Houzz TV: Kids, Avocados and Happy 1950s Style
A homeschooling family turns to DIY projects and multipurpose spaces to make the most of their California ranch house
Jeff Jones
September 27, 2016
Houzz Contributor. I admire well-designed architecture and unique and artistically interior spaces.
I believe a house doesn't need to look like it came out of a catalog to be beautiful. Instead, it should be an expression of the people who live there and the things they love, displayed in a way that is aesthetically pleasing.
Houzz Contributor. I admire well-designed architecture and unique and artistically... More
After renting for 10 years, Aaron and Greta Eskridge developed a very specific wish list for their family’s first owned home. The California couple wanted a midcentury house with original features and a few trendy upgrades, a detached garage, wood floors, large windows, three bedrooms, a backyard and an avocado tree. Oh — and it would be great if it still belonged to the original owners. “We looked for two years before we found our match,” says Aaron, an art director, a painter, an illustrator and a designer. “And we even got our avocado tree!”
Who lives here: Aaron and Greta Eskridge and their children, James, 12, William, 10, Lillian, 8, and Davy, 5
Location: Lakewood, California
SIze: 1,200 square feet (112 square meters), 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Year built: 1952
Watch now: See how this family has made this house their own
Location: Lakewood, California
SIze: 1,200 square feet (112 square meters), 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Year built: 1952
Watch now: See how this family has made this house their own
As they had hoped, Aaron and Greta purchased their Lakewood, California, home from the original owners. Before they moved in, they met with the children who grew up in the home, who shared some of their mother’s cookware with Greta and were thrilled to know that their father’s fruit trees would be loved and cared for.
They fell in love with the living room when they first saw the house. “When we moved in, we had been living in a 600-square-foot bungalow for the past eight years,” Greta says. “Our current home is about 1,200 square feet, so our living space doubled overnight.”
Coffee table, orange chairs: Inretrospect; turquoise love seat: The Little Shop
They fell in love with the living room when they first saw the house. “When we moved in, we had been living in a 600-square-foot bungalow for the past eight years,” Greta says. “Our current home is about 1,200 square feet, so our living space doubled overnight.”
Coffee table, orange chairs: Inretrospect; turquoise love seat: The Little Shop
Wall unit: vintage, Amsterdam Modern
The Eskridges took down the room’s original heavy drapes and removed carpeting to reveal original hardwood floors. Then they decorated with vintage finds, iconic midcentury pieces and DIY furniture. “It’s safe to say we like a colorful home,” Greta says.
A short entry hall connects the front door to the living room, lending a bit of a formal feeling to the house. This hallway is unfurnished to keep it uncluttered and to maximize space. Two rooms connect to the hallway: To the left is a child’s bedroom, and to the right is the dining room.
A short entry hall connects the front door to the living room, lending a bit of a formal feeling to the house. This hallway is unfurnished to keep it uncluttered and to maximize space. Two rooms connect to the hallway: To the left is a child’s bedroom, and to the right is the dining room.
A few favorite items hang on the wall in the entryway, including a rack and framed art. “The small framed art of Rialto Bridge in Venice is actually a postcard we found at a flea market in Paris, just after we had visited Venice,” Greta says. “It is a treasure to us.”
Rack: Eames Hang-It-All, Design Within Reach; sailor art: Urban Outfitters
Rack: Eames Hang-It-All, Design Within Reach; sailor art: Urban Outfitters
“When we moved into this house, we had a whole living room to furnish,” Greta says. “In one magic afternoon of shopping, we found our gorgeous vintage turquoise glass lamp, our two vintage orange chairs and our vintage coffee table. It was a dream to finally have a coffee table.” Aaron created the cutout swordfish, modeled after a favorite vintage sign.
Percy Sofa: Casara Modern
Percy Sofa: Casara Modern
A vintage school map serves as a homeschooling aid and adds a colorful conversation piece to the wall. Aaron designed and built the console below it.
Vintage school map: Persimmon Lane
Vintage school map: Persimmon Lane
A collection of vintage cuckoo clocks is nestled between the wall unit and a corner of the living room.
“I have loved cuckoo clocks since I was 17 and saw some on a trip to Switzerland,” Greta says. “I was too poor to buy one, but about 15 years later, Aaron purchased one for me for Valentine’s Day,” she says.
“Since then, I have added to the collection with thrift store and garage sale cuckoo clocks. They are fun, kitschy, beautiful and sweetly charming. I just love them.”
“I have loved cuckoo clocks since I was 17 and saw some on a trip to Switzerland,” Greta says. “I was too poor to buy one, but about 15 years later, Aaron purchased one for me for Valentine’s Day,” she says.
“Since then, I have added to the collection with thrift store and garage sale cuckoo clocks. They are fun, kitschy, beautiful and sweetly charming. I just love them.”
