Elegant Updates for a Dallas House

Ross and Megan Brown’s World War II-era home in South Dallas owned great bones along with a graceful vibe, but the 1950s-style kitchen and bathrooms have been in need of some style adore. “It was not the cool retro ’50s; it had been an ugly, outdated ’50s,” says Megan, who had been drawn to the old home for its own quirks and personality. With the support of custom home builder Andria Lai, the Browns renovated the kitchen and two bathrooms in six weeks, filling out the rest of their home with family hand-me-downs and DIY projects using a few of the home’s original fixtures.

in a Glance
Who lives here: Ross and Megan Brown
Size: 2,200 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms
Location: Oak Cliff area of Dallas

Sarah Greenman

The two sets of double black doors on both sides of the hearth were inserted in the 1950s when the porch has been enclosed and converted to what is now the home workplace.

A white slipcover sofa makes for simple cleaning. “I grew up with brothers, therefore I was initially hesitant of white,” Ross says. “However, it seems terrific.”

Paint: Repose Gray, Sherwin Williams; mirror: Sunburst on the Scene, Wisteria; coffee table: French Industrial, Wisteria

Sarah Greenman

The couple recently made a built-in shelving unit in the front end of the home office to arrange their shared workspace. This project was different from their overall renovation. “Before we had the shelves, the clutter was somewhat out of hand,” Megan says.

Area rug: One King’s Lane; desk: Ava Wood, Pottery Barn

Sarah Greenman

Megan’s aunt gave her the camelback sofa upholstered in lemon-striped fabric. Megan added chevron print throw pillows from One King’s Lane for a quick update.

Paint: Graystone, Benjamin Moore; coffee table: Foxed Mirror, West Elm

Sarah Greenman

Megan purchased the cowhide rug at First Monday Trade Days in Canton, Texas, as a birthday present for Ross until they were married. “After I gave it to him, my mom reminded me that if we got married, I’d need to live with the hide in my home,” Megan says. “I hadn’t thought of that. However, I believe we found a fantastic place for it at the workplace.”

Sarah Greenman

A painted black hutch, yet another blessed Canton Trade Days buy, oversees the dining space. “It’s one of my favourite pieces in the home,” says Megan.

First hardwood floors throughout the home were a massive selling point for the bunch. “We’re so pleased to see that the wood floors were undamaged,” says Ross. “We all needed to do was clean them up and re-stain them.”

Sarah Greenman

Megan likes to host dinner parties and entertain in your home. She states that the dining room “known for a round table,” therefore the couple splurged with this tasteful set from Restoration Hardware. “I like to keep things simple and clean looking with a calming vibe,” she states.

Artwork: Jennifer Moreman, One King’s Lane; chandelier: Lamps Plus; table: French Urn Pedestal, Restoration Hardware; chairs: Vintage French Round, Restoration Hardware

Sarah Greenman

The couple renovated the kitchen from top to bottom. Megan, a health coach and author of Megg Salad, a nutritious recipe website, does a lot of cooking from home. “We put so much work to getting it right, transforming the distance and maximizing storage,” she states. “We adore that when folks come over they want to be at the kitchen. The distance just feels great.”

Countertops: absolute black granite, brushed end; pendant lights: Clear Glass Cloche, Restoration Hardware

Sarah Greenman

The Browns say that their biggest design issue was the rear wall of the kitchen. “Working around the current window was a toughie, and also our original plans did not work out,” she states. “Looking back, I am so glad we weren’t afraid to scrap it and begin over. The final piece really completes the kitchen adds a lot of storage and makes it feel so much larger.”

Sarah Greenman

Megan says she shares a similar aesthetic together with her husband, which made picking materials and furnishings easier. “Sometimes I have to sell him onto a bit, but usually we are thinking the same way,” she states. “Other instances Ross points out a detail that I haven’t considered yet, like measurements.” The latter came together in this very small breakfast nook, which will be just large enough for two.

Chandelier: Clarissa Glass Drop, Pottery Barn; table, Tripod, West Elm; chairs: Scoop-back, West Elm

Sarah Greenman

The former homeowners had already renovated the main bathroom in Carrera white marble tile plus a freestanding soaking bathtub, each of the Browns kept undamaged. “I am so glad the master bathroom has been done because we’d not have been able to reestablish with this kind of nice features,” Megan says.

