Category: Eclectic Homes

Dayna McErlean’s seven-year remodeling project changed a debilitated Portland, Oregon, building to a lively multiuse project. Drawing on her childhood and inspired by her hands on, inventive family, McErlean made four lively spaces — the Yakuza Lounge (a food enthusiast’s Japanese bar), a upstairs living room, a stunning backyard and deck space, and a cabin for rent. Working with a carefully selected team of building consultants, McErlean also integrated a green roof and a water reclamation system. Now, almost a decade later, her converted home in town’s Alberta Arts District, is at the core of a thriving community.

at a Glance
Who lives here: Dayna McErlean and son Bishop
Location: Portland, Oregon
Size: 1,200-square-foot inside and 1,500-square-foot outside deck; two bedrooms, 1 bath
That’s intriguing: McErlean lives over a restaurant she owns, and lifts out a cabin at the gardens below.

Louise Lakier

The Yakuza Lounge occupies the whole first floor of the contemporary multiuse building. Upstairs is McErlean’s and Bishop’s house, which can be obtained by a metal side terrace. The building is located in Galvalum, along with the street scene is welcoming to pedestrians, with inviting boutique storefronts, trees, bike parking and potted plants.

McErlean worked with a team of consultants — such as an engineer, a contractor, an excavator and a sculptor — to make her dream house. Implementing them individually allowed her the freedom to provide her own suppliers and investigate alternate building strategies.

Metallic gate: made by David Hurley, fabricated by Rob Roy, Recychedelic

Louise Lakier

The kitchen island is set on wheels. The countertops are black granite, along with the kitchen cabinets are made of Plyboo which McErlean scored at a reduction as a result of minor defects. The corner post was salvaged in the first building, and the cupboard pulls are custom. The stove backsplash and surround are steel panels fabricated and set up by David Bertman. McErlean’s clay mug and teapot collection is set from the steel board.

Casters: John W. Negus

Louise Lakier

Louise Lakier: What or who inspires your own personality?
Dayna McErlean: My late mother and father and also the way they led their lives. I grew up at a huge 15,000-square-feet open house built by my father and brothers. I watched them build the nine-bedroom, nine-bathroom house from the age of 3 and remember running around on long, steep boards of wood until the stairs were built. My father built it so all his seven children can each have their own bed and toilet. My mother decorated the whole home herself and that I remember she used fabric as background.

A 30-foot bridge split the boys’ rooms in the girls’ rooms, along with my parents’ room situated at the head of the bridge like a toll house. My father moved to Staten Island from Brooklyn in the early ’60s when they building the bridge, therefore I always wondered if the Verrazano Narrows Bridge inspired the bridge in our property. It was just an amazing, magical place to grow up, and that I believe my parents would be pleased to see what I have created today.

Living furniture: Era Classic

Louise Lakier

The curved metal walls attract you in on top of the entry stairs. A coat closet is supporting the chalkboard-painted plywood panels. The cove lighting system at the back part of the house was conceived by Andee Hess of Osmose Design and installed by “Sandy” Alexander Mills along the ceiling truss joists to make a beautiful amber glow.

LL: What was your biggest splurge?
DM: The carpets. I have a passion of fibers and weaving, and also to me the carpets were a huge functional indulgence of art which would create comfort that surrounds both of us.

Louise Lakier

Works Architecture made the shelving and custom built desk in the living room, and Rob Roy of Recychedelic made and installed it. The lamp is out of Mexico and belonged to McErlean’s parents.

The furniture is also an eclectic mixture of contemporary pieces and family heirlooms from her childhood home in Staten Island. She recently splurged on reupholstering the couch.

LL: Inform me about the art onto the fireplace.
DM: The publish onto the fireplace is a lifetime drawing/collagraph publish that I created when I was studying at the Glasgow School of Art in Scotland in 1991. The printing plate is made of cardboard, coated with flooring tile glue and drawn into with a chopstick as it was drying. I covered it with matte medium to seal it up it, then handed it through the press.

Louise Lakier

LL: What is your decorating philosophy?
DM: Clean lines, soft tones and beautiful textures. Warm indirect lighting in addition to plenty of natural plants and light.

LL: Is there a story behind the bedspread you created for Bishop?
DM: My childhood friend Alex Bush had these duvet covers in her homemade by her “big grandma” in Hungary when we were growing up. The duvets had a big opening at the center to match the comforter in, and that I remembered them fondly. I looked around but couldn’t find them so I asked Sara at Whipstitch to custom make you. She made all my draperies.

Light fixtures: Frank Gehry, from Era Classic

Louise Lakier

In the master bath, a freestanding bathtub sits on a custom made base constructed from glulam beams and metal.

The shoji panels were a collaborative project. McErlean sourced the paper from neighborhood lamp manufacturer Lam Quang, along with the metalwork was custom made by Kenneth Wright of Rocketworks Design. The French doors open wide for indoor-outdoor dressing table.

LL: Do you have a favourite designer?
DM: I have two — R.M. Schindler and Shigeru Ban. I love Schindler’s inventiveness of lifestyle and space — his furniture, bed baskets, fireplaces, sliding panel doors which open up whole rooms to backyard living rooms. His tilt-up concrete construction and the simplicity of design, scale of chambers and notion of studio living where married couples live communally but have their own creative living area is brilliant!

I have a fantastic love for fibers and paper, therefore Ban’s work fascinates me. The vast openness and resourcefulness of the temporary housing he creates out of his paper tubs is amazing.

Louise Lakier

The flat lateral support ribs of the curved metal wall serve a double purpose as shelving. Containers, artwork and jewelry are saved and hang out of the wall on magnets.

LL: What can’t you live without?
DM: My bathtub. My favourite thing to do in the home is dance with Bishop and take bathrooms.

Louise Lakier

McErlean’s closet was what is now Bishop’s room. When Bishop was born, she built her closet to her bedroom. She lined the walls of the bedroom with built-ins, additional closet rods and shelving, and covered the walls with fairly damask fabric curtains. The chandeliers were salvaged from a nearby pub. “It feels like I’m sleeping in a boat’s berth,” she says.

