A Michigan Home That Feels More Like Morocco

You know when you get a glimpse of a space and know you have to see more? Like, every single room? That’s exactly how we felt about Veronica Hamlet’s home. Luckily, the mastermind behind Hamlet Interiors and Semikah Textiles let friend and business partner Carley Page Summers in—mid-renovation—to photograph the rooms in her 5,000-square-foot, four bedroom home that have been gut renovated, designed, and styled to perfection. Here, she gives us a look inside her almost-complete Michigan home.

The perfect place to start? The kitchen—Hamlet’s favorite room in the renovation thus far. She says, “I knew I wanted black on black so we decided to do soapstone for our counters. It was our best decision yet. The marble sink was a choice from day one. The whole kitchen was designed out of that one decision. We found an incredible fabricator on Etsy that crafted this piece for us.”

You can’t overlook the other statement in the kitchen: the marble backsplash. Hamlet found Italian marble in her price range, which meant she was able to forgo your average tile for a truly unique look. The only downside of the beautiful kitchen you see here? Being sinkless for four months during renovation, which meant washing dishes outside.

Hamlet says, “I’m sure we looked a little strange to our neighbors, but we are going to OWN it, because we have always been a little out of the box and unconventional. We like to be full of surprises.”

Sink by StoneSinks on Etsy | Faucet from Amazon | Custom cabinets by Newaygo Cabinets | Floors by De Chateau | Rug by @hamletinteriors | Appliances by Laninga Appliance, Monogram | Marble and Soapstone by Pascucci | Turkish cutting board by @canary_lane | Oil painting by @aesthetikhs | Jade Moroccan Pottery sourced by @hamletinteriors | Small ceramics by @lostandfoundgr | Art by @graceandpiece | Mirror by @canary_lane | Green vintage pitcher by @mavencollectpdx | Ceramic bowl by @graceandpiece | Candlesticks from Morocco | Vintage Spanish dining table by @liberty.33rd | Cabinet paint by Farrow and Ball, Black Blue | Paint by Benjamin Moore, Chantilly Lace

As for the overall style of the house, Hamlet sought inspiration from European design (the eclectic and collected kind) and used vintage furniture, accessories from her many travels, and unexpected moments to achieve her desired outcome. Her house looks truly unique, because as Hamlet puts it, “I don’t want it to be what everyone else has. I just want it to be ‘us’.”

The number one lesson you can take from this home: Only keep what you love. Hamlet emphasizes the importance of ditching the things you just “like” and seeking those that you love.

This advice applies to those times when you’re sifting through belongings you already own and when searching for new ones. Hamlet keeps it interesting by shopping vintage, rarely buying accessories or furniture pieces in pairs, not worrying about symmetry, and looking to ground rooms with objects of meaning from her travels.

Linen bedding by West Elm | Bed Quilt by @wendymorrisondesign | Bed by Anthropologie | Bolster by @littledesignco | Milo Baughman Chaise by @liberty.33rd, recovered by Hamlet | Lamp by @franceandson | Chandelier by Eastown Antiques | Vintage Tulip table by @aesthetikhs | Vintage French game table by @liberty.33rd | Vintage Candlesticks by @graceandpiece | Mirror by Anthropologie | Cane Chippendale chair from an estate sale | Art from a friend

Armoire by Anthropologie | Wallpaper by @houseofhackney | Vintage Rug by @homesteadseattle | Vintage floor throw by @hamletinteriors | Reindeer Hide by @canary_lane | Art Deco Lamp by @lostandfoundgr | Black marble lamp, vintage by Baker Furniture | Rattan mirror by Urban Outfitters | Moroccan table by @hamletinteriors | Velvet curtains made and sewn by Hamlet’s mother | Paint by @portolapaints’ Limewash Plaster of Paris

A grounding feature of Hamlet’s home is the constant use of both black and white. The former in small, but powerful, doses, and the latter in larger and equally impactful ways.

Hamlet explains her affinity for white walls by saying, “I love white, I always will. It’s clean, it allows art to speak for itself.” But at the same time, she’s not afraid of a little color (stay tuned for the second installment of her renovation!) and notes that you don’t want to rely on a dark wall color to create a mood in a space.

Another white statement-maker is the painted floors in the master bedroom, which were the result of a depleted budget (hello, beautiful backsplash), cement floors (thanks to a commercial contractor), and the DIY spirit. Hamlet and her husband painted the floors for under $200, which is a small price to pay for a seriously eye-catching short term fix. They’ll eventually match the other floors you see, which are European White Oak oiled wood floors.

Vintage bench from estate sale | Rattan light from Morocco  | Table and tuareg from Morocco, sourced by @hamletinteriors 

Keep reading for a few of Hamlet’s favorite things about her home.

Favorite room:

“My kitchen. It makes me all sorts of happy. My master bedroom is a close second. It just feels like home.”

Favorite item:

“The chaise in my bedroom. I happened upon a whole roll of vintage mohair for $80. A major score. I got the chaise from Liberty & 33rd and had it recovered in this glorious velvet.”

Favorite places to shop:

“My travels are number one for accessories. Most of what I own has been purchased from another country but I have a few spots I frequent that never disappoint. Liberty & 33rd is a favorite. Three of my favorite vintage pieces of furniture in my home are from there. I shop a local store called Lost and Found full of vintage treasures. For new, some of my favorites are Anthropologie, HKliving, and Croft House. I have had a few things on my wish list from Croft House this year.”