Lifestyle blogger Carrie Waller has always been attracted to the architectural aesthetics of 1960s California ranch houses…but never dreamed she and her husband John would find one in the small town of Waynesboro, Virginia. “So, when I stumbled upon the cool A-frame silhouette of our current home on Zillow while house hunting, I was hooked. All it took was one in-person walk-through to seal the deal because the interior turned out to be just as cool as the retro exterior — brass fixtures, vaulted ceilings, pocket doors, and all!”

Carrie and John have now owned this dreamy MCM home for two years and they’ve had to deal with a very, very tight budget when furnishing its many rooms. Purchasing “not-quite-perfect” vintage furniture they’ve fixed up and reupholstered and settling for some inexpensive reproductions — mixed with Carrie’s natural talents at styling — has been the perfect recipe for a light and bright home with a cozy, vintage vibe.

My Style: My husband and I tend to gravitate toward the eclectic side of traditional mid-century modern decor.

Inspiration: It may seem a little strange, but one of my biggest sources of inspiration is classic film. Whenever I rewatch a favorite old Jane Fonda or Cary Grant movie, I get re-inspired to hunt down retro antiques and furniture. I love pulling ideas from rooms that were actually set in the 1950s and ’60s versus the mid-century reproduction rooms you see in catalogs today.

Favorite Element: Undoubtedly, the edgy, angular elevation out front. I’ve always been drawn to the look of 1960s California ranches, but never thought that we would find one here in our small Virginia town. So, when I stumbled upon the cool A-frame silhouette of our current home on Zillow while house hunting, I was hooked. All it took was one in-person walk-through to seal the deal because the interior turned out to be just as cool as the retro exterior—brass fixtures, vaulted ceilings, pocket doors, and all!

Biggest Challenge: Our biggest hang-up has been having to settle for inexpensive reproduction furniture and fixtures because we can’t afford the real deal just yet. Our tight budget often kills the dream of actually being “authentically” mid-century through and through.

What Friends Say: That it’s so bright! Nearly all of the rooms in our home are painted pure white to maximize natural light.

Biggest Embarrassment: The fact that the ceiling in our upstairs bathroom has gaping holes in it and still shows raw drywall from where I pulled the old drop tiles out last March. Oh, the joys of being a DIY decorator…everything tends to happen in slow motion as we wait on time and budget to allow for certain updates and repairs.

Proudest DIY: The white subway tile backsplash in our kitchen. It took days of constant, back-breaking work, but the clean white finish we enjoy now was so worth it. We give our blood, sweat, and tears freely to this beloved home of ours!

Biggest Indulgence: Reupholstered mid-century furniture. I bought an old retro couch off Etsy and a beaten-up side chair from Galaxie Modern, then (once budget allowed) had them reupholstered. The new Moore & Giles leather on the sofa is a dream, and the blue Sunbrella fabric we chose for the side chair is refreshing and — better still — able to withstand just about everything our cat throws at it. Reupholstering is an investment, sure, but a worthy one in my book.

Best Advice: When it comes to your home, you do you. I decorated according to the trends for years, but finally decided to go with my gut this year. I’ve never felt more at home.

Dream Sources: Galaxie Modern here in Virginia. I’ve only ever been able to afford more “in-progress” type pieces from their back warehouse, but I’m anxiously awaiting the day we can splurge on something from their showroom up front.

PAINT & COLORS
Sherwin Williams — High Reflective White
Sherwin Williams — Glimmer (unknown, but similar)

LIVING ROOM
Sofa — The White Pepper
Sofa Leather — Moore & Giles
Female Portrait— Minted
Blue Abstract — Minted
Horse Portrait — Minted
Plant Line Drawing — Minted
Side Table — Home Depot
White Table Lamp — Target
Carpet — Home Depot
Console Cabinet — Circa
Mint Record Player — Amazon (similar)
Triangle Painting — DIY
Large Side Chair — Galaxie Modern
Mint Side Chair Fabric — BuyFabrics.com
Reupholstery — Phil’s Upholstery
Curtains — West Elm
Vase — Anthropologie (similar)
Magazine Basket — West Elm
Floor Pot — Modernica
Marble & Gold Table Lamp — West Elm
White Throw Blanket — Meridian
Framed Female Portrait — Stuarts Draft Antique Mall
Small Side Chair — Estates & Consignments
Side Chair Leather — Moore & Giles
Bar Cabinet — Queen City Marketplace
Tile Coffee Table — Covesville Antiques

