My Houzz: Retro Fun Brings an Ohio Home to Life
Aqua splashes mix with antiques and handmade touches for a lively and personal family home in Toledo
“Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong era," says Veralynn Kaiser, whose love of retro style and antiques started when she was a child and has resulted in a knockout style in her Ohio home.
After becoming enamored of her grandparents' furnishings at a young age, Kaiser started scouring thrift stores and antiques shops in college, amassing a unique collection that nods to a 1960s color palette of nature-inspired grays, blues and yellows. When Kaiser and her husband, Josh, bought their house, the white walls and white carpet soon gave way to dollops of bright color.
Faced with an outdated pink tiled bathroom, the couple's first thought was to demolish it in favor of a more modern look. But Kaiser's throwback savvy got the best of them; they soon stumbled upon a new movement called "Save The Pink Bathroom" and were encouraged to embrace the original style.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Josh and Veralynn Kaiser, daughter Saoirse and dog Calvin
Location: Toledo, Ohio
Size: About 1,224 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
After becoming enamored of her grandparents' furnishings at a young age, Kaiser started scouring thrift stores and antiques shops in college, amassing a unique collection that nods to a 1960s color palette of nature-inspired grays, blues and yellows. When Kaiser and her husband, Josh, bought their house, the white walls and white carpet soon gave way to dollops of bright color.
Faced with an outdated pink tiled bathroom, the couple's first thought was to demolish it in favor of a more modern look. But Kaiser's throwback savvy got the best of them; they soon stumbled upon a new movement called "Save The Pink Bathroom" and were encouraged to embrace the original style.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Josh and Veralynn Kaiser, daughter Saoirse and dog Calvin
Location: Toledo, Ohio
Size: About 1,224 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
With a love of cooking and entertaining, the Kaisers (shown here) made the kitchen the focal point of their home; it's where friends and family gather for themed dinner parties that the couple hosts regularly. The couple added black and white checkered flooring, painted the cabinets aquamarine and added a 1950s diner-style table and chairs to pull together a fun retro style.
They found the table and chairs in great shape at a local antiques market, with the original vinyl upholstery and formica top. Lace curtains handed down to Kaiser by her grandmother and old advertisements for Guinness and Jell-O add to the vintage feel.
Previous owners had left behind the antique light fixture, which was wired for electrical after originally being used as an oil lamp.
Previous owners had left behind the antique light fixture, which was wired for electrical after originally being used as an oil lamp.
The original countertops and cabinetry were still in great shape, so the Kaisers only painted the doors and walls in aqua.
Cabinet paint: Aqueduct; wall paint: Crystal Clear, both by Sherwin-Williams
Cabinet paint: Aqueduct; wall paint: Crystal Clear, both by Sherwin-Williams
They asked the previous owners to leave the original working porcelain coffee grinder.
Kaiser crafted this picket fence pot rack after she salvaged the posts from a pile near some demolished houses.
The Kaisers painted the top half of the pink-tiled bathroom in more of the bright aqua for a retro color scheme. A maroon floral shower curtain complements the tulip border on the tile.
The vintage mason jars on the shelves were repurposed from the couple's wedding decor.
Shower curtain: Target; wall paint: Aqueduct, Sherwin-Williams
The vintage mason jars on the shelves were repurposed from the couple's wedding decor.
Shower curtain: Target; wall paint: Aqueduct, Sherwin-Williams
The nursery was a special project for Kaiser. Her crafting skills came alive as she combined illustrated pages from her favorite childhood books and framed them to form the gallery wall above Saoirse's crib. She also sewed together the colorful name pennant for her daughter using vintage fabric found at a garage sale.
Rug, curtains: Lowe's; wall paint: Aqueduct, Sherwin-Williams
Rug, curtains: Lowe's; wall paint: Aqueduct, Sherwin-Williams
A friend made the vibrant bird mobile by hand as a baby shower gift using sanded branches and stitched fabric birds. The quilt is also handmade.
Kaiser's father reupholstered the rocking chair, which was another antiques market find. The bench and table also came from antiques stores.
A window pane that hangs above Saoirse's changing table was salvaged from the side of the road. Kaiser took wallpaper and covered the back side of the window and crafted the monogram using ribbon and a foam-board letter.
Pictures from Kaiser's childhood room surround the frame.
Pictures from Kaiser's childhood room surround the frame.
This tufted antique chair — another roadside find — in the main bedroom came to life after a good cleaning and a coat of yellow paint on the chair legs and buttons.
Local artist Danielle Herrera created the framed art piece of a tree — ribbon and zippers form the tree trunk; the paper border is made from the Mourner's Hymn — as a memorial to a baby the couple lost to a miscarriage.
Wall paint: Rainstorm and Languid Blue, Sherwin-Williams
Local artist Danielle Herrera created the framed art piece of a tree — ribbon and zippers form the tree trunk; the paper border is made from the Mourner's Hymn — as a memorial to a baby the couple lost to a miscarriage.
Wall paint: Rainstorm and Languid Blue, Sherwin-Williams