When Cindy contacted us a while back to do a giveaway with her eco-fabulous store, we never knew that after she rewarded one of our readers with a super fun party pack, she’d still have a lot to give. Namely, a House Crashing tour of her amazing (and Earth-friendly) home right here in Richmond. So without further ado, meet Cindy, her husband Robert, and their gorgeous mid-century rancher:
Whenever we go house crashing, we’re not really sure what to expect. We usually find the houses we invade through friends of the stylish homeowners (and this case was no exception- one of Cindy’s friends tipped us off that she had an amazing casa right after her giveaway went up on our site). But as we curiously strolled up the front walkway to the house, we were instantly & overwhelmingly smitten by the gorgeous room that awaited us. Here’s the punchy turquoise front door that leads into the happy and bright pink living room (which Robert actually painted himself- gotta love a man who’s secure in his masculinity).
Awesome local art, clean-lined furnishings and a happy colors abound, creating a modern yet oh so inviting aesthetic that had us beaming for the entire tour. We also loved how everything from the no VOC paint to the secondhand furnishings (like the blue chair above, which Cindy had recovered) come together to create a luxe look with style to spare.
We also took note of Cindy’s use of twinkling white lights in her pink room that created a magic, come-hither look that lured us right through the front door. She snagged that gorgeous table lamp from Ikea (we love that she mixes old with new and cheap-o with antique!) and even lined the back of that built-in nook with glittering wallpaper to bounce around even more light.
Beyond the joyful pink living room is a gorgeous dining room full of moody ambiance. We drooled over everything from the unique moroccan-inspired lanterns and the modern ghost chairs…
… to the eco-frienly built-ins (made from sustainable wood without any VOCs or formaldehyde) which even have a little wine-chiller worked in at the end.
And then there’s the all-green addition that Cindy and Robert had built when they felt a bit pinched in their formerly teeny-tiny home. They didn’t go super huge (as all eco-peeps agree is a bit of a waste) but did add a functional kitchen with cork flooring, a recycled glass backsplash and countertops, and energy star appliances. Cindy mentioned that it wasn’t a walk in the park to find installers who were well versed in eco materials and practices, so a lot of the work fell on their shoulders (we can only imagine how much time and research this beautiful kitchen took!) but they’re extremely happy with the extra time they spent to make informed and beneficial choices along the way. All without sacrificing an inch of style I might add.
And all the green perks aside, just look at their dream of a pantry. See those floor to ceiling doors that resemble a giant armoire on the left? Imagine all the stuff you could store in there (along with that amazing island).
Of course the dining area had me at hello thanks to the white ceramic antler chandelier (we all know how I feel about white ceramic animal paraphernalia by now, right?). And that charmingly rustic yet oh so modern wood dining table below was the perfect counterpoint. Oh and one more note about the cork floors: Cindy mentioned that it’s pretty funny when you drop a knife and it pierces the cork and lands like it just hit a dart board (sticking out of the floor at a 90 degree angle). The cool thing is that when you pull it out, the cork self-heals so there’s nary a mark in sight. Just had to toss in that little detail because it tickled us to no end. After all, we do have a love affair with cork in our kitchen.
We especially appreciated Cindy’s spot-on use of brilliant yet surprisingly soothing and happy colors (that pink living room had us relaxed from the second we stepped inside, and this punchy green bathroom just made us smile).
And we especially loved how colors felt layered and lovely throughout the home- like Cindy was always thinking about what rooms would be visible beyond certain spaces. Doesn’t the pop of green beyond the inky blue bedroom look luxe and amazing? Especially with the crisp pops of white (in the trim, that leggy wood table in the hallway, and even the clean white sink base).
But perhaps the most green-with-envy-inducing space was the amazing (and of course, eco) bathroom that Cindy & Robert designed with function and form on an even playing field. The recycled tiles and sustainable wood built-ins are amazing, right down to the pull out trash can in the middle of the wall unit and the leftover kitchen countertop slabs that they salvaged and reused in here.
So what do you guys think? Was that a fun little house crashing sesh or what? Any favorite features or rooms of the bunch? Any drool to wipe off your chin? Do tell.
Claudia says
I LOOOOOVE it!
Kristen says
amazing!
kim says
I love it (and I love her store)! Their house looks familiar, I think I may have passed it before. Do you have a close up of their recycled glass backsplash? It looks so pretty. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Kim,
We unfortunately don’t have a close up of the gorgeous backsplash tile, but you can check it out if you’re local by dropping in on EcoLogic (the green home-improvement supply store here in Richmond). They sell the very same pick-your-colors mosaics (yes, the colors are awesomely customizable so Cindy chose that scheme). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Virginia says
Wow, I love this house. A great balance of funky with sleek that really tells you a lot about the personalities of the owners.
As a recovering professional chef- that is a great kitchen. Stylish but totally functional. So many kitchens in magazines or on design sites make me wince because they are either wildly impractical (who cleans the pressed tin backsplash after you made a vat of chili?) or because they are obviously designed for people who do little more than use the microwave (bad traffic flow, nowhere to put a hot pan, baking areas right next to the stove, etc.)This one just downright rocks!