Sarah Greenman

Two bright guest rooms occupy the top floor and overlook the garden. In one, a gorgeous brass bed — yet another hand-me-down from Megan’s aunt — takes center stage on a bright wool area rug.

“When we first saw the home, we were amazed that the rooms were so large, particularly given the era in which the house had been built,” Ross says. “And the closets are huge, too.”

Area rug: One King’s Lane

Sarah Greenman

The second guest room features an all-white palette and wood accents.

Bedding: Bed Bath & Beyond

Sarah Greenman

The couple fully renovated the guest bathroom but decided to maintain the sconces, which have been initially brass. Megan spray them silver to accent the toilet’s cool palette. “There have been so many little decisions to be made,” Megan says. “I recall there was one night once I went to three different Lowe’s after work to find a mirror for your bathroom. That is when I realized I’d completely lost my mind.”

Paint: Woodlawn Blue, Benjamin Moore; countertops: Kashmir white granite

Sarah Greenman

Ross assembled this grill fence and table display, which hides the home’s air conditioning unit. The Big Green Egg grill floats at the center of the table with open work space on each side. The table is ipe decking using a Cedar framework.

Sarah Greenman

Large windows, the majority of which are original to the home, bring in plenty of natural lighting. Stone pavers make a circular patio area for outside entertaining and dining. The couple is slowly tiled the garden, but Ross’s latest signature is a tree swing.

Sarah Greenman

The Browns’ front lawn enjoys adult trees and hills (a rarity in Dallas).

Sarah Greenman

The Browns, who will celebrate their third wedding anniversary this autumn, stand facing their custom high-gloss red painted doorway. Megan was the paint custom matched to your color in the Kate Spade box in Elliott’s Hardware.

Paint: Sherwin Williams Color Matching Services; door knocker: Etsy

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A Prefab Modern Farmhouse Rises at Vermont

Burn, baby, burn. That is exactly what this Boston family and volunteer firefighters stated to a classic Vermont home.

The house had extensive work, but rather than face a major renovation, the owners chose to tear it down and install a prefabricated modern farmhouse as a weekend retreat. The couple’s Realtor, Michael Brodeur, a volunteer fireman, asked whether he and his department can do a controlled burn as a training practice. Up in flames it moved.

The new house was designed and constructed in sections offsite, then constructed in place. Architectural designer Kim Brown worked with the family on what he describes The Space Puzzle. “The challenge was to give them the home they wanted, yet bring it into the design and technology criteria ordered for prefab homes,” Brown states. The homeowners were appealed to by the timeline that was shortened, too. Within a year of purchasing the property, they’d designed, constructed, constructed and began enjoying the new residence.

in a Glance
Who lives here: The proprietor of studio M | layout, a partner in a Boston hospitality firm, and their two sons
Location: Warren, Vermont
Size: 5,700 square feet, including the finished basement; 4 bedrooms, 41/2 bathrooms
Price: $160 per square foot fully fixtured on the above-ground Part of the Home

The original house had much effort, the couple was happy to oblige the request of their local Warren Volunteer Fire Department to use it to get a live training practice.

Mary Prince Photography

The new house’s style feels normal on its 5 acres of rural Vermont landscape — 3 of which are open meadow. “Its twin gabled wings connected by a straight segment and farmer’s porch across the centre give it a little uniqueness,” states Brown.

Preferred Building Systems of Claremont, New Hampshire, constructed, delivered and constructed the structure to the foundation.

Mary Prince Photography

“They liked the idea of a house that borrowed from the minimalist ease of barns and farmhouses offering a lot of the taste of the Vermont countryside,” Brown states. “No Greek-revival trimming schemes”

Door paint color: Agave, Benjamin Moore

Mary Prince Photography

Comfort and ruggedness were two major design goals. The house had to be prepared to manage two busy boys and their friends coming and going during summer time and springtime mud season; 18-by-18-inch black slate tile and wide-plank walnut flooring in the typical regions met that task head-on.

Flooring: Dark Slate, Barre Tile, South Barre, Vermont;

Mary Prince Photography

“The homeowners came with sketches which had captured the taste of this projected house both inside and outside,” states Brown. “The battle was that there are certain methods by which modular homes will need to be put together so they can be delivered and constructed efficiently and efficiently. How can I blend their layout with the modular world?”

