Houzz Tour: Creative Resourcefulness in a 1970s Ranch
Combine design dexterity and abundant creativity with patience, and what do you get? A home awash in personality and style
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
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When James Angus and Jamie Bolton bought this 1970s ranch in Texas, their first home together, it was just a plain box. "We've made it our own," says Angus. "The previous owner had done a lot of the work himself on the cheap, and he'd made some bad decisions." The couple relished the challenge; they have been remodeling and decorating for three years, documenting their accomplishments on their blog, The Cavender Diary. "We started a blog to share the progress with our mothers; they are our two biggest fans. Everything we share is geared toward them," he says.
A self-proclaimed "organized hoarder" who loves junk, Angus has styled the house with a very sharp curator's eye, making it a comfortable nest full of personal touches and conversation pieces. Here's a look at the couple's progress so far.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: James Angus, Jamie Bolton and their rescued Doberman, Harley Davidson
Location: Dallas
Size: About 1,360 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Year built: 1972
A self-proclaimed "organized hoarder" who loves junk, Angus has styled the house with a very sharp curator's eye, making it a comfortable nest full of personal touches and conversation pieces. Here's a look at the couple's progress so far.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: James Angus, Jamie Bolton and their rescued Doberman, Harley Davidson
Location: Dallas
Size: About 1,360 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Year built: 1972
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| Angus has been collecting vintage Christmas ornaments for years and put them together to create this unique wreath. |
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I discovered Angus' talents when he shared the couple's stunning front door in our call for holiday entryway shots. Regarding the cow skull, he says, "Well, this is Texas!"
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| "I am addicted to pillows, because I can make them so easily," Angus says. He is a creative manager for Ralph Lauren and makes sure to retrieve 8-inch scraps from the seamstress whenever he has things like drapes sewn for work. Then he adds unique embellishments like letters from old varsity jackets. Portrait: "Chief Sitting Bear" by Edward Curtis, Ikea (discontinued); sofa: West Elm (floor model); wall paint: Fawn, Martha Stewart for Home Depot |
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One glance at this red powder-coated tool cart and Angus knew it would serve a good purpose — he just wasn't sure what at the time. He scooped it up for a cool $75. After he got it home, the figurative wheels started turning, and he retrofit it to serve as a bar cart, adding cork liners to the shelf and drawers. The drawers store a bottle opener, shot glasses, cocktail napkins, a bartender's guide and old-fashioned glasses.
Tool cart: Harbor Freight and Tools
Tool cart: Harbor Freight and Tools
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| "The fireplace was so awful. Someone had slapped one sloppy layer of an off-white/olive semigloss on it, dripped it all over and hadn't painted the grout," he says. "In black it looks larger than it is, the 8-foot ceilings look higher, and the fireplace looks deeper." |
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Angus fashioned the rolling log holder on the right from plumbing pipes. "Plumbing pipes are so cheap and they look great; I don't know why more people aren't using them," he says.
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"I love junk!" Angus professes. He believes this junk store find was once a sign on an American Airlines building.
Typical of a '70s ranch, this house lacks closet space, so the couple hangs coats and hats on a long pegboard, with boots lined up underneath. "I didn't even plan this out; I just hung them up. I try not to overstyle," Angus says. "I like to add layer upon layer ... that's how we live."
Typical of a '70s ranch, this house lacks closet space, so the couple hangs coats and hats on a long pegboard, with boots lined up underneath. "I didn't even plan this out; I just hung them up. I try not to overstyle," Angus says. "I like to add layer upon layer ... that's how we live."
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BEFORE: The kitchen renovation is the biggest task they've conquered so far. Note the original fluorescent tube light, cabinets that don't reach the ceiling and dated hardware. The couple kept the lower cabinets, as they were functioning just fine, as well as the terra-cotta floor. You'll find out where the upper cabinets wound up in a bit.
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They replaced the upper cabinets with tall models that extend all the way to the ceiling. They help make the 8-foot ceilings seem higher and offer a lot of storage space.
"I like the glass and brushed-steel doors, because they have just the right dose of science lab look," Angus says. "This house is more contemporary than our style, but we try to stay true to the house when making design decisions."
Cabinets: Ikea; dishwasher: Samsung
"I like the glass and brushed-steel doors, because they have just the right dose of science lab look," Angus says. "This house is more contemporary than our style, but we try to stay true to the house when making design decisions."
Cabinets: Ikea; dishwasher: Samsung
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The new countertops are granite, and the backsplash is travertine tile. The faucet is the Hjuvik from Ikea.
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They made room for a vent hood by relocating the microwave to the lower cabinet next to the refrigerator. Little moves like this made the room seem much larger. They also replaced the hardware with clean-lined brushed-steel handles to modernize the cabinets.
Vent hood: Luftig, Ikea; range: Samsung; cabinet hardware: Elliott's Hardware
Vent hood: Luftig, Ikea; range: Samsung; cabinet hardware: Elliott's Hardware
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A friend brought over these vintage Cesca chairs to sell in a garage sale, but no one bought them. They were once the property of the University of Texas, and the cane seats were replaced with more durable upholstered vinyl.
Table: Docksta, Ikea; globe pendant light: West Elm
Table: Docksta, Ikea; globe pendant light: West Elm
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A vintage ceramics collection adds a lot of color to the neutral palette of the kitchen. The collection includes pieces from Fiestaware, Bauer, Yellowware and Russel Wright.
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Angus also collects colorful oil jars, using them for dog-related storage like plastic bags and tennis balls for playing fetch.
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He fashioned this wine rack from 10-inch sections of a 10-foot-long PVC pipe.
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| The accent-pillow love extends to the bedroom as well. "Every night we stack them in a corner," says Angus, who knows he has pillow issues. The dresser under the window is three Ikea Malm dressers put together. "I have a theory about Ikea," he says. "Everyone uses it, but it shouldn't look the same in everyone's house; you have to make it your own and personalize it." Wall color: Fawn, Martha Stewart for Home Depot; blanket: Pendleton; office chair: oak, Salvation Army |
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| To hide the cords from these reading sconces, Angus fashioned an accent wall from stained 1- by 8-inch boards. The whole accent wall project cost about $125. Headboard: Rooms To Go; sconces, Restoration Hardware |
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| "Theoretically, a car is supposed to be allowed in this garage, but it hasn't happened so far," Angus says. The garage is clean and organized, and has its own character, thanks to the cedar-lined walls and pops of red accents. The plan for it involves caged pendants and Edison lightbulbs. |
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| These two medicine cabinets hold little things like nails and screws, organized in lidded and labeled jars. The old-school label maker is an favorite organizational tool in this household. |
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Angus is also a fan of wire baskets for corralling and organizing.
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The garage also contains the laundry area. Those old upper cabinets from the kitchen remodel function well out in the garage, where they hold items like laundry detergent. Hacked Ikea Lack shelves display a vintage globe collection.
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| More plumbing pipe serves as a rod for hanging clothes over the washer-dryer. |
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| These metal strips are knife magnets, usually used in kitchens; here they hold tools and paintbrushes. Angus and Bolton will tackle building a back deck next. "We've got a how-to book from Home Depot and we're good to go," says Angus. They also hope to tackle the master bathroom this year. "It's so terrible that we only use it for storage," he says. We look forward to seeing the results. |
Ideabook published on Dec. 23, 2012.
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If you have nothing nice to say please don' say anything.....
And I want to go dumpster diving at HER HOUSE.
Too many of us struggle with "stuff" but rarely has that stuff been collected, organized and arranged as thoughtfully and as well as this.
I like the way cloudb explained how to explore houzz through other users who leave comments.