My Houzz: Creativity and Color Play in an 1890 Mississippi Home

The home of Erin and Sean Kirkpatrick brims with their personalities. She's a fine art photographer, owner of the boutique Amelia and co-founder of chARTer nannies. He's a professional musician. Together they decorated their 123-year-old Mississippi home with bright patterns, antiques and an art collection in a look inspired by Erin's grandmother and iconic midcentury modern designs. Each item is a memento of their travels and who they are as individuals, from the photobooth strips taken from around world and a record collection started during Erin's college days to a handful of vintage Polaroid cameras.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Sean and Erin Kirkpatrick and their son Tom; dog, Ida and cats, Harriet and Louise
Location: Water Valley, Mississippi
Size: 1,987 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 1 bath
That’s interesting: Erin and Sean are the fourth family to live in the home since it was built in 1890.

A summer camp with a "vintage, simple feel" inspired the main living room, Erin says. Midcentury furniture, vintage quilts and artwork by local artists outfit the space.

Erin's parents purchased the corner storage unit in the 1960s. The original purpose of the unit, with its small labeled drawers and large lower cabinets, remains unknown. Erin now uses it to display a pair of vintage suitcases on top and framed keepsakes below.

Wall color: White, Martha Stewart (similar); couches: Blue Heaven, Water Valley, MS; artwork (above portrait): Daniel Long


An antique record table displays a small bunch of miniature pine cones paired with abstract artwork. A gold and black painted book cover by Kate Roebuck echoes the dominant neutral hues in the space.

Portrait artwork: Stephen Borasch; horse book cover Illustration: Kate Roebuck


The fireplace mantel exhibits vintage family photographs and a pair of green glass horses found at a flea market in Los Angeles. An oversized painting by Chris Blackledge leads into the small hallway that opens into the main bedroom.


Artwork by Coulter Fussell, another artist living in Water Valley, hangs above three lively lamps in Erin and Sean's bedroom. Chic bedding by Dwell Studio shows off Erin's love for modern design mixed with vintage decor.

Wall color: Lemonade, Martha Stewart; bedding: Draper Stripe, Dwell Studio


A pair of antler hooks organizes Erin’s jewelry above a blue dresser. Two vintage movie seats found in Water Valley offer additional seating.

Wall color: Lemonade, Martha Stewart; antler hooks: Bower Bird; blue dresser: The Depot, Oxford, Mississippi; movie seats: Blue Heaven


Part of Erin's secondhand globe collection — she has 20 — adorns a bedroom mantel. A wooden horse rocker from Sean's childhood sits under the mantel.


The couple recently updated their bathroom, adding a new sink. A colorful painting by Kate Roebuck adds a punch of color.

Sink: Kohler, Home Depot; wall color: Farrow and Ball; towels: Anthropologie and West Elm


The house was built before indoor plumbing, and this is its only bathroom. The Kirkpatricks would like to eventually add a second bathroom, though finding space for it in the house is not an easy task. “I have finally worked it out on paper for us, but it's not a project we need to start just yet," Erin says.

Ceiling light: West Elm


A map of Sean's family summer home in Canada hangs above a wooden desk. Other keepsakes and collectibles decorate the corner.

Map (unframed): Urban Outfitters; backpack: Stone and Cloth


Striped bins from Erin's shop organize smaller items under the desk.

Desk bins: Vertical Strokes Recycled Canvas Buckets


Bookshelves in Tom's room display a vintage set of Winnie the Pooh stuffed animals. The collection, handmade by an unknown artist in Mississippi, belonged to Erin as a child.

Crib: Diapers.com


Tom’s toys and books are organized under a simple bench. A soft striped rug from Pottery Barn warms the tile flooring. Erin left the original tile for its ability to withstand a toddler’s creative endeavors.

Wall color: Sweatshirt Gray, Benjamin Moore; bench: Tin Pan Alley, Taylor, MS; bins: Restoration Hardware; rug: Pottery Barn


The framed painting by Kate Roebuck that inspired the room colors hangs above a nearby bookshelf. “Color combinations are really important to me and I like evoking a vintage feel around the house,” Erin says.

The classic Eames rocker also evokes a vintage feel. “I love the work of Charles and Ray Eames," Erin says. "They were so far ahead of their time. I love that their designs are timeless."

Wall color: Sweatshirt Gray, Benjamin Moore; chair: Eames Molded Plastic Rocker: Design Within Reach; pillow: Leah Duncan at Amelia


A small gallery of artwork by Erin and Sean's friends decorates the corner between the windows. Some of these artists include Brittany Bass, Lo-fi, Amy Evans, Rebekah Laurenzi and Coral & Tusk.

Bedding: mix of vintage, Pottery Barn


A collection of photostrips taken in photobooths from around the world decorate a hallway. Erin started the collection in 2000.


Over in the den, an impressive vinyl record collection from Erin's days working at her college radio show fills the floor-to-ceiling bookcase, while black paint frames the room’s colorful accessories.

Bar essentials are stored on top of a vintage icebox that Erin's parents found on their honeymoon.


A shadowbox displays a collection of vintage jar tops on a kitchen wall.

Couch: Macy's


Paper lanterns hang above a cast iron kitchen sink that overlooks the lush backyard.


A mix of vintage drinking glasses are stored and organized by color on the kitchen shelves next to Tom’s miniature dining table.

Wall color: Mint Condition, Sherwin Williams; avocado and bird paintings: Coulter Fussell


The Kirkpatricks found the blue modern chair at a yard sale in Seattle. A framed photograph taken by Erin hangs above an antique dresser storing CDs and a collection of the hardcover Penguin classics.

Artwork (above chair): Julianna Swaney


Sean, Erin and their son Tom relax in front of a teepee fort. “Something that I love about Water Valley is that it really is small-town America," Erin says. "You know your neighbors. You can walk everywhere you need to go and get most of what you need. The homes are beautiful and still affordable."

Tepee: Blue Stripe, Land of Nod (no longer available)


Outside, large rosemary bushes line the sidewalk leading to the home's large open porch.

See more photos of this home | Show us your creative home

Browse more homes by style:
Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Eclectic Homes | Modern Homes | Contemporary Homes
Midcentury Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Barn Homes
Townhouses | Apartments | Lofts |Vacation Homes

URL: My Houzz: Creativity and Color Play in an 1890 Mississippi Home http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-20577.html