“3-D modeling helped boost visual understanding for all of us during each step of the plan process,” Brown states. “The earliest drawings came about following review of their owners’ thoughts and input from the modular builder Preferred Building Systems about certain restrictions we’d face.”

The results include an open floor plan, 9-foot ceilings, extra-large sliding doors to get greater views and lots of fresh air, ample storage and private interior spaces for privacy and relaxation.

Sliding windows and doors: Anderson

Mary Prince Photography

A small principal staircase contributes to the second floor. Simple furnishings maintain the emphasis on the perspectives.

Eiffel style dining chairs; walnut dining table: Mohr and McPherson, Boston; chandelier: Pottery Barn Edison lighting; painting: South End Open Studios, Boston

Mary Prince Photography

The few hired Vermont Pinnacle Homes to install their handpicked finishes, fixtures, cabinets, appliances, windows, doors, lighting and baseboards. Peter Carr of Boston Cabinets made the kitchen.

Oven and stovetop: Bosch; refrigerator: JennAir; kitchen cabinets: Kraftmaid, Venezia; wall mounted mirrors: Cooper Classic Ellenton; countertops: Hawaiian green granite, Barre Tile; backsplash and wall: Italian linen appearance tile, Tile Showcase, Boston; faucet: Kohler; black leather barstools: Crate & Barrel

Mary Prince Photography

Sink: Elkay, Avado; countertops: Hawaiian green granite, Barre Tile, Barre, Vermont; pink artwork over table: purchased at South Boston Open Studios; chrome console: Gary, Pangea

Mary Prince Photography

The mudroom is a significant space in almost any Vermont home. Brown made this one to be oversized with a wall of cabinets for keeping four seasons of equipment. The snow scooter signal is classic, along with the reddish strips under rag weave chairs arrange boots, sneakers and water shoes.

Benches and paper tree: Anthropologie; stars: Brimfield Antique Show; floor mirror: Mongstad, Ikea

Mary Prince Photography

“Inside, the target was open spaces in public places — living, diningroom, kitchen — and ample but private sleeping and ‘escape’ places,” states Brown. The modular firm, Preferred Building Systems, was very helpful with this within their ‘box’ scheme,” states Brown.

Green wall art: studio M | layout; white pillows: Ikea; striped pillows: Crate & Barrel

Mary Prince Photography

Blocks of color, a fireplace visible throughout the first-floor typical areas, a lucite media rack and vintage coffee table decorate the living area.

Coffee table: Drexel Declaration Ovoid Table; floor lamps: West Elm; carpet: Surya; lucite networking cart: CB2; painting: Jack Morefield

Mary Prince Photography

A tiny room off the living area, with sliding pocket doors, serves as a private reading area, game room and office.

Sofa: Ralph Lauren Sleeper; lamps: Weave, Adesso; midcentury coffee table and end tables: Lane, from a collector on Craigslist

Mary Prince Photography

Neutral letters and numbers salvaged from old signage decorate a wall at the office.

Wall art: Reside, Cambridge, MA; desk chair: Kartel; dining table: CB2; rug: Larsen Blaire; dining table lamps: Adesso

Mary Prince Photography

A home theater in the basement chairs 10 and features a 110-inch display, surround sound plus a 1080 HD projector. The rest of the basement stays a bare recreation room and residence to a ping pong table, floor dining place, ski sharpening/gear space plus a full bathroom.

Sofa: Tilary, West Elm; black glass and chrome tables: Ikea; lamps and ottoman balls: CB2; paint: Coastline Blue, Benjamin Moore; Giraffe texture carpet

Mary Prince Photography

The white color scheme in the first-floor guest bedroom suite creates a tranquil refuge with a focus on the perspectives. “When you’re in your house, you’re never far from your pure landscape out,” states Brown. “Deer can be seen in the meadows from virtually any room.”

Vintage mahogany painted bedside tables: Upstairs Downstairs Antiques in Boston; dining table lamps: Design Craft Collette; green pillows: Luxories, Provincetown, Massachusetts; blinds: Durawood Blinds, Smith and Noble

Mary Prince Photography

The adjoining guest bathroom features a spacious open shower.