LL: What would you call your own style?
DM: My style is “it-is-ness” — it’s the finessing of space. I get really inspired by what is there and how it can be improved. I’m affected by the project at hand, space and what resources I have to work with. It is what I make it.

I consider my house my sculpture, and I have pushed and pulled it into its current form and will keep doing so. So long as I own it, it will always be a work in progress.

Louise Lakier

The deck railing is custom made out of frosted glass panels closed out of shower doors.

Louise Lakier

The outside decks provide an additional 1,500 square feet of space. McErlean made outdoor play areas for Bishop by covering segments with turf grass.

Louise Lakier

Granite implanted in stainless steel containers provides privacy from the street. The containers are from Coastal Farm.

Louise Lakier

A synopsis of the cabin along with also the gardens from the top deck.

LL: Do you have any nicknames for the building/garden compound, like “The Bishop Building”?
DM: I always called it “The Lynch” through evolution. I’ve noticed that the staff calls it “The Kuz,” and it is sort of stuck.

Louise Lakier

Outdoor seating in the backyard on a bed of oyster shells. The slanted roof over is a green roof.

LL: What advice would you offer to other homeowners?
DM: Construct your dreams and don’t listen to the naysayers. People thought I was mad. They couldn’t see my vision until it was eventually implemented, and then they were inspired. But till then they said things like, “I don’t envy you” and “Why are you building this here on the 72 bus line the moment it goes on the California coastline?”

Louise Lakier

Ann Baker has been the the original landscape architect, also Anne Cullerton provides ongoing maintenance and layout.

LL: What do you want to do with your house next?
DM: Build cantilevered plant holders off the structural steel columns in the living room. David Bertman is designing them and they will stretch out, sort of like trees.

LL: What are you currently working on today?
DM: A small commissary kitchen for hire named Dash. It is about 12 blocks away on Northeast 42nd.

Louise Lakier

McErlean received two separate grants in the city of Portland to construct her green roof and water reclamation system. The rain reclamation tank resides beneath the bamboo forest at the conclusion of the entrance walkway and holds up to 2,500 gallons of water. Overflow runs into a giant trench drain along the bottom of the restaurant chairs, concealed with river stone. The toilets, hose bibs and sprinkler system all function with graywater.

Louise Lakier

The outside bathing area includes an outside shower, a spa and a chilly soaking bathtub. Both tubs are produced with embedded river stone which provides a pure foot massage and mixes well into the backyard.

Louise Lakier

The Kuza Garden Cabin blends beautifully into its surroundings with an ivy-covered exterior. Available for short distance remains, the cabin was initially a drop. The walls, roof, concrete flooring and carriage doors are first to the 1920s construction.

Louise Lakier

McErlean along with her son Bishop up onto a roof. What started as a remodeling project in 1999 has contributed to the community with its vibrant restaurants and restaurant, where McErlean hosts a myriad of events, like children’ happy hours and neighborhood dinners benefiting homeless youths at de:ear.

LL: What was your proudest homeowner second?
DM: The day that I brought my newborn son Bishop Valentine, home from the hospital and walked around our property. Talking to him and showing him around, I realized I’d built this house for both of us just like my father had done for me and all my siblings. It was a magical moment when I could see my dream had come true. I wish my parents could have been there to talk about it with me.

Can you reside in a multiuse building? Share it with us!

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When a few with three boys purchased this house, it was a typical Mediterranean-style Miami house, with closed-off rooms, windows covered panes and a lot of clutter (see “before” images here). “My customers wanted to open up the house,” says Karina Donadel, lead designer in DKOR Interiors. “The wife loves very minimal contemporary, while the husband needed to make sure it still had heat.”

Meeting the couple’s needs meant a gut renovation which involved tearing down walls, using transparent and translucent glass to raise the natural light and incorporating natural textures and finishes to add heat to whitewashed walls. At the exact same time, the designers and the customers had to create a house that could stand up to boys ages 2, 6 and 4 and grow with the family. Now, “people are shocked when they walk through the door and find out how contemporary the interiors are,” states Donadel.

in a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and three boys
Location: Aventura, Florida
Size: 4,500 square feet; 5 bedrooms, 5.5 baths
That’s intriguing: A dining table custom created to accommodate extended family was long, the house needed to be expanded.

DKOR Interiors Inc.- Interior Designers Miami, FL

This striking wall is actually not a slab of stone, but rather a massive picture covered in acrylic, made by artist Alex Turco. “You can order these in any dimension, and they are completely waterproof, so you can use them in the shower or as a backsplash as well,” explains Donadel.

The warm timber is a green product named Havana Strand by Plyboo, and it wraps up across the ceiling, offering a warm contrast to the ceramic flooring, which continue through the first floor.

DKOR Interiors Inc.- Interior Designers Miami, FL

The layout moved some chambers opened the floor plan. Beyond front foyer, the house opens into this living and dining space. It had been extended out the back beyond the column as part of the renovation, because the customers had a dining table that could seat 14 people.

“The customers entertain all the time,” states Donadel. “My client is like Martha Stewart; she always has a beautifully set table” Donadel differentiated the two spaces with a dramatic change in floor texture. The dining room floor is raised and has light underneath the stage.

Stone wall: Vena Grigio limestone; chandelier: Atlantis Suspension Light, Tarzani

DKOR Interiors Inc.- Interior Designers Miami, FL

The artwork draws the eye upwards and fits the space perfectly. “We had something bold that could resist the scale of this wall,” states Donadel. “Each panel of this triptych is 60 inches by 60 inches.”

Floors throughout the house are covered in Kerlite, which is a very thin porcelain. “This is a superb product which arrives in 48-inch by 48-inch by one-sixteenth-inch pieces. Although we didn’t do it here, it could be laid atop existing floors,” states Donadel. “It is very durable, easy to maintain and it’s a seamless appearance.”

