A Home Makeover for Mom

Over the past decade, designer Tyler Karu and her mom, Candace, a writer, have invested in and renovated seven properties together. But none have felt as special as their most recent collaboration: a forever home for Candace on a wooded waterfront lot in York, Maine. The cottage was built in 1964, and though the roof was sound and the floors could be salvaged, the rest needed a total rehab. “After a certain age we can all use a makeover, and this place was no exception,” Candace says. She asked Tyler to oversee the design, and Tyler’s partner, contractor Kyle James, managed the renovation. “It was truly a family affair,” says Tyler. She chose quiet colors to keep the focus on her mom’s extensive art collection — and the surrounding landscape. “We agreed on the concept right away,” says Candace. “My style can veer into eccentric, but as a writer, I have always valued having a good editor, and Tyler is the best.”

Candace replaced the siding and columns, and added green shutters and a new mudroom entry.

“The art needed to be the star of the show,” says Tyler. She gave the pieces — including portraits by Candace’s mom, artist Jean Pilk — a luxe backdrop in the form of Schumacher grasscloth wallpaper. The sofa is by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, and the coffee table is by Jonathan Adler. “This room feels cozy in the winter and airy in the warmer months when I fling open the windows to let in the breeze off the water,” Candace says.

Function and beauty were equally important to Candace, a food writer and recipe developer. The floor plan wouldn’t allow for a larger kitchen, but Tyler and Kyle maximized the space by using slightly smaller appliances, including a 30-inch fridge. The backsplash is natural walnut. “It’s unexpected and makes this utilitarian space feel special,” says Tyler.

Onyx tile flooring and warm white paint on the walls (Balboa Mist by Benjamin Moore) complement Candace’s paintings and some of her most prized vintage finds, including the table, chairs and hanging lantern. Tyler had a bench built to maximize seating in this corner, Candace’s unofficial office. Mouse, a Chihuahua mix, loves this spot too!

Tyler paired the grasscloth Schumacher wallpaper in this room with matching trim and a painted ceiling. “It’s a full mood,” she says. Candace found the nightstands at a local antiques store; the lamps come from Etsy, and the bed is from Anthropologie. “This room holds so many pieces that I’ve collected over the years,” Candace says. “They represent the life I’ve lived.”