A Texas Ranch Finds Beauty on a Budget
A limited budget meant that there were no significant renovations within this Texas home’s future. However, Steve and Kori Wydman knew they could still freshen up their family’s house. “You can completely change an atmosphere of a home just by upgrading the paint colors and buying special furniture, accessories and rugs,” says Kori.
An assortment of hand-me-downs, great garage sale finds and repurposed antiques helped the couple transform their 1963 ranch home into a special area all their own.
in a Glance
Who lives here: Steve and Kori Wydman, sons Jonah and Finn, and cats Jeff and Pursie
Location: Richardson, Texas
Size: 2,200 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths
Kara Weik
Kori used two different nightstands from the master bedroom to mix things up. “I really have no rules when mixing and matching, but I attempt to choose pieces which are different enough so it is obvious the mismatch was deliberate,” she says.
Bed, nightstand: Weir’s; sconces: Nicole’s Estate Resale; bedding: Pottery Barn; artwork: Home Goods; carpeting: Pottery Barn/Williams Sonoma socket; paint: Throne, Ralph Lauren Home
Kara Weik
In the corner of the bedroom, another garage sale locate creates a natural segue to the master bathroom and a seating area. Since the family chose not to renovate, they put extra thought into every buy for their home. “Even tiny details like replacing cupboard pulls make a big difference in upgrading the appearance,” says Kori. The household replaced almost all the house’s unique hardware.
Art: Happy Days Antiques, Breckenridge, West Texas
Kara Weik
Framed pages from the children’s book Where the Wild Things Are decorate the wall of Finn’s bedroom, along with a sweet side table from Furniture Farm fits in perfectly with its fresh coat of paint. “Our youngest son, Finn, enjoys to play in his room. One of his favourite things to do is sit in the blue seat under his canopy and look in his books,” says Kori.
Canopy: Ikea; Paint: Home Goods; paint: Glass Bead, Sherwin-Williams
Kara Weik
Kori provides this information to other bargain hunters: “Try envisioning things in a beautiful room. Have a look at the lines of furniture, and if you love it, then you may always refinish and reupholster it.” She found these blue chairs for Finn’s room in a garage sale.
Crib, changing table: Babies ‘R Us; Shade: Pottery Barn Teen
Kara Weik
Both boys’ bedrooms are outfitted with cheap storage units from Ikea. Kori made this side table for Jonah’s room out of an Ikea bar stool and a glass top.
Low table: West Elm; drawers: Ikea; seat: Herman Miller Eames Chair; doll: Blabla
Kara Weik
“Steve and I got engaged in Keuka Lake, and since Jonah is our first child, we really wanted to go with a nautical motif for his room,” Kori says. “The boys love to push cars on the white table in this room”
Bed: Crate & Barrel; pillows, oars: Home Goods; seat: Ethan Allen, circa 1970; paint: Softer Tan, Sherwin Williams
Kara Weik
Kori and the boys discuss this secondary bathroom, whichfeatures all of the first millwork and tile. New hardware, paint and accessories gave the space a fresh upgrade.
Mirror: Home Goods
Kara Weik
For your Wydmans, beauty is everywhere — in their neighbor’s trash, which is where Kori found this unique seat.
Mirror: Home Goods; lamp: Target
Kara Weik
The painting above the dining table to the right would be a unique wedding present from a friend depicting Keuka Lake, where Steve suggested.
Coffee table: Weir’s; fireplace mirror: Home Goods; fireplace screen: Pottery Barn; table lamp: Chapman, prototype for the Hotel Del Coronado; paint: Crystal Chandelier, Ralph Lauren Home (no longer available); artwork: Soho Art
Kara Weik
Original to the house, the built-in bookshelves home all Kori’s old inside layout textbooks from her days as a residential and hospitality designer.
Kara Weik
Kori created the framed art that hangs above the dining room console — yet another garage sale find. “My grandma used to have a painting in her house that I loved, and that’s where I got the inspiration for the art of acrobats,” she says.
Chandelier: Home Depot; dining place: present from mother-in-law; Paint: Heraldic Ivory, Sherwin-Williams
Kara Weik
While browsing classic pieces at Again & Again, Kori spotted a guy with two velvet armchairs secured to the top of his vehicle. “He ended up selling them to me for $60 each. After refinishing and reupholstering them, they are now my favorite bits,” she says. The couple replaced the existing rug with wall-to-wall sisal inside this living room to match the ’60s-style house.
Kara Weik
The couple wanted to bring something meaningful back from a trip to Italy together but didn’t have the funds for new art at the time. Kori purchased these postcards, reprints of watercolors the couple enjoys, for 50 cents each.
Sofa: Urban Home by Cisco; seat, coffee table: Terence Conran’s Storehouse (currently closed); side table: Target; lamp: Jeff Hamlin Estate Sale; couch pillows: prototype for The Ritz Carlton Maui, fabric by Clarence House
Kara Weik
Kori remains true to her favourite designer, Terence Conran, that abides by easy and functional design philosophies. Kori considers a fresh coat of paint is one of the simplest ways to transform a space, and she used a fresh white to paint the house’s previously brown wood paneling.
Kara Weik
A kitchen renovation is adjacent on the couple’s list of house design projects, with a Viking stove and stove at the top of the want list. “We’d also like to place French doors from our kitchen and construct an outdoor fireplace and terrace,” Kori says.
Chairs: Furniture Farm