Artwork: Blue Movement, commissioned through Art Design Resources; dining table: two foundations by Minotti with custom glass top

DKOR Interiors Inc.- Interior Designers Miami, FL

After the more open plan brought in a contemporary feel, Donadel had to add in the heat. “We cozied up the space with a careful balance of substances,” states Donadel. “Using very clean sharp lines keeps things from looking cluttered.” Case in point: To keep it clean lined as possible, the glass railing you visit upstairs has a support system concealed within the floor.

Here, a sharp line between a limestone wall and more Plyboo wood differentiates the two floors. The timber proceeds up the wall and across the ceiling. “The element of wrapping is a significant one we carried through the house, to give things continuity,” explains Donadel.

DKOR Interiors Inc.- Interior Designers Miami, FL

The previous photo shows the translucent doors which mark the entry for this workplace. Donadel added them to provide privacy yet still let in light from the living space. She also designed custom cabinetry to make sure that the room worked for everybody, as the whole family uses this room for work, crafts and crafts.

Pops of yellowish within the shelves and cubbies add a few bright color to the space. Dashes of colour like this can also be used in many of the other rooms.

This staircase was closed off and included a closet they didn’t need, therefore it had been gutted and opened up. The wall was reinforced to encourage the floating risers. A glass railing and also the open risers continue the open topic, and the circular stone sculptures create a strong contrast to each of the right lines.

Stairs: Bella Stairs; sculptures: Michael Dawkins Home

DKOR Interiors Inc.- Interior Designers Miami, FL

This former bedroom now acts as a comfortable family gathering spot. The whole wall on your left has been covered by a custom built-in storage system which holds movies, games and press equipment. Additionally, it has a full size bar such as storage for wine and wineglasses and a refrigerator.

“It had been very important for my client to have a place for all, thus we planned out the storage quite carefully,” states Donadel. Like the workplace, pops of chartreuse split the long storage wall.

Sofa: Arravanti; java table: Pool Coffee Table

DKOR Interiors Inc.- Interior Designers Miami, FL

The kitchen used to end at which the first group of cabinets finishes, and the breakfast room had a big wall unit blocking the windows. A pop of green is provided by the Panton chairs and plays off the vibrant foliage seen in the backyard. “We designed the house to bring in as much of the outdoors as possible, from expanding windows and bringing in plants,” explains Donadel.

The cabinets continue the subject of blending natural textures, in such a case glass and walnut, and the backsplash is white back-painted glass. “The pendant lamps would be the very first thing that my client and I picked out on our first shopping trip together,” states Donadel. “We didn’t know where we were going to utilize them, but we knew we needed to have them”

Kitchen created by Mia Cucina; Bertoia counter stools: Knoll; Saarinen kitchen table: Knoll; Panton kitchen chairs: Vitra

DKOR Interiors Inc.- Interior Designers Miami, FL

Donadel took this downstairs bath and turned it to a cabana toilet by replacing an existing window with a door that contributes to the lawn. “This space is transitional between the landscape and the house, so that I used ceramic tile which resembles wood, pool towels and those interesting ferns,” she states.

DKOR Interiors Inc.- Interior Designers Miami, FL

The extension in the dining area below supposed the master bedrooms gained a certain length. “We had to break up the long walls and include a softness, thus we made three sections down the side that the bed is on,” Donadel states. The wall composition alternates between wood veneer and fabric-upholstered panels.

The storage system on the opposite wall mirrors the three sections as well and contains a desk, a press centre, dresser storage and even a refrigerator.

DKOR Interiors Inc.- Interior Designers Miami, FL

This bath continues a wrapping theme, with the Vena Grigio stone stretching round the floor, around the tub, up the wall and to the shower stall (look carefully; this image was taken from within the shower stall, which can be covered in a pebbled tile).

The stone contrasts using a ceramic backsplash behind the vanity. “The backsplash is a ceramic matrix which has a slight shimmer that adds only a little glitz,” states Donadel. This can be representative of this subtle glamour that’s woven through the house.

In accordance with being a place for all, the habit vanities have built in hampers. Even some of the light is built in. “We chose a mirror with integrated illumination for a very clean appearance. We didn’t wish to mess up the wall with separate sconces,” she states.

DKOR Interiors Inc.- Interior Designers Miami, FL

This bedroom has been shared by the two youngest boys, and making it interesting was the most important matter to Donadel. While function was brought in by lining desks and beds together opposite walls, fun was brought in through brightly patterned and coloured MDF panels, that continue the wrapping element seen throughout your house.

She also included an area rug made up of Flor tiles, which can be replaced in case of any harm.

DKOR Interiors Inc.- Interior Designers Miami, FL

“We wanted to keep this tub minimal and clean, but not institutional,” explains Donadel. A exceptional wall made up of white stones embedded in grey resin adds natural texture, interest and gloss.

Natural light streams in thanks to its crystal clear glass shower enclosure. “We extended the glass to the ceiling so it didn’t create an extraneous line,” she states.

Tile: Riverstone, Artistic Tile

DKOR Interiors Inc.- Interior Designers Miami, FL

The boy’s area is cool, futuristic and fun. It gets plenty of bright blue colour from painted Inhabit textured wall flats, an FL/Y pendant lamp and an Eero Arnio Ball Chair. The wrapping motif is continued from the floor up the wall and round a part of the ceiling. The occupant’s favorite thing? The glowing green headphones.

“My customers were very fearful, but their entire trust let’s accomplish this job together,” states Donadel. Their leaps of faith resulted in a unique and gorgeous house that works for their loved ones. Donadel is currently working on altering the lawn. We look forward to watching it when it is done.

More:
The House That Launched Naked Decor
New Spanish Style in San Sebastián

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Whether you’re an owner or a renter, odds are you have a complicated relationship with your property. Just like with any relationship, there are ups and downs, good times and bad, things you love and things you despise. But despite it all, you stick with it — hopefully because you enjoy it.

