I've known Patti peripherally for years. She's my cousin's good friend, and lives in Cleveland. Her sartorial style has always been on point, so when my cousin told me I had to see her home, I needed no convincing. Patti has an effortless touch to all that she does - be it raising her three daughters or renovating her midcentury modern home (both with the help of her husband, Anthony). A ranch with a walk-out basement, the home was built in 1960 by an engineer/architect who lived in the home with his wife until they passed (within 6 months of each other - true love). Patti and Anthony purchased the home then (about four years ago). They tell me they still have some updates on their list of things to do, mostly concerning the outdoor living spaces (!!!) -- exciting to me, as it means I'll be returning for an updated interview somewhere down the line! But for now, I can't stop swooning over the serene space they live in -- as is. I hope you enjoy it, and Patti's answers, below.

Describe your home's style.
Our home was built in 1960 in the mid-century modern style. During our renovation, it was important to us to stay true to the architectural integrity of that time period while adding some modern flair. We did a lot of scaling back and removing rotted wood and over grown bushes which exposed the true beauty and genius of the home. I'd say our personal style is a little more laid back and bohemian than mid century so we added our flair with updated colors and some more relaxed furniture. It sounds like our home style is having a bit of an identity crisis - but it's actually kind of evolved very naturally.

What is serene about your space?
Everything. I loved the style of the home and it's back wall of sliding doors while Anthony fell in love with the yard overlooking the creek. We love how our backyard changes with every season. In the winter, when all the leaves have fallen off the trees, we see our neighbors homes across the creek emerge - and in the summer they disappear! I feel like we live in a tree house.

Share with us one tip on how you keep your home serene.
It's a constant daily struggle to keep it organized and clutter free - especially with three little girls who love collections and treasures and stuff ... So I'd have to say purging daily and regularly making donations to Goodwill.

Tell us about your favorite possession. How did you acquire it? What makes it so special?
Before buying this home, we had moved 6 times in 6 years. Needless to say we have acquired lots of possessions. The things that we will always treasure are our memories. I've kept a few mementoes that remind us of places but I'm really trying to teach the girls not to place too much emphasis on material things.