A Maryland Home Full of Deals and DIYs

Lots of moms make sacrifices — think time, money and living room decor by Lego. But Saudah Saleem, an interior designer and mother of five, wasn’t going to settle for anything less than fabulousness all around. That’s clear from the yellow door of her 1920s Baltimore, MD, brick row house on in. She and husband Musaa bought the 2,500-square-foot home in 2000. “I was pregnant with our first, and everyone said, ‘What are you going to do with all that space?’ Little did we know!” says Saudah.

The interior was dated, with wallpaper everywhere and carpet in a pea green shade. Yet Saudah was drawn to the home’s original oak floors, moldings and tin ceilings. No reno’ing was necessary — just Saudah’s ingenuity. As the years passed, she decorated the rooms one by one with classic pieces in keeping with the home’s age, layered with modern global designs and lots of color. She’d always been a bargain-hunting, hands-on designer who wasn’t beyond reupholstering a chair for a client, but she morphed into a master of IKEA hacks, Craigslist revivals and genius DIYs. The result is a home that’s as fun as her family. “It took legwork and creativity to get the looks I wanted on a budget,” says Saudah, “but I wasn’t going to give up on style!”

The Saleem family, from left: Saleh, 14; Saudah with Samori, 5; Musaa with Zaria, 3; Sajayah, 11; and Jasirah, 17.

Like the rest of the house, it’s a combo of function and flair. Saudah painted a vintage oak pedestal table black, surrounding it with clear acrylic chairs “the kids can’t destroy” and $50 upholstered ones from a thrift store, redone in fabric by Genevieve Gorder. She transformed IKEA bookcases into substantial cabinets with paint, molding, glass shelves and new knobs.

The older Saleem children often read here while the younger ones do puzzles. Since it’s also for company, though, Saudah wanted it comfy and impressive. “The room’s on the narrow side — I painted stripes and got mirrors to make it seem wider,” she says. She bought the chenille sofa at a local store. At $1,100 it wasn’t supercheap, but its timelessness has paid off: “Twelve years later, the high back and delicate legs still look great,” she says. A blend of metals merges traditional with modern: The $45 brass coffee table from an estate sale looks right at home with silver-painted étagères scored for $50 each on sale at Pier 1 Imports.