Eclectic Home Tour – Miracle on Thirty Fourth

Three years ago they bought their dream house … a 1935 brick Colonial. She says, “they were completely in over their heads and then completely overwhelmed. Termite damage, bats and even a shower that leaked from the ceiling below. Door handles fell off in their hands. Broken HVAC and the list goes on.” Today’s Eclectic Home Tour of Miracle on Thirty Fourth blog shows what a lot of elbow grease and creative repurposing can accomplish.

Tour this charming 1935 brick Colonial filled with affordable DIY ideas kellyelko.com

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Ruthie Jackson is on a mission to update her dream house in Des Moises, Iowa. She says, “I consider my house one giant art project/decorating experiment. My interests include: thrifting and the art of a good deal.” In order to tackle all that has to be done in the house without feeling overwhelmed, she says, “each day we’ve tried to do even one tiny little thing to love and repair her.”

She cut and stapled five indoor/outdoor runners then added classic brass stair runners to help hide the seams.

DIY stair runner using indoor outdoor carpet on a budget

The kitchen was reconfigured to make room for a peninsula painted the same dark color found though most of the house. A few inventive DIY’s include building benches for the eating area out of leftover butcher block and hairpin legs and a peg board to show off copper pots and pans.

Tour this vintage modern home with a beautifully renovated kitchen with dramatic dark blue walls and copper pot collection

Love this vintage modern kitchen renovation and dramatic dark paint color

Built in bookcases in the living room get a wild dose of patterned wallpaper that matches the sofa fabric.

Tour this beautiful 1935 brick Colonial filled with beautiful decorating ideas (like the vintage wallpaper on the bookcases

There is always a DIY in progress and current plans for the sunroom include gel staining the paneling black. The ceiling is going dark green, and the floor will be stained in a black and white checker pattern.

Beautiful sunroom with game table and wicker chairs

The home office (if you haven’t guessed, she’s an interior decorator), has a garden room feel with the trellis wallpaper. Also, notice how the lucite and brass door pull that Ruthie made for around $20 instantly modernizes the door.

Serene home office sunroom with trellis wallpaper and blue sofa

The old owners left behind lots of furniture and Ruthie was determined to use what she had to save money. She updated the old dining table by painting the base with black chalk paint to match the dark gel stained walls.

Love this dramatic dining room with gel stained walls in a dark and moody color

The vintage Thomasville rolling serving cart was found at a local thrift store.

Dramatic dining room with dark painted walls and vintage rolling server

A pair of armoires fill in for the usual nightstands but a bedside tray makes room for essentials.

Cozy dark blue bedroom with vintage touches

One of the perks of owning an older home is having the luxury of a bedroom fireplace. Ruthie painted the mantel a lighter blue to pop against the dark walls and found an antique brass peacock screen for the perfect finishing touch.

Love this original old fireplace in the bedroom of this house

To create a cozy nook in her son’s bedroom, Ruthie hung a room divider from the ceiling for a pair of plaid drapes. Ruthie says the tiny room feels larger when everything is painted the same color … walls, ceiling and moulding.

Create a cozy sleeping nook for a kids room - love the dark blue paint

An upstairs linen closet gets a makeover with pretty floral wallpaper.

Old house with original linen closet wallpapered in a lovely floral

When she had to have some plumbing repaired, she took that opportunity to renovate her son’s bathroom. Ruthie went for a locker room vibe in simple black and white. Affordable $1.84 a square foot white tile allowed her to take the tile all the way to the ceiling.

Vintage style black and white bathroom

Even the powder room has style. Small spaces like these are the perfect place to go crazy with bold color and pattern.

Go bold and dramatic in a small powder room

“Although, it always feels a little funny to call anything in our house an after. Ever evolving. A few hundred bucks here or there. A gallon a paint … a new thrift treasure. I love how the layers over time make a home.” says Ruthie.

Visit Miracle on Thirty Fourth to see more of this 1935 Colonial makeover in progress …

Miracle On Thirty Fourth

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7 Comments

  1. It is great to see how people lovingly repair an old beauty like this one. Thanks Kelly and have a great day.

  2. Such a unique home! I love the the drape idea in her son’s room and the fireplace in her bedroom is a beauty, as well as the peacock. Loved this tour!

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