Crafts are at the center of Sandra Boylan’s three-bedroom, three-bathroom townhome. Items distressed and sewn by Boylan, created by others in the past and made by nature fill the 2,500-square-foot house.
“I’ve always been a creative person. I grew up drawing, sketching, always loved art class,” said Boylan, a former hair stylist who later attended The Art Institute of Dallas. “I’m always either sewing, building, drawing, painting — something — all the time.”
Credit: Text by Marena Galluccio/Photos by Christopher Oquendo
Credit: Text by Marena Galluccio/Photos by Christopher Oquendo
For example, Boylan decorated the living room sofa with a pair of wanderlust-worthy pillows she made from a vintage French postal bag found on eBay. Vintage books line the stairs while cameras and clocks capture a sense of lost time in the living room. Nests constructed and left in her backyard dwell in her dining room.
Boylan, an interior designer and owner of the Vintage Whisperer booth at Queen of Hearts Antiques and Interiors in Alpharetta, said she loves finding pieces with history and a story for her to share with others.
“It just fascinates me,” she said.
Snapshot
Residents: Sandra and Travis Boylan with their daughter, Zoe; dogs, Buddy and April; and cat, Kitty. Sandra is an interior designer who has the Vintage Whisperer booth at Queen of Hearts; Travis works in medical sales.
Location: Atlanta
Size: 2,500 square feet, three bedrooms, three baths
Year built/bought: 1985/2015
Architectural style: Traditional townhome
Favorite architectural elements: Vaulted ceiling in family room, covered patios
Renovations: The upstairs loft was converted into a bedroom for Zoe, while the previous upstairs bedroom was turned into a TV room.
Interior design style: A combination of farmhouse, French and cottage
Favorite interior design elements: Thrifted vintage and antique finds
Favorite outdoor features: "In the spring, summer, fall, my favorite room is the covered patio," Sandra said. "We live out there." The custom wrought-iron daybed was created by Ironworks International.
Resources: Crafting material and paint from Amy Howard At Home, Benjamin Moore and Fabrics-store.com. Antiques from eBay, Scott Antiques Market, Queen of Hearts, Green Bean Exchange Antiques and Interiors Mall and The Original Round Top Antiques Fair in Texas. Lighting from The Home Depot and Edgar-Reeves Lighting and Antiques. Appliances from GE and Kenmore. Accessories from Rugs.com and Tuesday Morning.
Decor tips: Don't be afraid to use antiques in a fun, new way. The doily wall in her master bedroom is composed of her longtime collection. Inspired by their use as dream catchers, Boylan purchased embroidery hoops at Hobby Lobby, placed the dollies in them and hung the entire group on the wall for an unexpected art piece. When organizing them, she placed beige ones next to white ones. "The same color is not next to each other," she said.
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