Residing in our 119-year-old home is a wide array of plants, animals, and two human beings (me, Madeleine, and my roommate Lyndsey). We think of our space as a miniature interactive zoo, with 70+ houseplants keeping every room company, plus one bearded dragon, two geckos, two snakes, two cats, two hermit crabs, and two fish that guests love to observe and handle. We have bounced around from place to place each year, never fully expanding our roots, so we intended on this house being a temporary haven like the others. However, the bright space begged for more plants and our love for all things living expanded to reptiles and other small critters that bring us so much joy. Gradually the house became more full, alive, and a passion project of creating sanctuary for as long as we have the opportunity to live here.

Our home was acquired by a family member who bought it sight unseen, and the first time we saw the interior of it was after a disappointing day of apartment hunting in Denver. Because the house was listed as a tear-down, this family member graciously offered to let my roommate and I stay in the home until demolition and new building plans were underway. Move-in day included the entire family teaming up to paint all of the walls a fresh white, covering the mix of bright primary colors that adorned the walls previously. One small home improvement project led to another, and the next thing we knew, the owner was installing a new roof, gutters, windows, kitchen lighting, fixtures, and the exterior was being completely scraped and repainted. The original plan was to make the home more livable, since it was previously neglected for years. However, as we saw the old house transform from rundown and filthy into a cozy and inviting space, we felt more comfortable calling it home instead of a very temporary living space.

Lyndsey and I saw so much beauty in this house even in its state of despair, from the stunning original wood floors, to the brick walls in the bedroom and kitchen, to the incredible claw foot bath tub. I also love the quirks it has, like the door in the bathroom that leads to the backyard, and the antique steam radiators that like to thump and scare guests in the night. These features are things I have always dreamed about in a home and I feel incredibly lucky to get to appreciate them every day. The plant and animal life in here constantly captivates me too. I often work from home as a wedding photographer/editor and wanted to be in a space where I didn’t feel alone during the day. Taking breaks from looking at a screen includes watching my snakes slither through the faux fur rugs and setting my lizard to run free through the living room, laughing as she slides down the uncarpeted flooring. Tending to my plants around the house has also become a meditative practice where I can focus on the beauty around me and its growth.

I like to think about how many people have lived here over the decades since the home was built in 1900, how many storms this house has withstood, and what past residents have experienced and felt in this space. I thank this house regularly for letting us love it and give it a new life, and for sheltering the lives of all of the beings that live here.

My Style: Mid-century modern mixed with bohemian, vintage, and eclectic elements.

Inspiration: I am inspired by what I find in thrift shops and the nostalgic, cozy vibe of past generation’s home decor. I grew up in a smaller retirement town and so the best places to find something unique were always secondhand stores. My favorite one has mid-century modern furniture stacked to the ceiling and I always marvel at its beauty. My dad taught me to appreciate that style of furniture for its unique angles, shapes, and quality of the wood as he decorated his house with mid-century pieces that I envy.

For smaller decorative pieces, Lyndsey and I are inspired by anything found in nature. I am also a big believer that healthy, happy plants make the best “decor” and I am very much inspired by people’s houseplant-filled homes that I see on Pinterest and in houseplant Facebook groups.

Favorite Element: My favorite element of this house is definitely the brick walls in my bedroom. They are the original bricks from 1900 and they are handmade and worn looking. Each one has unique character and they make the room feel so homey. I also admire the wood shelving wall that was built in to that room by a previous owner. I collect old cameras so it is the perfect spot to display them, along with all of my other knick-knacks. My favorite design element is the general amount of greenery in every room. I don’t feel like a room is complete without it.

Biggest Challenge: The kitchen was very dark, and had a dark green wall with gray accent walls when we first moved in. The floor is also a funky vinyl design, which I can’t decide if I like or hate. None of the overhead lighting worked either. New overhead can lighting was installed, and we repainted the walls with the same neutral white as the rest of the house, and it feels much brighter and cleaner now.

Proudest DIY: I sanded, repaired, and refinished the hanging swing on our front porch. The paint was crumbling, nails were missing, and the wood was sharp and splintery when we first moved in and we debated on just buying a new one. I hate letting anything go to waste though, so after some TLC it is now usable and by far my favorite place to sit/swing during warm evenings.

Biggest Indulgence: Our TV stand/credenza in the living room. I got it from that mid-century modern secondhand store in my hometown that I mentioned earlier. It was one of the most beautiful pieces I had ever seen and the store owner sold it to me for around $300, which is more than my other furniture pieces but still quite a deal for what gorgeous shape it is in. The wood has a beautiful finish and it just smells so good (like a cabin) inside of the cabinet parts.

Best Advice: Don’t pay too much attention to what you feel like you “should” do when decorating your space. Ultimately it is for you, and for you to comfortably express yourself. If you really love a decoration, like a “strange” piece of art, then display it! Display what makes you happy and inspires you.

PAINT & COLORS
White Paint throughout House — Behr’s eggshell white from Home Depot
Office Accent Wall — Benjamin Moore’s Hunter Green

ENTRY
Entry Console Table — Inherited from family

LIVING ROOM
Sofa — Facebook Marketplace
Red Rug – Size 5×7 — Wayfair
Coffee Table — Carson Carrington Avalon Coffee Table from Overstock
TV Stand — Second Hand Man Thrift Store, Prescott, AZ
Plants — Many from Paulino Gardens in Denver, CO
Circular Mustard Pillow — West Elm

DINING ROOM
Dining Table — Inherited from family
Rattan Hanging Light — IKEA
Orange Dining Chairs — Wayfair
Rattan Shelf — Goodwill
Wood Low Shelf — Goodwill
Bamboo Plant Stand by Window — Amazon
Wall Art/Mirrors — Thrifted

KITCHEN
Wall Hanging and Decor — Thrifted
Sink Rug — Target

MADELEINE’S BEDROOM
Headboard — Second Hand Man in Prescott, AZ
Bed Frame — Wayfair
Rugs — Thrifted
Faux Fur Bed Blanket — West Elm
Wooden Shelves — Built in/came with house
Antique Bedside Table — Inherited from family
Old Window Pane — From this house
Wall Hanging Above Bed — Family heirloom

OFFICE
Desk — Thrifted/OfferUp
Chair — Wayfair
Futon — Walmart
Futon Blankets and Pillows — Target
Full Body Mirror — Target
Faux Fur Rug — Thrifted/ IKEA originally
Wall Art — Thrifted
Bearded Dragon Renaissance Portrait — Artist Mike Blascoe @mikeblascoe

LYNDSEY’S BEDROOM
Bed Frame, Desk, Dressers — IKEA
Faux Fur Rug — IKEA
Multi-colored Rug — Thrifted
Wood Coffee Table — Inherited from family

BATHROOM
Bathtub Rugs — Target

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