Name: Melanie
Location: Lake Villa, Illinois
My house was built in 1952 by a guy named Ernie who worked at a lumberyard. Fast forward 58 years and now my boyfriend (a carpenter who is also named Earnie) are making it a fun, comfortable home.
My style is eclectic. Sort of a nod to the past mixed with farmhouse chic (I always wanted to live in a farmhouse!) and thrifty, thrifty, thrifty! Chippy paint and rust is found throughout my house.
Inspiration comes from everywhere, but some of my go to sources are old issues of Mary Englebreit Home magazine, Country Living, blogs, and of course Apartment Therapy.
When I bought the house, there was wallpaper galore, white tile floors in the kitchen and dining room, lots of carpet everywhere else, and brass on every fixture. Once I put the hardwood floors in throughout the first floor, it transformed the space. Removing the wallpaper was another major improvement that brought my house out of the 1980's.
Spray paint is my best friend. I have used it to update fixtures, paint furniture, and we even spray painted a fridge that my boyfriend picked up from someone's garbage!
My favorite sources are thrift shops, flea markets, and giveaways — with a small splash of IKEA thrown in for some basics.
Thanks Melanie!
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Comments (9)
love the bevvie bar! Was this something leftover from Ernie1 or created by Ernie2?
Great looking either way.
Love the kitchen! And the colors in the living room are exactly the colors I plan to use in mine :)
Good call on the hardwood floors.
I grew up in Lake Villa! Oh, you live so close, you have to come into my store :)
Love the back splash in the kitchen and the whole vibe of the living room. Rich browns and light, airy blue make such a yummy combo, especially in a 50s era home.
Cool fridge!
PS - You guys need some editors (or better ones). Every day, I find glaring grammatical errors in these posts.
The kitchen's not really my style, but I would be willing to see the rest of the house - really like what I can see of the dining & living areas!
LOVE how you use the vintage pepsi/coke/hi-q wooden crates!!! show 'em how it's done!!!
they remind me of these: http://bongrande.blogspot.com/2011/01/vintage-milk-crates.html
Thanks guys! I'm honored to be on AT! I wish my pics were a bit better :)
EclecticDs---where are you now and what is your store?
Collin--the fridge was in the garbage and my boyfriend brought it home. We stained the wood panels and then spray painted the rest of it black (it was white). It's a lot newer than the fridge that came with the house!
And cjcis--the beverage bar was a Target find last year. I literally squeezed it into the back seat of my car!
So funky and fun! I love the cabinet with all the collections!
Beautiful Mel!!!! love your style and taste ;)