A California Dream Home

white living room with vintage furniture in California dream home

Photography by Chad Mellon

Styled by Victoria van Vlear

A dream home that took 30 years of hard work, this California abode exudes cozy vintage comfort for fall.

In 1985, Linette and Tony Palmer were newlyweds and in the market for a new home. They were determined to raise children in a family-friendly neighborhood and, most importantly, a home they could afford. The couple spent four years scraping and saving to make that dream come true, and it did, though not as they’d always pictured it.

entryway to California dream home and vintage pumpkins and hanging ferns — Linette’s vision for her home is a place where people can feel at ease and welcome as soon as they walk through the door. The same thought and care went into the front porch as the rest of the house, with rocks specifically cut and placed by Tony and a barn-inspired door that boasts scratches from the family dogs.

It was just a dark, tomb-like sort of place. I knew the first thing we had to do was get some light in there.

Fixer-Upper

When the Palmers bought their home in a quiet neighborhood in sunny San Diego, California, it was, in Linette’s own words, “awful.” What drew the couple to the home was the fact that they could afford it. “The price and the window over the sink in the kitchen were what drew me,” Linette says. She knew she wanted a charming, welcoming home, which ultimately led to her Instagram account, At Home on Sweet Creek. But she also refused to do it if it meant the family would be financially strapped. So Linette and Tony set off on a 30-year journey to build up the house of their dreams, much of it through their own handiwork.

vintage sieves as wall decor and antique clock in entryway of California dream home — The entryway of the home is all rustic farmhouse charm. The wooden bench gives guests a place to sit and take their shoes off. The vintage grandfather clock still works and is an impressive piece of craftsmanship with a hand-painted clock face. A collection of vintage tobacco baskets adorns the wall above the custom wainscoting the Palmers installed.

Linette and Tony set off on a 30-year journey to build up the house of their dreams, much of it through their own handwork.

Taking the house from a disastrous fixer-upper to a dream home, it was important for Linette and Tony to stay within a reasonable budget. “We never wanted to be house poor,” Linette says. “It was more important to us to be able to afford to do things with our kids.” The two ways the couple made this happen was by building décor up over time and utilizing Tony’s inspired skills as a contractor and pool builder.

white vintage pitcher on top of chippy dresser and vintage clock on stack of antique books

woven baskets and vintage furniture in entryway of California dream home

DIY Couple

When Linette and Tony moved into their new home, it was covered in vines and had virtually no natural light. “It was just a dark, tomb-like sort of place,” Linette says. “I knew the first thing we had to do was get some light in there.” With this in mind, the couple began a renovation process that would span two years. They first replaced the doors and ripped up the carpet. “We lived for a while on concrete floors,” Linette says. After that, they focused on progressive updates a little at a time as they could afford them. The carpet flooring eventually turned to wood, new rooms were added and they knocked down walls to add space. “We realized we had a growing family and we were running out of room,” Linette says.

“It’s the highest compliment when someone tells me they feed at home here.

white brick mantle and vintage living room — Linette has embraced the all-neutrals challenge. The statement fireplace was done many years ago by Tony and was originally red brick. Linette used Miss Mustard Seed milk paint to create the perfect distressed coffee table.

From room additions for the kids to board-and-batten accent walls to adding beams between the dining room and living room, Tony has been a driving force behind all the home’s renovations. “He is very gifted at what he does, and we are a great team,” Linette says. With Tony’s eye for renovations and Linette’s aesthetic flair, they’ve tackled all their home improvement projects together. “We hire out for things here and there, but we love the process and satisfaction of doing it ourselves,” Linette says.

Tony did all the outdoor improvements himself. He had an old-fashioned, rustic dock design in mind when he created the pool, mini dock and garden shed. To keep with this design, he used large rocks around the pool for the kids instead of installing a diving board.

white pom pon garland and vintage storage canisters with twine, greenery and candles

wooden piano and with white pom pon garland — This cozy section of the home is a perfect showcase for Linette’s flea-market finds. Vintage rug beaters adorn the wall, and the 1902 Beckwith piano still plays beautifully. Atop the piano is part of Linette’s beloved collection of vintage stoneware crocks.

Vintage Love in the California Dream Home

While Linette trusts Tony’s renovation skills, he trusts her décor talents. Linette loves to frequent flea markets and antiques stores. This process has worked well for Linette as her design style has changed over time, though a vintage feel will always be a part of her aesthetic. One money-saving trick Linette loves is to shop her own home. “I wanted something different, so I scouted my own house,” she says. She’ll wander around her home to let the creativity start flowing and try vintage collections in different places until it just clicks and looks right.

