Siouxland house tour: 10 things to love about a DIY, vintage glam haven
Wonderful things come to those who wait. At least that’s true when pulling together an endearingly eclectic design with handpicked one-of-a-kind pieces. After being lured in by the trappings of convenience and same-day delivery in the past, Christina Kennette committed to filling her family’s new home in Dakota Dunes with furnishings they can love for more than a few years. “I looked for a long time and a lot of it is custom,” she said. “I’m a bit of a DIYer.” Every room has a DIY project she can proudly point out from pillows and curtains to tables and chairs. “I save and splurge. That’s my motto,” she said. Christina and her husband Greg, two engineers hailing from Canada, moved to Siouxland for CF Industries’ Port Neal expansion project last year. Since then, she’s slowly added stunningly simple elements to each space, creating an overall feel that’s a little bit beachy and boho but totally glam.
1. Tranquil Retreat
Everything happens here. Family time, play, leisure. One-year-old Isaac likes to cozy up on the cobalt blue velvet couch just as much as his mom. This is where she spends most of her time when she’s not working. Nothing is better than curling up with a hot cup of coffee to read design blogs or her favorite home decorating magazines from Canada while her growing son plays on the floor.
2. DIY Wall Art
For two weeks, while Isaac was napping, Christina got creative with acrylic paint for a large-scale piece of DIY wall art, inspired by Gray Malin’s aerial beach photography. The coastal scene, dotted with red and white striped umbrellas, hanging above the fireplace is one of her favorite things in the house. She’s never made a painting before.
3. Old Meets New
The wingback chairs come from days long gone just like the chaise lounge by the window. Christina found these promising pieces on Etsy, an online marketplace for vintage and handmade items.
She fell in love with a serene, subtle tie-dye print in muted shades of seafoam green and blue but needed something hardwearing that could withstand a toddler’s antics. She had that fabric put on the backs while the seats are covered with a white. A bold choice? Not really, she said.
Before committing to the combination, she tested a swatch of the white Sunbrella outdoor fabric and could lift stains from red wine, coffee and mustard with a baby wipe.
4. Neutral Palette
“One of my favorite designers is Sarah Richardson. She’s a Canadian designer. I love her style. She does a lot of the painted cabinets. I didn’t want to just do white, but I knew I didn’t want to do any sort of color. When I was first doing the design of the main area, I knew I wanted to stick with white, cream and gray,” Christina said.
5. Inside Nature
The dining table, handcrafted by a carpenter in Rhode Island, features a slab top with a natural edge that highlights the contours and beauty of the wood. Christina brought the dining chairs into this decade by replacing the foam and reupholstering them with white, bumpy leather. These were another Etsy find.
She also fashioned living centerpieces from succulents brought back from a brief vacation in Scottsdale, Ariz.
6. Vintage Vibe
Luxe textures and patterns add depth and interest to the black and white master bedroom. The vintage bench at the foot of the bed has been given new life with floral fabric by Ellie Cashman, an artist and designer known for her blossoming large-scale prints. And a Moroccan wedding blanket from the ‘60s or ‘70s hangs over the bed. “I love vintage stuff,” Christina said. “I just think it brings some character in.”
7. Hollywood Glam
The acrylic console table in the master bathroom was built from another DIY idea. “I like doing projects like that. I feel like it just makes it your home,” Christina said. And you’ll notice she adds a bit of glitz and glam to every room, even the bathrooms, with light fixtures: the jewelry of home décor.
8. Kid-Kind Design
A kid’s room doesn’t have to sacrifice style for function. Look for pieces that do double duty like the colored buckets strategically placed on low-hanging hooks to toss toys in for easy cleanup. “Buckets and baskets are the best for kids,” Christina said.
9. Common Threads
Since the Kennettes are transplants in Siouxland, they have visitors fairly often. “It’s nice to have a spot for them,” she said. Christina created an inviting guest room based on a multicolored fabric she bought on eBay. She made a Roman shade and throw pillows and added elements from there.
“I usually start with a fabric … and then I just build off of that,” she said. “It all comes together if you stick with the same color palette. I like to have every room a little bit different but still have the same common thread through the house.”
10. Outdoor Inspirations
The dining room opens to a covered patio with a blackened privacy fence. The look was achieved through a Japanese technique, called shou sugi ban, which Christina saw on the DIY Network. Torching the wood actually preserves it and makes it resistant to rot and pests. Plus, it’s nearly maintenance-free.
Wonderful things come to those who wait. At least that’s true when pulling together an endearingly eclectic design with handpicked one-of-a-ki…
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