Name: Hanna, owner of Sanctuary Home, Bath and Garden
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 1500 sq.ft.
Years Lived in: Renting for less than a year
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Local design and gift store owner Hanna Curran is the first to admit that her home features lots of furniture from IKEA and other affordable stores. Along with being busy with her business, her and her husband have moved around a lot in recent years. Where some might not bother to put much time or effort into a temporary home's decor, Hanna's simple, fast and affordable ideas have made this relocated 1920's bungalow modern, fresh and clean! If you've been holding off on making your home its happiest because of your own temporary living or financial situation, check out Hanna's ideas for inspiration! More after the jump...
We often think of large projects when we use the term DIY, but for those not inclined to wield power tools, you can still participate in the DIY spirit. We like to think of Do-It-Yourself as considering everything around you as inspiration for bettering your home, and taking the steps needed, however big or small, to customize your home to fit your needs. This theory certainly applies to Hanna's home, where simple yet fun and effective ideas were put into place to create her home's signature style.
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Our favorite ideas in this house involve the wall art and accessories. The living room features framed wrapping paper, a Susy Jack calendar attached to a painted canvas and two gorgeously simple pieces of artwork made of painted canvas and found foam shapes from a craft store. Pillows on the couch look expensive, but are made by sewing Tikoli tea towels to less expensive fabric for a backing. Hanna customized an otherwise hum-drum side table by placing some of the same framed wrapping paper under glass.
Everywhere you look in the house, something unusual or creative is used as art. Wrapping paper, scrap pieces of wall paper, postcards, invitations even advertisements cut out of magazines! Hanna used her creativity and skills to frame or mount her findings in ways that make them more expensive looking than they are. Some items are framed nicely, others framed floating in glass, even more are placed on painted canvas and given a coating of gloss.
What makes Hanna's home so unique is she's always on the lookout for patterns, colors or graphics that catch her eye, wherever she may find them. Keeping her furniture uniform, light-colored and simple also means that she's able to switch decors or change locations easily and without much need for new furniture. If you're looking to make a home feel fuller or more decorated on a tight budget or without a lot of furniture, don't neglect spaces like stairway landings, hallways and entryways. Hanna's home features several small and simple vignettes that make a huge impact and make her home feel more colorful and homey. Though not filled to the brim, Hanna's home is still personalized and cozy, while still reflecting both her and her husband's clean and minimal style.
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AT Survey:
My style: Soft modern. I like light woods, whites and smokey pastels. I love my house but my dream house would be the Prefab Glidehouse by Michelle Kaufman. I really do like the designs and prices of Ikea, especially since I tend to like to change my furniture.
Favorite Room: I love the guest bathroom. It's big enough for a hug chair and feels a little spa like. I also love how the staircase twists and turns into the living room and also the kitchen. That is what made me really want to live here.
Inspiration: My Store, Sanctuary. I really have decorated the house exactly like the store and I love how it makes me feel. It's very clean, uncluttered, and pretty. As inspiration for them both I can definitely credit Domino, Design sponge, Apartment Therapy, and Decor8. Between these four sources, as well as just constant investigation on the internet, I finally found a style that feels good.
Biggest Challenge: My husband's pool table does not exactly fit my aesthetic and it's also HUGE, so when we moved it was hard to find a house that would fit it without being too awkward. The other odd ball item is that this is a really old house so there is no laundry room, leaving us to stick the washer and dryer in the kitchen.... we are still tackling this and there is no way to get around it so far.
Most Talked about Element: The staircase is very unique and not found in newer homes. My dogs still get a little confused sometimes. I love the character it brings to the house.
Biggest Embarrassment: I won't call it an embarassment, but the one place that I just don't touch is my husband's office. It is very manly, all the furniture is black and there are lots of electronics and guitars. But it is his and since he let me decorate the rest of the house in pastels I can't complain.
Proudest DIY: I'm really happy with both my modern art pieces assembled from shapes I got at Michael's and some old canvases and the Suzy Jack calendar picture. Suzy Jack uses the most incredible colors and I think it adds a great splash of color, with a small price tag.
Oldest Item you Own: The screen behind our guest room was given to me by a friend of the family and came from India. I usually get rid of things within a year, but I have had this one for a while. In addition to the amazing craftmanship of it, it has a lot of sentimental value.
Best advice: If you have the money, go for those amazing designer pieces..... I will admit the quality and beauty is unbeatable. If you dont, find ways to create the look you want for less. My budget was so small, but I just kept looking for cheap ways to bring in the look I want. It helps that I have a store of course. Stationary and gift stores have tons of hidden ideas that can be turned into art.