Paint: November Rain, Benjamin Moore; fixtures: Kohler; wool rug: Jill Rosenwald; black walnut wall ladder: Mohr and McPherson, Boston; Glass vase: Simon Pearce

Mary Prince Photography

The uncluttered principal suite has magnificent views of the hills along with the neighboring 25-acre property and horse stables. A blackened steel gas fireplace warms the area.

Lounge chair and ottoman: Kivik, Ikea; Silver drum side table: Home Goods; Bedskirt: Anthropologie; Pillows: Anichini and West Elm; paint: Cotton Balls, Benjamin Moore

Mary Prince Photography

Paint: Benjamin Moore Stone; Lamps: Mohr and McPherson, Boston; Bedside tables: Bernhardt

Mary Prince Photography

The main bath features a large tiled steam shower with a marble penny tile floor.

Shower walls: Relvinha limestone; fixtures: Kohler; ottoman: Urban Outfitters

Mary Prince Photography

Even the bubble massage bathtub has a wonderful green opinion. The tub and sink backsplashes are both quilted aubergine marble.

Tub: BubbleMassage, Kohler; fixtures: Kohler; bathtub deck: Relvinha limestone

Mary Prince Photography

Both of the boy bedrooms/guest bedrooms have twin beds with a dark accent wall.

Bedding: Ikea; Crate & Barrel

Mary Prince Photography

A duo of cabinets leave space for a desk cubby between. The vinyl 45 records above the closet doors are out of SOWA Vintage Market in Boston.

Chair: Kartell; ottoman: HomeGoods

Mary Prince Photography

The sons share a bathroom with two sinks reverse each other using a doorway to the shower to get privacy. The backsplash is a shameful limestone penny tile.

Mirrors and wall mounted lighting: Ikea; countertops: honed black granite; Deadlyaucets: Moen

It took the owners to find a property with the ideal view. They succeeded with among those Green Mountains as well as the Sugarbush Ski Resort. This really is a family of skiers, with terrain park fans and downhill, cross country. The family enjoys the region’s swimming holes, mountain biking, cycling, hiking and golf.

Mary Prince Photography

Outdoor areas have natural stone walkways, a terrace with a fire pit, and perennials given to the family from neighbors.

Prefab firm: Preferred Building Systems, Claremont, New Hampshire; General builder: Vermont Pinnacle Homes, Stowe, Vermont; Architectural Designer: Kim Brown; Kitchen Designer: Peter Carr of Boston Cabinets

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Bohemian Elegance in a Space

Vintage light, custom made upholstery and artful vignettes turned this 800-square-foot house into a vibrant and diverse Los Angeles escape. “I am a sucker for this Palm Springs vibe,” says operator Angel Quintana. “I think having colour in every room keeps it exciting and shows a sense of humor. A self-described “flea market junkie,” Quintana has a penchant for unique vintage finds and vibrant fabrics that has imbued her space using the energy and a style all her own.

at a Glance
Who lives here: Angel Quintana, her husband and their dog, Bobo
Location: Los Angeles
Size: 800 square feet; two bedrooms (1 utilized as a workplace), 1 bath
That’s interesting: Quintana once functioned for interior designer Ruthie Sommers.

Madison Modern Home

Quintana and Bobo perch on a custom sofa from Monarch. “Start purchasing some crucial pieces prior to buying a house,” Quintana advises. “I think people buy a house and then do not have sufficient furniture to fill it up. I discover that classic pieces can always be worked into a new area, and other pieces could be offered on Craigslist in case you simply can’t find a spot for them.”

Madison Modern Home

A Lucite cocktail table almost disappears, leaving behind just its tasteful reflective borders. Favourite coffee table publications elevate a thrift shop skull and vintage binoculars. Above the sofa, a flea market–sourced jackalope decoration adds a notice of cheekiness.

Instead of follow the doctrine “There is a place for all,” Quintana prefers to think, “Where should I move this bit into next?”

Madison Modern Home

From the living room, Quintana remade a midcentury modern chair with a stylish Greek key cloth. She re-covered the vintage ottoman in dark green velvet.