And also as with any relationship, appreciate for a home progresses as time goes on. But there’s always that honeymoon stage, when you’re totally infatuated. We asked what one thing left you fall in love with your home — what tipped you over the edge and left you decide it was the place for you.

Here are 50 ers’ home love stories, just in time for Valentine’s Day.

A cozy and warm fireplace brought many ers in.

1. Even though Jodi and Jay Hulbert quickly fell in love with all the riverfront setting of their 1925 home in Alder Creek, Oregon, the original 22-foot-tall fireplace place their own hearts ablaze.

Cozy Home Interiors

2. Allison Maroules of Richardson, Texas, enjoys all her home’s quirky details, however, the fireplace remains her favorite. “Just how many houses do you see a curved fireplace?” she asks.

This er’s outdoor fireplace is the thing that makes it feel just like home. “I adore how soothing my home is,” she states. “Sitting in my backyard is far better than being on holiday!”

For other users, a grand staircase took their breath away.

4. Carl Mattison of Atlanta lived inside this early-20th-century home for six years. “We fell in love with this home on account of the staircase,” he states. “It was originally constructed in 1905, and we love it every day.”

5. consumer Meghan’s home has a contemporary sensibility, and also this steel-lined staircase won her over. “The very first time I watched these stairs, I was sold,” she states.

A single crushworthy feature made some users swoon as soon as they stepped inside.

6. The indoor-outdoor relationship of Paul and Melinda Zanecki’s home in Stevensville, Maryland, tugged in this couple’s heartstrings: Transom windows showcase the view of the Chesapeake Bay on the second and first floors. “Regardless of what the weather or time of day, these windows bring the outside in, shield us from the elements and constantly remind us how blessed we should be living there,” the couple says.

ally

7. Space and ceilings made all the difference for Ally. “We fell in love with all the open — but not too open — space and our 10-foot-high ceilings,” she states.

8. This large, contemporary kitchen island set the tone for homeowner Paul Fleming. “It’s where I serve my boys breakfast across the counter and chat about the upcoming day,” he states.

9. “For me personally, it was the Art Deco tile in the bathroom, each the original 1938 charm — such as the arches replicated in each room — along with the huge blank-slate garden,” states consumer Heather about her pre-war ranch in Portland, Oregon.

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10. These vulnerable sloping rafters charmed staffer Ofir Zwebner of Mountain View, California. They produce an overall mood of casual elegance.

Overall ambience instead of a single trait created sparks for all these homeowners.

11. Casey Martinez of Queens, New York, discovered her heart fluttering within her home’s individuality. “I knew this was the one since I drew the floor plan so that I could remember it,” she states. “Some of my favourite items are the perspectives of different houses, old details and the staircase that connects it all. My home reminds me of the home in The Royal Tenenbaums, among my favourite movies.”

12. staffer Annie Thornton was smitten with her San Francisco home’s distinctive personality and architectural charm. “While living in an old place does have its issues, I love the architectural aspects of a Victorian home — and the ceilings also,” she states.

Adoration was not immediate for a few users, but their affection deepened over time.

13. “We didn’t fall in love at first website, but within the past year we have grown in love,” states Ange Hemmer of Troy, Missouri. “The home is similar to our family: crunchy on the outside and eclectic and bursting with colour on the interior.”

14. Brandy Alvaraz was almost overwhelmed with the amazing combination of materials in her home in Plano, Texas, a convergence of wood, ceramic, brick and glass. But she left it work. “The ceilings didn’t hurt,” she states. But that”very first effect of myriad materials and possibilities never entirely left us,” she adds.

15. Emily Jacob of Morton, Illinois, was intimidated by purchasing an older home initially, but she was able to transform it into a cozy haven. “I was able to look beyond the old, dated rooms and imagine what I could do,” she states.

For most users, falling in love was all about the lighting.

16. Becca Bertotti of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, noticed her residence’s brilliant light right away. “The moment I walked in to our home,” she recalls,”I fell in love with the tall ceilings and also the light that pours in during the afternoon — particularly into our dining area.”

Sara Bates

17. The dimensions of the fantastic room in her Pittsburgh home and its normal light won Sara Miller over. “When we found this place with all the large living room, we were marketed,” she states. “And of course all those windows and the built in bookshelves.”

18. The flowing light of the Pasadena, California, home and its backyard view collection Courtney Norris’s and Anthony Chiodo’s hearts aglow. “I will never forget the day that I walked into this home,” Norris says. “Here is the very first home I found, and I was mesmerized by the windows and view of the backyard.”

The prior owner’s daughter shared the superb history of their home with the few, including all the special touches her parents had given it. “We just knew there was a lot of pride and love to the home, and that we wanted to live there,” Norris says.

19. When Marie-France Cyr and her husband, Sandy Greene, first saw their Philadelphia home, it was not the sleek and fashionable place it’s today. But the light along with the open layout helped them see its potential. “It was worth living in for four weeks of renovation,” Cyr says.

Frugal Design – Lenora T. Brandoli, Allied ASID

20. Soft lighting filtered through tree branches creates a relaxing setting in Lenora Brandoli’s Wilbraham, Massachusetts, home. “The light gives you such a feeling of tranquility,” Brandoli states. “Everything about the home makes me feel good.”

21. It’s simple to find the wintertime blues, but the big window in Steve and Gail Castle’s living area makes all of the difference during dreary and dark Illinois chilly days. “For us, it was the window along with the abundant light it brings to us during the darkest period of the year,” Steve says.

22. The light in Lori Facey’s Newport Beach, California, home helped her envision her fantasy kitchen. Bright sunshine pours through the windows year-round, developing a radiant gathering place for her whole family.

Still other users found themselves falling to their houses’ beautiful environment and perspectives until they fell in love with their actual houses.

23. “For us, it was the atmosphere,” says CJ Sebert of Rochester Hills, Michigan. “The forests have a natural spring, and spring water goes through the garden in a little brook.”

