A Country Home Tour {Kathleen Beyer}

So glad you're here!

I've been looking forward to sharing this special home tour with you. 

I think you'll feel relaxed by the comforting color palette 

and inspired by the charming decor of this home.

Welcome Kathleen, and thank you for letting us peek into your lovely abode!

Please tell us who calls this charming residence home?

I am fortunate to share this home with my husband, son, two daughters, a dog and two cats.

How would you describe the area where you live and what do you love most about it?

Our home is located at the foothills of the Cascades in Oregon. The closest town is 20 minutes away. What I love most is the seclusion we have, and the beautiful scenery I get to enjoy on a daily basis.

How did this house become your home?

We have lived on this property for almost 20 years now. When we first purchased the land, we lived in an existing mobile home until we could build our house 8 years later. Those were some long years waiting and dreaming. I have really enjoyed decorating our house and giving it my personal touch.

I love your use of architectural salvage in your home. For those who love the look but don't know where to start, what would you suggest?

Most of my architectural pieces I found years ago. I must say that it is harder to find them now, especially at a good price. I've bought some at antique stores, shows and on the Internet, from places like Ebay. They seem to help bring the look of an older home to my new house. By adding shutters on either side of a window, a salvaged piece above a doorway, or making a shelf with a couple of corbels, you can create a charming atmosphere anywhere in your home. 

Your soft, aged color palette truly evokes a sense of timeworn beauty. Please share with us your thoughts on the color scheme in your home. 

I prefer a neutral color scheme throughout my home, which I feel is very calming and original. Chippy white paint is a perfect match to any piece, in my opinion.

I used to have several different colored painted furnishings mixed in. One day it just felt very busy, so I started selling those pieces and decided to stick with all my white tables and cupboards.  I then started adding in timeworn woods and have been drawn to grays lately too.  Anything with an aged patina makes me happy!

By having fresh flowers throughout your home you can add a pop of color in a similar way as to adding colorful pillows or a rug to a room. I like to do this with seasonal items as well. In the fall, I use pastel green and orange pumpkins, gourds and leaves.

During the holidays, you will find touches of red mixed in with our neutral color scheme. You can see our last year’s holiday home tour on my blog, Faded Charm, here.

Your garden house is so lovely! What was your vision for the house and how do you use this special space? 

I waited 10 years for the garden house to be built, so I had plenty of time to daydream, plan and collect many different pieces. These were used in the actual building, such as the posts on the porch, windows, door, cast iron sink, galvanized tin on the walls, etc…

The garden house has two rooms. The front room is set up for housing and planting the many pots I have on my porch and patios, while the back room is primarily for the storage of all the goods I buy to resell at shows (like The Farm Chicks show). Many of these pieces need to be cleaned, repaired or painted, so this room is a great area to do that.

What are some of your favorite times spent in your home? 

My most cherished times in this house have been watching my children grow. My son was only in Kindergarten when we started building, and now he’s just started college. Lots of memories have been made here over the years. And I still just love to hang out with my family, whether it's watching a movie or sitting around the dinner table talking about our day. All of our kids have been a great help during the summer months, helping us work outside in the gardens.  We also like to entertain family and friends - mostly in the warmer months when we can be out on the patio or have a fire in the evenings down by the pond. 

I enjoyed learning more about Kathleen and her perspective on design. I could relate when she talked about the "long years of waiting and dreaming" for her home. You too?

I'm wondering if you have a favorite element from this home tour? 
Are you inspired to try something new (or maybe old) in your home?

xo

I'm sharing with:
Cozy Little House
Cedar Hill Farmhouse
Savvy Southern Style
Katherine's Corner
French Country Cottage
Thoughts From Alice