My Houzz: Hodgepodge Happiness in a Santa Cruz Beach House
Flea market finds picked for love, no matching required, fill a 1950s home in coastal California
Shannon Malone
June 16, 2013
The first night Jennifer Hodges spent in her 1950s Santa Cruz, California, beach house, she cried herself to sleep. These were not tears of joy or the result of sand in her eye. She was distraught. "All I saw was work everywhere," Hodges says. "Shag carpeting, dingy walls, paper-thin windows, all the things that needed to be done. I wish I would have realized then what I know now: A house is an ever-evolving journey, and you need to enjoy the trip, every step of it."
The next morning, Hodges and her husband, Mark, got to work. They eventually knocked down walls to expand the kitchen and pushed out the back for a new main bedroom. Hodges then set to work implementing her only design philosophy: “To buy what I love,” she says. “And I follow it pretty religiously. I never worry about where something will go, and I definitely don't care if something matches. Matter of fact, I usually avoid things that match."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Jennifer and Mark Hodges and their bulldog, Mack
Location: Santa Cruz, California
Size: 1,800 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a studio
The next morning, Hodges and her husband, Mark, got to work. They eventually knocked down walls to expand the kitchen and pushed out the back for a new main bedroom. Hodges then set to work implementing her only design philosophy: “To buy what I love,” she says. “And I follow it pretty religiously. I never worry about where something will go, and I definitely don't care if something matches. Matter of fact, I usually avoid things that match."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Jennifer and Mark Hodges and their bulldog, Mack
Location: Santa Cruz, California
Size: 1,800 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a studio
"Our home is basically a hodgepodge of things that I think represents us as a family," Hodges says. "What I really want in my home is to be surrounded by things I love. That's why almost everything we own has a story."
Her grandmother's slipcovered sofa in the living room is one of her favorite pieces. "She passed away over 20 years ago, and I still love sitting in the same spot she always did," Hodges says. "I know she'd approve that I let Mack, our bulldog, up on it — that's why it's slipcovered, after all."
Santa Cruz artist Carol Bowie painted the piece above the sofa. "I was talking to friends about how much I loved that piece, where I saw it, and when I came home the next day it was propped on my porch," she says. "One of my best friends had purchased it for me. I was thrilled, to say the least."
The painting over the fireplace is by Suzanne Etienne, titled "Three Amigos."
Her grandmother's slipcovered sofa in the living room is one of her favorite pieces. "She passed away over 20 years ago, and I still love sitting in the same spot she always did," Hodges says. "I know she'd approve that I let Mack, our bulldog, up on it — that's why it's slipcovered, after all."
Santa Cruz artist Carol Bowie painted the piece above the sofa. "I was talking to friends about how much I loved that piece, where I saw it, and when I came home the next day it was propped on my porch," she says. "One of my best friends had purchased it for me. I was thrilled, to say the least."
The painting over the fireplace is by Suzanne Etienne, titled "Three Amigos."
"I'd call my style 'urban junk,'" Hodges says. "I'm inspired by my mother, who passed away seven years ago. She had a knack for incredible style on a limited budget and was constantly moving things around, painting a wall, framing kids' art."
Hodges found two of her armchairs and the coffee table at the Alameda Point Antiques Faire, her favorite place to be on the first Sunday of every month.
Hodges found two of her armchairs and the coffee table at the Alameda Point Antiques Faire, her favorite place to be on the first Sunday of every month.
The couple spends most weekends in the sunny living room, lounging and reading newspapers. "I love to hunker down in the big white chair in the corner with a cup of coffee," Hodges says. "The living room for our family represents downtime.
The green hutch in the corner of the living room is Hodges's favorite piece of furniture, which she also found at the Alameda Point Antiques Faire.
"Every month for a year I would ask the guy selling it, How much?" she says. "He started at $2,000, but by the end of the year he said, 'Don't you ask me about this every month?' When I said yes, he said, 'Just give me $500 and take it; I'm sick of hauling it around.'"
"Every month for a year I would ask the guy selling it, How much?" she says. "He started at $2,000, but by the end of the year he said, 'Don't you ask me about this every month?' When I said yes, he said, 'Just give me $500 and take it; I'm sick of hauling it around.'"
Hodges bought the dining room table and chairs at a garage sale held by her neighbor, interior designer Lorri Kershner.
"It's old, worn down and heavy, but I love it," says Hodges. "Garage sales and flea markets are a weekend outing for us. It's recycling at its best."
Side table: Alameda Point Antiques Faire
"It's old, worn down and heavy, but I love it," says Hodges. "Garage sales and flea markets are a weekend outing for us. It's recycling at its best."
Side table: Alameda Point Antiques Faire
Hodges' mother-in-law, who lives in Oklahoma, created the mosaic piece in the dining room.
"What I love most about the house is the flow and light," Hodges says. "It just has a good feel to it. You can walk a circle and basically see everything. It fits the family — open and out there."
This cowhide chair is a garage sale find that Jennifer reupholstered herself.
This cowhide chair is a garage sale find that Jennifer reupholstered herself.
Wanting to steer clear of typical bar stools, Hodges scored this pair at the Santa Cruz Flea Market and reupholstered them with scraps of fabric she had lying around.
Plans for the kitchen remodel were a bit off-the-cuff. "The design was scrawled on paper and handed to the contractor during the remodel," Hodges says.
"What I enjoyed the most when it came to making changes was when a contractor would say, 'What? That won't look right!' or, 'Why on earth would you do that?' I knew then I was on the right track," she says.
The guest bathroom is home to more antique finds, including a pedestal sink and rustic shelves used for storage. The stone figure is from a trip to Singapore.
This TV room, in the center of the home, is outfitted with a plush leather couch and a cozy nook perfect for enjoying a good book.
The floor of the main bedroom is made of concrete and copper. "It's never too hot or too cold, it's easy to clean and, more importantly, it's beautiful," Hodges says.
The trunk at the foot of the bed, as well as the trunk Hodges uses as a nightstand, were both antiques store finds. "The trunk actually has a London, England, address scrawled across the burlap top inside. I love that." she says.
Blue armoire: Craigslist
Hodges won the backyard henhouse in a bet with her husband. "Mark and I were arguing over who knew how to lose weight fastest," she says. "Guess who won? Chickens was what I wanted. I usually collect about three eggs a day; it's the best!"
Jennifer Hodges, shown here, recently painted her front door canary yellow, brightening up the home and making it stand out among the other houses on the street. "It has brought a smile to my face every time I see it," she says. "It's so bright and cheerful, unlike anything else on the street."
More: When to Paint Your Door Yellow
More: When to Paint Your Door Yellow
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The only thing i am againt is calling it hodgepodge. So much love and thought has gone into this house that i feel that another title would have suited better. I am exactly the same...i buy or preferably recycle only what i love. Utter nonsense buying what is in fashion. Fashions change and you are left with stuff you hate. Everywhere in my home are precious memories. Photos of my parents and grandparents. Their amazing leather cases used for travelling abroad. My mother in laws plates...and so much more !!! Minimalist ? Not for me thank you !!! Thats ok for hotel rooms, but never for our home !!!