24. “We fell in love with our home as a result of this view,” states Linda Rosario of Memphis, Tennessee. “The home might be falling apart around us, however, the view makes us neglect!”

25. Christal Calderon of Oakland, California, enjoys her little downtown loft’s magnificent view of downtown Oakland. The high ceilings and windows concentrate the whole apartment toward the vista.

Calderon’s city view shines just as brightly at nighttime.

Inspire Your Life Style

26. Indra Fortney has a gorgeous home in Napa, California, but it didn’t start out that way. “The house was old, and the floor plan was dreadful,” she states. “But we can see the Napa mountains, and that’s all that mattered.”

Inspire Your Life Style

A glance out the window reveals Fortney’s magnificent view, all of the way into the mountains liner California’s wine country.

27. Gina Kaylor of Beaverton, Oregon, has been won over by the magnificent view of lush Douglas fir trees from her backyard.

28. Carol Campbell’s back-porch vista in Townsend, Tennessee, takes from the Smoky Mountain National Park and”states it all,” she states. “We simply added a new deck and screened porch so we can enjoy the superb fresh air.”

Some ers were swept off their feet before they even set foot inside.

29. “I love the nature that surrounds us,” says Kristina Jones of Ohio. “Even though we live in a city, we have a wooded property with a country view.”

Woven Decor

30. “The log siding and rock outside were what I fell in love with,” says Becky Pickrel of her Moorcroft, Wyoming, ranch home. “The home was constructed in the’30s, and the logs were cut from the property and the bottom of the mountains. The land is quite rocky, and all the rock was culled up from the ranch.”

31. Irene Henry discovered this home online and knew she had to watch it in person. Built in 1969, the Eagle, Michigan, home sits along a ridge and a riverbank that can’t be observed from the road. “The architect nestled the home so thoroughly to the landscape, it is much like living outside,” Henry says.

32. Michael Green and his sister Karen Raczka dropped for the charming exterior of the Cincinatti home and its fairy-tale atmosphere in the Ohio snow.

Summerhouse Style

33. “I’ve always been drawn to tiny little houses,” says Kathleen Murray of Ocean Gate, New Jersey. “Maybe because they remind me of cottages in storybooks or dollhouses. When I saw this adorable little beach house, I knew my search was over. It’s a work in progress and nothing that grand, but it is mine and I love it.”

34. “I’d looked for more than a year, and the moment I saw the home I was in love,” says Betty Millard Stout of Bremerton, Washington. “It talked to me and fit my sense of what a home should be. It reminds me of storybook cottages from my youth and had a particular mythology about it. How can I not fall in love?”

35. The two-story porches did the trick to Camilla Shimonek of New Brighton, Minnesota. “Sitting on the front porch, protected from the elements, enjoying my morning coffee or watching the snow fall softly in winter — I love it,” she states.

Although interior and exterior appeal is vital, history is what got some houses a spot in ers’ hearts.

36. Ann Castro of San Mateo, California, immediately appreciated her home’s history. The prior owner of her 1922 bungalow lived there for 67 years, was an avid gardener and had kept almost all the original information. “I’ve altered the gardens rather a bit, but the interior remains the same, in all its quirky charms,” says Castro. “I love everything original, and I’d never dream of replacing the windows in the home.”

Previous owner Amy Halfpenny presents in front of the bungalow with an armful in the garden in 1926. “It’s an easy, comfy home for me and my son,” says Castro.

37. Marilyn Shannon’s Forth Worth, Texas, home has all of the quirks and imperfections you’d expect in a 1927 abode, however, that’s why she adores it. The gorgeous live oaks that shade the home caught her attention, however, the architectural details — barrel ceiling, original glass, and worn hardwood flooring — sealed the deal.

38. The historic charm of Suzane Beaubrun’s Oakland, California, home made her go weak in the knees. “I was initially intrigued by the brick outside, which is fairly unusual in this area,” states Beaubrun. “Subsequently, whoa, tilepalooza! We had our very first seeing with flashlight, and that I felt like I was on a treasure hunt.”

39. “We adored the age and conventional look of the home,” says Rhonda Day of Suffolk, Virginia. “We just purchased it last summer, and the funny thing is that for many years my husband had rescued a floor plan of his dream home on his computer — it seems just like this one!”

40. Patricia Lotuff’s home was constructed in 1818 as a summer home in Princeton, Massachusetts. The builder was a cousin of John Quincy Adams, who spent several nights here, and every bit of the home is filled with history. “We are the fifth family here,” Lotuff states. “When we moved in, we had to do some significant renovations. But none of it has altered the look of the home, just preserved it.”

Some users are about the outside, so having a gorgeous spot to savor it was crucial.

41. Karen Heffernan could instantly envision the perfect outdoor living area in her California home. By refacing, adding new tile and installing an outdoor kitchen, she made a superb place for her loved ones to enjoy sunlight. “I’m still in mourning over moving out from that home,” says Heffernan. “That outdoor living area was my happy place.”

42. Betsy Hall’s porch is now her family’s favorite spot to unwind all year long. “I love our home because it is where we create our memories,” she states. “From our outdoor living area to our busy family room, it’s never been just a home.”

43. “We love the view — it is a fantasy to reside here on the water,” states a consumer in the Florida Keys. “We purchased this house when we were living abroad. My husband only saw it through pictures and a movie before we purchased it, but my voice uttered my love for the home — a love he shared after he watched it for the very first time also.”

44. The view brought Cindy and David Strobel for the location on Cedar Lake in Texas, and they decided to construct a home on the water in order that they could enjoy it year-round. “The views from our most decks are still an envy to our guests and friends,” says Cindy. “We do not really have a favourite spot — I enjoy it all!”

45. ‘s editor, Sheila Schmitz, couldn’t help but fall in love with her lush garden in San Jose, California — the ideal spot to make a garden. “My home was nothing particular, but I was sold when I found the backyard. My cat was too,” she states.

