Sure, Kate Richards of Drinking with Chickens may like to occasionally imbibe with poultry, but behind the scenes this self-taught cocktail blogger, color-embracing artist, self-proclaimed professional drinker, and insanely hilarious Instagrammer works hard to maintain her charming life. Gardening and taking care of animals (13… that we counted) is Kate’s forte, and enjoying a cocktail made with homegrown ingredients while hanging out with her chickens just comes naturally. Along with a following, Kate has built a beautifully quirky farmhouse that is the perfect sanctuary for herself, her husband Jonathon, and their flourishing feather (and fur) babies.

The couple purchased their house in 2008 and have spent the last decade renovating it to its current state. When they initially bought the home, it had been dilapidated and overgrown with weeds for years. After realizing the entire structure had no reinforcing beams and basically needed to be rebuilt, Kate felt like running for the hills (which are pretty much within walking distance, FYI). Instead, Kate and Jonathon endured the construction and have no regrets now that they live in a structurally sound 1908 farmhouse-style home that hearkens back to their roots.

From pigs to parrots, Kate grew up with a long list of animals, though, to her dismay, chickens never made the roster until she grew up to have a house of her own. As an adult, Kate took the reigns (metaphorically, not literally) on her own mini farm of sorts by building a chicken coop to house her nine chickens in her verdant homegrown backyard garden. Fortunately for Kate, Jonathon grew up in Texas and totally vibes with Kate’s farmhouse style.

My Style: Farmhouse Quirk.

Inspiration: Every Anthropologie store, plus a dash of Joanna Gaines and a sprinkle of Justina Blakeney, shaken over ice and topped with champagne.

Favorite Element: The Chicken Garden and Chicken Bar.

Biggest Challenge: The house is 110 years old and was vacant for five years before we bought it as a foreclosure. It really should have been torn down but we pulled it back from the abyss.

What Friends Say: People tell me this is a very happy house to be in. I can’t think of a better compliment.

Biggest Embarrassment: There is far too much chicken art in this house for me to try and act like I’m not a crazy chicken lady. Plus, the old cracked driveway that we will someday replace but haven’t yet been able to muster the funds or energy.

Proudest DIY: The whole damned house. It’s all one big ongoing DIY.

Biggest Indulgence: Our giant farmhouse kitchen sink. It was expensive and we are not people who buy expensive sinks. But this was worth it. You can bathe a boxer in it. Trust me.

Best Advice: Get you some chickens. Don’t worry so much about finishes and throw pillows. Just put chickens in your yard.

The furnishings in this house are like a case study for IKEA, World Market, and the Rose Bowl Flea Market. Also lots of stuff upcycled from my childhood home and bedroom that I’ve lugged with me over the years.

PAINT & COLORS
I pretty exclusively use Behr paint from Home Depot.
Exterior — Private Black
All trim on entire house plus walls in great room — Swiss Coffee
Front and exterior doors — Farmhouse Red (go figure)
Master bedroom and bath — walls Black Pepper, trim Swiss Coffee

LIVING ROOM
Sofa — Bassett Furniture (American Casual Scarbourough Sofa)
Armchair — IKEA EKTORP Armchair (discontinued striped slipcover)
Rugs — Wayfair
Metal Artwork — Kate Richards
Stair wall chicken painting — Emily Reid

INTERIOR DINING AREA
Table — World Market (discontinued)
Pendant — IKEA SINNEERLIG rewired with Color Cord Company coral houndstooth cloth wire
Chairs — Overstock
Bench seat — 3 IKEA EKTORP ottomans pushed together (discontinued striped slipcovers)
Barmoire — Upcycled early ’90s country oak TV cabinet from my childhood bedroom. They don’t make ’em like this anymore.
Dresser (entryway) — IKEA HEMNES in white

KITCHEN
Striped rugs — Annie Selke Montana Striped Woven Cotton
Grey Patterned rug — Crate and Barrel (discontinued)
Metal artwork on fridge wall — Kate Richards

MASTER BEDROOM
Storage bed — IKEA BRIMNES
Nightstands — IKEA HEMNES, repainted mint green
Pendant lights — Shades of Light color seeded glass pendant in aqua
Dresser — Built by my grandfather
Striped hallway rug — Annie Selke Birmingham black woven cotton
Plush lattice rug under bed — HomeGoods
Metal artwork — Kate Richards

MASTER BATHROOM
Bathtub — Signature Hardware Leith acrylic freestanding tub
Rugs — Annie Selke Gradation ticking woven cotton
Soap sign — Handmade by me
Red apothecary cabinet — Two random end tables “frankensteined” together by screwing one on top of the other, then painted red.
Towels — World Market

POWDER ROOM
Sink — Signature Hardware Halden porcelain wall mount sink
Mirror — IKEA (discontinued)
Wallpaper — Spoonflower All My Birds large Scandinavian folk art by Rebecca Reck Art peel-and-stick wallpaper

FRONT PORCH
Chairs — IKEA STORSTELE Armchair painted peach
Galvanized planters — World Market Metal Peyton barrel. Plus random vintage buckets from flea markets
Rugs — Amazon Mad Mats Moroccan indoor/outdoor floor mat in Cool Silver

BACK DECK
Table — Custom built (painted in Behr Tomorrow’s Coral )
Chairs — Home Depot, discontinued (painted in Rustoleum Eggplant Satin spray paint)
Sofa — World Market Grey Veracruz outdoor sectional
Various throw pillows — World Market
Rug — Pottery Barn Jessa stripe dhurrie rug
Metal bar cart — World Market metal Bexley bar

CHICKEN GARDEN
Fringed umbrellas — World Market
Chairs — IKEA STORSTELE armchair
Throw pillows — World Market
Side table — World Market
Frog fountain — Ballard Designs (discontinued)
Coop — Custom built

CHICKEN BAR
Back wall painted Behr Private Black
Countertop — Custom raw steel by Wilmington Iron Works
Tile — Home Depot Merola Tile Twenties Vintage ceramic tile
Bar stools — Clay Alder Home counter stools from Overstock
Custom neon chicken light — Brite Lite Tribe
Loveseat — World Market Gray Rapallo outdoor bench
Lounge chair — World Market Black and White Strap Girona outdoor accent chair
Side table — World Market Orange Octavia faceted outdoor stool
Throw pillows — World Market (red and white is from Target)
Green metal chest/coffee table — Repurposed from a good friend’s backyard.

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