Cleaning or Organizing Tip: I have accepted that I will never be able to escape dog hair no matter how much I vacuum, but I keep trying. As far as organizing, my philosophy is get rid of it. Clutter makes me crazy, so unless I think I really need it or will need it in the next 3 months I just don't keep it around. I might be a little over the top about that.
Biggest Indulgence: Carrot cake.... Just kidding. I love textiles. I have a number that I have bookmarked on Etsy and will slowly order. Etsy in general is another inspiration and indulgence. I can get lost in there for HOURS and have found a number of vendors for the store this way.
(Thanks, Hanna!)
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And check our archives of past house tours HERE
I love the burst of color in this little nook! The blue, the Bright orange... This gives me a warm spring felling...
Now it just needs some Daisy's! All about DAISY'S!
Thank you for letting me Post a Comment,
Susan with Yourfurniturelink and Mortise & Tenon LA
view mortisetenon's profile
"I usually get rid of things within a year, but I have had this one for a while."
... I would have so much eco-guilt...
view twitteringbirdie's profile
also, what's the paint color in your living room? it's gorgeous.
view twitteringbirdie's profile
This is such a darling house. That yellow! You have done a great job.
view LoriSF's profile
Hanna-
The Yellow House looks fantastic (and yeah, much like your gorgeous shop)! I can see why you're really attached to the Indian piece behind the guest bed, but really - I'm stupefied that you managed to do all of this in so short a time, and a busy one at that.
AT Readers, Hanna pulled this together while running her boutique during the holiday season. She always makes time to be as gracious and sunny as these photos of her house. It's a pleasure to know and work with her - although I have to say I am now officially intimidated by her organizational and logistical prowess!
Cristina
view mysoultokeep's profile
Delicious! Love the built-in cabinets. What's with that ugly 60s dorm shade in the otherwise beautiful bedroom?
view bromelia's profile
"Along with being busy with her business, her and her husband have moved around a lot in recent years."
I hate to be the grammar police, but it should state 'she and her husband'.
The sentence as written in the article is atrocious.
view Commenter's profile
Cute place overall. However, the chair in the bathroom (near the toilet) freaks me out.
view BrookeinBoston's profile
Your home has wonderful bones, doesnt it? All those beautiful windows and staircase and that huge bathroom, built in cabinets, etc.
Lovely place, thanks for sharing.
view sassydo's profile
it's lovely
view Ana's profile
Your home has an enviable amount of light!
view ee2485's profile
I loved some of the rooms and disliked others. Overall cute space.
view sideproject's profile
Absolutely lovely! The living room is to die for!
view k ran's profile
Lovely and charming! I am ridiculously jealous of the number of windows and amount of light you have. I think I've also just found the colour palette for my apartment.
I can move in tomorrow, if you'll let me.
view Mlle Kate's profile
this is really nice. i like the continuity of the colors throughout the house and i think you did a great job given the time and budget constraints. kudos!
view tabithacat's profile
Gorgeous colors! Thanks so much for sharing! By the way...where are the dogs?
view suzy8track's profile
twitteringbirdie - When she says she "gets rid of things within a year," I assume she means she sells them at her store, rather than throwing them in the dumpster. At least, I hope so.
view Lisa (Montreal)'s profile
Thank you so much for coming to my house, Addreinne. I had a great time!
I am not sure about the paint color, but can find out from the owner. The house has been fun and I am always still adding to it... working on bring the color palette in to the bathroom... trying to soften the pool table room.... finally hanging the paper lantern (which is actually really pretty lit up and brings a great glow to that room).
Thanks again for all of your lovely comments!
view hannac's profile
i also would like to know what colors are used in the bathroom and bedroom :)
sassynomad@gmail.com
view mizz's profile
Never fear everyone... I said I get rid of things within a year more joking because my husband says that about me rather than me actually going and throwing things away. Im sure we have all been through this, but part of the things that I have given away or sold are the pieces that we inherited when we first got married and couldnt afford dinner, so a new couch was a no go. (that said my couch now I inherited)
Dont worry... I am not off littering the world :)
view hannac's profile
Colors are Very lively and girly. That house exterior color should have been the first pic. Kind off surprised me that the color is yellow
view cscamp20's profile
Love it all. Where, pray tell, did you get the great Ganesh statue?
view rebelle's profile
Lovely home and great colors!
view kimmiller's profile
Funny, I looked at the pics first and was thinking the house looked like an Austin house (that's a good thing) and it was!