The bathroom sink in the green bathroom is fantastic!!! Do tell, who is the manufacturer?
micah says
wow, what a great house! love the pink living room – so cheerful!
bungalowbliss says
The entire house is fab, but I really, REALLY love the dining room. What a great ambience for dinner parties. And I’m in love with the built-in and wine fridge–great design and so convenient!
Lauren says
Love it! And I love the mix of old and new!
Sarah says
I love the whole house!! My two favs are the turquoise door and the gorgeous kitchen :O)
Nicole M. says
What a great home! Cindy and Robert have such a great design aesthetic!
It was really cool to see the ‘Hope’ print hanging in their blue bedroom, also. I have that same print, and it’s so interesting to see how other people incorporate it into their home.
Jacquelin Hicks says
The lighting in each room is tailored perfectly to the colors on the walls… brighter light in the darker rooms to brighten them up and dim lighting on the brighter walled rooms. Love it. Very funky. Very daring. Very cool.
tara says
Umm, this is weird, because I was working up the nerve to ask you two a painting question. It went like this: “is it okay to paint with different colors throughout your house? Or should I stick to some kind of neutral?” Now I know – thanks to this fabulous peek into this great home. Thank you for setting my inner-Matisse at ease.
Kim at YBH says
I can’t get over how cute that turquoise door is with the pink living room. Oh, too adorable!
Jenny @ Words On Wendhurst says
My favorite is the little twinkle light lamp. I am a sucker for twinkle lights, and want to use them in every room! :-) Sherry, did you say the twinkle lamp is from IKEA?
Michelle says
Wow. So intelligently designed, and the livability factor is still there. Great choices!
Laura says
Thanks to Cindy and Robert for sharing their home. I love the kitchen — those cork floors rock! :)
Anne says
I want their house, every last little detail!
:)
Stephanie says
Ok. I totally want a torquoise front door now…
Nakiya says
This house makes me so happy.
Those Moroccan lamps in the dining room are gorgeous – any idea where they got them from?
cheeetl says
punchy
:::Lyzz::: says
What a beautiful place with such gorgeous colors. I’m always so drawn to blue, but blue is such a tricky color to work with and this blue is just so vibrant. I wish people work more with colors in the home. Love it!
Tiki says
LOVE! I love the attention to detail and how great the colors look from one room to the next.
Rachel says
This is my favorite house tour y’all have ever done! I love all the color!
Audrey says
Great crashing! I love that they so seemlessly painted every room a different color – makes me feel a little more confident in my decision to do the same in my house!
Kristal says
What a unique style! Love it – so welcoming.
Briel says
What a nice house! I’m just wondering if it’s very hard to keep the cork floor clean…?
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much for all the kind words about Cindy and Robert’s home! We’re so happy they invited us over to share it with you guys. We’re hoping that Cindy will drop in with some answers to all of your questions so stay tuned…
xo,
s
Stephanie Ackermann says
I’ve seen it in person, it’s gorgeous!!
holly says
love the sink in the green bathroom! anyone know what brand/model it is??
foobella.blogspot.com says
You had me at the pink living room. THAT is my kinda house.
I love every inch of it. Oh, and those dining room chandeliers? That’s the kind of light I want to eat my dinner in.
Alisa says
Love – LOVE! – that tourquoise door.
Cindy Bennett says
Thanks everyone for such lovely comments! I’m going to try to answer any questions today, but I’ll check back, so if you have any more, feel free to post!
Jenny- yes, the twinkle lamp is from Ikea, and the “tentacles” are moldable as well, so you can make it look perfectly sedate or really crazy.
Nakiya- The lanterns in the dining room are (as so many really cool things are) vintage/ antique. When we bought the house (in its very different, ‘unimproved’ state) the previous owners took the chandelier, so we had to find something likety split. We were at a local antiques mall, walking out, and they caught our eye. They originally had plugs- we had our electrician hard wire them. So remember if you see something you love that’s not a “hardwired” fixture, you can almost always have it changed.
**The sink in the green bathroom is by Duravit- special ordered here in Richmond, but totally worth it…
Briel- The cork floor is not at all difficult to keep clean. In my experience of wood/ vinyl/ ceramic floors, it is the easiest to clean and the most forgiving to your dishes and your feet! Broom or swiffer, damp mop and/ or use something like you would on hardwood (we use Method “O Mop” floor mop and oil). It is sealed, so spills are okay, and trust me, we’ve had spills- we love red wine, have a 6 year old, and I just canned 40 quarts of tomatoes in there. Still looks great!
Oh, and thanks Steph, for the compliment! Stephanie owns Ecologic here in Richmond, at http://www.ecologicthestore.com (they have great green home products if you live in the Richmond are, and even if you don’t!)
– Cindy
Erika Rebstock says
Oh please, oh please tell me where to get the bent plywood dinning room chairs! I’ve been desperately searching for 4 just like those. I will love you forever if you can point me in the right direction!