46. Karen Devlin’s Bend, Oregon, home is place smack dab in the center of Central Oregon’s high desert. Its 102 acres provide her two dogs lots of room to run. “The peace and quiet and endless elegance of our environment make this our dream home,” Devlin says. “We feel as if we have discovered paradise!”

47. “What we love about the home is the garden. It’s huge, and the children get so much joy from it,” says Candy Sethi of British Columbia. “There’s nothing more heartwarming than seeing your children playing and enjoying the outdoor space following a family dinner on the deck.”

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Rugs are like pieces of artwork and well made coats: pricey and full of impact. Thus, a rug must be chosen sensibly and thoughtfully. But oh my, fantastic rugs can be so hard to find! I hope I’ve saved you hours of legwork by collecting the best rugs online for modern, fresh spaces. Your hardwood floors will thank you. — Stephanie from Stephmodo

RugSale

Surya Frontier Rug – $63

I think this rug is the perfect shade of red because it is not quite red. The subtle coral undertones really warm it up, make it easier on the eyes and also make it a versatile accessory. Rich, vibrant, compact color like this does not come about every day — surely not in a rug. It is definitely a favorite.

Macy’s

Martha Stewart Rugs, MSR3612C Silver – $462

When I thought Martha’s lineup at Macy’s could not get any better, this patchwork of feathers, which is unlike anything I’ve seen before, came out. It’s the epitome of sophistication and exudes calmness and tranquility. Interestingly , the other rugs in the group aren’t particularly notable, but this one is very unique in my book.

Home Decorators Collection

Taza Area Rug – $149

This is a fantastic yellow-hued rug. Goodness, this one is stunning!

DwellStudio

Draper Stripe Rug, Persimmon/Cream – $450

Designing a bedroom for a tween boy has become the toughest job for any designer, mom, creative, artist, etc.. I can’t help but feel this rug would be perfect on numerous levels. It is a real keeper and amazingly well priced for a designer rug.

Home Decorators Collection

Martha Stewart Living Fretwork Area Rug – $99

I adore the way Martha took a conventional pattern and altered it to be new and modern — well done! This is a beautiful piece for a home with pretty antique white furniture. Insert some wainscoting, a bronze chandelier and a couple of large windows, and you have what many would call the perfect room.

Urban Outfitters

Zigzag Rug – $44

Imagine a room with white walls, warm woods and this gentle gray rug. Add in a couple of mid-century modern bits, and you have yourself a new look for just pennies. The purchase price tag is ridiculous — in a great way.

PBteen

Vintage Wool Border Rug – $129

Sometimes you simply need a classic border rug, such as this one, provided in a slew of colors.

Domestic Modern

Tibetan Rug with Circles – $497

If you really feel like spending a little money and see that a real”bit” — the sort you can pass down to your children — then you might choose to provide this brightly colored rug a look-see. It is handwoven luxurious from Tibet at its finest.

Design Public

Citrine + Cream Rug – $250

If this ideabook needed a top three segment, I’d put this rug at number two. It is just that fantastic in every way. Plus, who would tire of a shade known as”citrine”?

West Elm

Iznik Dhurrie – $49

This warm, tilework pattern rug will immediately upgrade all your IKEA furniture in a moment’s notice; it is that eye-catching. I’ve never seen a rug in such a pretty, tangerine-orange color — a real one-of-a-kind piece!

Rugs Direct

Gray and Ivory Striped Rug – $78.75

Forget the Winnie the Pooh theme for your infant’s nursery and add this sophisticated rug instead. Then, when your baby is old, you are able to change out the furniture and bedding and also continue to enjoy this versatile, timeless classic for many years to come.

Rug Studio

Flatweave Dhurrie Flock Rug – $489

When olive green were an appropriate color in a living area, this rug are the one thing you’d want to own. It is a delightful color to pair with teak mid-century pieces in addition to dark chocolate-brown woods.

Dash & Albert Rug Company

Hooked Plain Tin Slate Wool Micro Contemporary Rug – $60

If you enjoy complicated and subtle neutrals, meet your match! This stunning rug is the ideal transitional piece if you really feel like your design is partially traditional and partially modern. I would also like to add the blue is the loveliest, most calming shade of blue I’ve seen in a rug.

Overstock.com

Chevron Vibe Rug – $159.99

I love the brown version of the popular motif and, very frankly, prefer the almost-chevron to the authentic chevron. This is a wonderful modern rug which will immediately bring style to a very simple space needing a little sterile. Allowed you’ll tire of it after a couple of years, but for under $200 it won’t be the end of the world.

Contemporary Rugs

This rug has a modern play on the classic checkerboard pattern with a fantastic vibe.

Overstock.com

Hand-hooked Alexa Mod Trellis Rug (5′ x 8′) – $172.99

With an easy-on-the-wallet price label and always positive reviews, it is hard not to give this leading bit some atttention. It is a busy pattern, yes, but it would be perfect in a more compact area.

Amazon

Soho Turquoise / Yellow Contemporary Rug – $190.79

The soft neutrals within this rug could add just the right amount of calming color to an area that’s both modern and traditional at the same time.

purehome

Surya Jill Rosenwald Fallon Yellow Rectangle Area Rug – $94

If you reside in a spot that’s overcast, this can be a delightful, cheery rug you’ll be delighted to find daily. Speaking from personal experience, I will guarantee you won’t tire of the beautiful layout.

Overstock.com

Slate Gray Moroccan Rug – $371.99

This one is maybe the best price from the ideabook: a beautiful, gentle, hand-tufted rug for under $400. Whether on your living room or a bedroom, it is a picture neutral which can add visual interest to an otherwise bland space.

Home Decorators Collection

Espana Area Rug, Orange – $39

This is just another fabulous, citrus-inspired tilework rug — who understood that after much research one could find so many lovelies? This one packs a lot of punch!

