Kara was sweet enough to be the very 1st person to let me poke around her house for this series… even before she knew if I was a weirdo. (I definitely am.) And she’s also the reason I ultimately decided I was on the right track because the tour reiterated exactly what I am trying to illustrate in these little profiles; that there are as many kinds of style as there are houses in Racine.
Kara graciously showed me around her awesome south side historic district home where she and her husband have perfected a personal aesthetic which incorporates culturally significant artifacts and family keepsakes. Their style is personal and relaxed. Natural wood elements, reclaimed pieces and antiques all mix and contribute to a soulful and composed space. Todd has a history with and enduring love for all things sailing and the sea and much of the décor is reflective of that passion. Take a lesson from Kara and Todd and surround yourself with expressions of who you are. Before you know it. Poof. Personal style.
Todd built these sliding barn doors that hide the TV. The wood and hardware was salvaged from a barn that was being torn down on old farm.
The sword on the mantle is Todd’s Grandfathers. He was a Colonel in the Army. The black and white picture is of Kara’s Grandmother on her wedding day.
This Celtic “Bodhran” drum hangs on a wall displays the Brennan Family Crest.
Kara wallpapered the bathroom with Sea Charts from Todd’s time on the Denis Sullivan. Some of the charts were used during educational expeditions and have coordinate lessons noted.This caned chair was remade by Kara’s Great Grandfather.
This port hole is from the basement of the old ferry terminal in Milwaukee, ship unknown. The bottle inside is a Medicine bottle the couple found on a beach in the Bahamas and is styled with a sea fan (black coral) inside of it.
Todd and Kara built this dining table with wood from a torn- down barn. They hand- selected the planks and used industrial steel pipes as the legs.This fish is perched (nailed it) above a doorway. Kara explained that its made from Mahogany by Henry Wallace, a renowned woodcarver in Red Bays on Andros Island in the Bahamas. Wallace has artwork in the Smithsonian. People from Red Bays are descendants from escaped African Slaves and Seminole Indians who fled to a remote part of the Bahamas where they were only contacted by Westerners as recently as the late 1960’s!
This little leprechaun is part of an old Irish salt and pepper set.Kara explained that this “old shackle was used on ships instead of iron work. It anchors the stays that keep the mast aloft.” Obviously.They got this rawhide chair at Belle City on Douglas Ave. (Northsieed)
This wooden plaque was hand- painted by Kara’s Great- Aunt as a wedding gift for her Grandparents.This unicorn clock belonged to Kara’s Grandfather who passed away in March and was clearly awesome.
Thank you to Todd and Kara for letting me come aboard for that style voyage! #metaphor
4 thoughts on “At Home In Racine: A Welcoming Nautical-Inspired Historic Home.”
Very cool place. I love how all these tidbits of decorating have a story. It looks eclectic without looking like a flea market….I think that’s harder to pull off than people think.
Very cool place. I love how all these tidbits of decorating have a story. It looks eclectic without looking like a flea market….I think that’s harder to pull off than people think.
I agree, Denise. Very put- together. Trust me… I’m taking notes from all these stylish people. 😉 Thanks for reading!
I love your blog!!
Thanks for reading!