandmother’s house, or found at estate sales and goodwill.

Dress hangs on decoratively painted wall in combo office, guest room, studio.

GUEST ROOM/ART STUDIO

  • Fun pink and green faux molding mural — DIY

  • Bed — From my childhood bedroom, which was also coincidentally painted pink and green.

  • Top layer sheer curtains — Urban Outfitters

  • Everything else — Thrifted

Floral Marimekko fabric hangs above white bed in dark purple bedroom.

BEDROOM

  • Mural —  Painted by myself

  • Rug — Facebook Marketplace

  • Bedside tables — Goodwill

  • Headboard — Wayfair

  • Bedside lamps — Target

  • Oyster shell sculpture — Made by my mom

  • pillows —  Thrifted and from Anthropologie

Thanks Tricia!

This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.

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