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My Houzz: Sweetly Charming Ohio Family Cottage
This well-loved home exudes warmth with family heirlooms and hand-crafted furnishings, paired with a gorgeous backyard garden
Houzz Contributor. I am a photographer with a passion for interior design. My favorite moments to capture are families enjoying the spaces in which they live.
Houzz Contributor. I am a photographer with a passion for interior design.... More »
Eclectic auction finds, handmade case goods, beautiful antiques and cherished family treasures have turned this family cottage into a warm and well-loved home. Donnie and Emma Salyer began renting their home in 1973 and bought it one year later. Over the past 39 years, the couple has raised four children, renovated the house and made the garden into a peaceful retreat. The changes over the decades have filled their home with one-of-a-kind pieces, a newly remodeled kitchen and plenty of grandchildren to come help them enjoy it.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Donnie and Emma Salyer
Location: Madison County, Ohio
Size: 1,800 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 1 bath
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Donnie and Emma Salyer
Location: Madison County, Ohio
Size: 1,800 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 1 bath
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| The kitchen's eating area was enlarged as part of a remodel in 2007. The vintage industrial light fixture above the table was given to the couple by Donnie's father. Emma stored it in the garage for 20 years before she found the perfect place to use it. Wall paint: Aqua Silence, Coronado |
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White cabinets and glass-front doors add an open and airy feeling to the kitchen. Donnie and Emma enlarged the window and tore out the drop ceiling to add light and space.
Cabinets: Home Depot
Cabinets: Home Depot
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The original pantry door is one of the few things that has remained untouched over the years.
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Emma won a large lot of wooden boxes at a neighbor's auction 30 years ago. Two of the boxes are used here as part of a side table.
The bench behind the couch was built by Emma's father and has remained untouched since his passing. It is used as extra seating in the dining area, just like it was originally used when she was a child.
Wall paint: Banana Cream, Benjamin Moore
The bench behind the couch was built by Emma's father and has remained untouched since his passing. It is used as extra seating in the dining area, just like it was originally used when she was a child.
Wall paint: Banana Cream, Benjamin Moore
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| Donnie and Emma added the bookshelves between the sitting room and family room, taking great care to utilize the entire wall, including the area above the doorway. Family photos and other collectibles add variety and interest to the shelving. |
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| This room used to be the open front porch — it has since been enclosed and opened up to the rest of the home's interior. A beam was installed to replace the load-bearing wall. |
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The Salyers added central air conditioning after moving into the home. Ductwork placement can often present design challenges, but here the vent is well disguised in a dining room built-in bookshelf. Donnie's handmade cabinetry adds to the home's eclectic style.
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Emma's decorating inspiration comes from country and cottage magazines, as well as unique auction pieces purchased over the years — such as this desk. The top is made out of vintage wooden crates.
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A collection of vintage mirrors from a Max & Erma's restaurant remodel hangs above the patterned sofa.
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This cabinet is another auction find. Emma transformed it by adding a distressed finish and elegant tree paintings. Dried hydrangeas from her daughter's garden and a mirror purchased from the same auction sit on top. The mirror is Emma's first time decorating with gold leaf.
Custom-made white slipcovered couches were made locally to add to the cottage feel of their home, and Emma's mother's plates hang above.
Custom-made white slipcovered couches were made locally to add to the cottage feel of their home, and Emma's mother's plates hang above.
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Donnie built this hutch cabinet especially for this space. To the left hangs Emma's sister's Amish bonnet — a sweet reminder of her childhood.
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The only bathroom in the house makes wise use of a small space. Donnie and Emma added built-in storage behind the door to house necessities. The narrow shelf, upheld with corbels, proves there is always room for a few decorative items. A small cabinet built by Donnie can be seen in the mirror's reflection.
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| A desk becomes a bedside table between matching twin beds in a guest bedroom. Emma's collection of blue and white plates adds personality and interest. |
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Emma made the toile slipcover for the chair and the ottoman. "I have a thing for hats," she says about the wall display.
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| The home's charming exterior boasts plenty of windows, allowing light to flood into the cottage. The open porch once sat to the right of the front door. |
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| Emma's garden design makes perfect use of their narrow lot. A brick path runs down the middle leading to their garage. White privacy fences are used as a backdrop for Emma's large variety of plants and trees. |
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This vintage variety of hydrangea is among Emma's favorite plantings. She prefers it to other newer varieties because it is less stiff. "I like my plants to blow with the wind," Emma says.
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The side entrance to Emma's garden begs admittance with an arbor covered in New Dawn roses. The roses are plentiful and pink in the spring.