Katherine M. says
Love it–probably my favorite “house crashing”. Warm and happy, and I LOVE the kitchen, especially the cabinets and that backsplash. It’s so refreshing and encouraging to see folks in Richmond building green–from everything I’ve heard, it does take a lot of extra work because most contractors and their clients just aren’t that into it yet. So hooray for the growing contingent of folks out there who are paving the way.
Kevin M says
Cool house – I love that Abraham Lincoln picture in the 4th photo above the white couch – is it some sort of collage?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Kevin,
That’s a work by Dali! Definitely google it to check it out up close- there are a few things hidden in it!
xo,
s
Natalie says
What a beautiful home! I love love love the turquoise front door :)
Cindy Bennett says
Erika- The bent plywood chairs in the kitchen are from Pottery Barn a few years ago, but West Elm and CB2 now both have similar chairs, just in different colors/ slightly different curve. (www.westelm.com and http://www.cb2.com) Thanks!
Megan says
I love Cindy’s store AND her house… so fun and colorful! Thanks for the EcoLogic tip for us Richmonders. I can’t believe I’ve never been there!
jessica jones says
I left this comment on another post by accident so here I go again: I run by this house almost every Saturday and I’ve always thought, “I wonder what that one looks like inside…” What a nice surprise to see it “crashed” and to see the abstract painting by Heidi Trepanier in the front room. Heidi was one of my professors at VCU and I worked as her assistant for a time. I drool after her work. I am now so inspired to use bold colors on our next house (I used muted this time) and I obviously need to go visit Cindys shop. And, young house love, thanks so much for your “house crashing” posts…its so fun to know whats on the inside!
AliciaS says
I’m hoping Cindy comes back to answer a couple more questions!! If so, where did you get your dining tables? They are gorgeous and EXACTLY what I am looking for! They resemble the shape of one I saw at Ikea, but these look biggger! Thanks!
KK says
I LOVE this house! What fun color. Those dining room chairs with the sheepskin throws are awesome. And I love the chandelier in the breakfast area.
Dana Miller says
What a FUN house tour! I especially like the ambiance of all the lighting. Instant glitter.
Jess Good says
I have a question…
How do you clean a cork floor??
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Jess,
Scroll back through the comments to see Cindy’s response about keeping her cork floors clean. Apparently it’s easy!
xo,
s
emily says
L.O.V.E. the colors and textiles in this house. I am inspired!
Natalie Renstrom says
Okay, that antler chandelier is the bomb.com. Cindy, where did you find that? I grew up in AK and of course was drawn to that right away. I’m always looking for cool funky furnishings that remind me of AK instead of the normal teddy bear with a fishing pole in hand. :)
lavender&cocoa says
I just love the Moroccan lamps in the formal dining! Great house crashing find!
Molly says
Beautiful home! I really like the master bath! It’s so fun to see how other people decorate. :)
adrienne says
great lighting!
piper jacquelyn says
This is positively gorgeous! I love all the wonderful use of color. I’m sure attending a get together at their place is the best!
Chrissy says
Like others, the cork floors are something I’ve never heard of and I am insanely curious about. So I read they are sealed, but I just keep picturing wine corks and pin boards on a floor and how that would get torn up easily. So this must be a different type of cork than in those materials? Is this type of floor durable? It looks really cool but it seems like it would need to be replaced more often than, say, ceramic tile or wood.
Jasie VanGesen says
Their place is AMAZING.
Cindy Bennett says
Wow! Thanks everyone for such nice comments. I’m a realtor, first and foremost, and so see so many houses, there are days when I think ours looks better or worse, depending on what else I’ve seen! It’s nice to get positive feedback, though! ;)
One note in response to Kevin’s question- that is a print (not an original!) of Dali’s “Lincoln in Dalivision”.
Jessica- So cool that you worked as Heide’s assistant. I love everything she does- oh, to not be limited by space and money!
AliciaS- I am not sure which table you’re referring to, so the one in the dining room is actually West Elm- I really wanted a plain, simple Parsons table, with a leaf, and it was crazy hard to find. So funny it ended up being there- a good deal too! The one in the kitchen is the “Big Sur” Table from Crate & Barrel. It’s solid white oak (and has the weight to prove it!) with just a wax finish, so is great for everyday dining, and is kid and crayon friendly. If it gets messed up, you sand a little and the mess goes away. Then just reapply wax (way easier than it sounds- marginally more difficult than polishing furniture).
Natalie- The antlers, happily for the deer, are not real. I got it from http://www.castantlers.com. (How’s that for an “on the nose” descriptive name!?)
Chrissy- Cork flooring definitely is not the same as a cork board, which I think is often the image people have. It is basically the same material though. Most cork goes to make, well, corks. The rest is reserved for other uses, like flooring. It is a cellular structure, so naturally self healing, water and fire resistant. It also works as a shock absorber and deadens sound. Frank Lloyd Wright used it in his home, studio, and many of the homes he designed, and for the most part (I believe) it’s still in many of them, so that’s durable enough for me. Whew- sorry for the longwindedness- I love my cork ;)!