“Books are like air to me. I must have them to survive,” Greta says. “So we have books in every room.” A few favorites are housed in a thrifted magazine rack in the living room.
The dining room’s light fixture is a George Nelson lamp, a replacement for the ornate crystal chandelier that formerly hung in the space. “We have long loved George Nelson’s lamps and were thrilled to finally have one of our own,” Greta says.
The dining room table is a vintage Heywood Wakefield piece from Amsterdam Modern in Los Angeles. The couple originally acquired six white matching chairs when they bought the table years ago, but since then some of them have needed to be replaced. The wooden ones are hand-me-downs from a friend. The two turquoise chairs are from a church in Amsterdam.
The dining room table is a vintage Heywood Wakefield piece from Amsterdam Modern in Los Angeles. The couple originally acquired six white matching chairs when they bought the table years ago, but since then some of them have needed to be replaced. The wooden ones are hand-me-downs from a friend. The two turquoise chairs are from a church in Amsterdam.
Aaron designed the credenza to hide the television. A cabinetmaker friend, Pat Nelson, built it to Aaron’s specifications, and Aaron painted it himself. The family no longer has a TV, so the credenza holds homeschooling books and the kids’ art supplies.
“The photographs hanging above the credenza are some of our favorite vintage signs from our travels,” Greta says. “We really love vintage signs, and whenever we see a great one will pull over to photograph it. It sometimes drives our kids crazy, but it’s a family rule.”
“The photographs hanging above the credenza are some of our favorite vintage signs from our travels,” Greta says. “We really love vintage signs, and whenever we see a great one will pull over to photograph it. It sometimes drives our kids crazy, but it’s a family rule.”
The kitchen is directly connected to the dining room and is one of the couple’s favorite rooms in the house, especially after they had many original midcentury elements restored and preserved.
The steel cabinets are original to the home and were a popular feature when it was built. Many homeowners today have updated them, but the Eskridges were happy to keep their little piece of history.
The vintage range was found on Craigslist — a replacement for a brown 1970s stove. The painting above it, a fun reminder of a trip taken to Europe and the espresso enjoyed there, is one of Aaron’s original silkscreen prints.
The steel cabinets are original to the home and were a popular feature when it was built. Many homeowners today have updated them, but the Eskridges were happy to keep their little piece of history.
The vintage range was found on Craigslist — a replacement for a brown 1970s stove. The painting above it, a fun reminder of a trip taken to Europe and the espresso enjoyed there, is one of Aaron’s original silkscreen prints.
“We also replaced brown vinyl flooring with our beautiful red linoleum,” Greta says. “The red floor is so cheerful and bright. We love it.”
Turquoise makes a bold appearance in boomerang-patterned countertops, installed with steel edging to maintain the midcentury mien. “Every time I look at my counters, I love them and am so happy we made the impractical choice,” Greta says.
The banquette and table form a breakfast nook for the family. The banquette came from a favorite vintage furniture store, Just Modern, in Palm Springs. Aaron surprised Greta by building a tabletop out of birch and pairing it with a vintage base, which he sanded and painted to produce the finished piece.
The framed art above the kitchen table is another one of Aaron’s original silkscreen prints.
The framed art above the kitchen table is another one of Aaron’s original silkscreen prints.
Greta, pictured here with the couple’s three older children in their dining room, is a former English teacher who’s now a homeschooling mom.
Aaron designed and gave Greta this artwork in the master bedroom for Valentine’s Day. “It’s fun to imagine how we will make this room a peaceful, beautiful, inspiring spot,” Greta says.
The two older sons, James and William, used to share this bedroom and a bunk bed. Now, Lillian and Davy use this room. The room is decorated with posters from craft fairs and thrift stores, and gifts from friends and family.
Anatomy posters: Paper Source
Anatomy posters: Paper Source
Greta calls this bedroom the “schoolroom and art room.” “It’s where all our school books are stored, where the art supplies are, and where we display many of our nature treasures found on our hikes and adventures,” she says. The large colorful credenza is a garage sale find that Aaron repainted in an Eames-inspired color scheme. A sturdy piece, it holds many books, Lego pieces and art supplies, and displays knickknacks. The Ikea shelves and open shelves on the wall house favorite books found at used-book stores, thrift shops and garage sales. “I seldom buy new books, unless it is a really special new book that I get them for their yearly Christmas gift book, reflecting their personality and interests,” Greta says. “It is my hope that each of my children will have the start of a beautiful library by the time they have children of their own.”
The couple converted part of the detached garage space for the two older sons, James and William, to use as their bedroom, playspace and study area.
Watch now: See more of this house on Houzz TV
Watch now: See more of this house on Houzz TV
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Thanks for sharing your home <3 I agree, not being wasteful, using original bones or appliances with a bit of elbow grease. Also, welcoming, warm and comfortable is key - especially with kids!