Waterfront Farmhouse

A self-taught husband-and-wife team slowly renovates a home for their family as they live in it, turning it into a coastal farmhouse cottage.

- AUTUMN KRAUSE

When Veronique Rouleau and husband David first toured their 1988 Lake Nipissing (in northern Ontario, Canada) home, they had wildly different reactions.

"This home was my first pick," Veronique says, "but Dave needed some convincing."

It's understandable. The 1980s were "alive and well" in the home-embodied in some interesting color choices, such as an all-red en suite (emphasis on all, from the bathtub and vanity to the toilet). Even so, Veronique loved the open concept, which set it apart from most homes built during that time.

"I saw that the place was full of potential and that I could make any room anything," she says.

Eventually, David was won over by the ample windows and the fact that the home was artful built with the lake in mind giving it a wonderful union with the setting. They purchased the home and moved in with their two sons and a golden-doodle.

Library Card

Books can be art, as seen in Veronique's library. Here are her tips for using books in your décor:

• ABOUT-FACE. Face them inward. Books aren't just their spines-they also have paper with a range of different textures and finishes. Turning them inward celebrates this aspect.

• ORGANIZATION STATION. In order to know where her books are when they face in, Veronique organizes them by author and genre one shelf at a time. She also has a "TBR" ("to be read") shelf. "As a result, I know exactly where to go when I want to start a new book," she explains.