Madison Modern Home

Quintana managed to carve a glamorous dining room out of a diminutive space by employing high-backed retro chairs and an Ikea table. A timeless chandelier awakens soft light from above. Quintanta recommends replacing all the light fixtures at a house. “This makes a place feel so unique, and everyone will notice!” She says.

The dining seats will eventually be reupholstered in gold velvet with a pink and white pattern on the back. She is also hoping to substitute the Ikea table using a vintage marble table.

Madison Modern Home

This set of eight six-piece vintage gold flatware place settings and two serving spoons from the Rose Bowl Flea Market is Quintana’s newest $25 steal.

Madison Modern Home

A DIY chalkboard provides an area for everything from everyday inspiration for Quintana’s holistic lifestyle business to shopping lists.

Madison Modern Home

Custom shades and a classic sign from her husband’s college days accessorize the kitchen. Vintage kitchenware brings color to a butcher block countertop.

When asked what she would change about her home, Quintana says, “Don’t get me started about the kitchen! I fantasize about cooking in a lush kitchen for friends and a killer pub for my husband to make me yummy cocktails along with his home made bitters.”

Madison Modern Home

The tufted headboard’s tasteful lines counter a casual striped coverlet from Anthropologie. Overhead, a vintage lighting find adds warmth.

Madison Modern Home

DIY song-lyric artwork rests on a Crate & Barrel console beside the bed, surrounded by curated curiosities.

Madison Modern Home

A ’60s pendant inspired a yellow color palette in this house office. Mirrored closet doors reflect a vintage dresser that Quintana updated with paint.

Madison Modern Home

Bohemian art and a funky lamp located at Home Goods sit on the dresser. A reupholstered chair invites an afternoon read.

“I am a real fan of change, and that includes even the huge pieces of furniture in our house,” says Quintana. “I made a decision to move the whole bedroom to the second bedroom just because I needed to experimentation. I wanted to know how it felt to sleep”

Madison Modern Home

Quintana’s jewelry and accessories reside alongside books arranged by colour, creating visual impact in a snowy bookcase. “I am obsessed with the colour white,” she says. “I feel this room reflects me and my talents. It’s also the room that houses my clothes and sneakers, which are extremely dear to me,” says Quintana.

Madison Modern Home

White is replicated in the elaborate DIY pin board, the faux bamboo Chippendale chair, the lacquer World Market desk and the cream-colored flokati rug. Favourite pictures, photographs and customer ideas are front and centre. A gooseneck desk lamp and typewriter add a vintage touch to the glistening white desk surface. Quintana loves sitting in her desk at the workplace. “I spent time designing it since I wanted to operate in an area that inspired me,” she says.

Madison Modern Home

A scalloped 1950s shelf exhibits a framed photo booth image and bathroom essentials.

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Eclectic East London Victorian

A stunning garden, a rustic spa, a colorful master bath and a handcrafted interior have made this Victorian terrace home an urban oasis for both Tracey Bendrien and Lawrence Friesen. Although the Canadian couple initially moved to London for its urban lifestyle, they found themselves wanting the ability to escape from the bustle and hustle.

Friesen, an architect, set to work straight away. The couple wanted to modernize the space but nevertheless retain the home’s unique structure and features. The end result is a colorful, eclectic and modern take on a gorgeous Victorian home.

in a Glance
Who lives here: Tracey Bendrien and Lawrence Friesen
Location: Hackney, East London, United Kingdom
Size: 1,400 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms

Beccy Smart Photography

The garden is the initial part of the house the couple designed. They awakened the pond, and Friesen made this concrete bridge to span across the water region and lead to the rest of the garden, where there is seating for two.

Beccy Smart Photography

Friesen and Bendrien knew they would put in a spa as soon as they bought the home. The garden is seen by them among the spaces in their property. It took them several years to find a tub that has been only right for these, this one from a homeowner in London. The tub replaced an existing shed, and they implanted overhanging foliage for solitude.

Beccy Smart Photography

The couple combined the master bathroom with the cupboard and a dressing area to save space. They fell in love with this cheeky candy-apple-red tub, made from recycled vinyl by Swedish manufacturer Durat.

Painting: Will Alsop

Beccy Smart Photography

Friesen constructed a glistening red cupboard to match the bathtub. “Having the dressing area in which you get ready for your day and end your day only made sense to us,” he states. He left off the doors the cabinet to get an open texture.

