Elise’s Eclectic Cottage in the Mountains
Name: Elise Becker
Location: Franklin, North Carolina
Size: 1,200 square feet
Years lived in: 6 months; owned
An old house with lots of original charm is now a groovy and colorful dreamboat filled with vintage objects and funky heirlooms. If you thought the days of orange, green, and yellow were long gone, a tour of this sweet sixties throwback will show you that they still live on, and are as fantastic as ever.
Elise is a sunny and funny gal, and her spirit shines through in her whimsical home. She made a concerted effort to trim down her vintage collections when she moved from her mountain house of twenty years to this 1920s charmer in town six months ago. The result is an edited and thoughtful arrangement of her eclectic pieces, and it’s really quite special.
When you enter the house through the sunroom, you feel a bit like Dorothy stepping into a land of vibrant color. Pinks, reds, and blues make this room a true piece of eye candy. The inviting old antique bed in the corner is surrounded by windows and a rainbow of color; a spot to daydream with your most vivid imagination.
You then walk into the heart of the home, the dining room. A colorful chandelier is a perfect example of Elise’s decorating style. “I think every room should have a little element of FUN in it,” she says. Elise kept all the paint colors in the house the same when she moved in, and got inspiration from what was already there. A striped IKEA rug with blues and oranges successfully ties the room together.
The living room is warm and comfortable and features an amazing chevron sectional. Pops of orange and a rug placed on an angle give a dynamic energy to the space. The stained glass windows are showpieces of their own, and the built-in bookshelves keep Elise’s book collection in order.
The master bedroom is like a dream for every girl with a teenage spirit. The word “love” makes an appearance throughout the room, pillows are piled on the bed, and the bedside table is adorned with Elise’s vintage jewelry pieces, ready to be worn to the next music festival. Elise’s youthful style continues with a wall shelf displaying little dolls, but an added cowhide on the floor seasons the room with a dash of grown up sophistication.
The guest room is delightful; it is painted in a cheery yellow and filled with antiques from Elise’s family. The plaques of birds create a halo above the bed, sweetly singing a peaceful song to anyone who might stay there. The old rocking horse is missing his eyelashes, but with Halloween around the corner, Elise is on the hunt for an extravagantly long pair to glue back on him.
Her collections of owls, crocheted afghans, cookie jars, and ash trays will take you back to memories of growing up in the good ol’ days. But you won’t find dark wood paneling, heavily patterned wallpaper, or thick carpet in this house, so Elise’s retro style takes on a whole new, much brighter and lighter, look—fit for a modern flower child.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My Style: Eclectic Vintage
Inspiration: I am a collector of all things that make me happy. My favorite Shel Silverstein poem is… “Hector the Collector.”
Favorite Element: The age and sweetness of the little house itself. It is so sweet I could have just put a couple of big pillows in the middle of it and lived there happily ever after!!
Biggest Challenge: People tell me that “less is more.” I try to remember that.
What Friends Say: “Oh, it’s such sweet cozy little house,” and “What the heck did you do with all the rest of your stuff!?”
Biggest Embarrassment: When I say my house just looks like a very organized thrift store and someone actually agrees with me! Then I’m like… “Wait!! What???”
Proudest DIY: All of my dangles that hang by the sunroom bed. I love beads and prisms!
Biggest Indulgence: Living Room chevron sofa purchased from Atomic Furnishings and Design
Best Advice: Think out of the box. The only thing sacred in life is God… other than that anything can be painted and sparkled.
Resources of Note:
PAINT & COLORS
SUNROOM
LIVING ROOM
DINING ROOM
KITCHEN
ELISE’S BEDROOM
SCREENED PORCH
Thanks, Elise!
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