My Houzz: Artful Character Colors a Textile Designer's Home
Handmade accessories and rescued treasures create a colorful rental in Mississippi
Though Kate and Cody Roebuck had never seen their rental house in person before moving from Georgia to Oxford, Mississippi — only a few smart-phone photos — the couple trusted that Kate, an artist and a textile designer, could make the space burst with DIY pattern, color and character.
Now a glittery chandelier covers an unwanted light fixture in the dining room, a chicken crate serves as the living room coffee table, and handmade and printed throw pillows from Hable Construction, where Kate does her textile design work, add splashes of color. Even a tiny opossum jaw is appreciated for its design and made part of a tabletop display.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Cody and Kate Roebuck
Location: Oxford, Mississippi
Size: 1,000 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Now a glittery chandelier covers an unwanted light fixture in the dining room, a chicken crate serves as the living room coffee table, and handmade and printed throw pillows from Hable Construction, where Kate does her textile design work, add splashes of color. Even a tiny opossum jaw is appreciated for its design and made part of a tabletop display.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Cody and Kate Roebuck
Location: Oxford, Mississippi
Size: 1,000 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
She found the red Brahmin Danish Modern chair next to the bookcase at a local Goodwill for $20. “My heart was pounding when I spotted it; I nearly knocked over some folks racing over to it to claim it as my own!” Kate says.
A large, distressed frame rescued from the side of the road leans on top of the bookcase and frames a contour drawing from school.
International artisans from Stray Dog Designs made the bird figurines by hand.
Lamp: Ballard Designs
A large, distressed frame rescued from the side of the road leans on top of the bookcase and frames a contour drawing from school.
International artisans from Stray Dog Designs made the bird figurines by hand.
Lamp: Ballard Designs
Here's Kate next to a small entry table dotted with colorful collectibles by the front door, which opens to the living room.
Abstract artwork (left): Laura Roebuck; wall paint: Light Blue No. 22, Farrow & Ball
Abstract artwork (left): Laura Roebuck; wall paint: Light Blue No. 22, Farrow & Ball
A hamper from Hable Construction corrals quilts and linens below the table, along with boots stored in an antique Pepsi crate, while several colorful feathers dress up a bird’s nest on top.
For Cody's birthday, Kate let him pick from a series of bug paintings she'd done. He chose the spider, and she had it framed.
Lamp: Apple Barrel Antiques; small beetle painting: Laura Roebuck
For Cody's birthday, Kate let him pick from a series of bug paintings she'd done. He chose the spider, and she had it framed.
Lamp: Apple Barrel Antiques; small beetle painting: Laura Roebuck
An aerial view of the coffee table shows brightly colored succulents, an antique fan and a plate with a found hummingbird and small bone. “I suppose the weirdest thing about our house is that I have a pretty extensive collection of creatures around — all of which had passed on before I got them," says Kate. "I want to be clear I am not a killer of creatures — I just find them that way."
A colorful medley of totes and straw hats lines the wall next to the front door. A small antique chair acts as a side table, with books bringing height and texture to the seat.
Totes: All by Hable Construction except the one with orange leather handles
Totes: All by Hable Construction except the one with orange leather handles
A thornbush against a white wall adds texture to a corner. Green-printed paper rolls cover the adjoining dining room’s wall. “I decided to pin them like faux wallpaper to add some life to our dining room,” says Kate.
Crow painting: Scott's Antiques
Crow painting: Scott's Antiques
Kate and her sister-in-law, Laura, made the glittery chandelier for their online web shop, Bowerbird. It covers the existing light fixture. “With any rental you have to be creative to cover what you don't want anyone else to see,” says Kate. “You can slap pattern and something sparkly on anything, and it is immediately better."
