What happens when you take someone who grew up on 300 acres in Vermontville, MI, then send them to live in London for two years before they settle in Chicago?
You get a style that’s eclectically comfortable—a bold departure from the “farmhouse chic” aesthetic dominating the Magnolia Network.
Rachel Sturgeon’s transformation of her historic home in East Grand Rapids is a masterful showcase of blending history, personality, and unexpected design choices. Her work should make the Joanna Gaineses of the world take notice.
Drawing inspiration from the age and character of her home, Rachel weaves together influences from her Vermontville roots with British-style elements and modern conveniences. What might sound like a mishmash of styles actually comes together beautifully. As the photos below reveal, the result is an atmosphere that exudes both comfort and ease—the true essence of luxury.
I believe Rachel’s design marks the beginning of a new chapter in luxury home trends. Gone are the days of cookie-cutter McMansions with generic, mass-produced finishes. Instead, we’re entering an era of design that celebrates individuality, with natural materials, rich textures, and bold contrasts leading the way. This is the dawn of the Home Well Lived movement.
Let me explain further.
Photos by Tavis Bohlinger
To fully appreciate this design, we need to take a closer look at Rachel and her husband Matt’s story.
In 2017, while living in Chicago, the Sturgeons realized it was time to move closer to home to raise their family. Matt, originally from central Ohio, and Rachel, from Vermontville, MI—just an hour outside Grand Rapids—were drawn to Michigan. However, the rural areas near their hometowns didn’t align with their vision for the future after experiencing the energy of city life.
Naturally, they set their sights on Grand Rapids, Michigan’s second-largest city. Rachel was determined to strike the perfect balance: maintaining a connection to city living while reintroducing nature into their daily lives. Their home search centered on properties close to downtown Grand Rapids, with one very specific requirement—at least half an acre of land.
Their search paid off. The Sturgeons secured nearly three-quarters of an acre in one of East Grand Rapids’ most sought-after neighborhoods.
But this dream deal came with its fair share of challenges. While the 1912 home appeared structurally sound and only in need of minor cosmetic updates, the renovation process quickly became a metaphorical peeling of the onion. Each layer revealed new challenges that demanded creative solutions, eventually leading to a remarkable transformation.
What Rachel accomplished through this process was nothing short of a revival—an undertaking that breathed new life into a timeworn home and allowed her creative vision to shine.
Let's begin in the most logical place:
The Attic
Photo by Tavis Bohlinger
When the Sturgeons purchased their home, the attic was unfinished—a forgotten space that hadn’t been touched in decades. Rachel immediately saw its potential, envisioning it as a functional area for her children while also adding valuable square footage to the home.
To begin the build-out of the attic, the Sturgeons hired a local contractor to install dormers and begin bringing the space together.
Pictured: The initial dormer added before Tom and Gary took over the project.
However, during a visit, Rachel’s father, Tom Brandenburg, quickly recognized that the work was being done to a substandard level. Calling on his long-time friend and skilled craftsman, Gary Russel, Tom stepped in. The decision was swift: the original contractor was released, and Tom and Gary took over.
Pictured: Tom Brandenburg surveys the attic.
Pictured: Tom Brandenburg, Rachel Sturgeon, and Gary Russel in the transformed attic.
Photos by Tavis Bohlinger
What began as a simple attic renovation evolved into a full-scale redesign. The roofline was reimagined to maximize space, functionality, and flow—transforming not just the attic but ultimately influencing all three stories of the home.
Photo by Tavis Bohlinger
Photo by Tavis Bohlinger
Left: The antique castiron sink was relocated from the basement to the attic half bath. Right: The children's play nook is in the extended south-facing attic overlooking Fisk Lake.
Photo by Tavis Bohlinger
The finished attic blends farmhouse-inspired design with elements reminiscent of 1890s London. This unique combination is most evident in the steeply pitched ceilings with exposed beams and gas lamp-inspired lighting. Rachel’s signature style carries throughout the space: mid-century furniture sits effortlessly alongside the home’s original wooden windows. At the same time, Cole & Sons wallpaper adds a bold contrast to an ornately detailed mirror in the bathroom. A thoughtfully curated picture collage lines the newly installed staircase, completing a space that is both timeless and deeply personal.
The Second Story
The second story was, arguably, the most extensive project in the home. It required removing a chimney that bisected the floor, transforming bathrooms, reconfiguring hallways, installing a new staircase, and replacing the main structural beam that supports both the second and third levels of the house. What the Sturgeons achieved is a second floor that is practical, comfortable, and beautifully efficient.
Dec 26, 2017: Rachel and Matt Sturgeon travel from Chicago to begin demo of the chimney through the second story.
The primary bedroom, situated at the front of the home, now connects seamlessly to an ensuite bathroom. Leaded glass French doors lead into a thoughtfully designed walk-in closet. Small yet deliberate details—like the opposing bookcases flanking the bed—showcase the level of care and consideration in every aspect of the space.
View from the primary closet looking East.
Photo by Tavis Bohlinger
One particularly notable challenge was the north wall. Initially, it featured a small cutaway for staircase headroom—a “clunky” and awkward design. Rachel transformed this oddity by installing a custom bookcase above the cutout, turning an eyesore into a functional design feature. A second bookcase was installed on the adjacent wall to create symmetry and balance. What was once an inconvenience is now an intentional, stylish addition to the room.
