Pam coined the tongue-in-cheek phrase “junk-tiques” to describe decades’ worth of collecting her treasured and funky pieces. “I love to hit the markets around the Southeast. It used to be a huge hobby of mine because I would find pieces, and they always turned into a project,” she explains. She avidly combs markets, antique stores, and salvage yards for unique pieces that can be cleverly repurposed. Her previous house had a basement full of works-in-progress and pieces with potential. She even made several of the light fixtures throughout her house. “Sometimes I bring things home and people ask, ‘What are you going to do with that?’ and I’ll say, ‘I don’t know yet!’” she laughs.
Pam’s entryway greets guests with a burst of color found in her lively livestock painting. Immediately the style of the home is introduced with off-kilter baskets hanging on the wall and a repurposed, sideways coat rack.
Walking off to the left, into the master suite, the underlying simplicity is more obvious. White on white sets a serene scape for occasional pops of interest. The architectural salvage piece above Pam’s bed is a perfect fit for the arch of the headboard. Architectural salvage-style bedside lamps on marble-topped night stands continue the various shades of white.
Various designs and patterns found in accents like Pam’s African animal throw pillows, deer mount jewelry racks, mountain goat artwork by a local artist, and African statue (said to ward off evil) punctuate the light-toned bedroom with primal panache. “My dog, Jack, hasn’t quite gotten used to that statue yet,” she says with a chuckle, “It’s so ugly he keeps growling at it!”
The master bath continues the mostly white scheme, with pops of occasional color. Wicker baskets and docile cow paintings grace the walls for a touch of pastoral whimsy. Meanwhile burnt orange cabinets and a slate gray countertop mimic the rust and galvanized metal tones found in the repurposed, turbine ventilator pendant lights that Pam made.
Just outside the master suite are three common areas, arranged in an open floor plan, with distinctly individual décor identities. The living room, also decorated in shades of white, creates a welcoming feel with oversized, slipcovered, cream-colored furniture, all positioned around the artfully composed fireplace mantle. Chipped-paint-covered concrete urns, candle sticks, and balusters adorn the mantle for added visual interest. This room employs salvaged metal pieces and pops of burnt orange in its striking theme. Offbeat pieces like the piano leg lamp, also made by Pam, and the Jeep grill focal point above the mantle, add interest in unconventional ways.
The adjacent sunroom has two separate spaces. The first, serves as a work and study station. The antique drafting table and carpenter’s work bench make great spaces to read, study, or work on a project. They also serve as additional table space for entertaining. “The carpenter’s bench makes a perfect drink bar for parties and get-togethers, and it rolls around, so it’s really easy!” Pam says. With shelves full of everything from books to carvings to antique hat pins, there’s no shortage of eye-catching intricacies.
The other side of the sunroom, divided by an antique medical examiner’s table and an antique carousel horse, is the more casual sitting room. A row of auditorium-style seating paired with plush, orange velvet accent chairs creates an intimate lounge for conversation or television viewing. “I loved the horse. I just had to take him home! My daughter rode both Western and English style, so I always love equestrian pieces,” Pam smiles.
Across from the sunroom is also the formal dining room. An enormous mixed metallic light fixture is a contemporary focal point poised above Pam’s grandmother’s dining room table. “I don’t have a lot of ‘hand-me-down’ pieces,” Pam explains, “But this, and my mother’s table in the kitchen are two of my most treasured possessions.” European barley twist chairs pair with French style upholstered armchairs to maintain a subtle variety. “I love my little ‘thumbs-up’ sign over there! That’s for my grandson because he’s always giving me the ‘thumbs-up’,” Pam laughs. Another nod to her daughter’s riding days hangs on a wall beside one entrance to the kitchen – an English and a Western style saddle.
Entering the kitchen, the doorway is a custom-built sliding barn door. “That’s another one of my favorite things. My contractor built that for me from wood I already had and I just love it!” Pam says. A sitting area at the end of her galley kitchen is probably the most detailed room in her house.
An antique sled serves as a copper pot rack above her mother’s table. Colorful features like a stained glass window, traffic stoplight, and teal hutch filled with colorfully glazed majolica dishware are grounded by more serious leather chairs. “This is probably where I hang out the most. It’s so comfortable to sit in here, look out the window, and have a conversation with someone,” Pam says. “Or I just like to sit in here and read with my Australian Shepherd. That’s his chair over there,” she says.
Her galley kitchen maintains a clean white surface from countertop to backsplash, with beveled subway tiles. The trim work in this room has a natural wood stain that plays off the cabinetry, which is probably one of the most traditional elements of this home. “I actually don’t cook much. But when I do, I really enjoy the appliances. I was lucky with those when I purchased the house,” Pam says.
The guest room in Pam’s home was set up for her five grandchildren, who she loves to have over for visits. The study/guest room combination has fun, boyish décor. She loves to have them over to play, and with as many bright colors and fun pieces as Pam has, they’re sure to have plenty to look at.
Walking through her home, you’re sure to see something new each time. This endlessly interesting home marries several different styles and still never overwhelms the senses. Pam says, “It’s not for everyone, but I like it, and that’s what counts!”
