INSIDE LOOK: Step back in time inside this renovated midcentury modern ranch home
Beth Rousseau wasn’t even in the market for a home when she discovered her midcentury modern ranch in Clarksville, Indiana.
“I just happened to take a look at a Realtors site and once I saw the photos, I knew I had to see this house in person,” she said.
That was in June 2018. Since then, Rousseau has purchased the property and worked to restore some of its midcentury charm. Her niece, Erin Stackhouse of Stackhouse Designs, helped her fill the space with new and old pieces that seamlessly blend together and embody the home’s unique aesthetic.
“Erin (brought) my midcentury modern vision to life,” Rousseau said. “She brought together all the trades to renovate while keeping the integrity of this beautiful home intact.”
Lounge-friendly living
Through the lime green door with a center-mounted knob, the foyer features doors that separate the area from the rest of the home. To the right, the living room boasts its own doors, as well. Both sets are original to the house.
As the home’s second owner, Rousseau is in touch with the people who grew up on the property — and they’ve shared some of their personal stories about the abode.
“The parents played bridge (in the living room),” Rousseau said. “They would close the door and the children weren’t allowed (in).”
Rousseau’s own parents, Art and Mary Lou, never set foot in the house. But the living room resembles what it might have looked like had they lived there so many years ago.
Along one wall is a long coffee table that belonged to Rousseau's mother, who’d ordered it from Louisville’s Willett Furniture decades ago. Her mom always kept a cushion right in the middle, so Rousseau does, too. And on one end of the table is an amber glass lamp that was a Rousseau wedding present.
Also in the room is a brick wall, which matches the exterior brick; and a deep orange, curved sofa that Rousseau had custom made to accommodate the space.
Something old, something new
The bathroom’s original faucet/sink combo is still in operation, its vanity gingerly restored when Rousseau purchased the property.
“It was painted black when I got here,” Rousseau explained. “I had it stripped. They used a graining tool to get the wood look, (and) I raised it up on feet.”
Above the sink, a small retractable towel bar remains, as well. Though Rousseau doesn’t use it often, she made sure to preserve the unique original element.
In the kitchen, Rousseau made a few updated changes, but the room still seamlessly blends in with the rest of the house. The counters boast a terrazzo-like material, while a tile backsplash runs from the counter to the ceiling. Opposite the sink, what Rousseau describes as a "groovy" wallpaper adorns the wall.
“There’s a show called ‘Two Broke Girls,’” she said, “and that (wallpaper) is in the diner.”
Distinctive den
Just off the kitchen is the den, which features more pieces that belonged to the Rousseau family. The TV stand is actually a 1960s stereo that was passed down from them, as is the orange sofa set they had since 1955. Rousseau has also repurposed one of their old planter boxes to create an entryway from the back door into the den.
“Huge thanks to my parents up above for buying good quality furniture in 1955 and never letting it go,” she exclaimed.
Rousseau adds that while she has leaned into the midcentury look, her home’s overall vibe is more of a midcentury modern mix. Her favorite feature, however, is classic midcentury.
“I love the design of the roofline,” she said. “It’s so quintessential midcentury. It’s so unique and different. You’re not going to find another one like it.”
Know a house that would make a great Home of the Week? Email writer Lennie Omalza at aloha@lennieomalza.com or Lifestyle Editor Kathryn Gregory at kgregory@gannett.com.
nuts & bolts
Owner: Beth Rousseau, who retired from a career in Logistics.
Home: This is a three-bed, two-bath, 1,600-square-foot, midcentury modern ranch home in Clarksville, Indiana. It was built in 1959.
Distinctive elements: Offset roofline and carport with teal metal supports; wide front door with handle in center surrounded by a star escutcheon from Rejuvenation; original escutcheon on inside of front door; vaulted front porch with pendant globe light and teal metal supports; built-in planter box filled with Hubricht's Bluestar; foyer with parquet floors, grasscloth wallcovering, and louvered double doors closing off living room from hallway; large wraparound front window; asymmetrical fireplace using same MCM exterior brick; vintage onion lamp over fireplace hearth; hidden TV above fireplace behind an artwork box; three-piece custom sofa; 1950s Willett Trans-east extra long coffee table; 1950s amber glass light in living room; flat paneled kitchen cabinets with white alabaster handles; white abstract tile backsplash; orange and brown abstract wallpaper in kitchen; 1950s Stangl pottery pieces in Amber Glo; original bathroom vanity and sink with integrated faucet; original small chrome towel holder that retracts into wall; original hardwood floors; 1950s MCM Willett Trans-east cherry two-tier corner table; two-piece 1955 reupholstered sofa; 1960s stereo console; vintage Broyhill dressers mixed with dressers and nightstands from West Elm in main bedroom; bedroom set from 1953 in blonde wood; other vintage items: cabinets, bar cart, pottery, and swung vases; revitalized backyard with all grass replaced with solite rock and the original concrete pavers; new walkout deck, shed, and horizontal fence.
Applause! Applause! Erin Stackhouse of Stackhouse Design; sofa reupholstering by Mike's Custom Upholstery; MCM-style counter height table by Rob's Kentucky Woodshop LLC; West Elm pendant lights in the kitchen; CB2 MCM type counter height stools; three-piece custom sectional from APT2B; wood art pieces from Etsy.