An Eclectic, Rustic Mix in the Woods

Written by

Adrienne BreauxHouse Tour Director at AT Media

updated Feb 19, 2019

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(Image credit: Melissa Desjardins Photography)

Name: Angie Cooper and Matt Johnson
Location: Midlothian, Virginia (just outside Richmond)
Size: 1,807 square feet
Years lived in: 1.5 years

Nestled on two acres of land and surrounded by tall trees, Angie and Matt’s home is a mix of styles. Rustic elements pay homage to the natural setting just outside, while modern pieces reflect their personalities. Add in antiques and vintage finds (as well as a motorcycle!), and the result is an inviting home with interesting stories everywhere you look.

(Image credit: Melissa Desjardins Photography)

Apartment Therapy Survey:

Our Style: It’s an eclectic mix. We have rustic elements, like the wall made from old shipping crates and the master vanity made from late-1800 floor joists. We also have more industrial elements, like the polished concrete ground floor, fixtures with exposed Edison bulbs, and factory cart coffee table. The rest of the style is us. One part cabinet of curiosities, one part vintage World War II imagery, and the rest more personal.

Inspiration: No single point of inspiration, just a mix of things that we’ve enjoyed along the way. It’s a natural evolution from almost Gothic antique Victorian roots to a more clean and modern aesthetic. The home is situated on two acres in the woods so the concept of living in nature is a huge inspiration, as well.

(Image credit: Melissa Desjardins Photography)

Favorite Element: We love it all! But our favorite space is the open living room and kitchen area. The living room and kitchen are where we spend the most time, and those rooms probably best represent our collective style. It’s the contrast that we love the most. Like mixing the clean look of white cabinets and marble counters with the grit of a 1967 Triumph chopper.

Biggest Challenge: There was some classic form vs. function tension throughout this project. Namely, with such a stylized house, how do you make a television, surround sound, and comfortable couch fit the space. We tried to find a balance between comfort, functionality, and aesthetic.

What Friends Say: So far, so good. Our friends seem to like the eclectic style, concrete floors, and yard.

(Image credit: Melissa Desjardins Photography)

Biggest Embarrassment: The upstairs shower faucet is backwards: hot is cold and cold is hot.

Proudest DIY: The wood wall we did in the living room takes the cake. It was definitely our biggest DIY undertaking, spanning multiple nights behind an old paint factory breaking down crates, loading our hatchback, and cutting and staining the boards. But we love it now, and it really does a lot to warm the space since our floors are concrete.

Biggest Indulgence: We wanted to do the kitchen right, so we went with marble counters and slate appliances. It cost us a little more, but we hang out there every day, so it was worth it. Honorable mention goes to the in-wall surround sound that we sprung for at the last minute. No regrets there either since we love to watch movies.

Best Advice: Don’t put off jobs during renovations just to save a few bucks. It’s amazing how much cheaper some projects were when the walls were opened up, floors were unfinished, and no painting had been done yet. If you can, try to finish it all at once.