FAMILY ROOM
Rug — Home Depot
Sofa — Home Depot
Side Chair — La-Z-Boy
Recliner — Galaxie Modern
TV Cabinet — Home Depot
Hairpin Leg Side Table — DIY
Framed Horse Print — Photos.com
Ceiling Fans — Home Depot
Felt Ball Garland — Minted
White Curtains — Home Depot
Sheer Curtains — Home Depot
Framed Man Portrait — Photos.com
White Pouf — Joss & Main
Black and White Vase — DIY
Tufted Ottoman — Circa
Laminate Flooring — Home Depot

DINING ROOM
Chandelier — Lamps Plus
Table — Galaxie Modern
Chairs — Overstock
Marble Pastry Board — Crate & Barrel
Wooden Bowl — Target (similar)
Placemats — Target
Framed Paris Photograph — Minted
Monogrammed Wine Glasses — Personalization Mall
Globe — Covesville Antiques

KITCHEN
Shelves — IKEA
Sugar Dish — West Elm
White Canisters — West Elm (similar)
Cookbook Stand — Crate & Barrel
Monogrammed Cutting Board — Personalization Mall
Granite Countertops — Goose Creek Granite
White Subway Tile — BuildDirect
Cross-Stitch House Portrait — DIY
Oil & Vinegar Set — Le Creuset
Brass Cabinet Bars — Forge Hardware Studio
Brass Cabinet Knobs — Forge Hardware Studio
Gold Faucet — Delta
White Bread Box — Amazon
Wall Clock — Estates Revisited

MASTER BEDROOM
Bed Frame — Wayfair
Rug — Rugs Direct
Throw Blanket — Target
Striped Shams — Wayfair
Side Table — Galaxie Modern
Gray Linen Bedding — Parachute
Side Chair — Galaxie Modern
Tabletop Clock — Target
Wood Table Lamp — AllModern
Female Portrait — Minted
Cornice Board Fabric — Fabric.com
Gold Arch Table Lamp — Wayfair
Dresser — DIY
Bookshelf — Estates & Consignments
Ceiling Fan — Lamps Plus

GUEST BEDROOM
Blue vase — Wise Apple Vintage
White Macrame Pillow — West Elm
Blue Color-blocked Pillow — West Elm (similar)
White Linen Bedding — Parachute
Curtains — Target
Mint Table Lamp — Lamps Plus
Woven Basket — Meridian
Rug — AllModern (similar)
Two-Toned Round Baskets — Lamps Plus (similar)
Round Gold Mirror — West Elm (similar)
Bed Frame — Queen City Marketplace
Console Table — Estates & Consignments
Ceiling Fan — Lamps Plus
Rolling Side Table — Williamsburg Antique Mall

OFFICE
Brass Hardware — Forge Hardware Studio
Felt Letter Board — Letterfolk
Face Pot — DIY
Rug — Joss & Main
White Globe — I Spy DIY
Curtains — Target
White Ceiling Fan — Joss & Main
Landscape Painting — Minted
Abstract Painting — Minted
Dresser — Estates Revisited
Desk — Queen City Marketplace

SUNROOM
Sofa — DHP Furniture
Hanging Rattan Chair — Galaxie Modern
Round Side Table — Circa
Rug — AllModern (similar)
Pedestal Table — AllModern
Dining Chairs — Craigslist
Blue Polka Dot Pillow — CB Studio
Gold Polka Dot Pillow — Wayfair
Floor Pillows — Urban Outfitters
Wood Table Lamp — Amazon
Ceramic Table Lamp — Queen City Marketplace
Bamboo Tray — Queen City Marketplace
Magazine Ladder — DIY
Cellular Shades — Home Depot
Heart Vase — DIY
Oriental Rug — Staunton Antiques Center
Leather Coasters — DIY
Record Cabinet — Family Heirloom
Mint Triangles Pillow — Wayfair
Angled Multi-colored Pillow — Wayfair

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