The Interview: Allie H.
The Interview is a monthly post that explores serene spaces and the people who create them.
A serene space, replete of clutter with every item in its place, needn’t be a small space. Yes, my inaugural post for The Interview featured a 600 square foot studio apartment. But today I am thrilled to showcase another home, this one 2,700 square feet of serenity located in Granger, Indiana. There live a family of four, plus a dog and a cat.
Allie - an elementary school teacher, wife and mother of two - is an old friend. Since 5th grade we’ve bonded over Sweet Valley High books, forts in the woods and boys. It wasn’t until recently that Allie and I realized we shared another love: organizing and decluttering. On all my trips to plan the wedding up in northern Indiana, I’d visit Allie. I’d stop by later in the evening, when the kids were asleep, and we’d gab away the hours just like when we were girls. During one of these visits we discovered that our shared passion for “Beverly Hills 90210” (Donna Martin graduates, guys) had graduated into a passion for simple, stylish living. I’m not the only one who always has a Goodwill bag at the ready.
Allie’s home blossoms with serenity, starting with her gorgeous gardens. Upon entering the house, with its spacious rooms and thoughtful décor, it is clear this family chooses not to accumulate, despite children and space. Please take note of their recently renovated kitchen, the valances sewn by Allie herself, not to mention the carpentry designed and built by her husband, John. Enjoy her home and her answers below.
Describe your home's style.
Our style can best be described as modern country, striving for that balance between traditional and contemporary. I love the feel of casual, inviting spaces that aren't overly fussy or busy. In our home, we have a tendency to use mostly neutral palettes and gravitate towards blues, grays and greens when we venture into color (which I personally attribute to our family’s love of the outdoors). And although I don’t usually stray from subtle, light colors, I still put a lot of thought (and rethought) into the colors on our walls. I collect paint swatches like some collect baseball cards. As some women sneak shopping bags into their home, I sneak in paint cans.
While I love the simplicity of clean lines and little clutter, I still wish for our living spaces to be cozy and surrounded by possessions we love. And to keep clutter at bay, admittedly, I’m fairly selective on what I have in my home. I want for my furniture to be practical and functional as well as pleasing to the eye. (Our coffee table is a trunk that houses throws and puzzles and games for our kiddos.) I choose wall décor that’s both pretty and personal. (On our walls you’ll mostly find family photographs and mementos from favorite places.)
Custom cabinets by John.
What is serene about your space?
At first I’m tempted to answer this with thoughts of the airy, inviting and tidy space that we’re trying to create. However those qualities are likely to apply to any serene space. Thinking more specifically about our space, its serenity for me is due to the fact that it’s our own home.
Like most lucky people, I've been able to fill my home with my favorite people, my favorite things and my favorite memories. And while those things may be represented in styles I choose, the designs are not the main reason for its serenity. I've always been a homebody. Even as an adult, I have a tendency to get homesick. I’m like my dad (also a homebody) in this way. He once pointed out to me that you build a home with people you love and things you love, so why would anyone prefer another place? As much as I enjoy visits with friends and family vacations, I can’t help but often rather be home over anywhere else.
Her grandmother's cabinet, painted red by Allie, for a pop of color.
Share with us one tip on how you keep your home serene.
I remember reading a suggestion, “Don’t put it down; put it away”. Although I often catch myself putting things down, to be moved later, I’m often able to remind myself that it doesn't take that much more time to shred that piece of junk mail, rather than stack it on the counter. Or I can put my purse in the closet in about the same amount of time as I can toss it onto the kitchen chair. Clean counters, an empty sink and other clear areas help me to enjoy my home rather than continually calculate a to-do list. Everything in our house has a “home”; sometimes, I just need a reminder to put it there.
Vintage poster advertising Lake Michigan's Indiana Dunes, where we'd play as children.
Tell us about your favorite possession. How did you acquire it? What makes it so special?
I've never been one to hang on to things I don’t particularly like or need. If it’s not something I use or want to keep on display, I’m likely to part with it. And because it’s difficult to let go of items that hold sentimental value, I’m always happy when I have a practical use for a meaningful item. My day-to-day jewelry rests on a small, silver tray that I keep on top of my dresser. This tray belonged to my grandmother and is engraved with her name. I love that this piece belonged to her and that it now holds my wedding and engagement rings…beautiful, personal and it serves an organizational purpose.
What influences your personal sense of style?
Clean lines and light colors describe most of the décor in our home. I have a love for anything painted white, fabrics with stripes, and anything I can monogram. Although there isn't necessarily a designer or particular style that my husband and I follow, we always seem to know what we like and take pride in the fact that many of our home projects we do ourselves. We know what we can do on our own (or what we’re willing to try our hands at) and we enjoy the opportunities to paint, refinish, sew or build. Our ongoing projects often mean I have paint on my skin for days in a row and my husband is mistaken for a Menards employee, rather than a customer… but I don’t think we’d have it any other way.
Handmade valances by Allie.
Custom bed frames by John.
List your five favorite websites and/ blogs.
I love anything centered on DIY, home renovation and minimalism…
a fairy garden.
Favorite South Bend/Granger local
I recently discovered Refurnished with Flair and Old Dog New Tricks. Both of these establishments (housed together in Granger) sell home furnishings that have been re-purposed. New paint, new hardware or fabric freshens up what most would pass over as dated décor. On a recent trip, I found a beautiful off-white metal headboard for our guest room and my mom found a wicker coffee table that had been repainted in a crisp white. What’s not to love about stores that are environmentally responsible and sell well-made furniture at great prices?
a serene garage.
Indiana University cornhole boards.
A custom cabinet (to store cleaning supplies) in the making, to be housed in the laundry room.
