apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

gorgeous -- and so much character! I gotta get myself to a kansas city yard sale sometime soon.

Can I move in? :)

We will soon be in need of a contractor to tear down a few walls and potentially re-work a staircase. Could you share your contractor's name?

World's
Coolest
Entry

Also, I love the dining room and the bookshelves going up the stairs. This is not my exact taste to "live" with, but I love looking at it and you guys did a fantastic job. The entry is amazing. Is that an old deco fridge?

What great best advice!! And something I know I and many people I know could hear more often. It is hard sometimes not to spring for indulgences with my credit card but the things I have waited to buy add so much more because they were the one thing out of 15 that I wanted and my house is cluttered (besides the whole staying out of debt business!)

Wow! I really love this. The mixture of styles is creative and looks very natural. I can tell that a lot of thought and consideration went into the creation of this home, but it doesn't look staged or contrived. I am drooling over the built-ins, especially the bookcases on the stairs! Beautiful choice of artwork. I could go on and on... This place also looks much larger than 1500 square feet! I'd love to see the facade and the band practice space, too. Thanks for the extensive info on your sources.

i love all your chairs! especially the blues. and yes, the entryway is GREAT - love the globe and jukebox shape of the art deco piece (or whatever that is...is that the bar?) it's got alotta character!

Superb use of space and garage sales! Absolutely outstanding in proportions/ color / light and overall balance. Very unique style of quiet elegance and wit. There is the distinct flow from room to room , from one object to another. The place is grounded, thoughtful and breathable. Not an awkward moment, not a hint of precise calculation either, just lovely, graceful home. One of the most intelligent entrees i have seen at AT.

This is, hands down, the best house I've seen on AT. This is just perfect from start to finish!

I love the Shellac/Fugazi/The Ex poster.

L-o-v-e. Who's it by? I've been hunting for it on Gigposters :)

Love the built-in staircase bookcase!!!

And so lucky to have some stamp art by Michael Hernandez de Luna!!

it's a jay ryan poster:

http://www.thebirdmachine.com/gallery.html

(check the 2001 gallery)

sadly that print is sold out, but maybe you can find a copy on gigposters!

Where did you get the rug in the dining room? I've been looking for a rug with that particular blue in it, and it hasn't been an easy task.

I knew we were decorating soulmates the second I saw the Jon Langford painting. I LOVE your place, and everything in it!

love the azure chairs and the bar! Awesome!

Um, I aspire to have a place like yours when I get a home of my own. I think I am going to send the slideshow to my boyfriend to show him my dream!

Where did you get the sconce in the bedroom?

LOVE your blue chairs and the reupholstered chair in the dining room is gorgeous. And don't even get me started on your built-ins. Great home!

you have so many booooooooooooks!

Forgive me, Father, for I have committed the sin of envy. A helluva lot.

I love saturated colours like your blue chairs, but always think of neutral for upholstered mid-century chairs. Your chairs have cured me of that - bring on the jewel tones.
Your dog and sock monkey are very lucky.

This is really a beautiful home. Most importantly it looks like a wonderful place to live. AND...Where did you get your bed???

Love those blue chairs!

More praise piling on here. You two have a great eye for special one-of-a-kind items.

I'll also point out that I think this is one of the best examples of salon style picture hanging we've seen on AT. The pieces function well as a group, but they don't just blur together (a common pitfall).

Bravo.

stylishly cozy!

Completely gorgeous. It's absolutely inviting and inspiring. I am dying to know what color that light gray/blue paint behind the Stickley Rocker is!!

Wow I'm freakin' jealous.

But perhaps the best part is the "resource" list. Not a big box store item in the house. Everything is handmade, made by friends, or vintage.

I have that same blue chair! Only the "female" version though, thats exciting to see that you have both mom and dad chairs!

Overall an awesome house tour. I love the furniture and the work you've done to the house. Its so nice to a place like this with such a great resource list (Like Lisa said, no big box items, yay craigslist and thrift shops)!

NO WAY! I totally have that blue chair on the right! (or one that is nearly identical) 2 of them, actually. I got them from my grandmother. I can't afford to reupholster them right now - I nearly gave them to goodwill when I moved! I'm so glad I saved them - they look beautiful reupholstered in your home!! I'm so inspired now.

Here is what the original fabric looks like on my chairs:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2375/2300459676_d8626a6efd_m.jpg
It definitely has that same blue color in the pattern. My brother thinks they're so hideous he makes fun of them every time he visits.

This house is very lovely. Thank you for the inspiration.

ellentyler - that chair rocks! The current upholstery is awesome in a hideous sort of way. I think the blue upholstery on the chairs in the first picture may be original? My chair is the exact same bright royal blue, nubby fabric (that my cat looves to scratch) and is original to the chair. I would love to reupholster it though, probably in something that will inspire less scratching.

This has to be my favorite tour so far. I like the warmth of their house. I also like the style of the bookshelves.

@suziegoombs - hahaha, thanks. i'm glad someone thinks so. i have bipolar feelings about it. it was very difficult to live with at first, but its growing on me. you may be right about it not being the original fabric; it's very like my grandmother to put something crazy like that on a chair. regardless, i'm trying hard to 'make it work' in my amateurish sort of way, as i really don't have a choice about it. i've got a matching blue throw pillow and lap blanket on it to cover and tone down some of the busy-ness of the pattern.
i think the royal blue looks fabulous though. one day, one day.

Antique medicine cabinet bar and guest room quilt are fab!

absolutely wonderful home...
it is, as others have mentioned, beautifully balanced, elegant and graceful.
two details were extra special to me as i looked through the photos of your place:

the harry painting over the bookshelf in the living room (i love harry's work and am happy to have some of it in my own space), and the photo of David Schwartz on John's office wall. for those of us who were privileged to know and work with David (and to call him friend), he is sorely missed.

Another request for the name of your contractor, if he/she is looking for a fun rehab project.
Gracias.

Hi everybody,

Thanks for your incredibly flattering responses. Sorry it took us a while to respond, but we went out of town almost immediately after the house posted and we're just now catching our breath.

To respond to a few questions:

We can't recommend our contractors highly enough. You can reach Paul and Greg at remodel@ynbenterprises.com.

We also want to give props to Craig Luddington, who played a key role in our upholstery projects. He's just started his own business. Please check him out at http://craig.upholsters.us/.

The bed is Amish made, and we picked it up in a tiny little town in Ohio in the middle of winter, where it had been custom made for less than $600. It kills me to say it, but I can't remember the name of the place!! Hope a strategic internet search might help.

Finally, we really appreciated the moving comments about David Schwartz near the end of the comment list. We had the privilege of attending his memorial service, and it was a real tribute to someone who epitomized the importance of community, literature, and local/independent business.

Garage sale season is coming. Hope to see you there!

Christy and John

Thank you for the names. I'll definitely be contacting both the contractors and the upholsterer for bids on future projects. I'll tell them you recommended them.

Cheers!

i like the kitchen table. looks like it's a table top on top of a sewing table base.