Next: Rugs galore in our Product section

Area Rug Rules and How to Break Them

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I was raised on the Niagara escarpment in Ontario, Canada and was immediately smitten with all the mid-century modern ranch-style houses that I observed in the south end of St. Catharines as a kid. Most of them were painted baby blue and ivory and backed onto a ravine. I saw these as”happy” houses and loved the liberal use of glass, slate stone in exteriors and interiors and also the extreme slant to some of the roofs. One of these done up with a clever American or Australian interior could cause me to feel that all could be right in the world. This has to be why David Hockney’s masterpiece”A Bigger Splash” resonates so deeply with me. The mid-century modern aesthetic is fun, comfortable and eternally stylish — that desires more than that?

Here are 20 of my favorite furniture and decor finds that will add enviable style and color — I am partial to turquoises and filthy blues — into any room. I think everyone should have a least one bit from the age. Not that you would be able to stop at one! — Denise from The Swelle Life

Chelsea Textiles

Chest of Four Drawers in 2 Tone

It’s amazing what a few simple curves in an unexpected location can perform to get a look. A chest of drawers is a somewhat small bit of furniture, however, this particular set is one that would make me rethink everything else in the room — anything overly fussy would have to go!

scandinavian.modern

Illum Wikkelsø #110 Søren Willadsen Teak Easy Chair

Pale blue is the greatest calming color, so I love that this sleek and curvy Danish arm seat is extended in such a relaxing shade of soft Danish wool. The seat envelopes the body with its wingback layout for relaxation relaxation, so you get the best of both worlds. I’d love to see its softness performed in an area of light colors and touchable textures.

Lushpad

Pearl Blue Mid-Century Modern Art Mobiles – $120

I love the look of a cellphone in a room: it is a daring surprise that never goes undetected. This beautifulblue, stainless steel cable and plastic layout is the perfect solution for a missing ceiling lighting fixture. It would be stunning hovering over lots of white gloss, leather upholstery and a low coffee table above a shag area rug.

Skandium

Unikko (560) Fabric by Marimekko – GBP 35

This iconic Unikko floral patterned cloth is pure pleasure. It’s a heavyweight cotton that I’d really like to see upholstering a Danish armchair — both the teak arms and legs would anchor the vivid florals.

The Modern Warehouse

Wim Reitveld Metal Cabinet – GBP 895

I could not concentrate on anything else in the room — this Dutch double cabinet would hog all my attention with its big color-block doors in sage green and lemon yellow. Metal furniture is not usually enjoyable, but Wim Reitveld has made it happen. I’d soften it up a little with some potted flowers and unique animal-shaped pieces.

Skandium

Mari Bowl – GBP 19

Lilac is this unusual color in decoration, and a nice unexpected bit of it could immediately brighten a room. The Maribowl is a glassware bit I would use in multiples as decoration, so moving them frequently to get a pop of color — from the console in the hallway, into the dining room sideboard, to the living room bookshelf and side tables.

Circa50

George Nelson Marshmallow Sofa – $3,299

Exactly what a showpiece! This George Nelson couch is more like a sculpture and a fantastic remedy for those who have a inclination to fall asleep on the couch.

The cushions are removable for cleaning and are available in a wide array of vinyl and leather colours such as lemon peel, light teal, hot pink and seafoam. Employing a multi-color approach offers unlimited options and generates the expression of a paint-by-numbers paint set. This is a bit to build a room around.

molly-meg

Ercol c1960 Classic Children’s Stacking Chair – GBP 68

The c1960 Ercol stacking chair is a design classic. This one is joyfully painted in the quintessential mid-century modern color of aquamarine.

It’s a children’s seat, but it would also look fantastic as a brace for vintage watering cans or artists’ supplies.

Retro Bazaar

Retro 1950s Blue & White Cat Vase – GBP 40

How do you smile when a 1950s blue and white cat vase greets you upon entering an area? Utilize its kitschy cuteness to liven up minimalist decoration, and if you dare, then put flowers into its head. I enjoy it the way it is, with its unusually shaped head resembling the sleek curves of Danish design.

String of Serving Plates by Midwinter – GBP 30

I love a gorgeous pale turquoise; it is so quintessentially retro nonetheless always feels fresh.

These ridged serving plates could look fantastic on a walnut or glossy white sideboard. For a bolder look, I’d really like to find the turquoise of these unusual plates pop from the glistening red of a sideboard or 1950s diner-style kitchen table, like the one I have.

1stdibs

French Round Orange Resin Mirror by Syl

This is a cheery mirror, the kind you think about because you can’t pass it without recognizing it. Round, shiny resin in bright orange is very good for offsetting a room with lots of hard lines.

Salvage One

Chromcraft Vinyl Dry Bar – $550

There is nothing perfectly retro as a pub. I love the notion of the curvy burst of turquoise light a dark cellar, whether it’s used for the intended function or not. I would build up the color by surrounding it with translucent pinks, lavenders and yellows in things like lucite panels, seats and side tables.

Mark Parrish

Catherine Holm Cooking Pot – GBP 34.50

What’s not to love about a Norwegian-designed, orange patterned cooking pot? This one by Catherine Holm should not be relegated into dark cabinets but retained on a job top for all to admire. I’d cook a nostalgic meal for my buddies and serve it directly from the pot to get a homey, retro dining experience.

Retro Redheads

Rare Vintage Tammis Keefe Modern Pink & Green Tablecloth – $175

A quick and effortless method to earn your dining table mid-century modern is to locate a fantastic tablecloth from the age.

This infrequent Tammis Keefe tablecloth is pure retro pleasure and begs for sorbet-colored configurations and kitschy knickknacks like ceramic or resin napkin holders.

The Modern Warehouse

Two Seat Organic Danish Sofa – GBP 1,195

There is something very reassuring about a piece of furniture that is homey and modern all at one time. This Danish couch in the design of Finn Juhl can fit right into a variety of decor styles. Add just a little softness into a minimal modern ensemble or temper the ornate carved detailing of French bits. The slate blue-green of this patterned upholstery is especially versatile — it’ll go with anything.

