Private Quarters: Tudor-style Decatur home with bargain finds,...

Home and Garden

Private Quarters: Tudor-style Decatur home with bargain finds, DIY ideas

Karen Cooper describes herself as an “old house person.” That’s one reason why she and her husband, Phil, immediately toured a Tudor home after they learned it was going on the market.

Arm chairs from Pottery Barn, an IKEA couch and a rug from HomeGoods decorate the Decatur living room. Homeowner Karen Cooper's grandmother won the banner in a debate tournament when she was in college. Text by Lori Johnston

Phil Cooper's father painted several pieces, including the one hanging above a piano in the four-bedroom, three-bath Decatur home dating to 1929.

Karen Cooper's office, which is just off the front porch, features an arched opening and includes a rug from HomeGoods and furniture that is mostly from IKEA.

The sliding pantry door, which was purchased for $1.99 from Way Out Variety & Thrift in Avondale Estates, is supported by plumbing hardware from The Home Depot.

The homeowners replaced the upper cabinets with IKEA shelves that are easier to access. The backsplash was painted with Rust-Oleum chalkboard paint, the clock is from IKEA and the spice rack to the left of the stove was made from an old Coca-Cola crate.

Homeowner Karen Cooper was inspired by a tree in the Paddington movie, so she painted one on the walls in the family's breakfast nook. The wall color is Agreeable Gray by Sherwin-Williams, the table is from IKEA, the chairs are from Overstock.com and the lamp is from the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

Homeowner Karen Cooper, a DIY blogger (dogsdonteatpizza.com), made the chalkboard from yardsticks, plywood and chalkboard paint, and paired it with a cabinet was from an estate sale.

Karen Cooper personalized these IKEA curtains by writing food-related words on them with a Sharpie. The rug is from HomeGoods.

The dining table, by Pennsylvania House, is from the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, the end chairs are from Marshalls and homeowner Karen Cooper recovered the other chairs, which are from Pier 1 Imports, in gray fabric.

Framed architectural drawings of Phil and Karen Cooper's 1929 Decatur home are featured on a wall in the family room. The window is from a corner cabinet in their previous home, the sectional is from Pottery Barn and the clock is from HomeGoods.

Homeowner Karen Cooper is drawn to vintage Coca-Cola crates and has three in her 1929 Decatur home. This one doubles as a holder for remotes and provides easy access from the sectional.

The kite flying high over the living area is from an estate sale and helps decorate the walls, which are painted Agreeable Gray by Sherwin-Williams. The artwork is from various shops, artists and shows, including the Decatur Arts Festival.

A screened back porch has a rustic touch and provides ample room to read and play games such as air hockey. The rug is from World Market.

Daughter Maddie's room is decorated with a bed and night table from IKEA and three big "Ms" on the wall. The bedding is from Bed, Bath & Beyond.

Homeowner Karen Cooper found these lockers at a Habitat for Humanity ReStore, repainted them in bright colors and placed them in a hall near her children's rooms.

Building Lego is a snap, thanks to this large table in Maddie's room that was a yard sale find.

Son Dylan has a ball in his bedroom, which features a bed and chest from his grandfather and shelving from Last Chance Thrift Store in Decatur. His mom Karen painted the Duke basketball court on drop cloths, the basketball-themed bedding is from The Company Store and the IKEA lamp was recovered by fabric from Hancock Fabrics.

A headboard from Ethan Allen, lamps from HomeGoods and bedding from Pottery Barn highlight the master bedroom.

The guest room, which doubles as a music room, features a desk from Finders Keepers Furnishings, an accent wall painted Benjamin Moore's Brilliant Blue and bedding from IKEA and HomeGoods.

Homeowners Phil and Karen Cooper retiled this bathroom with white subway tile from Floor & Decor and charcoal gray grout. It also features one of two stained glass windows in the four-bedroom, three-bath Decatur home.

An antique dough bowl is from Scott Antique Markets and is among the found pieces that homeowner Karen Cooper, a DIY blogger, uses to decorate her Decatur home.

An Underwood typewriter is a family heirloom from 1890 and highlights a vintage typewriter collection on a barrister's bookcase found at a yard sale.

A buffet from Pottery Barn, which features knobs from World Market, provides a base for dried flowers that were homeowner Karen Cooper's wedding bouquet and lamps from HomeGoods.

A pillow from Michaels, featuring the words "Be Brave," and a chair from IKEA, are in the family room.

A thrift store ladder is getting a new use as a quilt holder in the family room.

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Arm chairs from Pottery Barn, an IKEA couch and a rug from HomeGoods decorate the Decatur living room. Homeowner Karen Cooper's grandmother won the banner in a debate tournament when she was in college. Text by Lori Johnston

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