Through trust, hard work and patience, Linette and Tony were able to create their dream farmhouse from virtually nothing and realize their goal of having a home where everyone feels welcome.

dining table with fall bouquet and pumpkins and pears as place setting

white dishes and gravy boat and vintage sign in California dream home — One of Linette’s few darker pieces, this gorgeous china cabinet was from her sister-in-law. After considering painting it white, Linette decided simply to fill it with all-white dishware. Tony used his contractor’s eye and added matching dark wooden beams in the doorway to help make the ceiling seem higher.

vintage hutch and rocking chair in California dream home

patinaed white dresser shiplap wall and gray bedframe in California dream home — The bed in the master bedroom is a testament to Linette and Tony’s process-driven décor. The bed started as a canopy bed, but they eventually removed the canopy to have a four-poster bed. Over time, it evolved into the simple bed it is now.

white slip covered chair and doll house in California dream home — A cozy corner of the guest room holds a slipcovered armchair gifted to Linette by a friend. The dollhouse sat in the attic for many years until Linette repainted it. It now sits on a pine cabinet Linette sanded and bleached down to raw pine.

white bedroom with vintage metal bed frames — Linette’s eye for architectural detail shines through in this guest bedroom with its board-and-batten walls. The room’s décor has Linette’s signature white bedding, distressed nightstand, and water pitcher and bowl. This room was made especially for Linette and Tony’s grandchildren, or “grandblessings,” as Linette calls them.

galvanized metal tree and vintage style sign

home office with wicker baskets and vintage seltzer bottles — The vintage clipboards on the wall of the home office are a unique part of Linette’s process. She loves to shop around her own home for pieces of seemingly random décor that are anything but, as she uses them for accent walls throughout the home. These clipboards hold two of Linette’s favorite hymns.

vintage white day bed — This wrought-iron daybed began as an antique crib from Craigslist. Linette painted it and Tony reinforced it, creating a very comfortable and often used seating area. Atop the mirrored medicine cabinet are other favorite pieces of Linette’s: antique leather-bound books.

wooden bedframe with carved details in California dream home — The guest bedroom follows the décor theme of the other two rooms with its white bedding and distressed side table adorned with a pitcher and washbowl. The bed itself is 150 years old, with beautiful craftsmanship and unique woodcarving accents.

repurposed wood vanity with vintage industrial style of faucet — This gorgeous vanity in the master bathroom began as an old buffet table. It’s a large and solid piece of tiger oak wood with added industrial fittings for the faucets, which the Palmers lovingly nicknamed the Beast.

freestanding tub in bathroom with shiplap wall — One of Linette’s must-haves in the home was a large bath. Originally, she wanted a clawfoot tub, but this pedestal freestanding tub drew her in at first glance. The bath tray display is just calling for bathers to take a long luxurious soak.

outdoor shed in California dream home — Careful thought is put into every detail of design and décor at the Palmer house. Linette and Tony opted to use windows from an old home for the windows of the garden shed, to create an authentic vintage feel.

backyard porch with tropical greenery — Tony’s imagination came to life as he designed the backyard. The crane and dock area are fully functioning. All the small items, like the ship lanterns and old barrels were collected over time from flea markets. Tony and Linette wanted to transport guests to an old Western town dock area and succeeded with their thoughtful design and décor.

stone pathway in backyard of California dream home

Stoneware Love Affair

Stoneware crocks are a vintage collectible with distinct farmhouse flair.

History. In 19th century North America, a handy household item was stoneware crocks. These ceramic containers were the top choice for storing food items such as butter and pickled vegetables before the discovery of refrigeration. The term “stoneware” comes from the durable, economical ceramic they’re composed of, which allowed the crocks to stay watertight even without a glaze.

Modern Crocks. Today we often use ceramic crocks and canisters for countertop storage of staples such as flour and sugar. Many home furnishings stores like Williams-Sonoma, Roots and Harvest and Pottery Barn still sell large collections of stoneware crocks, usually ranging in price from $30 to $70.

A Florida Home Decorated for Fall with Vintage and Natural Touches

Collecting Décor. When Linette shops for décor, she lets the items call to her—none more so than stoneware crocks. “I don’t even have to look for them; they find me,” she says. From small plain crocks to large colored ones, Linette has a diverse set of stoneware. Although she has a few darker crocks, she prefers the lighter-toned pieces and is especially drawn to any that have a blue label.

Condition. Cracked or chipped stoneware? Even better, according to Linette. “That just means they’re well-loved and well used,” she says. Linette’s most treasured stoneware crock is a cake crock with a “½” marking that called to her from across an antiques store. She says to expect to pay about $10 per gallon for crocks in good condition.

water feature and tree house in California dream home

California Dream Home Outdoor Décor

The outside is just as important as the inside at the Palmer household, with a playhouse for the kids, pool, dock and side-yard garden shed.

The entire backyard of the Palmer home was designed and built by Tony, who put his many years of builder experience to good use. The driving aesthetic for the backyard was an old-fashioned Western town and dockyard. Tony wanted an authentic look and used real rocks he cut himself around the pool and waterfall. He even selected a large rock to use as a diving board. A rustic dock extends partially over the pool with a mini crane to bring the area to life.

Made out of wood, the garden shed on the side yard fits well with the old Western feel of the rest of the yard. And the shed isn’t just for looks. “We get a lot of use out of that shed,” Linette says. She dreams it will one day be a pool house, but for now she uses it to store her paint supplies and pool items.

Partially hidden behind rocks and palm trees in the backyard is the kids’ playhouse. Matching the shed with its rustic look, it was a beloved hangout for the Palmer kids. “There’s still a ‘No Girls Allowed’ sign up there,” Linette says. Together, the pool, dock, shed and playhouse create a truly idyllic backyard getaway.

If you loved this California dream home, read on for A Modern California Farmhouse and A California Flea Market Home. If you love collecting, don’t miss Timeless Treasures: Collecting Vintage Clocks. And of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest to get your daily dose of farmhouse inspiration!