Wall paint: inspired by Cook's Blue No. 237, Farrow & Ball; curtains: Ikea; vase: West Elm
Wall paint: inspired by Cook's Blue No. 237, Farrow & Ball; curtains: Ikea; vase: West Elm
Next to the dining room window, a John Derian plate hangs above a stocked minibar along with a black and white photo and a miniature butterfly.
A limited-edition letterpress calendar from Brown Parcel Press hangs by clothespins to decorate a small space above a few kitchen essentials.
A narrow hallway connects to the back of the home, with a small trail of local art and antique finds leading the way. “Most of the items in our home were found or given, which makes them sweet little reminders of friends or their former lives,” says Kate.
Framed heart design: Kate Roebuck; feather drawings: "Cyan Feathers," by Rinne Allen; cat print: Amelia; abstract paintings under cat print: Britt Bass
Framed heart design: Kate Roebuck; feather drawings: "Cyan Feathers," by Rinne Allen; cat print: Amelia; abstract paintings under cat print: Britt Bass
In the home office, a small black desk serves as Kate’s sewing station. The large flat desk holds her computer and doubles as her painting desk.
Kate sewed and painted the curtains. “I made those as a cheap way to get something expressive in here. They are on this heavyweight cotton canvas and painted with bold black brushstrokes,” she says.
Table lamp: Pottery Barn
Kate sewed and painted the curtains. “I made those as a cheap way to get something expressive in here. They are on this heavyweight cotton canvas and painted with bold black brushstrokes,” she says.
Table lamp: Pottery Barn
Organized by color, all of Kate’s fabrics and work essentials are stacked neatly on the shelf. A newsprint poster was painted over and made for the Motel Art Show in Oxford, Mississippi.
Kate’s desk overlooks the front yard, with large windows offering a visual escape in the small room.
An outdoor fabric covers the desk instead of a normal cotton fabric, to make wiping off paint spills easier. "My favorite spot in our home is my studio — it’s where I feel that jazzy feeling inside of creativity. I could spend all my hours (and I often do) in that room. Of course, I would need to come out every so often for vitamin D and a treat,” she says.
An outdoor fabric covers the desk instead of a normal cotton fabric, to make wiping off paint spills easier. "My favorite spot in our home is my studio — it’s where I feel that jazzy feeling inside of creativity. I could spend all my hours (and I often do) in that room. Of course, I would need to come out every so often for vitamin D and a treat,” she says.
Neon washi tape frames a colorful corkboard on which Kate keeps inspiring mementos.
A large textured wood-framed mirror leans against the installed mirror to bring a more rustic feeling to Cody's hallway bathroom, Kate's attempt to make the space more manly, she says.
Mirror: Sophie's Shoppe; shower curtains: West Elm
Mirror: Sophie's Shoppe; shower curtains: West Elm
Rich patterns and natural tones adorn the main bedroom to create a quiet space alive with details.
A handmade cat garland hangs from the bed frame, and layered sequined masks hang from the dresser knobs. Kate sewed the pillow shams.
Bed: Ikea; bedding: John Robshaw; comforter: silk, Pottery Barn
A handmade cat garland hangs from the bed frame, and layered sequined masks hang from the dresser knobs. Kate sewed the pillow shams.
Bed: Ikea; bedding: John Robshaw; comforter: silk, Pottery Barn
Kate painted the two-toned desks that serve as nightstands. “They needed some silver boots,” she says. An aged lamp sits on the nightstand with glitter feathers above.
A large wall piece made from 700 dyed turkey feathers hangs above a dresser and several other collectibles. Two leather folding chairs hold small quilts and throw pillows.
A small shed provides extra storage in the backyard. Kate hangs her screen-print projects out to dry on the clothesline connected to the shed.
Behind the traditional exterior with red brick and white windows lie colorful memories for the couple. “What makes a house your own is the memories you create there, and we started making those memories the minute we walked in the door,” Kate says.
See more photos of this home
See more photos of this home
Couch (left): Ikea; throw pillows: Red Sails and Water Birds, Hable Construction