Happy Palace

A taste for the unexpected keeps this New England home feeling fresh, fun and fabulous.

- Staci Dumoski

Suzanne Doiron’s love for home décor started young.

“I remember being in grade 6, when I should have been in my room at my desk doing homework, instead I was designing my bedroom over and over, and even decorating my future first apartment. Getting the Sears, Spiegel and J.C. Penney catalogs was my most anticipated time of the year!”

Today, Suzanne lives with her husband and childhood sweetheart, Dan, in the 2200-square-foot home they built together in Leominster, Massachusetts, along with their 23-year-old son, Derek, and their dog, Oliver Valentino. The open floor plan is the perfect canvas for Suzanne’s decorating habit, and she loves to continually paint and rearrange to keep things feeling fresh and new. “I am constantly moving accessories from place to place, and my boys move furniture often. It makes this house ever changing. My husband leaves some mornings for work and returns to a house all rearranged!”

Over time the house has undergone numerous shifts in style. “My tastes have gone from modern and traditional to, now, shabby chic and French country, with a hint of farmhouse,” says Suzanne. But now, after years of changes and redecorating, Suzanne feels as if she’s finally achieved her “happy place.”

Decorator Tricks

Suzanne’s favorite part of decorating is fine-tuning the details and accessories. Little changes can make all the difference. “Just switching out plates from the glassdoor kitchen cabinets to adding bling to an otherwise dull lamp or pillow … it makes a difference and a small impact in your home. Placement is everything,” she advises.