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| Sundrops, ornamental grasses, lythrum, and old-fashioned flocks add color and texture to this side of the garden. Donnie and Emma installed a rain barrel last year to cut water costs and give plants the soft rainwater they crave. "I don't like to put mulch down too early," Emma says. "I want the self seeds to come up before the mulch can choke them out." |
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| Purple larkspur, a fern leaf Japanese maple, daylilies and sedum are some of the plants and trees found on the other side of the garden. The statue (from Donnie's father), a pump, a bench and birdhouses add interest. "Don't be afraid to move things around," Emma advises. "Why stay with things you don't like?" |
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| The couple added this covered area to their garden for privacy and entertaining. One of Emma's favorite spots is on the baby-blue painted swing with her grandchildren — they love to close the curtains and read books together. |
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Emma's style continues in the outdoor seating area. She made the bunting and hung license plates for decoration and privacy. One of the plates serves as a memory of Donnie's brother. The red bench is another one of Donnie's father's finds. The white chairs around the table are original Thonet bistro chairs.
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The table was handmade by Donnie and Emma. They added barn siding slats to the top of an old door — the reclaimed logs used as table legs were Emma's idea. The tree legs are from their son-in-law's tree service business.
Houzz call: Do you live in an eclectic cottage? Share your home with us.
Houzz call: Do you live in an eclectic cottage? Share your home with us.
Comments
Madison Modern Home In love with the vintage wooden boxes used as a side table!
11 months ago · Like
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Sarah Greenman I love the bright light and vintage charm of this place. And I agree with Madison - the wooden boxes stacked as a side table is a great idea!
11 months ago · Like
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lionqueen What a lovely home! Every part of it, inside and out, reflects the owners' loving and creative attention. They are so talented too. Carpentry, sewing, designing. A lot of thought and hard work have produced a unique and beautiful home. It was a joy to read about it and to see their pictures.
11 months ago · Like
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ldcrnbbfl Beautiful home inside and out!
11 months ago · Like
Beth This caught my attention 'To the left hangs Emma's sister's Amish bonnet — a sweet reminder of her childhood'. Were they Amish or was this a keepsake that was given to her sister? Lovely home.
11 months ago · Like
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Rough Linen This house is so rich in personal, handmade details. Lovely.
11 months ago · Like
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olldbobbi What a charming, welcoming home! I really love the outdoor space, very well designed.
11 months ago · Like
1948baby Love the carpeting! Can you provide some detail regarding manufacturer, style, and color?
11 months ago · Like
mitchb62 I love the way you've incorporated all your books throughout the house. You and your husband are very talented and creative and your home is a beautiful expression of that.
11 months ago · Like
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bvolpini What a tidy, charming home and garden!
11 months ago · Like
jkl4437 Love, love this cottage/house. To me it's perfect in every way. Peaceful, functional, colorful, happy, inviting, cozy and humble and personal. Is it for sale?
11 months ago · Like
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moccasinlanding Love most everything. One mistake stands out is the garden "flocks" is supposed to be "PHLOX" ....gotcha! :) Absolutely beautiful, including the paint colors. Noted the Banana Cream by Benj.Moore for MY kitchen redo. Nice yellow ochre, not a harsh color at all. Goes so well with white woodwork. I'm not a fan of blues, but I could live with the blue she uses, never saw the name of it though.
11 months ago · Like
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bkdale Now that's what I call a home. Well done, soothing eye candy, interesting pieces and welcoming to all. Peace be with you and your home.
11 months ago · Like
Phyllis Kyle I love this home and the beautiful garden they have created, 39 years in the same house, they raised four children in it and now their grandchildren get to enjoy it as well.
11 months ago · Like
SPACIFY INC, I love this home with it's rich complex texture of design elements like brick walls, modern furniture, and mother nature.. it's beautiful!
11 months ago · Like
yhce This is such a charming home. I love the colors and the vintage auction finds. I also love scoring great pieces at auctions, garage sales, and roadside rejects. What a great use of those pieces. Love it!
11 months ago · Like
cardon Donnie and Emma's hand is on everything...bookshelves, gardens, slipcovers and years of enchanting collecting and family hand-me-downs....a real home.
11 months ago · Like
morgana44 This is lovely. Everything is well thought out with great attention to flow and detail both inside and out. The decorating is just wonderful and pleasing to the eye. I could go on and on but you get my point. Congrats to Donnie and Emma.
11 months ago · Like
fredericklc What a sweet, charming and welcoming home! I love it. The Salyer's have much to be proud of. As a homeowner myself I know how much work it takes to keep a house and yard in this awesome condition.
10 months ago · Like
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Joshua Nick Hey is it possible to get design for those house.
7 months ago · Like
nbrun What a lovely place to live! Filled with charm, warmth, and personality!
7 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on June 30, 2012.
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