Beccy Smart Photography

Skylights in the cupboard region of the toilet keep the space naturally well lit and uplifting. Friesen constructed the floating toilet countertop from leftover American black walnut floorboards. The rest of the timber is constructed from the exact floorboards to maintain the substance palette consistent and use what was available.

Beccy Smart Photography

A wet-room-style shower using a waterfall showerhead sits at 1 corner of the bathroom. The gray tiles are Portland blue limestone. A sturdy shelf runs the length of the space, providing convenient seating and a place for toiletries.

Beccy Smart Photography

Friesen installed and designed these stairs, hand-crafted by their beloved Suffolk expert, Bob Pendred. When the couple opened up the kitchen and hall space, they retained front rooms but removed the hall door and installed this stairs. “The attention is really on a central organization, structured from the stairs as it goes throughout the home — the thought being to ascend to the peak of the home and reach the sky,” Friesen says. “As you move vertically, the concept is that you become both more expressive and private.”

Beccy Smart Photography

The open dining area and kitchen area is flooded with natural lighting. The couple opened up the two spaces to each other and built a bespoke large door to the garden.

Hanging on the dining table is a shell pendant lighting by Scabetti. “We love things that are crafted, and we hope that people who design them can make viable livelihoods from the craft,” Friesen says. “Lights in our sitting rooms and kitchen are goods of this ethos.”

Beccy Smart Photography

The kitchen floor tiles are just like those used on the floors and backsplashes throughout the whole house. The kitchen cabinetry has been designed and constructed by Friesen.

Beccy Smart Photography

Friesen and craftsman Bob Pendred installed and designed this huge window door. This second departure creates a simple flow into the garden from the kitchen. “If the door is left open, it feels as a wall was taken away,” Bendrien states.

Beccy Smart Photography

A wood-burning stove and open shelves with trinkets provide a homey touch. Friesen installed and designed this custom made sideboard, such as a stand to store up to 96 wine bottles. Since it is a Victorian home, meaning restricted storage, that was a fantastic addition.

Beccy Smart Photography

The master bedroom is painted a gorgeous deep plum. The black cupboard was found at Broadway market in the favorite bohemian area of Hackney.

Beccy Smart Photography

Bendrien made the guest bedroom with a female look, using vibrant magenta accents and girly accessories. An ornate fireplace matches the vibrant wallpaper layout.

Beccy Smart Photography

Boldly painted walls match the wallpaper, the reduced trim and the pink accents of the bedding and pendant lampshade.

Beccy Smart Photography

Calming colors, such as this guacamole hue, in the primary living spaces offer a backdrop to dramatic furniture pieces. The stylish hanging lighting is a distinctive Mark Bickers design.

Beccy Smart Photography

The homeowners like to support British designers and bought these couches by Naughtone from 100% Design. The artwork trio is by artist and architect Will Alsop.

Beccy Smart Photography

The couple designed a comfy workspace at the front reception area. A customized glass door leads out into the garden. The ornate office desk is a replica Criterion the couple bought from an auction house. It was initially supposed to go from the bedroom upstairs, however they couldn’t get it to fit through.

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French Colonial Mansion in India

Only a hundred miles in the bustling town of Chennai in South India, the former French colony of Pondicherry rolls into view using expansive cashew plantations, little fishing villages and palm-fringed beaches. This French colonial beach home on the Bay of Bengal is famous for its hospitality in hosting international businesspeople and diplomats amidst acres of coconut groves and inside rooms full of Indian artifacts.

Dr. S. Devendra, known as “Doc,” has been opening the doors into the five-bedroom estate mansion as 1991, as a shore retreat for friends and partners of Shasun Pharmaceuticals, the family business and one of the world’s largest suppliers of aspirin.

in a Glance
Location: Pondicherry, India, near the Bay of Bengal
Size: 10,000 square feet; 5 bedrooms, 6 baths, multiple sunrooms, multimedia conference room
That is intriguing: A stone that is raised platform to the grounds functions as a stage for musical performances from local groups.

Wendy K. Leigh

The primary entry door has been reclaimed from a historical abandoned temple at the Tamilnadu region of South India. A classic wood carving accents the entrance from above, while hand-formed vintage pottery pieces flank the entryway.