Sarah Potter

Rosewood Dining Chairs with Blue Upholstered Chairs – GBP 495

All these 1960s Danish rosewood dining seats feel more like the kind you would see in an auditorium than a dining room, but that is part of the appeal. They appear simple in their structure from directly, but a profile view shows the mid-century surprise detail — the upper construction is bent so the seat back sits at a slight outward angle. It’s a wooden seat designed for comfort!

Midcentury Mosaic Tile – $19.95

Nothing invigorates a space like great tiles. These small glass tiles in shades of blue, beige and army green will add retro flair to any design space. The attractiveness of mid-century modern is how readily it blends with other styles to create spaces that are individualized. When I grow tired of my kitchen, I will see these as the backsplash behind my gas stove.

Etsy

MIDCENTURY 17 9×6 by Jim Ward Morris – $25

If you can’t have a mid-century modern residence, you can at least have the art of one! Jim Ward Morris’ original artwork prints are a visual treat for fans of the colours and daring design of the age. I’d really like to use this print to create a mid-century modern hallway. It would hang on light turquoise walls with a Danish teak console table below and a pendant ceiling light over — that is all it would take.

scandinavian.modern

Nanna Ditzel #83 Søren Willadsen Teak Easy Chair

This is what I call a happy seat! The curved shape (standard of Nanna Ditzel design) combined with all the original Kvadrat Tonus wool cloth in vibrant cobalt is pure pleasure and needs to be a focal point within the room. Just like most mid-century modern bits it has a surprise detail: the back legs are angled outward in two different directions adding stability while at the same time making it stand out from more traditional pieces.

I’d really like to see it in front of tall living room windows draped in celadon linen with dawn beams of sunlight illuminating the red tints of the teak.

Different Krenit Bowls/Plates – GBP 75

A fantastic bowl, like these original enameled Krenit bits (made by Herbert Krenschel), is a must-have accent in the kitchen and dining room sideboard. The boldness of this deep, slightly triangular form and contrasting glistening interiors creates a bit that looks best left unfilled. I would arrange several in varying sizes and colours for maximum affect.

Next: 5 Inspiring Mid-Century Modern Homes

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High tea is one of my favourite indulgences, and hosting you in the home is in my (very) long term aims. Since high tea is about ritual, decadent treats and, of course, the ideal tea, a gorgeous setting is a must. Here are my selections for creating a table worthy of this tea tradition.

— Ally of FROM THE RIGHT BANK

Switch Modern

The New English Benday Gold Espresso Cup and Saucer – $115

This gold-dotted espresso cup and saucer are totally modern in design but produced in a conventional batch manufacturing process in England.

OwenLawrence

Treasure Gold Espresso Cup and Saucer – $190

This sleek white cup and saucer rimmed in gold is a work of art.

Bernardaud Prince Bleu Tea & Coffee Service – $45

Gorgeous blue floral pattern in real cobalt and accented with 24k gold. Befitting of tea, don’t you think?

Sears

Bodum Tastea Tea Set in White – $19.95

There is a wonderful zen quality about the simplicity of this tea set from Bodum.

americantearoom.com

Komon-Sakura Japanese Tetsubin Iron Teapot – $175

Tea just has to taste better poured from this gorgeous teapot. The cherry blossom pattern and the deep blue color are gorgeous.

americantearoom.com

Solid Patterned Moroccan Glass Tea Cups – $10

Establish an exotic mood with these stone tone glasses with pretty silver leaf arabesque patterns.

Anthropologie

Crossroads Tablecloth – $98

A natural cotton tablecloth is trimmed with a perfect grey stripe. It is a fantastic foundation for a gorgeous tabletop.

shopgramercy.com

Matouk Bel Tempo Tablecloth – $529

The best pure lace with three embroidered lines in blue. It will not get more classic or more lavish than that.

European Tableware

Spode Blue Italian Pastry Forks, Boxed Set of 6 – $18.99

These petite pastry forks decorated with landscapes of Italy would be the perfect way to serve dinner. The porcelain handles are in timeless Spode blue.

Switch Modern

Caccia Dessert Fork – $102

I am in love with the simple layout and shape of these dessert forks. Paired with a pretty plate, it would make a very elegant dessert presentation.

Bloomingdale’s

Diane von Furstenberg “Animal Garden” Dessert Plate, Set of 4 – $70

Give any tabletop instant design with these animal print plates in bold colours.

GEARYS

L’Objet Perlee White Ramekin – $36

These porcelain ramekins are an elegant way to serve crème brûlée or any other dessert.

Organize

Mint Julep Cups – $89.49

You can place anything in a mint julep cup and it is going to look pretty. They are my go-to vessels for flowers.

Macy’s

Martha Stewart Collection Cake Stand, Pierced – $50

Pretty cakes will look even prettier with this cake rack with a frilly border.

Bed Bath & Beyond

Terra Pastry Stands, Set of 3 – $59.99

It is always best to have different heights on a buffet. This set of three stands is perfect for small sandwiches and cakes.

Julia B.

Set of 8 Biarritz Cocktail Napkins – $125

The vibrant hand-embroidered loops are too adorable. And they’re 100 percent linen, which means they feel as good as they seem.

Anthropologie

Alistair Napkin, Flora – $8

A pretty napkin like this can produce a tabletop. I would love to see these paired with plain white dishes.

Design Public

Flowie Lawn Napkins Set of two – Royal Purple and White – $38

This layout is subtle but the purple shade gives it pop. It is screen-printed by stitched and hand in California.

Fretwork Tray Table – $348

This is the perfect bar table. It is constructed of timber, the mirrored tray is removable, the legs fold for simple storage and, most importantly, the openwork design is very elegant.

americantearoom.com

Orange Tea Canister – $25

Made of handmade traditional newspaper and shibori-dyed fabric, this tea canister will seem pretty while keeping your teas fresh.

Next: More finds for a fabulous high tea

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