The primary bathroom holds its own historic charm. A simple, understated mirror serves as the centerpiece—yet this mirror is far from ordinary. It’s a signature piece from the Grand Rapids Bookcase & Chair Co., one of the city’s original furniture manufacturers that helped establish Grand Rapids as a furniture capital at the turn of the 20th century. Known for its ornate oak moldings and iconic “Oakmasters” series, the company transitioned in the 1920s to produce sleeker, Art Deco-inspired designs. This mirror, likely from their mid-1950s collection, is an elegant nod to the city’s rich design history.
Another remarkable detail is the leaded glass, which Rachel intentionally hunted for on eBay. While its origins remain a mystery, Rachel ensured that she was introducing aspects of historic homes that she loves—allowing her to honor the past while adding timeless beauty to the space.
The First Floor
Moving to the first floor, Rachel knew nearly every space would require work. However, certain elements that made her fall in love with the home were strictly off-limits—most notably, the front staircase and banister. In fact, it was the foyer and the banister that first drew the Sturgeons from Chicago to this home. Preserving the original floor plan and honoring the timeless, welcoming charm of the space was non-negotiable.
Photos by Tavis Bohlinger
Rachel accomplished this by refinishing the original hardwood floors and pairing a classic pearl white on the banister and wainscoting. She contrasted the clean white with a timeless wallpaper design from William Morris, adding depth and elegance to the foyer. True to her commitment to detail and preserving history, nearly every original doorknob in the home was refurbished. The grand entrance chandelier, a Regina Andrews design from Lumens, ties the space together, elevating it with just the right touch of drama.
The dining room is a testament to Rachel’s progressive design approach and a shining example of the Home Well Lived movement. It seamlessly combines modern pieces with vintage antiques that hold meaning for the Sturgeons. The dining table from CB2 is surrounded by chairs from Rachel’s grandmother’s dining table. Overhead, the lights—also from Anthropology—bring a modern touch, while the cabinet, a $100 estate sale find from Rachel’s hometown of Vermontville, MI, anchors the space with history.
A charming detail: through the foyer, you can glimpse the original entrance windows, which serendipitously feature the same pane design as the Vermontville hutch.
Photo by Tavis Bohlinger
The family room exudes comfort and ease—perfectly illustrated by Sniffles the cat lounging in the space. The original hardwood floors flow throughout, complementing the decorative fireplace, which was thoughtfully retiled by S & J Flooring to include elegant embellishments that blend seamlessly with repaired areas of the flooring. William Morris wallpaper makes another appearance here, tying the design together. Rachel’s creative, Home Well Lived style shines through her “picture collage” approach to artwork. While the technique isn’t new, her ability to pair it with a cross-style design sensibility brings the space an inviting, whimsical charm.
Photo by Tavis Bohlinger
Sniffles makes his way from the dining room to the kitchen—a space where Rachel’s vision truly comes to life. While she worked tirelessly to save the original hardwood floors throughout the home, the kitchen’s floors were beyond repair. Weston’s Floor Care installed new hardwood. The transition is nearly seamless and serves as a powerful metaphor by blending the original with the updated.
Photo by Tavis Bohlinger
The kitchen itself was inspired by a single item: the robin’s egg blue KitchenAid mixer prominently displayed on the countertop. Rachel fell in love with the color; however, she felt she couldn’t use it as the primary color for the kitchen. Instead, it was used as contrast and became the starting point for the kitchen’s design. From that decision, a bold and beautiful color palette emerged. The navy, custom-made Amish cabinets, designed by Rachel, anchor the space and are paired with striking black granite countertops. The backsplash, designed to resemble distressed stone, adds texture and a sense of history. The white farmhouse sink perfectly complements the marble island top—a remnant piece Rachel discovered at Great Lakes Granite Works.
Photo by Tavis Bohlinger
Three key design elements exemplify Rachel’s style in the kitchen. First, the pendant lights, another Habitat for Humanity find, add an interesting “complementary contrast” to the live-edge floating shelves purchased at an estate sale in Vermontville. Above the windows, Rachel installed Wallfleet sconces from Visual Comfort Studio instead of the traditional pendants more commonly seen in American kitchens. This choice reflects her time in London and her ability to incorporate global design influences into a space that still feels distinctly her own.
In Conclusion
Pictured: Rachel stands with her antique Vermontville hutch, whimsically decorated for the holidays.
Photo by Tavis Bohlinger
Rachel Sturgeon’s East Grand Rapids home is more than just a renovation—it’s a masterful blend of history, creativity, and personal storytelling. Each room reflects her commitment to honoring the past while infusing fresh, modern elements that make the home uniquely hers. From the thoughtfully preserved architectural details to the bold, unexpected design choices, Rachel’s vision exemplifies a Home Well Lived.
What sets this home apart is the balance it strikes: it’s both curated and comfortable, refined yet approachable. Rachel has created a space that feels lived-in and loved, where memories are made and stories are celebrated. Her ability to weave together influences from her childhood in Vermontville, her time in London, and her life in Chicago showcases her exceptional eye for design and her deep respect for craftsmanship and authenticity.
In a time when cookie-cutter homes and fleeting design trends often dominate, Rachel’s home is a refreshing reminder of the power of individuality and intentionality in design. It stands as a testament to the idea that true luxury isn’t about extravagance—it’s about creating spaces that reflect the people who live within them.
This home doesn’t just inspire admiration; it inspires possibility. It invites us to look at our homes with fresh eyes and embrace the beauty of thoughtful, personal design. Rachel Sturgeon hasn’t just renovated a house—she’s breathed life into a piece of history, creating a timeless, welcoming space for her family to enjoy for generations to come.