I too would love to know the paint color in the living room! I really love all the artwork and that it's do-able DIY. I would not have guessed those shapes were foam, I thought they must have been wood cut outs. This is one of my fave house tours, It's so bright and colorful, but not overdone.
view TrueTex's profile
bright and fresh. the huge chair in the bathroom is quite cheeky! one could do a lot of reading undisturbed!
view SpanishOlives's profile
this is one of my favourites so far because i have mostly neutral color walls (I do love my living room paint color, it took me ages to decide on it... Stonehouse by Benjamin Moore) and furniture too, so this gives me a lot of ideas how to make my space look pretty... i love the wall art!
view purplegold's profile
i really like this - i can see myself hanging out in this place. nice one.
view red.door.read.'s profile
I have to agree with Brooke. I think the house is perfection! So simple, sweet, but not too bare.......but that CHAIR in the bathroom. I literally *shivered* out of sickness when I saw it. I know that I would never be able to sit in it, but maybe if it were my own "feces spray" on it I might feel differently.
P.s. that last part was supposed to be a joke...although I have heard that with every flush of the toilet, feces particles disseminate over the room. Ever since I heard that little jewel I have had a little (big?) complex.
view kav122's profile
@kav122
To ease you of your complex' influence on design, (no pun intended) is easily contained by putting down the lid--before you flush.
Overall, hannac, a lovely home. Thanks for letting us in!
view kilocallan's profile
@kav122
corrected to say:
To ease you of your complex' influence on design, the matter (no pun intended) is easily contained by putting down the lid--before you flush.
best regards.
view kilocallan's profile
I liked the fact that the outside shot was last. The yellow was like a punch line.
view Joan A.'s profile
This is so fun to read! Yall are great!
The bathroom is bigger that pictures are able to show, so there is actually some distance between the toilet and chair.
But Ill admit, my husband thought it was a little weird too :)
view hannac's profile
Hanna! Your house is too cute! It was fun seeing another Austinite's house! :)
view lovedani's profile
Nice and I really like the exterior.
view hrhprincessfiona's profile
I love the colors and you have given me inspiration to go to Paper Source and buy japanese paper cut and put in glass frames.
view kmccullin's profile
What a great house tour. This place is totally inviting and you get a great sense of the persons style. It just has a fantastic energy.
P.S.
The calendar is genius!
view modernguy's profile
Hanna, kudos to you for creating an uplifting space!
The chair in the bathroom removes the "utility" of the room; suggests prosperity and leisure. A lovely place to sit and chat while a bather soaks in bubbles.
view KathrynSo's profile
this is gorgeous!
what a serene, sunny home you have.
view abigailbelle's profile
Lovely home!
view Zohreh's profile
I love the clean simplicity of this home. Can you tell me what paint color you used? I am looking for a creamy beige tone for my apartment, and I really like this.
view cecnyc's profile
Hanna, this home is just as great as your previous one. Thanks for sharing!
view ElizabethKTx's profile
I love the colour of and in the house. The bright pops of colour from the simple artwork (brilliant calendar idea!) against the neutrals make the place seem so happy.
view momnipotent's profile
Totally love your house, I have the Malm bedroom set too! I love all the colors!
view colleen2009's profile
I finally got the paint color!
Its is the lowes/valspar brand
the color is churchhill hotel ecru
view hannac's profile
oh i would love to have a house with such character. all the houses where i live are new and are so cookie cutter, they all look alike with no personality.
beautiful house and great ideas!
view Dayjay's profile
Hi Hanna - I stopped in the store today :) Blogged about it at http://handonhip.wordpress.com/
Nothing much, but had to brag! Thanks for everything - loved the house tour!
view Melanie Letot's profile
great floors
view RandiHecht's profile
This is lovely. Where is the green and white rug in the bedroom from?
view theseboots's profile
I love this, the brightness, the coziness, it's so colourful and cheerful, but still very calm and balanced. Love it.
view Esther414's profile
I have that calendar. And that is exactly what I am going to do with mine when the year's over, except, I'm going to start the color spectrum with a different month.
Nice place.
view tripleB's profile
Your home is beautiful! Such great use of color and the art work is fun and unique! Great job!
view lviox's profile
Wonderful home! I was wondering where you get that fantastic sculpture of Ganesh!
view ilovermont's profile
What a great little pillow. I'm wondering if you sewed it, or bought it... if so, do tell where from!
view RandiHecht's profile
I just read and found out. fab! thanks
view RandiHecht's profile
great! lovely!
and my blog: www.Kitchenbuilding.com
view kitchenbuilding's profile
I would love to have a bathroom spacious enough to have a chair in it!
Very nice place
view pvdnh's profile
where did you buy this white couch?
view itsthehouseshow's profile
I am moving to Austin and was wondering what neighborhood this house is in. I would love to rent a 1920s bungalow.
view brookeraymond's profile