Wendy K. Leigh

The French colonial structure spreads elegantly across manicured grounds in the end of a long, winding driveway curving toward the sea. Windows line the front, sides and back, affording expansive views of the estate landscaping and shore. Ivy-covered stucco and stone form exterior walls, with curved balconies extending from bedrooms, living spaces and sunrooms.

Wendy K. Leigh

Antique furniture in the Chettinadu and Pondicherry areas in Tamilnadu provide an authentic air to the inside spaces. Working with Anita Goubert, a regional antiques dealer and close friend in Pondicherry, Doc has selected each slice carefully to signify a variety of phases of history in South India. This wood-carved divan and encompassing seats are decorated with vibrant cushions crafted from formerly worn vintage saris.

Wendy K. Leigh

A second-floor covered sunroom is available from all five bedrooms in the home, using a wooden swing extended from rafters in the grand ceiling.

Wendy K. Leigh

Bedrooms have a minimalist style with white bed coverings, mosaic tile floors and black custom-designed solid wood window shutters. Individual baths are attached to every bedroom, with modern showers installed. Doc himself makes the journey from Chennai several times a week and intends to retire here, near the sea and the quaint, French-inspired village.

Wendy K. Leigh

Ceramic inlays are a surprise feature inside the railings of one of those dozens of beds in this home. Designed to accommodate the numerous guests who are welcome here, some of the larger bedrooms have around six beds.

Wendy K. Leigh

A guest bathroom on the bottom floor is available from the estate grounds and swimming pool. It’s three sinks, a separate changing room and an enclosed sauna.

Wendy K. Leigh

Pottery features greatly in the décor. This lamp was fashioned from early earthenware and sits atop one of those numerous reclaimed paintings which are tucked into each nook.

Wendy K. Leigh

A specially designed multimedia room permits the owner to host business conferences on a dedicated floor of the home. Outside of working hours, Doc frequently arranges for guests to relax by meditating at the world-famousMatrimandir,an enormous marble and gold ashram in the countryside less than five miles from the shore house.

Wendy K. Leigh

Sunrooms are sprinkled throughout the home, linking outdoors to indoors, many with views of the beach and water.

Wendy K. Leigh

Family, friends and business partners can relax in the intricately tiled outside aquatic place, which comprises two pools and a spa, with the bay shimmering in the background.

Wendy K. Leigh

Breezy walkways connect the entire home on both floors and overlook the Bay of Bengal. Benches afford views of the sunset and sunrise from several positions on each floor.

Wendy K. Leigh

Kudapah stone floors from Kerala adorns outdoor spaces, with natural cultivated bamboo overlooking a stone water container.

Wendy K. Leigh

The bounty of the farm grounds is on display on any given day, with mounds of coconuts heaped up outside the pantry and kitchen. Palm trees sway in the sea breezes, which are relished — temperatures in Pondicherry frequently reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Wendy K. Leigh

Coconuts are left to dry in sunlight prior to being turned into desserts by the numerous servants.

Wendy K. Leigh

Stone walkways on the estate grounds cause outbuildings sheltered by coconut palms.

Wendy K. Leigh

Statues and fountains of carved stone blend into the landscaping and fit the property’s exterior and interior style.

Wendy K. Leigh

A traditional outdoor bowl of drifting new flower petals offers “namaste,” an expression of welcome and warmth.

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Wild Triangular House at Boulder

For many people, this odd, many-sided house in Boulder, Colo., could introduce a design conundrum. For Judi Lesta,”It is the love of my life, a dream space where nothing is out of bounds”

A aerial view of the modernist architect’s design on Boulder’s architecturally traditional University Hill reveals two limbs made up of 16 identical triangles, each culminating in a steepled skylight. Its designer, Charles Haertling, was a civic-minded architect with powerful Frank Lloyd Wright influences, and his signature style was to make organic, natural components. In cases like this, that the rooftop triangles have dual representation: They are thought to be leaves of nature, together with all the huge ceiling beams posing as veins, and additionally to represent the Flatiron peaks that serve as a backdrop to the city of Boulder.

