apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I surround myself with things that make me happy. My decorating style is based on my attraction to found objects—things that have a history and energy that existed before they came into my life. By bringing these things together into one space, I create a new story. There are no rules. I mix and match colors, styles, textures and patterns and somehow it all works. I do not worry about the restraints of traditional decorating. It is important for my home to feel comfortable and inspiring, to my guests and me. Above all else, there are definitely some great conversation pieces!



The large red painting in the living room was found at a local vintage boutique and features Mexican loteria cards. The portrait of the lady in yellow I found at one of my favorite places, The Guild Shop. It was only $7 and came with the wired lamp! The small linear painting is by local artist William Betts. I found the ceramic logs at a garage sale and loved them at first sight. Some day I hope to have a fireplace I can actually use them in, but for now they are art.



I purchased Romeo, my baby goat, from Saks Fifth Avenue. He was a prop from their cashmere campaign and definitely puts a smile on my face.



The vintage table and chair in my kitchen were made by CHROMCRAFT and I use it as more of a workspace rather than dining. The large piece of coral was a housewarming gift.



This is the second bedroom. The large oil painting is a portrait of Gene Tierney that was purchased at a local antique store. The portrait to the right is of me and was commissioned by my mother my senior year of high school. I love the 80’s big hair and it usually makes my guests laugh when they realize who it is. The vintage resin swag lamp was a gift from my mother and the dresser I found at Room Service in Austin for $100.



The entry to my bedroom features a large silhouette collection that hangs from floor to ceiling. They were either gifts or found at flea markets; none were purchased on eBay. The thrill of the hunt is far more rewarding than receiving something in the mail! The striped chair I found on the side of the road with a sign that read “free” and it is Howdy’s, my longhaired daschund. As you can see his blanket is in place at all times. The vintage desk chair is Steelcase.



I found these matching lamps at an antique store marked half off because they needed rewiring. I rewired them myself and had custom lavender shades lined in black made for them. The little lady in blue hiding behind the lamp was a gift from my sweet friend Courtney Barton {that's me!}. The other bedside table, which are yellow filing cabinets, holds a small sampling of my clock collection, none of which work. I like to imagine the last person that owned the clock and what might have been happening when the clock stopped. The black and white photo is my mother and the mantle clock was my granny’s—another one of my favorite things. The boots make me happy and I do wear them on a rainy day.


See more of Brian's home on Inside the Loop

Thanks for sharing Brian and Courtney!