When Heather Goerzen toured her current home in Denver, Colorado, she was charmed by the early 1900s Tudor exterior. But inside? “It was a time capsule of nineties design — a decade better known for its boy bands than its interiors,” says the Director of Design & Content at Havenly. “It had wooden kitchen cabinetry, gray carpet, old light fixtures, and orange-toned wood floors.”
A lover of all things cozy and romantic, Heather set out to infuse the dated space with her signature cottagecore-meets-English-countryside aesthetic. “The house leaned ‘sad millennial beige,’ and it just didn’t feel like me,” she explains. “I craved something with more soul and character — something with layers of color, print, and wallpaper.”
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The challenge? Accomplishing all of that without renovating a thing. “Budget was a consideration, so I relied on thoughtful styling, finish upgrades, and a little DIY in lieu of remodeling,” she explains. “But I think these lower-lift changes were just as impactful — it feels like a brand-new house, and it was so much easier!”
Ahead, see how Heather turned her beige-on-beige house into a proper English country-inspired home, all with low-lift aesthetic updates and easy hacks she could tackle on her own.
The Art of Camouflage
While Heather did replace all the light fixtures throughout the home, she relied on creative styling to camouflage the other features she didn’t like.
Rather than refinishing the orange-toned hardwood floors downstairs, she embraced a cool-toned color palette of blues, greens, and dusty earth tones to balance it out. The stairwell, with its heavy scrollwork iron, felt overly ornate and dated. To shift focus, she created a charming seating vignette with a dramatic chandelier. Now, the dated stairwell quietly recedes into the background.
“These design choices really added some necessary contrast and gave the space an entirely different vibe,” says Heather. “Using color and styling in this way is not only incredibly cost-effective — it’s impactful. The space feels cozy and well-balanced now.”
The Power of Paint
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Heather’s knack for an impactful DIY makeover is on full display in her new kitchen. “Of all the spaces, the kitchen felt the most stuck in time,” she notes. “It was dark, heavy, and dragged down the entire open-concept first floor.”
Instead of demo’ing and remodeling the space, she worked with Kristin of The Colonial Farmhouse to add beadboard to the built-ins and kitchen, and worked her magic with a coat of Benjamin Moore’s Wild Blue Yonder and Mocha Cream. Finished with new hardware, new backsplash tile, and soft details, like the custom window seat cushion, the entire feels infinitely brighter and more inviting.
Blending Form & Function
With a high-energy puppy and a toddler at home, Heather knew the space had to strike a balance between aesthetically-pleasing and practical. “I wanted a home that was layered, inspired, and undeniably beautiful, but also warm, functional, and livable for my daughter,” she notes.
Thoughtful touches, like a soft upholstered coffee table, performance fabric dining chairs, and hidden toy storage beneath her built-in china cabinets, bring that vision to life. “Every decision was about blending these priorities to create a home that felt as good as it looked,” she adds. “It’s truly a space that’s equal parts lovely and lived-in.”
Adding Personality
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Upstairs, pattern is the star of the show in the primary bedroom — specifically the Terracotta Swallows printed wallpaper and matching bed from The Inside. “It’s my favorite feature in the entire house,” says Heather. “This room feels so true to me and my style.”
Finished with solid French blue curtains, a subtle checkered quilt, and a traditional area rug with flecks of blue, the finished space channels Iris’ cottage in The Holiday and is nearly unrecognizable from its beige-on-beige days. “It’s truly a testament to the power of pattern,” adds Heather.
Dreamy Escapism
Inspired by the Cotswolds, Heather wanted the guest room to speak to the primary bedroom while still forging its own identity. Dreamy blue paint coats the walls and ceilings, while three distinct patterns artfully play off each other and ground the space in the cottagecore aesthetic.
“I think guest rooms are a great place to get a little bold, so I couldn’t wait to play with color drenching in this space,” she explains. Paired with an earthy plaid blanket, floral curtains, and a Cotswold Hunt-printed bed, the space offers just the right amount of escapism.
Elevated Play
When designing a bedroom for her three-year-old daughter, Heather made sure to keep longevity in mind. The Pink Posy wallpaper from St. Frank feels playful and toddler-appropriate, but could easily feel at home in a kid or teenager’s bedroom, too. The same can be said for the lighting, area rug, and decor — it’s whimsical, but elevated.
“I wanted to design a space that could grow with her, instead of requiring an overhaul every few years,” she notes. “I think the primary design element here — the wallpaper — checks that box.”
Working From Home
When she’s not working from Havenly’s Denver headquarters, Heather catches up from her home office — a cozy space swathed in dusty mauve and brimming with charming details. “It’s been amazing to have a designated work space in my house, especially one that actually reflects my personal style.”
While the shell of the pink space leans sweet, a marble desk, luxe velvet chair, and sleek cognac leather sofa add some edge. “This desk setup has been with me for years now, and I love that the look adds a little contrast to the more traditional design elements.”
While Heather is hesitant to say that her home is truly “finished,” she’s able to acknowledge how far they’ve come in two short years. “This space had no personality when we moved in, and now feels like a true reflection of our lives,” she says. “It was more of a styling refresh than a full renovation, but the transformation is remarkable — it’s warm, welcoming, and full of personality. It’s everything I hoped it would be.”
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