Isn’t it always interesting to see where people come from? I’m fascinated by the homes of my favorite designers, and I’d be equally fascinated to see their childhood homes! From my own experience, creativity breeds creativity… even if the design aesthetic changes from one generation to the next. With this in mind, and from the exclamations of my friends that “Your parents’ house is SO COOL,” I thought I would share a house tour of the cabin in the woods my parents live in (and that I lived in since I was a baby until I was 19). I snapped some photos while Ryan and I were there on Christmas Eve before the rest of the guests arrived.
I consider both my parents to be artists, though by trade my dad is a musician (a blues drummer) and my mom runs a non-profit that serves the elderly in their rural community. The house has changed continuously over the years and is really a piece of art that reflects their values, hobbies, interests and lifestyle. Regular readers will probably note that my personal style is quite a bit different (less stuff, more traditional elements), but I like to think I inherited some of the creative spirit that they have. Sorry, no pictures of my childhood bedroom, which is now my mom’s home office and on Monday was Santa’s workshop!
Let’s get started!
The pointy art pieces are by my dad.
The “moonsnail” sign is from the gallery they owned when I was an infant. The boat (in the rafters) is being stored for a friend.
My parents built the seating to store their extensive vinyl record collection in drawers below.
From upstairs.
The railing is wood and copper.
Old maps.
Looking down (hi, Ryan!).
The post (with playable piano string running down the opposite side).
Just a glimpse of the kitchen…
In the bathroom. Stained glass, corrugated metal wall, mirror.
A peek at the front porch.
Thanks Mom and Dad for letting me share and for raising me in such a creative environment. At the very least I can see where my love of textiles comes from! Love you both.
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What a cool home your parents live in. I don’t usually like homes with a lot of stuff (for lack of a better term), but their home obviously doesn’t contain just any old “stuff”. I would be in heaven checking out all their textiles, art, even their record collection. Thank you for sharing!
Wow! This home is so cozy, vibrant, and full of life. This is is exactly the type of home that I hope my parents find so I can take my kids to one day.
Woah, your parents place is incredible! I’d be in the same boat as Lisa normally, but that’s a home full of stories and memories.
p.s. The picture hanging on the wall with the blue cupboards – is that from Mt Huashan hiking trail in China? The pictures of that place give me panic attacks. Mad props if your parents braved it.
Hi Alex, thank you! The photo is in China somewhere, but my parents purchased it at an art show, I believe. My mom and I share a pretty bad fear of heights, so I think it was especially impressive to her!