Liz Marie Galvan Lives in the All-White Farmhouse of Your Dreams

What they loved, it turns out, was white. And lots of it. “We both wanted a relaxed, cozy feel. White felt like the best way to achieve that,” she says. The process of bringing rooms back to the basics began by looking down. Specifically, laying new pine flooring throughout the home (the original boards were too damaged to salvage) and painting them a barely there shade of putty (Tapestry Beige by Benjamin Moore). “It’s a slightly more forgiving shade than full-on white, but it still opens up the rooms and bounces heaps of light,” she says. The couple also made the decision to rip out the home's low-slung ceilings, embracing exposed rafters and an airy, slightly industrial look. The original plaster walls had been covered with Sheetrock sometime over the last 100 years, so they clad downstairs walls with shiplap paneling crafted from affordable planks and then painted everything—yes, you guessed it—white (Pure White by Sherwin-Williams).

While the home is full of charming antiques, the robust collection of farmhouse furniture is probably the most obvious. The Galvans also co-own The Found Cottage, a boutique in nearby Hudsonville, and scooping up one-of-a-kind pieces is a serious job perk—or hazard, depending on how you look at it. “If there’s something I love, I’ll buy it. Where it will go and whether it will fit are total afterthoughts,” says Liz Marie. “Let’s just say, we have hired a lot of furniture movers throughout the years, and that has saved our marriage.”

Living With White Tip #2: SEALED PAINTED FLOORS
Minimize scuffs on painted floors by giving them a topcoat of Rust-Oleum Parks Pro Finisher in Crystal Clear Satin.

While the house is chock-full of special treasures, it's hardly treated like a museum. In the kitchen's adjacent seating area, newer upholstery mixes with statement pieces like the antique spinning wheel and large pine hutch. "We've worked hard to create rooms that are inviting," says Liz Marie. "We have a baby and dogs, and accidents happen all the time, so we have a lot of stuff that's easy to clean." And she adds that the all-white palette is actually a plus. "White is the most forgiving color because it's bleachable. Any stain is gone in no time when you can bleach it!"

Living With White Tip #5: SLIPCOVERS
White furniture—such as this Ikea “Stocksund” armchair and sofa covered in slipcovers by Bemz—is more doable with slipcovers that can be stripped and placed in the washer and dryer. (Strategically placed throws also help minimize wear and tear!)

The large white headboard from Pottery Barn adds architectural interest in the master bedroom. “The room is very square, so it helps add a visual focus right between the windows,” says Liz Marie.

Living With White Tip #6: PINSTRIPE BEDDING
Subtle stripes, like those in this coverlet by Pine Cone Hill, help hide stains in a dog-and-baby-friendly home. Liz Marie credits a cordless stick vacuum (Shark's ION F80) in the fight against dog hair.