Unaware of Haertling or his designs, Lesta purchased the home in 1989. “I was really lucky to have stumbled upon it,” she says.

in a Glance
Who lives here: Judi Lesta, owner of The Amazing Garage Sale
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Size:
2,200 square feet, 3 bedroom, two baths, with loft

Leslie Bentson

Upon arrival at the front door, one gets hauled to a Seussian, topsy-turvy frame of mind. The home, known as The Noble House, was first commissioned and built from the Noble family in 1958. It is one of over 40 buildings made by Haertling in Boulder from 1953 to 1983.

The home was known as the Space Craft Home, the Pyramid, the Teepee and the Umbrella. Haertling himself dubbed it a wigwam structure. Over time, it has grown into the neighborhood landscape while maintaining unique standing and continuing to catch the interest of passersby. The city of Boulder has designated the home as a historic landmark.

Leslie Bentson

Much of Lesta’s décor, like the black Herman Miller chair, is first to the age of her”triangle palace” A gold and purple color scheme is carried throughout the home. When asked the number of chandeliers she has (both inside and out), she says,”Too many to count dust”

Leslie Bentson

Looking down from the attic, the dining area gives great visual of this geometrically shaped doors and windows.

Leslie Bentson

A sizable trianglular window lets in light and also a cinch to the corner of their living space.

Leslie Bentson

One of the two steepled skylights provides a perfect view of the eight triangles making this up wing.

Leslie Bentson

The house sits in an above-ground, concrete base. Indoors, the four cutout triangles are windows that also serve as shelves.

Leslie Bentson

Each area has four triangular windows. The top hinged bit lifts up to a screen and see to the outside ground. A number of Lesta’s pictures of Grace Jones and the Bee Gees adorns this neon window.

Leslie Bentson

Lesta uses one of the bedrooms as a hangout and memorabilia space in the days as a freelance photographer in Los Angeles. Lesta’s photography portfolio comprises DEVO, Bob Marley, Blondie, President Ford and Donna Summer.

Leslie Bentson

A bit by Austrian artist Egon Shiele hangs alongside the customized fireplace. The angles on the hood and chimney mimic the roofline and mountain peaks.

Leslie Bentson

When Lesta moved to the Noble House, all the walls were whitened and the décor antique. Since then, she has painted partitions, floors and stairwells, and adorned each corner of room using trinkets and collectibles. “It is a very freeing home,” she says.

Leslie Bentson

One of the few rounded items in the residence is the violet, metal spiral staircase leading to the attic.

Leslie Bentson

Judi Lesta in her front door.

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DIY: Watch How to Make a Rolling Vintage Storage Crate

One downside of the toilet of the rental apartment: no medicine cabinet or vanity space. Basically, no storage. And new tile extends from floor to ceiling, so that I can not mount a cabinet or put into the walls. Since I am far from being a minimalist when it comes to lotions and creams, I needed to make some kind of storage alternative. I opted to take advantage of the distance beneath the counter. I had a few vintage wooden crates that proven to be the ideal size to stack and roll beneath the counter. Problem solved!

More: Stash Your Stuff in Vintage Wood Crate Shelves

One large classic wooden cage houses all the large and bulky toiletries. I really like I can finally stow away those bottles (along with my set of makeup bags) so the counter is not littered with dressing products.

I needed to add brakes to the bottom of the cage, both to protect the tile and make it easier to slide the crate from beneath the counter.

Super-easy DIY job: First, I picked up a pair of casters in my hardware shop. Then I drilled pilot holes keep the wood from splitting. Screw from the casters and you’re set!

I placed a shallow timber crate on top of the wheeled crate to act as a tray shirt and to neatly hide the toiletries below.

I maintain some small bathroom supplies within this cage (extra contacts, Q-tips) and it is the ideal place for a couple magazines.

The storage system works well for us. I discovered the vintage crates at Maine for $20 and invested $5 on the casters, which made it an inexpensive custom made solution for our toilet.

I also believe the vintage wooden crates include a little personality to the space — a nice mix of new and old.

Perhaps you have think of a fantastic DIY storage alternative? We’d really like to see it. Post a photograph for your profile and then provide us the link below!

More:
Toilet Storage: Where to Maintain the T.P.?
Toilet Storage: Where to Maintain the Towels?
How to Create a Makeshift Mudroom
Stash Your Stuff in Vintage Wood Crate Shelves

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