Rejuvenated Ranch

Tom Marrinson and Allison Beach purchased their 1973 split-level ranch home In 2000 — more for the land than the house. “The house was strong, but we purchased it for the land. The property is beautiful,” Marrinson states. “It even has a waterfall onto it” They lived there for over 10 years before exploring important…

DIY: Basket-Shade Pendant Light

It’s no fun to fall in love with a product and then be disappointed after looking at the purchase price tag. Ashley Campbell, photographer and writer behind supporting the Sycamore, had this experience with a pair of adorable cage pendants at an upscale shop. Since she couldn’t justify the price tag, and the lights had…

Modern Icon: Serge Mouille Arm Lamps

Should you happen upon a rare first lamp made by Serge Mouille, guard it with your life — it might yield a six-figure payout from a collector. Mouille, a French artisan, carefully crafted all the first midcentury modern lamps himself and believed them to be works of art. In fact, actor Henry Fonda was taken…

Vintage Style With a Brand New Twist

When Heather and Stu Freeman started their hunt for a home in Springfield, Mo., they all knew was that they needed to have a home in a historic neighborhood. Following a long and protracted hunt, the few happened upon a charming mid-century cottage in a locality that was Springfield’s premiere golf program. While the bathrooms…

Country Style Gets an Urbane Update

Crisp white board and batten. Hooks marching peg by peg round the living area. Rustic, strong red cabinets. Sliding panels of wood on giant rails. These are some of the telltale markings that your home might be going country. Whether you’re a George Strait fan or a Taylor Swift wannabe, odds are that country style…

House Fun: Decorating with Miniatures

The term “miniature” conveys a sense of cuteness and also a lot of people (like me) have a fascination with scaled versions. Not to mention that a 3-D object is more interactive than just looking at pictures alone. Show your miniatures in multiples to reinforce your theme. Group similar items together. Think about the location…

Quick Fix: Erase Water Rings from Furniture

Regardless of how spiritual you are about coaster use on your house, you probably have at least one water ring plaguing a piece of furniture. I didn’t learn the significance of coasters until after school, and after that my lovely hand-me-down Drexel java table was tarnished with multiple rings out of bottles of beer and…

Guest Groups: Elephants On Parade

Anyone who follows my blog knows that I love elephants — my blog header even has two just two of them with parasols. Elephants include your home and eastern exoticism, Hollywood Regency glamour and chinoiserie whimsy. There are choices here for every budget and taste, including some wallet-friendly DIY ideas. — Beth from Chinoiserie Chic…