The ArtEssential Home

An ArtEssential Home

A Dozen Different Homes

I’ve lived in a dozen different homes as an adult–each one very different. The first few were rentals that had hardwood floors and big drafty windows. We made them cozy with hand me down furniture, lots of paint, dried wildflowers and muslin curtains made from 5 dollar sheets. I discovered early on the satisfaction of doing it myself. The next three homes were child-friendly and casual. With three children plus friends playing and creating all over the house the challenge was to make our home comfortable, welcoming and durable as well as aesthetically pleasing. I loved those years of Legos, Beanie Babies and crafts!

In 2006, with empty nest looming, we built our “dream home”– an elegant three-story modern with every detail chosen for our taste and needs in Bouldin Creek, a fun, walkable neighborhood. When the location became too popular on the weekends, we found an escape in “Little Piney,” our weekend retreat on 23 wooded acres in the nearby Lost Pines of Bastrop. I decided that everything at Little Piney would be second-hand, super-comfy, and whimsical. I loved the results and decided that every home should be as relaxing as that one, and full of things that make one smile!

We sold our custom home after 12 years and tried down-sized townhouse living in the Mueller neighborhood, a modern planned community. Unfortunately, I could never feel comfortable with the sea of rooftops outside my kitchen window and the five shades of greige interior. The brand new townhouse leaked through the windows and the roof. It took two years, constant conflict with builder, and ultimately a lawyer to get all the repairs made. After that we sold the town house and also Little Piney. Ken was retiring soon, and we decided it would be best to have just one home to take care of. The challenge was that we had very different ideas about what we wanted next. We were looking for a compromise that might be very hard to find.

We Found It

When we found the house, it was neglected and worn, but the integrity of design and materials had endured. Natural light fills the spaces which flow with just the right amount of openness and separation. Following the traditional principles of modern design, bedrooms are on one side of the house, and most living spaces on the other. The front of the house is private with a courtyard entrance, and the back is all windows and views. At the center of the home is the massive stone fireplace just where Frank Lloyd Wright would have placed it. Fortunately, the house had escaped trendy re-do’s–paneling, beams, and built in cabinets were undamaged and ready to be revived!

With so many moves behind me, I’ve learned a great deal about what I need in a home and how to create the home environment in which I thrive. I think I this time I am creating a home with patience, love and intention not with a sense of urgency. I’m reusing the things I love, especially the ones that bring me joy through beauty and memories, and slowly adding only very special new discoveries.

I think it’s an approach that makes for a happy creative living space–one that honors our emotional needs, is kind to the earth, and conserves financial resources.

Some Elements of an ArtEssential Home

• Your home reflects you—your values, your aesthetic, your lifestyle, your history. 
• Your home is creative, harmonious and beautiful.
• Each object is carefully chosen and brings you joy or satisfaction.
• You value good design and well-made pieces which are often purchased second-hand.
• Your home evolves over time—not with a quick trip to your favorite furniture store.
• The furnishings and accessories are in harmony with the home’s design.
• Your home is full of art and handcrafted treasures made by local artists, family members and your own hands or acquired on your travels.
• You don’t take your decor too seriously–trinkets mix with treasures and whimsy prevails.
• Your home reveals your heart through the work of your hands.

How to Create an ArtEssential Home-Part 1

Take your time

Home starts with a space that you like and respond to positively. Notice what feelings a space evokes in you. Do you feel warm, open, curious, relaxed, comfortable, pleased, excited? How do you see yourself or your family using the space? How will you be living in that room? Who will be using the space, and what will you all be doing? What functional pieces will you need to support those activities? What mood do you want to set in this space?

Now think about the  furniture, rugs and art you already have that will enhance and support the features that you like about the room. What special pieces will you build the room around? What major pieces do you need to acquire? 

As you think about the space and the furnishings begin to develop a color plan. What existing colors do you have to work with, and what new colors will work with this space? Only use colors that feel right to you. If you don’t like the existing colors, paint the walls first. If you don’t feel confident about colors, look for tried and true color combinations and check resources from your paint stores. Or pick a fabric you love from your closet or furnishings and use it for inspiration.

Let Your Home Evolve

Don’t ever be in a rush to fill your home with new furniture. Live in your home and slowly acquire pieces as you understand the space, the light, the movement flow, and the character of your home. Patiently move your furniture around til it works, use old pieces for new purposes, sell or donate the pieces that don’t fit. Then, once you know what you want, wait to find exactly that. Get to know your home and let it speak to you before you make major decisions. Be kind to the earth and your budget by purchasing quality vintage or pre-owned furniture. Remember, you can buy much higher quality furniture second-hand compared to new. Leave room for new discoveries! Follow your heart and create a space you love.

The latest fads have never dictated my home style. Instead, I surround myself with the things I love–furniture, art, rugs, and accessories accumulated over time–and that always works for me. If a piece of furniture was ever good design then it probably still is. Furthermore, if the mood of the room is consistent, the colors are in harmony, and the scale is similar, different furniture styles will still look good together. Experiment, be free, live with the things that bring you joy!

A Few Fun Things

Below: A Roseville chicken pitcher, Costa Rica fantasy painting (by me), entry table from my childhood, Maison Jensen coffee table–a Facebook find, my mother’s teapot brought from England by her twin, whimsical art by Austin artist Scott Rolfe, fireplace dressed for fall.