My Houzz: Mod Chic for a Midcentury Riverfront Home

“With floor-to-ceiling windows facing the river, the house had me at hello," says Courtnay Cousino. She grew up near Ohio's Maumee river as a kid and had dreamed of giving her 5-year-old daughter, London, the same experience. Her 1950s riverfront home delivers on that, while sleek white marble floors and whitewashed walls let colorful midcentury furnishings and the outside greenery really pop.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Courtnay Cousino, daughter London and their Labrador, Jimmy
Location: Northwest Ohio
Size: 2,954 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 2½ baths
Year built: 1955

Cousino calls the main living room — there are two others — the Marble Room, because of the white marble floors. A wall of windows pulls in greenery and river views. "I love natural light and don't believe in curtains covering up windows unless I have to," she says. A curved sectional and console and the arc of the floor lamp add soft lines to the room.

Cousino loves an ever-changing look; her plan when rearranging is to shop her own home first. The Womb Chair, for example, was previously used in London's nursery. She gained a lot of her decorating skill while working in Design International Furniture stores.

Sectional sofa, bookcases: Menlo Park, American Leather; coffee table: Elite Modern; chair with ottoman: Saarinen Womb Chair, Y Living; carpet tiles: Flor; media unit: Eames, Design Within Reach; lamp: Arco Floor Lamp by Flos, Hive Modern





An original stone wall adds texture and holds one of three fireplaces in the home. The living room leads to the dining room, which also overlooks the Maumee River. The ottoman–Pilates ball is made from upcycled neckties.

Tripod Floor Lamp: CB2 (no longer available); ottoman: Dreamweavers, Form2Function


For this dinette space, Cousino repurposed a rolling tool cabinet as a minibar that can be transported between rooms during parties. A local Ohio artist created the graffiti piece, which London's father gave to her. It depicts all the codes from the airports she's flown from.

Table: Saarinen Dining Table, Knoll; tool chest: Viper, Sears



This living room connects to the entry foyer and dinette area. The white buffet was previously used as London's changing table; it now serves as a storage unit. "When I buy furniture, I make sure it's an item that can be moved around from room to room, because I love new looks," says Cousino. "So in a few months, my house might be a completely new look by moving everything around."

Orange lamp: Jonathan Adler; mirror: Mondrian, Design Within Reach; coffee table: Thomas O’Brien


A Dan Domber stained glass piece — an interpretation of the sun, sky and earth — hangs over a fireplace with a marble surround.


Metal shelves display Cousino's collection of books, art and family photos. The vases and tabletop decorations are from the Chicago Museum of Modern Art.

Sofa, chairs: American Leather; buffet, wall unit: Design Within Reach; Ghost Lamps: Kartell; carpet tiles: Flor


For the high-traffic dining room, Cousino chose easy-to-clean chairs and interchangeable carpet tiles.

Ghost armchairs: Kartell; dining table: Caligarus; carpet tiles: Flor


London's bedroom features several knit dolls from BlaBla Kids.

Bed: Wyatt, Room & Board; nightstand: Lightbox, Gus Modern; blue chair: Parker Child Chair, Jennifer Delonge; stool: American Leather


The heart artwork is a cherished piece from Cousino's childhood home.

Shelving units: Cubitec, Design Within Reach; lamp: Kartell


An oversize doll by Blabla Kids adds a jolt of fun to London's marble-lined bathroom.


London's playroom, on the lower level, features kid-size furniture and a stocked mini grocery store.

Shelving: Cubitec, Design Within Reach; grocery store: Melissa & Doug; play table: Plan Toys; green stools (atop shelving unit): Mammut, Ikea


London and her friends like to sit in the beanbags and mini chairs while watching boats go by on the river. Her Pez collection adorns the window.

Kids' chair: Lömsk, Ikea; beanbags: Fatboy


Also on the lower level is a guest bedroom with its own bathroom. The headboard is a large floor mirror, one of four on this level.

Mirror: Mongstad, Ikea; Simple Low Bed Frame: West Elm


A home office with space for entertaining and movie nights is also on the lower level. This is one of the few areas that have blinds on the windows.

Sectional sofa: Lennon, American leather; tie rug: Dreamweaver; floor lamps, coffee table: Arhaus Furniture; mirror: Mongstad, Ikea


Table: Saarinen, Knoll; cream leather accent chair: Modani; pendant lamp: Saucer, George Nelson, Y Living; mirror: Mongstad, Ikea


The house sits on a high hill. The back faces the river. "I love how the home seems at one with nature," says Cousino.


Cousino, London and their Lab, Jimmy, relax in the living room.

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: Mod Chic for a Midcentury Riverfront Home http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-21292.html